239 Errand Boys 1 (2/2)
”You're looking good.” The other nodded in approval.
Leo, the bomber kid of yesteryears sighed in relief.
But then the bearded middle-aged man dressed in a white shirt and black slacks hidden underneath his long white coat suddenly added,
”Your posture earlier suggested that you want more work. You looked so relaxed as if life has been very good to you.”
His face paled again. It used to be only his speech and clothes, now even his sitting posture was to be nitpicked?
Alright, that was not the really the alarming matter.
'Is he going to make me run errands again? He told me it's my day off today. Damn! Why did I unluckily get caught by him three years ago? If it weren't for that, I would not feel so damned and miserable every single day!'
Of course, he didn't say these thoughts out loud or else the damnable clone before him would surely beat the crap out of him.
Though unwilling to bow down to a mere clone, Leo relented. This old geezer should feel thankful that he was stronger than him, or else, he'd be the one making him lower his head.
”You must be thinking badly of me in your little head.”
”I don't dare,” the kid continued to the being in his mind, 'I don't dare say the truth, of course. I love my life!'
”Whatever. It's showing on your face. Kiddo, if you want to deceive me, try learning some Acting and Eloquence skills first, then try. Anyway, that's not what I go here for.”
The man paused for a while to check the decors and painting in the wide and comfy office. He nodded upon seeing an artwork there. It depicted a starry sky. At least half of it did.
The clone felt like it was something which Fred would surely love to gaze at in his free time.
Shortly, the bearded man returned his eyes to the tall and lanky young man before him. He felt like laughing because this kiddo's features were slowly coming out and maturing, yet the brain inside the skull did not show any signs of maturity. Why does this seventeen-year-old young man want to pretend like a kid forever?
”No worries. The task this time won't make you break into a cold sweat. You only need to secretly guard Host 137 and make sure she won't come into any harm.”
”Eh?” Leo met the older man's eyes and widened his eyes. ”Isn't she old enough and strong enough to guard herself?”
”Well, she is. So your main mission is actually to just lurk around, help out in secret if something comes up that she can't handle, and then report to me if it's beyond your level.”
Leo fell silent. '... It sounds a lot of work...' The seventeen-year-old host might be slightly childish, but he had a fully functional brain. If that woman was not in trouble, why would the damnable father send him to her?
”Until when?”
”Until I summoned you back, of course. Also, while you're at it, help check one of the patients in Central Convalescence Center, her name is Alda.”
”Alda? What's her surname?”
Resigned to fate, Leo suppressed the pout that almost broke out and asked.
If he had to check on someone, it would be hard to do it only by the first name.
Who knows how many Aldas were in this world? And even if there was only one Alda in that mental hospital, he still had to make sure he got the correct person. Asking the system was the surest way.
”Alda Dimatrionez, the newest addition to our ranks. Someone pretending to be insane all these years. And is freshly contracted by an immoral AI.”
Leo Jones did not get what was so special with a newbie. But since it was a matter which caught that madman's attention, he had no choice but check it out.
”Okay. I'll do it now.”
”Wait.” Before the young man could leave by teleportation, the bearded clone told him not to go yet.
”Yes?”
With a cough, the older guy said, ”Give me that painting behind your chair. I'll present it to our boss.”
Leo robotically looked back only to see his favorite painting which was the only masterpiece so far about bombs that he had found.
The great unwillingness that blatantly showed on the kiddo's face did not escape Fred's clone's notice.
He crossed his arms and impatiently said,
”I'm referring to that one which has a starry night background! Give it to me now!”
”... You must be mistaking this one for something greater. I indeed know of a great painting called The Starry Night which is known as one of the best art examples of Post-Impressionism. It has quite the backstory which I think has greatly helped in making that amazing doodle of colors and lines have a sky-high price and fame. The one which painted it is also a very famous dude, famous for being crazy but talented. Sadly, that painting is not in our museum. But no worries, within a day I would be able to get my hands on it and deliver it to you.”
A single click of the tongue resounded after his slightly lengthy explanation.
When the bomber who was now part-timing as this place's appraiser saw the kind of face the devil bearded man was giving him, his eyes teared up.
But in the end, he had to swallow the bitterness he was feeling inside and part with his favorite bomb-themed painting.
What an unlucky sunny day...
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FallenBlue: Please, say no to piracy.
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