Chapter 15 - Wake Up As Mafia Boss (2/2)
”Y' ain't going to say any kind of greetin', boy? Sounds like a filthy peasant-like y' need to learn more about society.”
Hermes moved his face between two metal bars and he asked, ”Enough of that, sir. Why am I here in prison? What did I do to deserve this kind of treatment?”
”Well, you ask. You're a freaking pervert who walked in the street like nothin' but a squeezed. Anyhow, I don't believe that you're a criminal maniac so there's no reason for me to let you stay there any longer. Some folks of mine reported us about you so I quickly moved to your location and found y' lying down there like a filthy drunk no-good f.u.c.kin' brain drinkers. Anyways, that's all,” replied the village guard.
”Oh, is that so?”
”Be grateful that I'm the only one who found you first before the Captain Mattia's men caught you. If not, I don't know what would happen to you. Some of my folks are not as friendly as what you think they are. Anyways, we're the only people here. How about we introduced ourselves?”
”Oh, should I be grateful for that?” sassed Hermes, ”Anyways, its better if you release this young man first from this cell before you asked for it? Right, officer?”
”Is that how you supposed to thank me?” the village guard sighed and gave in, ”Alright, wait there,” he picked up the key hanging on the key lodger, moved towards the cell bar, and unlocked the door. He said with a satisfying gaze, ”There you are. Now, we can talk, — or not yet.”
”Sir, how about you offer me some clothes?” asked Hermes, shivering from the cold temperature. The village guard slightly laughed, ”Oh, right. Take this shirt, and have a seat next to my table.”
The village guard offered him a cup of coffee, and bread after he dressed. He sat down and ate the bread before he took a sip from his cup. The village guard pressed his hands on the table and started the conversation.
”Hey, do you want to know? The funny thing is, you just walked around the street that night. N.a.k.e.d. I just can't believe you have a strange hobby to stroll with a strange and rare mask. I mustered myself to use my old newspapers to become your alternative clothes for you. You're lucky, boy.”
”Yeah, yeah,” Hermes took a sip of his cup and placed it down before he talked, ”Anyways, I won't tell you my name if you don't introduce yourself to me, sir.”
”Right, right, my name is Nicolo Francesco. A village guard Sergeant of District 4 Eastern Protection Office. Now, you are?
He raised his hand, waiting to be shaken by the young Don. However, Hermes folded his arm and crossed his leg instead.
”Aljen, an ordinary mob merchant from the Southern Cimeria Desert.”
”Ah,” Nicolo laughed with a disappointing tune. ”I see. Nice to meet you, Aljen. Anyway, kid, how did you end up like that? Where exactly have you been before you went n.a.k.e.d?”
The young Don placed his palm on his forehead and tried to recall everything. However, some fuzzy memories made his view blurred and his head spun. Thanks to the glass of water offered by Nicollo, the young Don prevented himself to collapse.
”Hey, you're alright? Do you want some water again? I can get you more,” Nicolo offered. However, Hermes raised his hand telling him not to be worried. ”Please, no need to worry. My apologies, I don't remember anything that happened last night. Even I want to, I still can't.”
”Sucks, I thought I can hook some information from you,” Nicolo muttered aside. ”So, you didn't even see that purple light, did you?”
The young Don nodded.
”Sucks, another failure,” Nicolo clicked his tongue.
Hermes fixed his dress before he faced him.
”My apologies, I have no idea what happened that night. It's kind of rude to ask, but now that you mention it. Can you share some information related to it?”
”Kid, sorry. It's confidential, ” simpered Nicolo as he hid his notepad back to his drawer that was hidden under the table. ”I just can't fully trust you yet. That's all. No heart feelings. Oh, by the way, these are yours, right?”
Nicolo placed down on the table a plastic bag. The young Don opened it and found one tourist card from the village hall and the emblem of the Carmella family.
”Yes, these are my properties,” confirmed Hermes as he returned it back inside the bag. ”Thank you for returning this to me without taking charges. I mean, thank you for returning my properties for free.”
”Oh, it's nothin'. You're welcome, kid. Be grateful that you have that emblem or else I won't even dare to free you off-charges, lend you some clothes, and offer you food and drink.”
”Oh, is that so? Well, I'll tell Chief Zamor that you save me as my repayment for your duty. How 'bout it?” said the young Don as he gulped the cup 'till the last drop.
”Ho ho, it's been an honor to hear that part. Y' know what. We're going to be good friends.”
'I hope not. I don't wish to be friends with someone like you.' Hermes thought as he turned his gaze at the people outside through the window.
”So, what's the history behind that mask?” Nicolo changed the subject and pointed his index to his mask. Hermes, sighed, turned his attention at the guard, ”It's for my protection. Nothin' more, nothin' else.”
”You're very secretive. How can we become friends if you don't even share somethin' about it?” Nicolo took a sip and leaned his chin on his hands.
”Hey, officer. Does your law have some sense here?” Hermes nagged. ”Like, respect the right of the citizen, literate, illiterate, s.l.u.t or bitches, stupid, moron or doughbag to be quiet?”
”Oh, you're using some logical defense here. A'ight, you win. I won't ask anything anymore. But to be frank, I still want to learn about that mask. That time. That night. I tried to remove it from your face but for some unknown reason, I couldn't.”
Hermes remained quiet while listening to his story. To his surprise, he learned that the mask remained intact to his face even he tried to pull it by using push bars. There, it was actually strange. He had a doubt that the man in front of him. However, it revealed to him that he hadn't discovered his real identity by some hints coming out from his mouth.
”There, I saw you at that time at the right block in the middle of the street in District 4. Now, that's the story.”
”I see. Thanks for sharing it,” Hermes stood up and stretched his arms onward.
”Hey, do you want me to pour your cup with coffee?” Nicolo offered.
”No need, officer. I'm good,” replied Hermes.
”Hike, it's a waste if we don't drink this, after all, I'm the one who made this.” he sighed with a disappointed face.
”Oh, by the way, officer,” Hermes leaned his back against the wall. Folded arms.
Nicolo turned his gaze at the young Don and smiled, ”Yes?”
”Have you seen a black-haired maniac. *cough* Excuse me. I mean a black-haired butler with lime eyes and light-skinned teenager. He might be at his 20's and have a height might be around 180 centimeters tall or higher than that.”
”Unfortunately, I have not seen anyone like that. Does that mean he's your friend?”
”My personal butler.” the young Don scratched his head before he continued, ”Nothin' more but a loyal servant of mine.”
”A butler? It's not a surprising fact because you already told me that you're a merchant though. It's quite simple. Anyways, I won't help you to find your servant even you have that emblem. There's a limitation for that item that sometimes useless to be used, you know. Sorry, if you want me to ask for my help, you need to give me some valuable reason to do so,” explained Nicolo as he cleaned up the table.
Behind his mask, the young Don was mad. This man had a duty to protect and serve the people, but even he used the emblem gave to him by the chief, this guard sarcastically declined before he asked for his assistance. The society in his previous world was already rotten since the beginning of civilization. But to think the influence of the original had affected the game setting was unsettling. Humans tended to do anything on their powers that benefit themselves. Even there's love, people opted for their personal and rational reasoning to gain power in that world.
”Good morning,” a familiar voice made Hermes turned his gaze at the door. ”Good morning, is somebody there?”
”Come in.” Nicolo cleaned his hands and opened the door after the door being knocked in the fourth time. As the door opened slowly, a young and handsome man with black hair and lime eyes wore a butler suit and black trousers. He had white gloves on his hands and a short blade hanging on his left waist.
”Oh, good morning. It's been a p.l.e.a.s.u.r.e to meet you. My name is Justin. And, am I not mistaken that there's someone I know that had been here.”
”Ah, that's great. Hey kid, he's here. That one you're looking for.”
The young Don stepped forward with his arms still folded and pressed on his c.h.e.s.t.
”My Don!” simpered Justin with glistering eyes.
”Hey, Justin,” the young Don smiled.
”My Don!” Justin slowly stepped forward and readied himself to hug him.
”Justin~” the young Don spread his arms. ”Come.”
”My beloved Don~~~”
”Jus… tin!” before he could embrace his master, the young Don closed his fist, bent his left knee and punched his face, and the butler dropped down on the surface thereafter. ”Where the f.u.c.k have you been, you f.u.c.kin' moron?”