Minutes passed and his heart was beating like a bandwagon.
"I am sorry." Her sudden confession surprised him.
He was quite afraid of triggering her patience level but never expected her to be this kind, wait was she really the same Mia he met 5 years back?
"You have your own opinions and I should respect them."
One more bolt of surprise? What was really happening?
For a brief moment, he went into deep thought and realised that she was way mature now than in the past.
He still had glimpses of her being upset with Kelly when she had randomly said a few bad words about Arthur.
Mia just defended him from a stranger perspective with 'It's his life and why do you care about it?' line.
Later on, she never spoke to Kelly with the reason of her being loquacious and a negative Nancy type personality. If not kelly's prayers and begging he was sure she would ditch Kelly for a whole lifetime.
And now he understood the reason behind her strange behaviour.
Was his naive cute cub a mature lady lioness now?
He smiled at the thought confusing those puppy eyes which were waiting for a reply.
"I said I am sorry."
Blinking his eyes, he shook his head and mumbled,
"I am sorry. I should have weighed my words."
"It's not your fault. The whole world looks at him in a similar way and Master never cared to change it."
"Let's not talk about it." He tried to cut the conversation but Mia shook her head.
"Master is one among few whom I sincerely respect and defend. He is really close to my heart and since you stand in the same, I want you to hear the actual fact."
Her eyes sparkled with a glint of gold and he knew this was his final warning to never dare to mention Arthur again.
"I don't know why uncle never tried correcting your thoughts or maybe you were too busy to hear him." Mumbling she tried to sit and he helped her.
Clinging to his shoulder, she started,
"Underworld is not a choice but its necessary for most who join in. Yes, I know there are a lot who join in greed but most join to feed themselves, their families. For most this is the last light of hope which would hold them back from death. You won't understand even if I elaborate so let's shift to the main topic."
He nodded intertwining his hand with hers.
"Our Clan as a beautiful history. It's not just a group of gangsters wanting to rule the world. For many when looked from afar its just a cruel place to live, a vicious place filled only with cunning civil's but its the not case."
"But it is known for being cruel." He retorted.
"Sigh, I will get to that point."
Adjusting her head, she continued,
"Cruelty is just a cover which hides our main motto."
"Just like how there are evils and goods in the outside world similar we have two sides. One which merely works for a living and doesn't harm innocent and the other which only cares about power, money and other things. As years grew, greed overpowered the good ones and hatred towards us spread like an infectious disease throughout the world."
"Han Clan had lived for more than a hundred years but only a few outsiders know its history."
"At the beginning, it was just a small group of lads robbing Richie's like you. But as years went by it slowly started spreading its wings and around 60 years back, Master's grandfather began turning the underworld pattern. From then, the only motto our clan got is to fight against these evils and the ones in the outside world. It continued through the years and we were recognised a the strongest in Master's father era. Grand Master as known for his powers, for his connections all around the world. More people joined the clan and he gave a new cover to our whole clan. "
"For outsiders, we may kill people but only a few know, we kill only who bankrupts innocents, who assault people and their rights. You might not be aware of every politician, every business leader, every high elite family's dark secrets but we have it all and we get the information in seconds. It just measures our strength which is way more powerful than commoners like you think."
"All these years, our clan as always fought against evil creatures and you know we even have a rule, kill an innocent to welcome your
death."
"Means?"
"If any clan member kills an innocent, if any clan
member has that greed for power, he will be brutally murdered."
"Isn't that vicious?"
"Haha, do you expect anything less in the underground?"
With a deep sigh, she continued,
"But too bad this world is full of evils that just a few generations can not succumb them. It has continued from years and it will continue in the future. No matter what, our clan will always work to evade evilness from this world, to protect the innocents as hard as we can."
He was just amazed by this actual truth. If he heard this from anyone else, from his own father he would have never believed considering it as a lie. But her words, her eyes were enough for him to digest this unusual truth.
"So in actual fact, we are those guardians of the society who cloaks in the taboo of cruelty. Is it clear or you still have any doubts?"
"But how can your clan be so powerful?"
"People, we have people we can trust. Every member is worth to fit our clan and even the future we allow only the one who can fit our culture, our motto and our policy. And connections too, Master is well-known for connections all around the world."
"I mean, how are your people trained to fight? I am sure in the underworld there would be fights at every single minute."
"Some are trained right from their childhood, like orphans, children who wish to join us, children who like don't have anyone on whom they can depend. They are adopted under 'Futures of Han clan' campaign. Some join by influence, some are migrated from clan's we have destroyed. There are many ways and every category as different types of trainers."
"And what about the leader?"
"It's in the rule, Only Han's can be the rulers but a few years back master changed it. Right now, participants of higher ranks can participate and there would be a year-long competition to choose the next ruler."
"You have ranks too?"
"Yes, I can not share the details but we do have ranks just like how there are ranks in parliament. You can say like pokemon species we too evolve at every rank. The more we kill evils, the more overpowering, the higher is our rank."
"And what about the competition?"
"And yeah ranks are not at all discriminated in any way whether by gender, age or race. So, whatever age or gender may be the highest ran holders can apply and competitions have many levels mixed with different grade missions. I am not allowed to share much info."
"So you guys aren't the bad bullies but, "
"Warriors capturing the evils, trying to subdue evilness to make this earth a better place to live."
She cut him with a smile.
"How vast is your clan?"
"It's like a huge kingdom with strong people."
He smiled and nodded. She was answering his every question patiently making sure not letting the exact info come out.
"What about your opponent? I am sure there might be a strong enemy of yours?"
"There is one. But years back it directed their path into our way. They wanted to be like us but I don't know where what went wrong, they turned eviler than one could imagine. Before Master was throned, their clan got a different name, their ruler was dethroned and their way bent opposite to ours. It has been pinned in history pages. I don't know much information but since I joined the clan, I have seen and have killed most of their men trying to murder, slaughter, rape and what to innocent ones."
"Argh, let's not dig in much. The lesser you know the better for you."
He guessed the more power they had, the more important for them to hide their stuff so he nodded and gave up.
This long conversation as sure changed his stance about this legendary clan and their present ruler.
"My last question, what will you guys do with those guys?"
"The men I didn't kill or the ones I killed?"
"Both."
"Except for the leader, we would dig information about each and every one. The lesser their crimes are the more compensation their family gets as an apology from our side. And every single body would be given to hospitals. Their organs would be donated to the ones who are in need for free."
His mouth was agape. How can they be so kind and humble from the heart?
He never expected a clan would also have such a type of ruling methodology.
"And the ones who are still alive, they would be given many options and one would be joining our clan. And this one main reason how our clan got a huge population and great men under us. Trust is important and it flows throughout our clan."
"You mean? Their organs would be donated for free? And you would take in people and train them for free? This goes for every mission you go and every clan you destroy." He was still assimilating this as it was beyond his thinking.
She nodded and smiled.
"This is just one of the good things we do. If I narrate every single one it might take months to complete."
"Ohh. And How? I mean how does the revenue system works?"
"Investments, programs, blackmail the heirs and the rich who only have black money and many other things. And every member gets his own salary or pocket money you can say. Argh, let's not go in deep. I might be considered as a infiltrate and it may cost me life."
"You kill traitors?"
"Of course, why would we be kind to the ones who only know to cheat and betray?" She smirked and later pouted at him.
"Didn't you agree on sleeping?"
Closing his eyes with her hands, she repeated,
"Sleep now. I think you got a clearer view of our clan. To explain in one last line, we are good and are just battling with evils. We are cruel but to only who deserve."
"Yes Yes. I understand it now."
"Good. Sleep now."
Snuggling in his arms, she smiled.
"Good Night."
With a huge grin, she kissed his cheek surprising and making him chuckle at the cute gesture.
She thought for a while and getting up a bit, she kissed his other cheek.
"No partiality." She mumbled and closed her eyes.
He laughed out loud and looked at her smiling face.
Kissing her forehead, he carefully hugged her and both went into a deep slumber.
...
"What's wrong?" Arnold and Steven who were at the door asked the nurse.
"I actually wanted to give meds and Ma'am still has drips."
"Ohh, it's ok. As long as she isn't weak don't give her drips today. There are still 8 bottles, resume it from tomorrow. She just woke up so let her get some rest."
The nurse nodded and left the place.
They entered and were totally surprised by the scene.
Steven smiled and was on cloud nine as his Lil bean as finally found a man to lean on.
Even though Ian was asleep, he was still making sure she was comfortable in his arms and made sure she was covered in a secure hug under the quilt.
This gesture warmed the old men's hearts.
"They look great. Isn't it?"
"Yes. But I wish you will also give Xavier a chance. That woman will slaughter you if you won't keep up your promise." Arnold said with a hint of concern.
"Audrina. I don't know why that old man married her. She is like a jinx in his life." Steven huffed in annoyance.
"Hahaha, a joyous Jinx for him to endure." Arnold commented and smiling one last at the young couple, they left the place.
The storm was yet to counter and even they didn't have a clue.
...
City B(Mia's hometown)
But the whole Han clan, the leader himself was in a mess.
He never knew things were this wrong in his deceased best friend Nick's life.
He never knew steven's life was already in a mess which he himself was unaware.
He never knew, hi-his Lil bean's future will not be in a good shape, she she would still have a long road, a huge battle to fight.
"I I never knew she was the leader of that, "
Audrina gulped her words at his deep sigh.
"How How How can she be this cruel?"
"Calm Down. Your questions are just rubbing salts on my deep wounds." Arthur's words clenched her heart.
"You You You gonna inform Stev?"
Shaking his head, he mumbled,
"First let me try all my vain out. Send in Xavier, he needs to know this."
"He is still a kid."
"He is her shadow. If not him whom do you think I need to share this secret with? The earlier he knows the better."
With a deep sigh, Audrina nodded and left the room.
"I thought you were an angel, Helen. But who knew you always a disguised demon."
His face had mixed emotions. Anger, frustration, grief, revenge, every emotion waved through his face.