VIENNA, AUSTRIA
My bow glided across the strings of my violin, and my music bewitched the audience.
***
"How old is he?"
"I heard he's only eight."
"Eight years old and he's performing Niccolo Paganini's 24 Caprices at Grosser Musikvereinssaal as the opening act," a lavishly dressed aristocrat gasped, "This child is a genius! He's more of a prodigy than Joshua Bell, what is his name?"
"Kang Ho. He's the grandson of the current head of the Kang Family, which is one half of KangMung, a rather large Conglomerate from South Korea M'lady. He's the child that has been hailed as a 'once in a millennia genius', he was even in the paper you read this morning."
The Aristocrat's eyes widened, "So that's Kang Ho! The child that has been shocking the world with his intelligence! I heard he was young but I didn't realise he was this young," she exclaimed, her jade eyes sparkled excitedly.
"There's nothing he can't do" her companion whispered to her, "He has an almost perfect eidetic memory, his comprehension skills are amazing. He has won various international awards in various categories, far exceeding veterans who are much older than him. He even speaks ten languages fluently."
"Ten, my goodness."
"You think that's shocking, apparently he was able to speak eloquently by the age of 10 months... his brain is more developed than others...I don't know the specifics but over the year's hundreds of esteemed scientists have visited South Korea just to get a chance to examine him....he has bewitched the world."
The Aristocrat's companion pointed towards the front row, "Do you see that Asian man sitting between Lord and Lady Blackwood, that's Kang Seung, the child's grandfather. He's been using the boy's talents and influence to greatly extend his network. The KangMung group while powerful in terms of business never had a big political foothold in the west, but through that child, they've firmly established themselves and made significant connections."
"That child is a golden ticket." The Aristocrat fanned herself, "It's not surprising that everyone is quickly trying to become close with the KangMung group, I'm also fascinated by that child; not only is he a genius, just look at him." The Aristocrat peered through her golden miniature binoculars, "he has an otherworldly countenance; he looks like a walking angel, so pure, soft and holy...yet his eyes they carry something sombre, sinister and alluring...Such a beautiful child..."
"You're right, he'll grow up to break many hearts, that's for sure. And with how intelligent, well mannered and cunning he is, it's obvious to all that he'll accomplish grand things."
"Maybe I should set him up with Anastasia?"
Her companion's curled moustache twitched with shock, "You can't be serious My lady no matter how talented and intelligent he is, he's not nobility and he's from the-"
"Hush" she whispered seductively into the man's ear, "This could be the new hope for our declining family, we need to put pride on the backburner. They're both of the same age, and even if he's not of blue blood he's still from a powerful family with a long and pure dynasty and bloodline. The Kang family now have several diplomatic ties with prominent people that we want to do business with...this boy is our gateway."
She smiled prettily, "When the performance ends, be sure to send out a formal invitation so we can introduce the children to each other."
The man simply nodded subserviently..."I will be sure to do so..."
***
I was unaware of the conversation happening in the audience as I played. All I could think of was the music.
Contrary to what these people believed, I was no musical genius. In fact, in my previous life Music was the one thing I struggled with the most. Music was like martial arts or sports, it was a skill that needed to be trained and honed over time, although my impressive memory gave me an advantage it didn't remove the challenge.
Perhaps it's the struggle that makes me love music the most out of all my hobbies...well aside from killing.
I had spent most of my life, decades, playing the violin. Yet I never had the chance to perform until this new life. Being paraded around the world by Kang Seung to show off my skills, was very much for diplomacy and business, but I enjoyed every part of it. Especially this moment, being able to play in front of these insects and make them dance to my tune....I enjoyed every part of it.
I came to the end of my piece, the lights dimmed and I bowed before the large concert hall. Within seconds the silence of the onlookers transformed into loud claps and standing ovations. Some roses were thrown at the stage as I left, and I smiled brightly as I waved goodbye.
There was a great unexplainable power that came from being loved and fawned over by so many people.
"You did so well Kang Ho!" A crowd of musicians, from the Orchestra that was the main act of the night's concert, came running up to me.
"How are we gonna surpass your amazing performance Kang Ho?"
"Du hast es so gut gemacht!"
There were so many of them that I couldn't tell who was speaking to me. "Danke schön" I thanked them all, "I'm glad you all liked it, I was really nervous" I spoke in English, "I'm sure you will easily do better than me, I can't wait to see you all perform, I've been looking forward to it all night" I smiled nervously.
That small comment won their hearts quickly, I was caught up in a whirlwind of praise and noise but then a tall shadow appeared before me, "Now ladies and gentlemen I'm sure you have to prepare for your performance, I suggest you let my Young Master rest."
Min Ho said this with a smile, but there was a pressure in his voice and a firmness in the way he stood that made everyone obey him. In a matter of seconds, it was just Min Ho and me in the corridor.
He picked me up easily. "You did well Young Master, another stunning performance. Those elitist vultures watched you like you were some trophy and of course Kang Seung used you per usual as his ticket into exclusive events." Min Ho said this with a monotonous unemotional tone but his eyes gleamed red with madness.
"It would be so great if we could get rid of them all wouldn't it," I said playfully.
My mongrel nodded, "I want to slaughter all those that treat you like some object, especially Kang Seung."
I laughed loudly but then my expression turned cold, "Well that's no good, you're supposed to protect me and only kill those I tell you to kill. Your wants and desires should be what I want and desire, right?"
Min Ho panicked and quickly reassured me, "Of course, all I want is to be there for you. I'll only kill who you want, all I want is what you want Young Master... I wouldn't dare act on those impulses unless you wanted me to."
I watched him beg until he was near tears and then I cracked a smile and patted him on the head, "That's good because you're all I have Min Ho."
"You're all I have too Young Master."
"Good, good, now did you do what I told you to do?"
Min Ho nodded. Once we entered my dressing room he gently placed me on the sofa as he brought out his phone.
"Once Cha Hunha[1] was released from Prison I had my people pick her up and take her to our play area. They did what was instructed."
"Show me."
Min Ho handed me his phone, playing on the screen was live footage from my Play Area. In a large container was Cha Hunha. she was restrained and held up by a lever, and she was buried up to her neck in talcum powder.
She cried; tears streaming down her face as she begged, "Please I don't know who you are or what I've done to you, but please, please let me go!!!"
A wide grin spread over my face, and I spoke into the phone. My voice came out through the speakers in the Play Area with a filter that made me sound like Jigsaw.
"In order to survive, you must follow my rules. The first rule, eat all the powder. Swallow every last bit of it, and you will see another day."
[1] Reminder - Cha Hunha was the maid that smacked Kang Ho in chapter 5 and was arrested in chapter 10.