Arristide is on his home with Alvin Knight at his side. Arristide wants to know how many of his enemies/rivals are still on the city working. Alvin Knight tells him that Congressman Mark C Miller Jr has been untouchable and he has taken out many of his rivals. he tells him that Alberto Esposito has lost a lot, but he is still standing like if nothing has ever change for him. then there is Mr Blue-Ribbon representing the interests of his boss Brandon Ice.
Arristide laughs loudly as he thinks in a way to make sure that his enemies won't be a problem to him. Arristide asks to Alvin if he knows why his nickname is 'Short-Tempered.' to this question the butler didn't have an answer. Arristide tells him an anecdote about him in his early days, with many detail he explains how is that he was able to kill more than one person in an attack of rage when he was provoked then.
"my point is that for my rage problems was that I get that nickname. I deal better now with my rage problems. the thing is that every other gangster in this city has looked down on me because they don't know of what I am capable. they only know me for that guy who can't control his anger issues."
"master. if I may, I want to say that you are the head of the Bellucci family now. you have two assassin groups under your hands. you have the name and power to make anyone tremble with one single word. my lord, my master none of them is at your level and they only look down on you because they don't know your true potential."
"the problem is that I don't know what to do now. we are four gangsters fighting for the control of the city. if I attack first they all might come at me. if I am seen too weak or too strong they all might come at me. now that we are only four is when things are getting uneven for me to take any advantage."
"master. if I may, forgive my words but I think you are seen this in the wrong way. why don't you see this as a real life four-way chess game? when you play a four-way chess is normal for two players to make alliances to take down the other two players. now is normal to do that because. A, it takes longer to end the game when is everyone against everyone. B, it also happens when you are not sure that you can defend yourself from three enemies."
Arristide can't trust in the congressman or in the representative of Brandon Ice. his only choice is to make an alliance with Alberto Esposito. when Blind Thief was still alive he told him about the past in between Alberto Esposito and the Drainer. if Arristide wants make that alliance with Alberto then the Drainer needs to be gone from his team.
later on a bus station on the city.....
Daisuke is with his brother Akio (Akio is going to leave the city with his band. they got a contract with someone from the music industry.) Akio tells to his brother to take care of Arturo and he promises to come to visit. Daisuke just wants his brother to leave and to stop bothering Arturo all the time.
Daisuke hugs him and asks him to never come back to the city. he tells him that he won't be missed. Akio tells to his brother to stop talking. actually the two brothers care for each other but of course they are brothers so they have to fight and to sound like they hate each other.
as the two brothers were hugging Arturo walked in front of them with ice cream. cookies & cream for Akio and fruit punch for Daisuke. Akio asks him if he is going to watch his next concert once his band is famous. Arturo tells him that there is no way in hell he can miss out something so important like Akio's concert.
"Akito I have on my home a copy of your first CD. your next CD better be as good."
Arturo usually calls Akio, Akito because Arturo is from the Aztec Nation [Mexico in the time line of this story (which takes place in an alternative future) is call the Aztec Nation] in the Aztec Nation is normal to add ito to someones name, is something like in the Unified Factions of Amerigo they add ny or by. example John+ny=Johnny or Tobias+by=Tobby. other example Arturo+ito=Arturito.
Akio is eating his ice cream like a little kid (his mouth, nose and clothes are covered on ice cream.) Daisuke is eating slowly his ice cream trying to feel the flavor and avoiding to get dirty. Arturo is looking at them feeling like he is the older brother of those two.
Akio eventually leaves on a buss with his whole band. Daisuke is eating his ice cream with a peaceful smile. he receives a call from his boss. the call ends. Daisuke tells to his friend that he is once more unemployed with a smile.
"you are really going to miss your brother. stop pretending that you don't care for that boy. you are a really bad actor..... also I am glad that you are no longer working for that guy, I have a bad feeling every time I see the face of this 'boss.' whatever, let's go."
they are walking together. Daisuke asks to Arturo if he is not going to eat ice cream. Arturo laughs as he looks at the clouds on the sky. Arturo asks Daisuke if he wants to drink some beer. Daisuke tells him that the only way in which he would drink beer is if his friend is paying for him. Arturo asks which brand of beer he prefers.
Arturo receives a text from Arristide telling him that he has the rest of the week free for himself but after the next week he is going to work like a slave. there is going to be a lot to do. Arturo asks Daisuke if he has plans for the week.
earlier on the Miller mansion....
Jonathan Miller is having breakfast with his father. Jonathan looks like shit (he has been drinking a lot lately.) Mark asks to his son for how long he intends to keep spitting on the family name. Jonathan tells him that no one can stop him if he intends to keep drinking for the eternity. Mark is tired of his son.
Jonathan tells to his father that he is going to live somewhere else far away from him. Jonathan tells him that he isn't giving up on his love for Fumiko and no one can stop him. Mark is speechless (mostly because he has the feeling that his son is going to get kill for his stupidity.)
Mark tells him to take some of his men with him to protect him if he really wants independence. Jonathan reminds him that he is a Hero who can protect himself and the city from all evil. his father reminds him that he is stupid and the last time he fought against Bloodstain there were recordings of Ray of Hope crying.
Jonathan tells him that he is only going to use the bodyguards when he is in his civilian clothing. Jonathan wants to get away from the influence of his own dad. he also wants to start a new life at Fumiko's side. he can even leave the Hero life for her (or that he thinks.)
"son, I want you to take my place if something happens to me. I am living in this city full of criminals and some of them are after me. the only thing that I ask to the universe is to have enough time to see a grandchild."
Jonathan knows that his dad is an ass and a corrupt politician, but he doesn't know about him being one of the biggest heads of the mafia in the city. there is so much about his father that he doesn't know.
Mark fears that his son is going to hate him once he knows about his business. his son is fighting and risking his life to make the city a better place to everyone while Mark uses his influence to move on the shadows and to make illegal deals with criminals.
"I don't think I can ever be like you. I am a prick and an ass, but I am no criminal unlike you. I am better than you, dad."
Mark is drinking coffee pretending that he doesn't care for the words of his son. he tries to cover that those words actually did an effect on him. he knows that his son hates him. he can't find a way to repair his relationship with his son who is an adult.
at midnight on Arristide's secret base....
Arristide is siting on a table with Alberto Esposito at the other side. Bloodstain is next to his boss. Arristide asks Alberto if he wants to be his ally and help him to take down the only two guys on their way. Alberto asks him in which way such alliance can help him. Arristide promises him half of the city.
"I don't want to sound unprofessional. we are, were enemies. how can we put this behind us."
"my cousin is in a coma. I am the only one leading the family business. also I kick the Drainer an enemy of yours out of my team so you can see my desire to proceed with an unlikely, but profitable alliance."
Bloodstain looks at the other side when he hears those words. he knew that his friend was out of the team, but he didn't know why until now. he feels like things are becoming more and more complicate. he can feel it that he is walking in thin ice.
"I see, you are right. my conflict was with your cousin who is no longer in any way capable of defending himself and I don't like to overreact when things are simple & clean. you took one of your strongest muscles out of your team for me..... I take this deal. I only have one favor to ask from you, help me make sure that the Congressman ends up dead at the end of this journey. he is becoming too powerful for our own good."
"congressman who? neither him nor Brandon Ice's henchman are going to make it. we are officially the kings of the city and there can't be more than two kings in the city."
Alberto knows that it was Arristide who was behind the bank heist that cost him a lot of money and credibility which led to this pointless mafia war. it was also Arristide one of the main rivals who has created many holes on his pockets. the one reason why Alberto took the deal is because it is convenient to eliminate the Congressman, a person who was already in good terms with Brandon Ice. it won't be an exaggeration to think that Brandon Ice might make a deal with the Congressman in the future.
make no mistake this alliance is only to stop Alberto's biggest threat at the moment. once the Congressman and the henchman are down Alberto is going to go after Arristide's head and he will make sure that he is dead.
Alberto isn't the only one who is planning on betraying his ally in the future. Arristide has already come up with multiple plans to eliminate Alberto. this is a superficial alliance that is as thin as a wall of paper.
right now Alberto and Arristide are laughing and making friendly gestures. but every move they make is to give a false sense of safety to the other one. Alberto looks at his watch as he tells Arristide that he has to leave. Bloodstain tells to his boss that he doesn't trust in Alberto.
earlier on a secret lab...
Professor Barnett Villan is with Viktor. the Professor gave to his creation multiple test to solve since test of six grade to test of twelve grade. some test are of morals, some of math, some of English, some of science. what the Professor is trying to see is how much of his intelligence the creature kept.
the creature is solving the tests with a smile because it was told that he would get a prize no matter what is the result of course with the condition of giving his best. Viktor asks his 'dad' if they are going to go outside again. Professor Villan smirks with a creepy smile that the creation mistakes for a parental smile.
"Viktor you are too innocent for your own good. I told you that the world is cruel & evil towards the lambs that walk with good hearts, here you are smiling and expecting for the absurd. oh my sweet creation I fear for your future."
there was rage, sorrow and a bit of bitterness in Villan's words. he didn't intended to turn his creation into a cruel monster, he was just worry for the own well-being of his creation. the innocent eyes of that creature are going to be witness to the evil world.
"dad, is Viktor of no liking to you? Viktor can work better to be better for his dad. me Viktor is here to be your fists."
Viktor's words were honest and pure just as the hearts that are beating inside of him. Viktor could have been the product of multiple bodies and souls. he might had been created by evil scientists but in the end his actual personality was creation of no one. his personality was his and no one's else.
"forgive my rotten heart, my cruel intentions, my oblivious fate, oh science forgive my existence. I can tell by just looking at your face Viktor that one day those sweet eyes of yours that see me with love now, those same eyes would see me with rage someday. don't blame me then if I had warn you now."
the Professor Villan himself has forgotten for so long the meaning of being human that this days with Viktor have been cruel for him to see such kind eyes on an abomination that is not even dead nor alive. a creature that is not human nor animal. base on the human language the only description that fits Viktor is the word monster or broken doll.
Viktor saw tears falling from Villan's eyes. Viktor wanted to say something, but then he felt this sense like something telling him to not disturb him. one memory (one memory of the many souls inside of him) was awaken. he remembers that he tried to help someone crying once and it got worst. Viktor keeps working on his test on silence.
Professor Villan tells Viktor to wait for him as he leaves the laboratory for some hot lemonade. Villan touches his mustache as he walks far from his creation. at first Villan expected to see a brainless killing machine but what he has on his hands is nothing less than a child like creature unable to understand commands like murder.