June arrived at the agency's parking spaces, only to find two new cars in the slots. He figured some talents must have arrived earlier than expected. After all, they should be restless in coming to Perseus. Just like him and Reese, those people were being aided by demons in their dreams. As for how generous their demons could get, June didn't know. He wasn't keen on knowing, either.
He walked inside the building with the two bags, greeting his mother who smiled at him as well. "Mom, can you take your lunch now? I brought delicious food!"
"Sir Reese said I can take my lunch as soon as you arrive. Are we really going to have lunch together all the time? Wouldn't that make your schedule tighter?" Freya was ready to leave and helped him with one of the bags. "Follow me, follow me. The employee pantry is so nice! Sir Reese said that once we have a lot of employees, we will have a cafeteria here. For now, we should take advantage of your free entry."
"Wow, this place is so nice!" June whistled. It was so luxurious for an employee pantry with all those pieces of equipment and top-class table sets. It's just that with demons funding the agency, what could Reese not do with the design? Moreover, he could also be bringing the name of the Castelli.
The man set down the bags and took out the boxes. After June opened them and made his mother happy, they took their lunch together. June had to take advantage of feeding his mother good food as much as he could. If he could bring Eurkodach's cooking to her every day, he would. Now that he wasn't being turned away, he should take back all the time he could get.
Knock, knock. While Freya was enjoying her food, June heard someone knocking on the door. The actor turned to find Devin leaning on the doorframe.
"June, Reese and the others would be happy if you join them after your lunch with your mom." Devin didn't sport a smile. He could see the number of food boxes on the table, wondering if June could still humor them with lunch. Wouldn't June burst if he ate some more?
"You should go, June. Sir Reese might be introducing you to some friends. Having friends is good!" Freya pumped her fists as if she was thirty years younger.
"All right." June looked at the empty boxes and the only one in front of his mom. He then turned to Devin. "Can I join them after my mom finishes her food?"
Freya looked down at the cupcakes that served as her dessert. She then shook her head at June. Picking the lid of the box, she closed it. "I already ate too much. I'll save these for later when I get home. There are so many boxes. I will wash them first before heading back to my desk."
With a pout, June stared at his mother, his eyes narrowing as if he was sulking. Then, he just offered a smile before getting up from the seat. He just helped her in stacking the boxes and bringing them to the sink. In the end, she stayed behind to wash everything after keeping the cupcakes in a smaller pack that Devin provided to her.
…
It was strange. June just had a feast for himself and his mom earlier, but he was weird feeling the sensation of insatiable hunger while he was standing in the elevator. For some reason, he was not yet full.
"Was it because I shared my food with Mom?" June whispered as he watched the turn of numbers in the LED panel. He then sighed as soon as the elevator stopped on his floor. He exited the car and walked to where he was being led by his feet.
There, he smelled another feast in the making. He then saw another woman in her formal suit fixing up the table as if serving them… whoever was inside. However, her image suddenly wavered, revealing a bodacious gorgon with huge bat wings shooting out of her hips.
The woman felt like someone just stripped off her illusion. She tracked the source of the gaze and saw another man looking at her. Her eyes glared before softening a little. "Ah, it's you. Apologies, I must have mistaken you for an insolent being. Lord Lucirien often does what he likes, so please excuse my first impression of you."
"I can't see him doing otherwise. Do you have a name I can call you with?" June continued walking past the doors and saw three more people with Reese. Seeing them sort of made him freeze.
"I am known as Louisa in the mortal realm, Mr. June." Louisa, the servant gorgon, gestured to the others. "I stand attendant to Mr. Castelli."
June had no idea who those men with Reese were, but their back views all gave him a sense of apprehension. Even Reese was a shaking leaf under their gazes. Those three men all had the aura that Lantis was giving off. Hearing that one of them was a 'Mr. Castelli,' June realized that somehow… the person standing as Lucirien's father in the eyes of the humans was here.
The one looking out the glass walls turned his head to find a glimpse of June over his shoulder. With a wine glass at hand, he moved to face the approaching human. The demon's visage was of an old man, yet he was stern and strong. It was like the body could still fight off people at eighty. However, he only looked so unforgiving under the custom suit.
His chin lifted as if looking down at the actor. Then… a smile broke out. "Neptune Verrier! The pleasure is definitely mine. The seal on the master was complicated, and yet you… all you did was walk right through it and shatter everything that the monks had done. Look at you—so ordinary yet so special…!"
"Ah, the master's benefactor has arrived." "I expected more since he looked good in the movies."
The two other men turned to let Reese breathe. However, unlike the old man, they didn't seem to be on top of the food chain—well, they were executives, but not among the highest echelons. June only had a little impression of them in his mind: one had a funny mustache, while the other was balding under the wig. At this, he wasn't even sure why these demons didn't choose to look otherworldly beautiful…
"What do they call you for an acquaintance? June?" The old man walked closer to him and invited him to their table. "The mortals know me as Massimo Castelli, the current head of the family. I came here to see how Perseus is doing, albeit that I came too early."
"It's nice to meet you, Mr. Castelli. How are you related to Lantis? Just so I can keep up with the cover." June somewhat smiled at them, regarding their glittering eyes at a minimum. He didn't think that the other demons would look at him like this; after all, he had already forgotten that he released Lucirien from a spell. As for how he did it, he had no idea.
"Ah, yes, you and Master are supposed to be childhood friends, no? I am his granduncle at the moment." The old man sat down and offered the huge platter of lobster to June. "I have the standing to spoil you!"
With a slight smile, June wanted to refuse to eat their food. However, when his gaze descended on the whole lobster, he could only think of how to get a second one in his hands. The actor slowly got on a seat and plucked the arm right off.
The two others joined the actor and the old man. Reese sighed at the relief of having June around, but he couldn't unsee the fact that June was… eating the lobster like he was a black hole. Everything was being chewed twice or thrice only before another bite came. June didn't seem to be aware of how he ate.
"His voracity is showing almost very deliberately." Massimo laughed as he started pushing plates toward June as if the feast was for him instead. "Be mindful of your decisions, my little imps. If Master becomes unhappy, he will feed you to the eager wolf."
"…uh, Mr. Castelli…" June broke out of his trance. He then lowered the pincer he just emptied. "Did you call for me to see me, or do you have something to tell me?"
At this, Massimo's smile dropped. "Erm, yes. Devin relayed what you have heard from that producer. It does seem like this… Jonathan Stallis is making an enemy out of us… out of you."