As everyone settled into their seats on the couches, two dons per couch, I found myself without a place to sit. Taking initiative, I grabbed a chair and positioned it in front of the couches, a bold move that made me look like the leader. The 4 dons turned their heads toward me, surprised by my arrogance.
Diego Diablos, with his deep, aged voice, spoke up, his eyebrow raised in a stern warning, "Do you want to die?!"
"Oh? Why on earth would I want that?" I pretended to be clueless, knowing full well that it was only provoking the old men even further.
Before Diego Diablos could respond, Adem intervened, a hint of nervousness in his voice, "Hahaha, forget about it, Diego."
But Diego persisted, questioning Adem's trust in me, "Tsk, fine. And what's so great about him, Adem? Why do you like him so much? There's nothing special about smuggling drugs from other countries."
"Well, as you all know, my family is the smallest among all of us, so it's not worth risking smuggling from abroad for now. I'm relying on The Nameless," Adem explained.
Diego seemed to be correct when he said that they would betray us the moment a better opportunity arose.
Adem was trading with me because he didn't want to take the risk; he preferred to buy the drugs locally, at least for the time being.
"I see. Just be careful, Adem. I sense a dark and treacherous heart in that guy. But, I suppose we all have that kind of heart," Diego Diablos remarked.
Listening to Diego judging my character based on his senses, I couldn't help but laugh. "Hahahaha, that's ridiculous. My heart is as pure as they come."
Diego gazed into my eyes with his experienced gaze, addressing me directly. "I've never misjudged a person before, so I'm certain you're a terrible person. However, it's none of my business. What I'm interested in is whether you collaborate with corrupt labs in other countries for your supplies or if you have a direct supplier from abroad. Also, I'd like to know the cost of manufacturing ecstasy and the prices at which you sell them," Diego bombarded me with questions I didn't have answers for.
"That's classified information. My organization operates in the shadows, but not like the mafia. We thrive in the deepest shadows, where no one can find out about us unless I permit it," I informed them, even though they didn't ask.
My intention was to portray my organization as powerful and enigmatic, hoping to instill caution and wariness among the dons. And to some extent, it seemed to have worked.
"Is that so?" Dominic Romano jumped in "I have great respect for you then Mr. Nameless. Perhaps in the future, we could collaborate. Adem's trust in you carries weight, and therefore, we trust you as well. However, do keep in mind that if your 'shadowy' organization attempts to encroach upon our territory, my family will crush you with our full force," Dominic warned, his words measured and unwavering.
I mocked his warning and then reassured him to not furher inrage him, "Hahahaha, interesting. I'm not sure about being crushed, but you would certainly deal me severe damage. But don't fret, territorial ambitions are not our concern. As I mentioned before, we prefer to operate discreetly from the shadows, spanning the entire country rather than staking claim to specific territories."
As their grins slowly dissipated, their expressions turned serious, seemingly acknowledging my fabricated 'power.' However, Albedo remained composed, drinking her tea and wearing a calm smile as she curiously inquired, "I wonder, what lies beneath that blurry mask?" All of us turned our attention to her, it became apparent that we had all seemingly forgotten she was even there. Such was her unobtrusive nature, quietly blending into the surroundings, making her presence barely noticeable.
"A face, what else, hahahaha," Adem replied for me casually, lightening the mood.
"No, I mean deeper. Are you an angel or a demon?" Albedo persisted, her gaze fixated on me.
Looking directly into her eyes, I responded, "Do not think of it as a simple dichotomy of good or evil. Different people have varying perspectives on what constitutes good and evil. Take, for instance, a soldier—some might view them as a virtuous angel fighting for their country, while others may perceive them as a malevolent demon for taking lives. It's merely two contrasting viewpoints judging the same entity. Good or Evil is simply a moral perspective we humans created."
"What an eye-opening speech, The Nameless. Impressive," Albedo complimented, applauding lightly.
I blushed and scratched the back of my head. "Hahaha, sorry. I just thought it was a good perspective to consider when contemplating good and evil. And even now It all comes down to perspective, a powerful thing indeed."
"Yes, truly," she agreed.
"So, to answer your question, to some people, I might be the devil, while to others, I might be an angel sent straight from heaven."
The others listened attentively, and I felt a sense of fulfillment, as if I were playing the role of a teacher imparting wisdom.
"Hahahah, I like you, sir," Dominic Romano complimented with his red hair before rising from his seat. "Well, it's time for you to leave, Mr. Nameless. I apologize for abruptly ending your stay, but the major families have some confidential business to discuss," he explained, his demeanor respectful as he opened the door for me.
"Oh, yea right, no problem," i said, promptly standing up and walking away. "Have a great evening, sirs" I added before Dominic Romano closed the door.
Walking through the hallways and descending the stairs, I couldn't help but think, "Tsk, what a letdown. I had hoped to strike deals with these fuckers, but it seems they weren't quite entertained by my presence. Nevertheless, I now know who I'm dealing with and whom I should avoid crossing. Adem Krasniqi's family appears to be the weakest, only controlling Zasavje. Then there's Dominic Romano's family, seemingly the most intrigued by me. The Lady's family, led by Albedo, caught my attention as she stared at me throughout the entire gathering. Lastly, Diego Diablos, with a last name like that, you just know they're dangerous. I definitely don't want to provoke those individuals, at least not for now."
In short 1. Diablos, 2. Ladies 3. Romano 4. Krasniqi in terms of power.
Wearing a slightly disappointed expression, I left the middle of the party at the mansion and headed to a nearby bus stop.
It was already 2 a.m., and despite being springtime, the chill in the air made me shiver. Scanning the bus schedules, I realized that no buses would take me back to my city at this late hour. I decided to call a taxi instead.
As I waited for the taxi, my attention was drawn to a homeless man sleeping on the bench nearby, emanating a strong smell of alcohol. Feeling a mix of concern and curiosity, I approached him and gently woke him up.
"Sir, can you please let me sit here?" I asked politely.
He slowly stood up, swaying unsteadily, and suddenly lost his balance, falling to the floor. Reacting quickly, I rushed to his aid, helping him back up and guiding him to sit beside me on the bench.
His eyes, clouded and disoriented, met mine as he mumbled, "Can yoU TelL ME So-mething,,?"
"Sure, what is it?"
"Where Am I rIght nOw Brup?" he questioned, his speech slurred.
I couldn't help but burst out laughing at him, "hahahahah, what? You're in Koper, bro, hahahah!"
"KopEr? HoW did i get hERe?" he inquired, still struggling to make sense of his surroundings.
"I don't know,"
"Can you tell me where I am right now boy??"
I started laughing even harder "PFHHHHHAHAHA, what have you drank."
"i DONt knoW" He then fumbled in his pocket and pulled out some crumpled bills, asking, "Is this enough to buy a beer?"
Amused by his question, I said, "Yeah, you could buy as much beer as you want with that."
"I WANt To gO Homee!" he suddenly started screaming, his voice filled with desperation.
Curious to help him, I asked, "Where do you live?"
"HrasTnik," he replied.
"All right, a bus to Hrastnik will come soon, and you can go home," I reassured him.
"RealLy?" he questioned, hope flickering in his eyes.
While chatting, my eyes wandered to the money he had pulled out earlier, and a stong urge took hold of me. "By the way, can I please have some money?" I asked, hoping to gain a few extra bucks for myself.
"SssiNce Yoou AskEd so nicely... Or no, wHy Do you NeEd the MonEy?" he inquired.
I explained a fake sobbing story, "Every time I go out with my friends, they pay for my food and drinks, and my parents never give me money. So that's why, please."
"Ok ok ok ok ok, here," he said, handing me a five-dollar bill.
I thanked him and took the money, but I felt the strong urge still lingering. So, I cunningly convinced him that the five dollars he gave me was actually worth more than the hundred he had, and we switched bills without much difficulty.
I had now managed to take a hundred dollars from the drunk homeless man, which was probably all the money he had.
However, that urge within me was not satisfied yet. As we exchanged a few more words, a bus arrived, but it was heading to a completely different city far from his home. An evil idea came to mind.
"That's your bus, sir," I said, standing and taking his arm, guiding him toward the bus.
Before boarding, I asked him for the five bucks he had given me earlier to pay for the bus fare, and he handed it over without question. Once he was on the bus i paid the ride and bid him farewell. In the end i took all his money for no reason.
As the bus pulled away, I found myself once again alone, patiently waiting for my taxi. Standing on the empty road, my gaze fixed on an undefined point in the distance. Unexpectedly, a surge of emotions swept over me, prompting me to break into a spontaneous dance. Unrestrained laughter escaped my lips as I moved with an almost manic energy. I twirled and swayed, my body becoming a vessel for the satisfaction of an undeniable urge. Each step and gesture seemed to reverberate through my entire being, as if every fiber of my being was resonating with the joyous rhythm of life.
Soon enough, the taxi arrived, and I paid a hefty fare of $205 for the entire ride. It felt like a significant loss, but at least by 5 a.m., I was back in Trbovlje. Rather than going straight home, I roamed the city, reflecting and meditating until 9 a.m. when I finally returned home. I avoided going home at 5 a.m. as my parents would have questioned my early return from the supposed sleepover.
When my mother opened the door, I hastily made my way to the bedroom, where I slept until almost sundown. The rest of the day and night were spent relaxing at home...At that time i didn't realize that the next day I would be facing a huge...HUGE problem.