South Korea, Seoul. A tall multi-story building. On the 35th floor, first-world heads of state sat at a round table.
- No way! I can't just let that fucker get away with this! - almost yelled a fat man in a suit. His gray hair seemed to grow grayer and grayer with every scream. - He destroyed a residential neighborhood in Kyoto, killed everyone he saw, that son of a bitch!
He wanted to continue his monologue, or rather insult, but he was stopped by a tall brunet with blue eyes and glasses.
- Calm down, Hanzo, we're dealing with this matter. And yes, please do not use language during the meeting.
- Arthur, don't you dare tell me what to do! - As soon as the words were out of his mouth he noticed the stares of the others sitting there.
He sat back down in his chair with a sullen and angry look. They should have respect for each other.
- He's dangerous, once he did it in Japan, he won't make it in other countries. He's insanely strong. - The white-haired girl declared.
- Challenging that is foolish. But if we can lure him to our side, our chances of winning will increase dramatically. Wouldn't you? - Arthur asked the audience.
- Apparently we're divided — said a middle-aged man. - I propose we take a vote.
Everyone agreed, it was the most reasonable and optimal way out of the situation. Everyone had their own thoughts on the matter.
- I'm in favor of spending energy and money to find this ... - remembering Arthur's words, he stopped talking for a second. - the boy. He destroyed a neighborhood in Kyoto, he's unforgivable. Does he have any idea how much money I spent to rebuild it?!
- I'm against it — Arthur replied — for the reasons I gave above. But I'll add, there's already a big bounty on his head. As the U.S. representative, I don't see the point in spending even more.
At this rate it turned out that 4 people were in favor, 4 people were against. That leaves that white-haired girl.
- I'll abstain. This decision was made because of the circumstances in Switzerland. I can't split up and help both my state and the world.
4 on 4. This has never happened as long as the World Health Organization has been established. Everyone was thinking. Until the time of the meeting came to an end.
~~~
The girl who decided to abstain approached Arthur. She wanted to chat with her old friend.
- Hey, Art, how's work going? How are you?
- Hello, Amelia. I'm fine, how are you?
Arthur replied with a little smile. His smile was so beautiful, Aphrodite would be jealous.
- Apart from the assholes who organized the uprising in Bern, I'm fine. It's a lot of trouble because of them, you know. They set fire to a village for no reason!
Emilia gesticulated emotionally, she was insanely beautiful and empathic. Taking a drag from Arthur's cigarette she asks.
- How's Shinji doing? And when was the last time you visited his grave?
This was the question Arthur was expecting to hear. He looked at Emilia, straight into her eyes. His blue eyes were sunken, and there was no trace of them when Arthur became serious. He looked at Emilie with eyes as dark as pitch.
- Emily, I've asked you more than once. Please don't mention him.
He sighed heavily and continued
- Shinji is fine, he wants to go to Casador, he's been studying for days. He's doing well.
Arthur's blank stare drained his pride, though it wasn't noticeable.
- Sorry - came out of Emily's mouth.
Finishing the cigarette they said their goodbyes and parted ways.
~~~
When they flew back Arthur just wanted to rest, he was tired after the long flight.
But you can't rest in a family of Òctobers. When Arthur entered the big two-story house, he heard cursing.
[ Again? ]
Going into the kitchen, he saw Tsubara and Orrin arguing over who was going to eat the rest of the pizza.
Those two were always arguing over nothing. But more often than not, of course, it was over strength, who was the stronger of the two.
While those two were distracted by the argument, Shinji sleepily made his way down from the second floor, looking puzzled at Arthur. Shinji took care of their little sister, Celestia. Since Tsubara and Orrin were away on guild business.
- Thank you Shinji, thank you so much. - Arthur said with a soft smile.
As soon as he started paying attention to the fight again, he was already starting to go on about who had the bigger dick. It was commonplace here, strange but commonplace.
~~~
Walking into his office, Arthur spread out a sheet, rather disheveled and a little dirty.
It was a flyer with a bounty on Lucius' head. 12,300,000,000,000 dollars.
- Amazing how much that fat fuck wants to get you, ha ha.
[ Lucius, are you really that dangerous? ]