Ian didn't remember the last time he had felt so relaxed and happy, free of the burden of revenge and the thoughts of the pressing dangers.
"Anyways, since there's nothing else. I will be taking my leave," Levi said as he nodded at Angus and smiled at Ian before swiftly and elegantly turning away with a sway of his robes, his fan dancing in his hands.
Angus turned to Ian and said, "I'll be getting back to my business as well. You can leave if you want."
Ian nodded his head, hesitated a bit in thought, then made up his mind to tell his brother. He was bound to find out about it eventually, unless he already knew. Nothing out of his knowledge happens in his house after all. Everyone in this mansion acts as his eyes and ears.
Most importantly, Ian knows better than anyone how his brother dotes on him, so he was sure to let Shadow Fang's uninformed stay here slide. Especially when the latter would be Ian's subordinate.
Ian's eyes flashed with a manipulative light.
"Brother, can I have someone stay here? I picked him up from the streets and I really like him. Can he stay?" Ian asked Angus in the same spoiled manner he always did in his last life. In front of his brother, he would always be a child.
For the first time in Ian's life, Angus looked deeply at Ian with an unfathomable aura.
Ian had the feeling that Angus already knew about Shadow Fang's stay in their house. But Ian wasn't scared by Angus's unnerving stare. If it had been one of Angus's subordinates subjected to this pair of eyes and this aura, they would have pissed their pants.
Although his brother might look cold and scary, he treats the people close to him the best. And he won't easily doubt those he trusts.
And… It was one of the reasons for his downfall.
Ian bit his lip.
Sensing Ian's unease and nervousness, Angus's eyes softened, mistakenly thinking that Ian was startled by his stare. He wasn't doing that to probe Ian or shake him out, he just felt that Ian lately had been acting weird and out of character. Well, ever since 6 years ago, Ian had changed a bit in personality although not enough for outsiders to notice. As Ian's older brother, however, Angus clearly noticed this slight, subtle difference.
Ian had always clung to him before, acting like the child he was at that young age. Yet, during the year he was nine, Ian's behaviors started becoming more and more proper and should he say… well-calculated. As if trying to imitate what a child that age would do.
And he started being considerate to him, his older brother!
It's true that Angus was so touched that he actually cried about it to Levi over a drink.
From what he hears through his information sources and friends and business partners, if they had siblings, none of them acted as considerately as Ian to their older sibling. Some of them even had a sour relationship due to fights over inheritance.
But thinking back on it now, it was strange how much Ian had changed.
Angus carefully scanned the purple to light purple locks of hair framing Ian's forehead and face as well as his light purple eyes that held an innocent smile, shades lighter than his own dark purple hair the general color of which they had inherited from their dead mother.
At first, Angus assumed that Ian had been too affected by the kidnapping incidents of that year that his personality changed.
But after what he heard from the reports of that night, Angus wasn't sure what to think. If it wasn't because he thought it to be too fantastical, he would've thought that someone had replaced Ian! After all, how could there be someone so similar in appearance and voice and age to Ian? Not to mention familiarity with him and the gang.
As per the rule, the information about his corporation and gang spread outside doesn't include everything there is to know about them. And there are many hidden secrets that only the family head and his family knows of. Not to mention the fingerprints and DNA that cannot be faked or substituted.
So this has to be the bona fide Ian. His precious only little brother.
"Brother?"
"…It's nothing. Of course he can stay. However, since you put him here, you have to take responsibility and take care of him yourself, understand?"
"Yes, of course, big brother!" Ian beamed and gave Angus a quick hug and bounced out of the study.
Angus shook his head at how childish and immature Ian still acted when he's already 15 and about to enter high school.
"Haa… I give in to him too much," Angus sighed and shook his head with a helpless smile. However, he had no intentions to change.
*****
Leaving his brother's study, the innocence in his eyes disappeared immediately. The childish and sweet smile morphed into a polite curve.
Nodding his head at the bodyguards standing outside the study's door, Ian went on his way back to his room.
On his way past Shadow Fang's room, Ian took a pause.
He knocked on the door.
Knock. Knock.
No one responded.
Ian did not walk away, he only said, "It's me."
Clink. The sound of a lock opening was heard and then the door opened inwards by itself to a crack.
Ian pushed it a little more and entered.
Surveying the room with his eyes, Ian did not see anyone, however, he knew that Shadow Fang was still in this room somewhere, hidden so impeccably that normal people and even specialized assassins and killers wouldn't be able to detect him.
Out of nowhere, Shadow Fang appeared in front of Ian.
Ian calmly waited.
Seconds ticked by when suddenly Shadow Fang moved.
Thud. Kneeling down on one knee heavily, Shadow Fang slammed his fist against his open palm in a respectful salute of the highest level.
Shadow Fang lowered his head, bowing with complete and absolute sincerity in his gestures. His voice loud and deep, he shouted, "Please accept my undying loyalty! I wish to serve you as my master!"
Success!
From his head to his toe, from his gestures to every movement of the muscles, from the way he sounded, and from the way his downward facing eyes were blatantly surfacing his innermost thoughts, everything helped one to understand that he was serious about giving his allegiance into the hands of Ian. Ian will be his master and lord for eternity.
Ian had successfully made this man his. He hadn't done anything before nor deliberately suggested anything of this nature to Shadow Fang because he wanted the latter to willingly enter his fold. A man of Shadow Fang's caliber would never submit to force if it wasn't what he wanted. And Ian had never intended on forcing him. Ian wanted Shadow Fang to make this choice
Of.
His.
Own.
Free.
Will.
Someone smirked inwardly.
Staring expressionlessly at such a capable man in front of him willingly bowing down to another, Ian can feel the feelings of gratitude and reverence he felt for him from the bottom of his heart radiating off of Shadow Fang.
He understood the gratitude that came from Shadow Fang since he had rescued him in his time of need, however, even Ian was confused by the devout reverence he sensed from Shadow Fang's soul. But Ian didn't give too much time to think about this issue. It wasn't important, and besides, it's better for him this way.
Like this, Shadow Fang will never betray him. And if he ever changes his mind… Ian's eyes glowed coldly.
Ian looked at the number one assassin of the underworld waiting for his answer.
He suddenly smiled.
His eyes opened to reveal a pair of cunning and scheming light-purple eyes.
Looking down at the kneeling Shadow Fang before him, Ian said, "I accept. From now on, please look after me."
At this moment, Ian's eyes glowed a deep and enchanting purple. The same way they would light up when he was using his powers. It soon died down.
Upon hearing this, Shadow Fang was more thrilled than he thought he would be. Joy seemed to replace the blood in his veins as they throbbed and pumped throughout his body, every cell dancing with joy as a great rush of energy came over him. Inexplicably, Shadow Fang felt his power increase as if it was an illusion.
Shadow Fang brushed that incomprehensible feeling aside and excitedly exclaimed, "Yes!"
While Ian did not know nor could he understand why Shadow Fang felt such deep-seated and baffling respect and admiration for him when they had only known each other for a few hours only counting the time they were around each other, Shadow Fang himself knew.
From the very moment that he saw Ian displaying his world-defying powers of control, Shadow Fang had felt his heart beating faster and faster. Something in him urged him to pledge his loyalty to Ian. A feeling no one other than him could understand took root in his soul. An emotion richer than the wealthiest man on earth flooded his heart and mind.
This had never happened before. No one had ever excited him so much, impressed him so deeply that his entire being wanted to serve him.
Yes he felt gratitude. But more than saving his life which Shadow Fang had been ready that night to give up for Ian, a complete stranger, he was grateful to Ian for helping him to find his destination. Which is by Ian's side.
All along he had been muddling by, obeying the orders of the organization that had raised him up and trained him to be an infallible killer, brainwashing them to believe they were doing it for the good of mankind. Somewhere inside Shadow Fang was a feeling, an instinct, that he did not belong there. However, he never left because he had nowhere to go nor anywhere he wanted to be. Additionally, he had felt grateful to the organization so he stayed.
Now he knew, that mysterious thought, that desire, was waiting for Ian to appear.
None of this, on the contrary, was expected by Ian. Ian had only thought that Shadow Fang bowed to him because of the grace of saving his life.
Ian had came to grasp the inner essence of the heart of humans after wandering in the dark underworld for so long after the death of his loved ones in his past life. Using their desires, he had manipulated them into his chess pieces, helping him do tasks he need not ask them to do and complete missions he need not reward. Comprehending the way of their thoughts, Ian was never betrayed because no one was able to see through his thoughts while he could theirs'.
Without a doubt, Ian was a mastermind at remotely controlling others to do his bidding and act in the way he expects them to, regardless if he uses his powers.
From the moment Ian saw Shadow Fang, he saw through the latter's personality, nature, desires, thoughts… everything.
He understood that some people, ones like Shadow Fang, value loyalty and will definitely repay their debt of gratitude.
Which can be seen from what happened with his organization. Even when he found out about their scheme and crooked foundation, he had wanted to feign ignorance and give them a chance, which they ruined with their own hands.
If it were anyone else, Ian would have been absolutely correct on their flow of thoughts and actions, and partially, Ian had been right about Shadow Fang, but who would have thought that Shadow Fang experienced an out of this world change upon facing Ian's powers, something in him that had been dormant awakened, overwhelming the initial thoughts and feelings of gratitude, overflowing him with the need to be loyal to Ian.
Nevertheless, tonight Ian had obtained his very own subordinate. The first one. In the future, Shadow Fang would stay by his side loyally and carry out every task with precision and perfection, never letting Ian down.