Now turning and gazing in the direction that Mr. Wedge was pointing at, Jean's eyes widened as his jaw dropped.
Standing right at the main door, it was an old man that looked like he was in his late sixties. He had a scrawny body with grey hair. He had a height of about 5.7 feet. His face was wrinkled.
Despite everything about him revealing his old age, he still had an upright posture.
He was putting on an orange sleeveless t-shirt that fitted his small body perfectly. On his lower body, he was putting on a black short, which was strange considering how cold it was despite the presence of the sun.
Smiling at them, the old man beckoned at Casper immediately their gazes collided.
Just at that moment, Casper gave Mr. Wedge who was now standing by his side a furtive look before turning to Jean.
"Jean meet Mr. Wedge one of my friend's loyal employees."
In response Jean nodded in acknowledgement and smiled gently.
With that, he turned to Mr. Wedge and grinned.
"Mr. Wedge, meet Jean, my friend."
Immediately the intro was done, the two approached each other and shook hands.
When this had passed, Mr. Wedge offered to lead them to where the old man was standing.
Immediately they got there, Casper gave the old man a tight hug and the latter hugged him back. During this time, the two were just staring at them with admiration. A moment later, the two let each other go.
This was the moment the old man locked his eyes on Jean. Some seconds later, he turned and gazed at Casper with a questioning look.
But before he could ask a question, Casper resounded.
"Jean, meet Mr. Adranis Vesco, my friend."
With that, he then turned to Mr. Adranis before gesturing at Jean.
"Mr. Adranis, meet Jean, my friend, too."
The two then exchanged curious glances before nodding in unison, after which they shook hands.
As soon as Jean held onto Mr. Adranis' hand, he was stunned.
His grip was gentle but firm. From the grip, he could tell that the old man was as strong as a boy of his age despite his body looking weak.
A minute later, Mr. Wedge excused himself as Mr. Adranis led the two into the house. As soon as they stepped in the house, Jean was dazed for a moment, but since what his eyes were seeing was something that he expected since the start, he quickly pulled himself out of his dazed state.
The house had a marble like floor. Its walls were painted white with a few portraits hanging on the walls at different points.
In the living room, there were a set of four couches that were arranged facing each other and in their middle, there was a small round glass table. At the furthest end of the living room, laying on a slightly raised platform, it was the dining area with a dozen of wooden chairs that surrounded a high rectangular shaped table of the same make.
This environment reminded him of his home in Kili city. And as soon as the thought formed in his mind, he understood that it was the reason they were here.
"Take your seats and make yourselves comfortable."
Mr. Adranis said as he gestured at the two to take their seats on the coaches.
As soon as they were seated, he joined them and sat across opposite from them on a different coach.
"Now, tell me, what has been stopping you all this while from paying me a visit?"
Mr. Adranis kick-started the conversation.
Smiling wryly, Casper lingered.
"You understand how my life is. It is not that you are new to what my life is all about."
For a moment, Jean felt being thrown out of the conversation since he couldn't understand what these guys were really discussing.
Despite this, he continued to focus on the conversation to see if he could unravel what it was all about.
"I understand, but that's not enough reason for you to leave our friendship hanging. Anyway, that aside, what do I owe this unexpected visit?"
Mr. Adranis asked in a hushed tone.
Just at that moment, Casper took in a deep breath and lingered.
"What else, I just decided to come visit my friend as usual."
Giving Casper a dubious look, Mr. Adranis knitted his brows.
"I know you better. There must be something that you are hiding from me..."
Mr. Adranis said with a serious face.
Yielding to the pressure being subjected to him by Mr. Adranis' daring questions, Casper swung his head to the side before letting out a snort.
"Okay, you got me, but before I tell you why I am here, I need a favour from you..."
With that, tense silence settled in the room like a third person.
In the next moment, Casper pulled out the cellphone he was carrying from the pocket of his trouser and placed it on the table in front of them.
Lowering his gaze and looking at the cellphone, Mr. Adranis lingered after which he raised his gaze and faced Casper with a questioning look plastered on his face.
"When did you start using a cellphone, because the last time I checked you didn't own one?"
"Just charge it. That's all the favour that I am requesting you for."
Inhaling deeply, Mr. Adranis blinked for a couple times before stretching his hand and picking the cellphone off the table.
Now turning to Casper after studying the cellphone in his hands, Mr. Adranis said,
"I am still waiting for your reply. When did you acquire the cellphone and why when you don't need it in the first place?"
At this point, Jean understood how well versed with each other these two were. It was like they had shared a lot of secrets among themselves that weren't even suited for him to hear.
"The owner of the cellphone is right in front of you. So, I think it would be better if you direct those questions to him."
Casper answered with a smirk.
Immediately Jean heard this, he threw a glaring stare at Casper after which he looked down in embarrassment after noticing Mr. Adranis staring at him.
For a moment, Mr. Adranis was flabbergasted. A minute later, he waved a hand dismissively as he gazed at Jean.
"Jean, don't mind me. Let me assist you on this before we get to know each other better. Perhaps after that is when I would ask you the questions."
Raising his head and nodding gently, Jean responded.
"It's fine Mr. Adranis, I understand."
As soon as Jean was done with his statement, Mr. Adranis got to his feet, excused himself before getting entering into the room door that was right behind from where he was seated with the cellphone.
As soon as the two were left alone, they quickly moved closer to each other.
"When he ask some information about you, I am going to chim in and give him my own explanation. He is not supposed to know the real information about you for this your return mission to be a success. It is not that I don't trust him, but in the current circumstances that we are in, we better cut down the numbers that have information about you to reduce the chances of the kidnappers getting to you."
Casper said in a hushed tone. And just at that moment, they heard some movements behind the room door. Without hesitation, they immediately reassumed their initial positions and wore a carefree expression as if nothing had happened.
A minute later, the door flanged open and Mr. Adranis walked through it before shutting it at his back.
"I thought your your breakfast would have been ready by now, how comes they are yet to serve you?"
Mr. Adranis whined as he walked into the living room with stealth steps.
During this moment, Jean was finding it difficult to make sense out of Mr. Adranis' statement since firstly, he didn't see him tell anyone to prepare the meals for them. Since he knew that their visit was a surprise one and the guy's reaction to their arrival said it all.
Secondly, apart from Mr. Wedge, he didn't spot any other person in the compound. Although Jean could have expected Mr. Adranis' family to be around, the silence in the surroundings could barely support his thinking. So, when Mr. Adranis referred to a group of people serving them with food, Jean found it a little bit confusing.
Just at that moment, a thought formed in his mind.
'Why is he yet to introduce us to his family? Does this imply that they aren't around as I suspect or what?'
While still contemplating on the matter, Mr. Adranis lowered himself in the couch and crossed over his legs.
"Just as I said before leaving, I would like to know you better since I know your friend already. But before we continue, I would ask you..."
Pointing at Casper...
"...to excise us so that you won't interfere with our conversation."
This was unexpected. So, immediately the two heard this, they cursed inwardly.
If Casper would be reluctant to excuse the two, then it would be easy for Mr. Adranis to get a wind of what was happening. So, the only way they could stop this from happening, was if Casper was going to agree to Mr. Adranis request without question.
Jean on the other hand, had the same thought in mind and was praying so hard for the guy to bid to his thoughts, despite him not having a hunch of what the guy was currently thinking.
(:ﾟ皿ﾟ)