Chapter 2: under the bustle of the city 1
"Mr. Madrigal is my grandfather."
Flustered, the elegant man nods and affirms, "Of course, yes, yes".
A touch of impatience flashes through the youth's deep brown eyes which are hidden behind the shadow of his bangs as he tilts his head waiting for the elegant man to continue while twirling his braid. The elegant man is hesitant about how to start as he repeatedly rearranges the collar and cuffs of his suit. The solemn man takes a drink to the youth and respectfully calls out, "My lady". This immediately wakes up the elegant man as he looks at the youth. The youth smiles warmly at the elegant man, but her eyes only hold laughter and a flash of something else. The elegant man coughs to correct himself, "young miss madrigal."
The youth looks at him with the same smile while calmly taking a sip of her drink and responds, "No need for formalities. Please get to your point Hyde" she pauses and adds, "a leader of the east's European transcontinental trade of organ trafficking...and"
The elegant man's flustered appearance disappears. His appearance finally fitting his elegance. "The tristi mietitori are quite resourceful," he drawls.
The youth nods agreeing calmly, "you have to in our business Hyde"
The man's grey eyes twitch. He flatters in subtle sarcasm, "truly a youth of tristi mietitori ."
The youth looks at him sharply to the point the man feels a subtle constriction in his throat, so he quickly averts his eyes. Seeing his own behavior he looks at the youth in challenge but the youth is back to smiling. The youth as if dismissing his challenge answers, "of course. Otherwise, you would not have called for this meeting." This response chokes the elegant man. He is reminded of who this youth is despite her age. He clears his throat, "Since you know it is difficult to do our business, may I inquire why your forces have been found to intervene in my venues"
The youth scans him and nods in appreciation, "you are really kind Hyde and don't hold grudges for losing 3 trade routes and near a billion in profit." This chokes up Hyde and he trembles in anger while the youth continues, "maybe next time I should make it more obvious that it was me. I wonder~" she looks at him as if seeing a delicious banquet, "will you lose an arm, leg...hm? No. you lost that this time, so maybe~ a liver? kidney?"
Hyde stands up pounding the table with his fists, "don't get too cocky Madrigal. A war that is too far from home is a battle hard won." Madrigal smiles at him brilliantly while signaling for her men to place down their weapons, "Now that is a challenge Hyde."
Hyde chokes.
The youth nods in appreciation seeing all the colors and changes in his demeanor, "Let's talk business. I know what you want, but even if I back out. You would still be losing."
Hyde sits back down stiffly and clenches his fists. "what do you mean?" he asks. Madrigal looks at him with pity and disappointment which infuriates him. She enlightens him, "did you think I have that much man power in the east and care that much about your peddling business?" Hyde's face burns at the jab the other makes. He tests the water, "so..."
She looks at him with a bored expression, "even if I back out there are too many that want your pie."
Hyde takes a deep breath and asks, "is it possible for you to help us manage the east?"
The youth still bored responds to the expected answer a bit plafully, "didn't you say a war far from home is hard won~"
The elegant man releases his clenched fists multiple times, "Is there anyway you may be able to help us?"
Madrigal plays with her braid and doesn't look at him as she says, "help? no. Advice, yes?"
"What do you mean?" Hyde asks.
"As a man in this business, you should be up-to-date with the legal repercussions."
With wide eyes, Hyde understands but seeks confirmation, "You mean that-"
She cuts him off, "exactly. As such, even if I stop intervening, as you say, and give you a bit of advice, it would not be as lucrative or enjoyable as what they have proposed."
Hyde slumps, asking, "Its a cleanup?" He doesn't expect an aswer as he laughs to the point of almost crying. He looks at the youth menacingly. Madrigal stop twirling her braid and looks at him as if expecting a great show. There is a knock at the door as a baby face young man enters as if not feeling the tensions in the room, "Big sis~" He calls affectionately to Madrigal. Madrigal glances at him. The baby faced youth scurries over and whispers to her. "Thank you sweetie," Madrigal coos and points to the men in black who have become wall flowers throughout the meeting. The baby faced youth skips over and takes the bag with sushi. His eyes are particularly shining. Madrigal faces Hyde and asks, "you must be a fan of Robert Louis Stevenson great work to take up such a codename. Do you want to know mine~" She does not wait for his answer, "in fact, despite my codename, I'm not particular or attentive to artistic value and its jargon. There are some pieces however that transcend their original purpose." she pauses and continues emphasizing each syllable, "Have you heard of La Catrina?" Hyde's eyes widen in understanding then horror. Madrigal chuckles, "I see that the resources you have are just for show."
Hyde hurries to try to remedythe situation"La dame, my behavior is due to losing too much. I assure you my intentions only stem from this. The tip you gave me is of great help."
Madrigal glances at him tapping her fingers, " let me give you sincere advice. upstarts won't last long in the underground society. Even long time and deep rooted familias understand the changing of tides and must change their spots or at least camouflage. but you....haiz...did you think that owning this small Gallery on my turf would give you the advantage?"
"what should I do?" Hyde asks drily.
"You are no longer fun Hyde." Madrigal looks at him or rather past him seeing nothing but a corpse. Suddenly, a great tremor shakes the Gallery. The first passes. Madrigal signals for her men to leave.
"you think that you can leave that easily" Hyde sneers. Madrigal walks up to him steadily. She reaches into his coat. She slaps his left cheek with great enthusiasm making Hyde's face turns black. "3 points. 2 are pity points." Madrigal says slapping a bit harder. All of a sudden she hauls him off the chair slamming his face on the desk. She kicks his knees in. Having been taken by surprise he doesn't react until he is on the floor dazed. "Sadly our relationship can't develop further...not really," she laughs clutching her stomach and wiping non existing tears. Hyde with great difficulty stands up running behind the desk. "Looking for this ~" she chuckles as she waves a gun with a silencer at him. She calmly points at him and shoots. Hyde ducks. She cheers and impatiently waves him over, "come on Hyde. I won't shoot if you play fair~"
He glances at her over the desk, "Really?"
"Of course. I'm a respectable lady not a slimeball like you~" Madrigal teases in response. Angered, Hyde stands up and comes out from the desk. Please, Madrigal praises, "Good boy. I didn't know you trust me so much"
Madrigal places the gun at the coffee table giving her back to Hyde whom takes advantage and lunges at her with a swift kick. Madrigal ducks into a split taking hold of his foot and pulling down with momentum. Hyde scrambles for the gun on the coffee table. Madrigal sweeps a foot to his other foot. Hyde falls into a split screaming in agony. Madrigal clicks her tongue at him calmly standing up and picking up the gun. She warmly says, "naughty" and shoots one of his legs on the thigh making Hyde screech. Madrigal makes a "shh" gesture with the gun as she slaps his face with it. Hyde tries to grab the gun as a feint while throwing a hook at Madrigal. Madrigal throws off the hand trying to grab the gun and meets the hook with its muzzle. Bam. Madrigal quickly stuffs his incoming screech with papers on the coffee table. This makes Hyde gag in tears. She smiles at him with eyes brilliant in murderous light, "Next is a liver or kidney?" She laughs amusingly at his horrified expression. The solemn man in black enters, "Boss. Matters outside have been handled"
Madrigal nods responding, "how did the team do?"
With a smile in his eyes, the solemn man answers, "some light bruises. no eyewitness or casualties."
Madrigal nods, "put his lackeys in the storage..." walking close to him, she beckons him over. He respectfully leans over an ear. She whispers, "call the hounds. I'll send over Jekyll myself." The solemn man nods in confirmation packing everything. Madrigal exists the building to the waiting car outside. Brimming with excitement, the baby face youth rushes over, "Big sis, Big sis!"
She nocks his head, and he pouts. She smiles at him deeply, and says warmly, " for every bruise, you'll be sent to the catacombs for training."
The baby faced used cries in agony and begins to plead. Madrigal motions to the driver who opens the car door and blocks the baby faced youth. Soon, the other men in black carry over Hyde to Madrigal. Hyde sweeps his gaze at her trying to kill her a thousand times with his gaze. She calmly meets his gaze, "I didn't know you still had so much energy. Want to play another round?"
Hyde shivers and curls himself up in an attempt to make himself look smaller. Madrigal glances at him in disappointment and motions to the driver. The solemn man steps in taking a seat in front and handing over Madrigal's cellphone. She looks down at the messages with disgust "tch." The solemn man asks, "do you want to change first Boss?"
Madrigal ponders for a moment, but then shakes her head in respond, "I want to see the supposed fiancee candidate's expression. Don't you think it will be very interesting?" She chuckles, and her eyes glimmer in expectation for the wrong reasons. They drive to the Grove. On the way there, another tremor larger than they have experienced passes. Soon cracks appear on the floor and the walls. Hyde bursts into maniacal laughter as the car lurches. He loudly guffaws, "Even the gods are in my favor." Madrigal looks at him calmly and ushers her men in code. The second almost crashes into them as the baby faced youth steps out of the driver's side of vehicle and sprints over. He hastily opens the back door where Madrigal is and hastily asks, "Big sis! Are you ok?!" Madrigal looks at him calmly sweeping her gaze over her appearance. With a mouth full of sushi and rice crumbs lining his cheeks, the baby face looks at Madrigal with a bit of panic and worry. She looks him intensely with a bit of murder lacing her deep stare. He gulps down his food and follows after his other brothers who get out of the car. He runs to the other side of the car holding down Hyde with a dagger.
Weekly Power Status
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Ranking 
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stone