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14.81% Genshin: The Serenity System / Chapter 16: No Laughing Matter

Capítulo 16: No Laughing Matter

Confrerie of Cabriere is an organization and a business that, like other big businesses, is double-faced.

At the front, it was just an organization that sells general goods and is even expanding to beauty products.

But beneath this farce of theirs was a far more gruesome truth.

Unbeknownst to the public and the law, some members of this organization have been distributing extremely addictive drugs known as "Sinthe" throughout the nation.

For a decade, this business has been happening and the mastermind hadn't been caught yet.

In addition to this, to further expand their cruelty and greed, they even faked gang fights near small establishments and requested protection fees from the latter to stop the fights.

As for the Gardes? Well, even if they catch a few gangsters, at most, they would only confess that they were instructed by their "boss" to do it— but so far, the so-called boss hasn't been found out.

And right now, they are currently eyeing Isaac's newly opened cafe.

"Did you call Louis?" A sturdy-looking man asked.

"Yes," Another person replied. "They should follow behind 15 minutes after we enter."

"Good," The sturdy-looking man snickered. "Our goal this time is to just break everything inside. After that, the usual. Got it?"

What their plan was to cause trouble in the cafe with another group from their gang, and eventually lose. The other group would then tell the owner that, for the other group to stop harassing his cafe, he should pay them "protection fees."

It was the classic scheme.

"No problem, boss." Several members nodded their heads.

Looking at Isaac's cafe, the boss scoffed. "It's just one guy there anyway, Let's make this quick."

After saying this, the man walked over to the cafe along with four others.

---

Ding~*

The chiming of the doorbell was heard and soon, six people wearing blue overalls entered the cafe.

The gang members looked around and saw the quiet ambiance of the cafe and the languid-looking barista behind a counter.

"Welcome..." The man, who was suspected to be the barista, stopped cleaning some cups with a damp cloth and looked at the gang members.

The gang members looked at the barista and saw his deep languid amber eyes. The moment they saw his eyes, for a split second, they mysteriously felt a sense of danger from the man. However, that feeling soon disappeared.

The leader looked over before nodding to the other members. Soon the latter started scattering in the cafe.

"You're new here, aren't you?" The boss sat down in front of the counter and intimidatingly looked at the barista. "Looks like you don't know the rules in these parts?"

"..." The barista's face didn't change, but he remained silent. After a second, he opened his mouth. "...and what rule would that be gentlemen? If you aren't customers, then please leave. I believe I have no business with any of you."

"Haha..." Hearing the barista's words, the boss laughed for a moment before turning serious. He then spoke to let the others hear him. "Break them."

Shortly after saying this, the men that were behind him started lifting the chairs and tables before breaking them instantly.

Bang!*

The sound of wood crashing to the ground echoed throughout the cafe as destruction was present everywhere.

The barista, however, remained calm and silent. He just watched as his cafe's furniture was destroyed. "..."

'Wuss.' The boss saw his silence and snickered with a smile of confidence. 'This was too easy.'

However, he failed to notice the bulging and throbbing vein beneath the barista's jaw and on his forehead. Soon, his deep amber eyes which were languid a moment ago turned cold and apathetic— as if all emotions had been erased from them.

"Now listen here you—" The leader then stood up and was just about to hold the barista's collar when something happened.

Before the leader's hand reached the barista, the latter calmly turned and walked out of the counter. But not before taking a wooden cane inlaid with silver that was hidden behind the counter.

'What's this little rat thinking?' Looking at the barista's actions, the man felt belittled. He then saw the barista walking to the door and a scoff escaped his lips. He then spoke with ridicule, "Heh, so it was nothing but a coward that runs a—"

However, his words were soon cut off when the man stopped by the double door.

"Manners."

Click*

The lock located in the door's upper part was locked.

"Maketh."

Click*

Once more, another lock in the middle part of the door was locked.

"Man."

Click*

Again, the lock at the bottom part of the door was pushed to close.

The man then turned around and looked at the gang members while holding his cane down with both of his hands. He opened his mouth and spoke with a solemn voice. "Do you understand what that means?"

"...If not, let me teach you a lesson." He added as his eyebrows knitted.

"...do you understand what you're saying, boy?" Looking at the feeble barista's appearance, a throbbing vein appeared on the leader's head. He then stood up, "Who do you think you are? Do you think we won't mess you up?"

He then walked over to the barista and stood in front of him. He then intimidated the barista who was the same height as him. "Sit down. Now. Or do you prefer the usual face-punching—"

Before the leader could finish his word, a thick brown wooden cane came straight to his face from the sides. "Huh—"

Bam!*

The leader didn't even have time to react as the thick cane smacked him right on his head, sending him to fly away.

"Boss!" The other members saw this and quickly shouted in surprise.

Bang—*

"Y-You!" The leader was thrown to the floor and held his head with a face that showed contorted pain. "Sh-Shit... You! All of you! Kill that bastard! I don't care anymore! Just kill hi—"

"Slow."

Before the leader could finish his words, another sight of the thick wooden cane came swooping down to his face, leaving a red trail of blood on the floor.

Bam!*

The leader's body fell to the floor as blood continued to ooze out from his head.

"You! How dare you!" The other membered looked at the barista with eyes filled with hatred. "You're dead meat!"

However, contrary to their expressions, the barista calmly looked at his cane before looking at them.

At this moment, all of them noticed his emotionless and cold deep amber eyes. It was as if what he just did was nothing worth noting.

"Well?" The barista's hoarse and calm voice echoed in the cafe. "Are we just gonna stand here? Or are we going to fight?"

Hearing this, the four members immediately felt enraged and each took out a pocket knife. "That's it! You're gone!"

Three members carrying pocket knives then ran to the barista with the intent to kill.

The barista quickly analyzed the three people running towards him as his eyes darted between them. He then let out a sigh.

He then charged to the left member and raised his cane in quick succession. With a swift motion, he landed a heavy blow to the member's knee. "Sloppy."

"Agh!" The member instantly felt the pain as he dropped his weapon before dropping to the ground.

"Hup!" Suddenly, another member aimed his knife at him on the side.

The barista didn't stop there and quickly went behind the counter to avoid the knife that was about to hit him.

He then looked at the cup that was on the counter that was still steaming hot and placed his cane beside it.

Bang!*

He slid his cane, and along with it, the cup containing the hot coffee was dragged, landing on the other member's face.

Splash!*

"AAAGH!" The member screamed in agony as the hot coffee blended with the wounds caused by the cup.

"Sad." Without waiting for him to recover, the barista raised his hand above his head and struck it down to his head like a hammer.

Tud—*

Blood came out of the man's head as the cane landed down on him, staining the barista's white long-sleeved shirt with blood.

He then looked at the other two remaining.

Seeing the rest of their gang fall instantly, the two remaining members backed away with a cautious face.

"Y-You... You won't get away with this!" One of the members said with a shaky voice. With fear enlaced in his voice, he continued. "The Confrerie won't forgive you!

He intentionally didn't say the full name of their organization to avoid giving away confidential information.

After all, "Confrerie" means "Brotherhood", so there was nothing suspicious about calling a gang a confrerie.

"Th-That's right!" The other member saw how his boss and other two companions got knocked out and yelled. "The Confrerie will hunt you down! Even after beating us up!"

The barista looked at them coldly and didn't speak anything for a few seconds. It was as if he was pondering something.

'I-It's w-working!' One of the members thought with a shaky smile. 'He's getting scared! Good! He's finally aware that we're—'

"You don't need to worry about that."

However, contrary to the member's thoughts, the barista once more opened his mouth with a cold and apathetic tone. "I don't fear the Confrerie."

"Rather, they should fear me." The man looked at them with deep hatred in his manner eyes.

"A-Ah..." Hearing the barista's words, only shaky pleas escaped from the mouths of the two remaining members.

They then saw him approach while carrying his wooden cane which had blood on it. "N-No! Please!"

"AAAGH!"

---

"..."

A few minutes after everything finally settled down, only silence remained in the cafe.

On the floor, five bodies can be seen lying unconscious with blood seeping from their head.

And standing amidst them was a tall man with brown hair that had slight curls.

He stood there silently as he held his bloodied cane.

It was none other than Isaac.

"The Confrerie of Cabriere..." Isaac muttered the name of the organization that targeted him.

After saying that name, his body began to convulse and slowly lowered.

"Haha..." Soon, a sinister laugh escaped Isaac's mouth. He held up his hand to block and try to stop his mouth, but it was futile.

Soon, the laughter started getting more lively.

As for Isaac...

A hideous and wide smile coupled with a frenzied maniacal eye appeared on Isaac's face. "Haha...hahaha..."

'Stop.' Isaac tried his best to resist laughing further, but the laughter kept escaping his mouth. 'Stop it. Control yourself... Haha...'

Oddly enough, his laughter, rather than sounding like a maniac's, sounded more like... Laughs of joy.

"Haha..."

After a few moments of controlling himself, Isaac finally regained control of his body.

"Ha..." Letting out a heavy sigh, Isaac's face turned solemn— completely in contrast to his expression earlier. "Finally calmed down...."

"Still..." Isaac, who now regained his senses, quickly analyzed the situation. "...I can't let them stay there..."

He then picked up the five bodies and took them to the second floor of the cafe.

Placing all of them down, Isaac spoke to the system. "Conceal."

[Concealing...]

Soon, a black veil appeared around the five unconscious bodies. Isaac then locked the door to that room. 'That should do it.'

This was one of the system's functions— as long as Isaac was inside the cafe, he could instruct the system to conceal anything. 'There's no evidence if they can't find any evidence.'

It was just like the other function which hides Isaac's presence, but more on a limited area.

Going back down the cafe, Isaac looked around and saw the broken furniture and the floor covered in blood.

[Reconstruct? 50 System Points required.]

"Do it," Isaac commanded. Shortly afterward, the broken cafe started reconstructing itself from its damaged state.

After everything was fixed, Isaac breathed a heavy sigh before sitting down.

"...you all attacked first," Isaac muttered to himself with a cold tone. "It's only right for me to retaliate..."

Isaac intended to leave the Confrerie of Cabriere for at least a week or two. But now that they attacked first, Isaac needs to revise his plans.

"After I deal with Yae Miko..." Isaac's deep amber eyes carried a glint of anger. "...The Confrerie of Cabriere shall experience hell."

* * *

A/N: Might have made references to two movies while writing this...


next chapter

Capítulo 17: It's but a gift!

"Are you sure?" A burly man asked, perplexed.

"Yes," Isaac nodded lightly. "There hadn't been any gangs entering my cafe as of late if I remember correctly."

Currently, the other half of the gang suspected of targeting Isaac's cafe came looking for the former, claiming they wanted to 'protect' it.

However, when they arrived, instead of seeing destroyed furniture, all they saw was a calm and serene cafe blanketed with a cozy atmosphere.

There weren't any traces of their other members that came early.

'Damn it, did that doofus Pierre go somewhere else?' The burly man gritted his teeth. He then looked at Isaac, "Are you sure?"

"Yes." Isaac nodded without showing any sign of suspicion. Then his face shifted as if he remembered something.

"Though, I do think I saw a group of men in blue overalls talking to themselves saying they'll be going to Fleuve Cendre when I was out cleaning a while ago..."

'That's them! Those idiots! So they went to Spina Di Rosula's place... Tch.' A throbbing vein appeared on the burly man's forehead as he clenched his fists from anger. Calming himself down, he once again spoke. "...Alright. It was just a false alarm."

"Be careful. Gangs typically target establishments like yours." He then stood up from his seat before walking away and leaving through the door.

Soon, the other members followed with the burly man, and silence descended upon the cafe.

Isaac, now alone, responded with a whispered smile, "You too."

His eyes, which had been languid and carefree, suddenly gleamed with a sinister glint.

"Now, time for the surprise..."

---

Nighttime, Aquabus station.

The time was almost 9 p.m., and the sky was already draped in the embrace of night.

On the Clementine Line of the Aquabus, the Melusine, Aeval, who was the operator, looked at someone with a puzzled expression.

More specifically, he was the only 'someone' in the Aquabus. After all, it was already nighttime, and, understandably, few were traveling to the Harbor at this time to Romaritime Harbor.

"So... Do you travel often at night, sir?" She asked as she looked at a certain direction of the Aquabus. "N-Not that I judge your taste in traveling or anything Haha..."

There was a reason for her nervousness. After all, who wouldn't be nervous at the sight of the person she was looking at?

Sitting down while holding a book, a man with a gloomy aura was silently reading. On his side was a wooden cane inlaid with silver.

He had neat black hair that reached his back and was wearing a crystal monocle.

As for his clothes, he was wearing a white long-sleeved shirt paired with a black vest, topped with a black two-buttoned frock coat. To finish it off, he was also wearing black trousers and a pair of shiny shoes that glistened in the night.

However, what Aeval couldn't help but notice was his mask that covered his lower face.

Other than that, the man just stayed silent the whole time and didn't say anything to the Melusine.

'He seems like an important person somewhere... Maybe a rich tycoon or a leader of an organization?' Aeval nervously speculated as she observed the man. 'However...'

'Apart from his menacing and gloomy aura... He seems like a calm and rational person...' She couldn't help but conserve him more. 'His gentleness with his book... It reminds me of Monsieur Neuvillette's gentle personality...'

'Is he perhaps like the ludex?' A thought emerged in Aeval's mind. She then quietly giggled and was amused at the thought. 'Someone who's cold on the outside but is nice, warm, and fluffy on the inside...'

'It's odd...' She then started thinking of another matter. 'Only a few humans possess the same quality as Monsieur Neuvillette... And something very close, at that.'

Just then, her eyes caught something.

The man, who had been silent for quite a time now, suddenly stood up before placing his book inside his frock coat and picking up his cane.

"H-Hey, what are you doing mister?" Aeval saw the man stand up and look at West.

The man then turned around and looked at Aeval. He then adjusted his crystal monocle before giving a light nod with a gentle smile. After doing this, the man went down the Aquabus that was still moving.

He then jumped.

"Wait—!"

Before Aeval could come and stop him, the man had already disembarked from the Aquabus.

Aeval then held onto the railing and looked at the man's shadow slowly blending into the night, never to be seen again.

"That's..." Aeval, who was now left alone in the Aquabus, didn't know what to say.

"...at least wait until the Aquabus docked..." She muttered to herself with a defeated voice.

---

"Well that was easy," Isaac, who had activated the concealment feature after going down, muttered to himself.

He then looked at the distance where a ruined shipwreck was resting. "That should be Poisson..."

Poisson, a quiet town at the foot of Mont Automnequi. Its residents mostly work in the fishing or underwater salvage industries.

Legends say that before the first Diluvian period, the town was once a central hub for Fontaine's maritime traffic network. Although the change in water levels resulted in the loss of the town's status as a major port, the cozy and warm vibe of the town doubtlessly still attracts many visitors.

It was also the Headquarters of Spina Di Rosula and the Confrerie of Cabriere.

"That's right... This was once a nice and safe place for many..." Isaac's deep amber eyes illuminated the darkness of the night that was surrounding him. "Until the Confrerie introduced Sinthe and made most of the residents addicted to the drug..."

Isaac has to admit, he wasn't the type of person to actively seek out justice. Heck, he didn't even care about any injustice as long as it didn't affect him in any way.

But now that they touched him? Targeted him?

Adding to the fact that they were also the target for Isaac's second main mission, they just declared themselves ready to fight.

If he doesn't stand firm on his ground, another gang will just come and wreck his cafe.

He can't allow that.

Under the brilliant moonlight, Isaac's silhouette was casted over the field of grass that was blanketed with darkness. His frock coat swayed in the wind.

The most noticeable was his eyes— a pair of luminescent deep amber eyes that shined in the darkness. It was similar to a beast's eyes when hunting.

"I won't cause trouble too early. I'm not stupid," Isaac muttered to himself. "It's only been a day since the ruckus I've caused in Palais Mermonia..."

Then he began moving towards Poisson, using the concealment function to keep his steps silent.

Finally, after running and stopping for a few minutes, he finally arrived near the entrance of Poisson. Looking at the shipwreck that was covering a hole where water was flowing, Isaac lightly nodded his head.

"System." He then opened his system, and soon, the familiar interface appeared. "Place teleport mark here."

[Done.]

Seeing the system's reply, Isaac nodded and accessed the system map, where he saw two red markers.

One was at his cafe in the Court of Fontaine, and the other was where he was standing right now.

Without saying anything, Isaac clicked on his cafe and soon, he disappeared from his spot in a split second as if he was but an illusion.

After a few minutes...

Isaac's figure reappeared, this time carrying a massive gift box wrapped in colored paper and topped with a ribbon.

"Ha..." Placing the massive box down, Isaac let out a sigh. He then looked at his "gift" with a sinister glint in his eyes. "This is but a warning..."

"Gehrman already made a debut..." He then adjusted his crystal monocle before pulling out a sticky notepad and writing something on it. "This time..."

"It's James Moriarty's turn." He snickered as his deep amber eyes glowed with malice.

"The Brains and the Brawns... Moriarty and Gehrman respectively." He chuckled at this setting. He was cooking up a performance.

"Oh, how fun it is."

After saying this, he opened his system map once more and disappeared, leaving no trace behind other than his massive cartoonish gift.

---

Poisson, the next day.

Everyone was currently gathering above ground as they circled something.

"What's happening?" Navia, who went up the moment she heard the news from Silver, quickly asked.

Melus, who was already at the scene looked at her with slightly troubled eyes. "Demoiselle, it's best that you don't see this..."

"It's alright, just what—" Before Navia could finish her words, she immediately saw what was inside the "gift".

"Who in God's name would do this..." Her face slightly contorted at the sight of the five bloody people who were, obviously, dead.

The thing that caught her attention the most were the marks left on their head— as if something thick smacked them.

"We already investigated, Demoiselle..." Melus said on the side while shaking his head. "We looked into it and found out that these lads used to work for the Sinthe Vendors."

Sinthe was a highly addictive drug that could induce extreme euphoria and exhilaration, It began making its appearance in the market about a decade ago. It first appeared in Poisson.

However, the side effects of the drug were severe. Once the effects of Sinthe are gone, the consumer will experience severe anxiety and other psychological problems.

This is why Spina Di Rosula decided to ban them and wage war against the people who were selling them.

"Sinthe?" Navia looked at Melus with a perplexed face. She then looked at the bodies once more. "...If they used to work with the Sinthe Vendors, then why were they sent here at Poisson?"

"That..." Melus crossed his arms before shaking with head with a sigh. "We do not know... However, we did find one thing stuck to the... Package."

Melus then brought up a yellow sticky note.

Navia saw the note and extended her hand to hold it. She then looked at him. "This is?"

"...You should read for yourself, Demoiselle." Melus coughed.

Navia saw Melus' face and got curious. She then looked down and read the contents of the paper.

"Here's my sign of goodwill to Spina Di Rosula. Five bugs that destroy their ecosystem. Ones that drag others down with them."

"I do hope you'll like this gift, Miss Navia. If the chance arises, I'd be sure to send you more."

"Sincerely, Moriarty."

"..." Navia's face darkened after reading the letter. After a while, she looked at Melus.

Melus sighed at her and shook his head once more. "It seems like... You have an admirer, Demoiselle."

"One that has a twisted sense of humor, might I add." He added as he looked at the "gift".

---

"Achoo!" Meanwhile, Isaac, who had just gotten up from the bed, looked dazed. "What the... Did I catch a cold last night?"

---

A/N: I hate Pre-Calculus.

Just wanted to say that.

Pisses me off.

Now carry on. I just wanted to vent.


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