Chapitre 7: Chapter 07 - Trapped by a clown
A motor on the table was receiving attention from three mechanical engineering students. One looked at the design on the computer, directing the others to assemble the engine thoroughly. Calculations were made, materials checked and tools prepared. The three were devoting so much attention to the project that they barely noticed the presence of a guy in black and green Victorian robes standing in the workshop doorway.
― 'Hang on, I think I miscalculated! ― shouted Rafael stretching his arms. The other two students raised their heads and stopped fiddling with the motor.
― Are you kidding? ― Juliano, the bass player of the band and classmate of Rafael and Leonardo, snorted. ― You can review it, we don't have any material left in case there's an error.
― Give me a few minutes and I'll check it, hold on!
Juliano snorted impatiently, going to Rafael to look over his shoulder the project on the computer. While the two guys tried to find the error, Leonardo kept working on the engine, removing some parts.
About to go to the table where parts of several sizes and purposes were arranged, the boy noticed that ghostly presence standing in the door of the workshop. He looked back, having his friends concentrated, almost leaning their faces against the computer.
Apparently they hadn't noticed the presence of that fellow.
It had been his turn to sigh heavily before walking over to Vicente. He could already imagine the kind of problem he would have on his hands. I mean, apparently he had hit someone who had influence in the circus. It would certainly lead to some administrative problems.
Could he have got into some kind of debt with the circus? That would be a problem, although there was no regret whatsoever about his actions.
― What do you want?
― Young Master ― Vincent nodded slightly ― We still have unfinished business. I said that if you wish to resign, you will have to meet with other people to clarify and solve the situation.
Leonardo peered at his eyes suspiciously.
― Is that the only reason why you came to see me?
― Was there another reason?
Vicente was innocent, to Leonardo's annoyance. Or, even more likely, that the boy's irritation was his own concern about what had happened the week before. It would be a shot to his pride if he asked, but on the other hand he had no way of not wanting to know what had resulted in that fight.
In that mental balance, he would swallow a hint of his pride.
― That guy, by any chance did he bring trouble?
Vincent's amber eyes shone shrewdly. The thin smile had not been hidden, even as the boy bowed his head thoughtfully.
― That will depend on which answer you wish to hear, young master Leonardo. The one that will please you or the truth?
― I prefer the truth.
― Because some staff members have witnessed and been victimized by Lord Brahan's behaviors, he has been asked to withdraw from our sponsoring system. Which is a pity, as we have lost a large amount of investment.
Leonardo swallowed hard. Damn, he had already imagined that this guy was rich just because of the clothes he wore. He had even heard him tell the trapeze artist that he had invested money in him. His head simply hadn't followed the logical thread of that conversation to reach that conclusion, which now seemed so obvious.
If he had, would he have avoided the fight?
Or would he have dragged him somewhere with fewer people just to be even more violent in his punches?
Scratching the back of his neck, a small, sour regret was born there.
― Holy shit... But you'll be able to handle it, since you're famous. That guy won't go around slandering you.
― Lord Brahan has gone out for a long, long walk, so he probably won't wish to see us again. So we have opened up new sponsorship slots and we are working on our campaign against sexual harassment. But we still have some financial problems.
― Okay, well... What about that guy, is he okay?
― That guy? ― The confusion was clear in Vicente, even with Leonardo arching his eyebrows as if the answer was obvious.
― Yes, the puppet. He was almost taken by force, wasn't he?
A wide smile appeared on Vincent's face.
― Oh, right. Yes, Benjin is fine and he asked me to invite you back to the circus because he would like to thank you personally.
Leonardo raised the tip of his lips in a smile.
― You want to take me there again, you clown.
― Was it that obvious?
A laugh escaped the university student's lips, who let his hands on his waist being completely incredulous of how direct Vicente could be in some moments.
― You didn't even disguise it! Come on, I told you I'm not going to inherit that place.
― Fortunately the young master's behaviour last week brought about a situation that will help me convince you otherwise. ― Vincent opened his thick coat and took out a folded piece of paper. As he unfolded it, he read it. ― Due to the sudden departure of our sponsor, the financier will have to bear the losses, since Mr. Brahan provided safety equipment for our artists.
This conversation was not taking a pleasant turn. Over his shoulder Leonardo checked his friends, who were now using a notebook to scribble something, although they were still almost glued to the computer screen. Even if their concentration was so strong, the university student didn't want to continue their conversation there.
So he pulled Vincent by the arm out of the campus workshop, which was deserted. Outside, in the back, there was a fence and a long empty lot. Nobody would hear them talking, and the fresh air would help Leonardo to think better.
― What do you want Vicente? Is it your intention to make me feel responsible for this problem?
― Well, young master, but you are responsible, since you assaulted our sponsor.
Leonardo shook his head in denial. He was being cornered more and more in Vincent's trap. If he were crazy he would be sure that the other had created the whole situation just to guarantee his return to the park.
But that was impossible.
― So you are going to make me inherit the whole park just so I can pay this debt? No way.
― Young master, why do you refuse to take possession of the park? We must begin to understand each other from this point on.
― I don't understand anything about this, Vicente! That was my father's dream, not mine. I have no connection with that place.
― Well, all this nonsense, but of course you do. ― Vincent laughed, even if the conversation generated more despair than good humour ― Young master the park was the place where you was born and grew up. There are many employees that you used to play with back then that are still there. It is just the opposite, you are the one to inherit for being part of Dreamland's history. If the problem is about your low administrative knowledge, Master Evilian has tasked me to teach you properly.
― I go to college for mechanical engineering, not administration, Vicente. I'm not fit for it. And I don't want to go back.
Sighing, Vicente stared at the student and was reciprocated. A silent, evaluative look, without any shadow of his former good humour. And then he nodded.
― Very well, we can go another way. A trial period in Dreamland.
― Come on Vincent...
― Young Master will fulfill his duties as heir for a few months. You'll learn the basics of administration and take care of the circus. I can take care of complicated matters on your behalf, I will always be by your side to simplify things.
Leonardo made a face. He definitely didn't see himself the same way as the guy he had punched the other time. Wearing a designer suit and tie sitting behind a desk, or attending meetings with graphs being spewed over his head.
That was not his lifestyle.
― It's not going to happen.
Vincent raised his hand, asking the other to wait.
― Certainly no one, apart from a very select group of people, will know about the young master. You don't have to take part in the meetings, but you and I will certainly discuss the agenda.
When Leonardo crossed his arms and frowned, appearing to follow his train of thought, Vincent merely smiled minimally.
― During this trial period you will get to know your fiancé and the situation in the park before making any decision. Besides, those who will know about the young master will be able to evaluate you as well. Of course, purposely self-sabotaging will lead to an increase in your probationary period.
― If I do that, won't I need to take responsibility for the debt that guy left?
― Certainly. ― Reading again the sheet in hand, Vicente then continued ― The conditions are that the young master will live in the Dreamland Mansion with the select group, where we can talk openly about the administrative affairs of the park.
― No way. Aha, but it's been a long time coming. Why the hell should I live there? I already have a flat.
Folding the paper again and putting it in the inside pocket of his jacket, Vincent kept his cool in front of Leonardo's refusal.
― The young master has his scholarship to maintain, and so his time must be properly managed. I can take responsibility for your schedule. However, the employees of the park also have their daily duties. There is no way they can commute to the young master at all times. It's best that you live at Dreamland Mansion.
Damn, it made sense. His college itself was too far from the park. That night when he had gone to meet Vincent, the time wasted in traffic had irritated him immensely. There was no way he could go there all the time, nor could the staff do the same to see him.
Wait... Was he really pondering that?
― I also have my part-time job.
― We'll think it over as we find our new routine, young master.
― And it will only be for a while, won't it?
― Unless you wish to give up surrendering your inheritance.
That amber glowed with such cunning that it sent shivers down Leonardo's spine. The last thing he wanted was to get into debt with a famous park like that, with the responsibility of what had happened the week before weighing on his shoulders.
He had no idea how to get out of that spider trap. Vicente seemed ready to corner him in any way he could and drag him to that place.
Scratching the back of his neck the boy snorted furiously.
― Yeah, whatever. Let's get it over with.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone