Chapter 29: A game of subtle politics (1)

It hasn't been long since the 'orphans of the casino' meeting took place. Yet one will happen this evening, closer than expected. Kayn ran his hands, nimble as a seamstress hemming the silk threads together, and drew letters and words for the whole morning of this day. His hands never got tired, not even these tedious sessions held him down from doing good for his own brothers and sisters. But this morning, he dreaded the quality of his own skillful work. Just yesterday, he'd heard of the continuous killings happening in hidden pleasures, and he felt quite ill. Part of him wanted to close his eyes, to take a moment of peace, to make the writing stop. But he was a messenger and these treasonous thoughts might doom him and his entire family. 

'It can't be easy, can it?' What made his entangled feelings worse is that he knew that; somewhere, where the Portelinians shrieked for their lives and the razor of the devil flashed sharper than ever, a man might be hearing of their undoing and he wouldn't be pleased. The man's legend spread like wildfire in the span of a single night, with stories that are stranger than imagination yet clearer than reality. He knew that the devil's cold eyes that wept blood for reasons unknown to them would be watching their every move with a cruel glow. 

After sighing many times, he folded the letter he wrote and handed it to one of his messenger brothers. " Evan, hang this one near the doorstep of the brothel house. Watch your steps in the district, don't let anyone see or hear you". Their sister Jade, one of the vice leaders, needed to be alerted first of the meeting. 

"Yes, brother Kayn" Evan always blushes when speaking. He was one of the two orphans working under Kayn, a shy one that doesn't like attention, hence why he came under Kayn. He turned around and left the abandoned basement. Evan and Ethan had been lucky enough to hear the mute's voice, it was something needed to command the spy network they worked so tirelessly to create from scratch. 

Their letters would be written in the early daybreak, and from then would be delivered by the two messengers to all the weird places over Portelin… deep into tight rat holes, under giant rock pebbles, near bird nests, wrapped around tree sticks, strapped around randomly in the fields… These places grew stranger over time, and only the orphans knew of the secrets these letters held. Unfortunately, Some of the paper would be lost due to harsh weather and outside interventions, but the messengers had nothing to worry about. They just needed the vice leaders to get the message of the meeting just so preparations will be taken for consideration. 

~~~~~~~

Hours passed and the meeting would take place in just under five minutes. Most of the attendees belonged to one of the four factions with the sub leaders ruling their lines of work. Just like the last time, the casino reeked of dust and mold. Their leader would come announcing the start of their soon-to-be long discussion from the high platform. The four rulers would be standing just below with the others serving as the guests. Most chose to sit on the dusty floor with others simply acting as watchers from the side, gossiping between themselves. Kayn noted the presence of his sister Jade the beauty, his burly brother Maximus who happens to be the oldest, and lastly their snake-faced sibling hearteater, although some would argue he's even more handsome than the leader. Something about his demeanor spoke of the term 'bad boy' in every way possible. 

"What is this farce going to be about?" 

"who knows, it's exciting to see what surprise this meeting might hold" 

"... It seems everyone is present. Jade is looking as pretty as ever" 

"Big brother Maximus is said to be the king of fighting, I wonder if he could beat the devil…"

"ha! you fool. not even the big five mafia heads caught his tail, and you think we can?"

 

Their muttering fell on Kayn's ears, making him pull a wince. His brothers were too curious for their own good. 

Curtains were lifted slowly. The leader Yami walked, carrying himself in utter gracefulness. The four rulers nodded their heads in acknowledgement, a sign of greeting that they grew accustomed to. Kayn was the first to do the deed, proving himself to be the most eager of the bunch. 

Since he was taken under arms, he was but a mere follower of orders. Only when he learned of knowledge and the powerful potential it held in Portelin, he created his own little birds of paper and shaped his own path of Intel. And soon enough, he was noticed by Yami for his competence and expertise in handling messages. And now, he rules as one of the sub leaders.

"... The meeting commences, raise your heads, brothers and sisters!" Yami spoke, his words rang powerful bells in their ears. "Just as some would have probably guessed by now, we need to discuss the auction we are going to hold in the next few days. The mute sent his little birds for you all to attend, but some ought to be ignorant of the issue. Whatever circumstances they might have faced, we will deliver the news shortly after. For now speak your minds first…" he gestured with his delicate hand and the four finally raised their heads to meet the leader's gaze. 

"... Leader, how can we trust the devil in this matter? He certainly didn't hold back in his massacres. So what says he won't Take care of us shortly after his… 'performance' he says" Jade carried herself brilliantly, the atmosphere surrounding her captivated both the heart and mind. Now, she spoke with fear being apparent in her voice. 

'... Here she goes, causing ruckus left and right' only he was aware of how poisonous and venomous those sweet sentences she so indifferently muttered from time to time. He had never seen the nightingale dress in anything but silk and the richest of the robes, and she smelled of spring perfume even in the casino. Her body was a powerful tool that she intended to use at every chance she got. The brothel businesses she ran in the shadows fed her ego to the highest degree, but he was thankful she stayed true to her noble cause. Her fear was quite a shock to him, though he couldn't fault her. 

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"... And what says he did all of that alone. None, as far as I know, is capable enough to work this skillfully without getting caught. He could be one of the many bigshots residing in the black markets and their organizations. Influential gangs like the red fangs, burned men and the shapeshifters could be involved" Maximus liked to counter her arguments in every occasion she spoke. 'A game of mouse and cat they both play' Kayn thought. 

"oh really…" The last vice leader and also the most rebellious one, hearteater strolled around Maximus and Jade with a shrewd, challenging look in his face. Thankfully the mute was out of their radar for now. 

"Have you finally gone mad from fighting in the pits? Elsewise why would you utter such stupid profanities… who do you think killed all those gallivanting black sheep armed with greed and lust for the treasure we hold?... " Hearteater spat disdainfully. "... Heroic white Knights holding golden lances and swords?... Portelin is a grouping of ghastly, horrendous men whose desires know no bounds. It is the perfect place for ghosts, demons and hideous pirates, much less a devil. Ask yourself why the culprit hasn't been found to this day. When, if we go by your smart assumption, some finger pointing would take place at least… Max, we have all felt his dreadful bloodlust. That madman couldn't be trusted."

"... We have no choice but to trust him. We both know that, don't we?" Maximus' tongue became just as sharp as nightingale. He walked forward and delivered a punch to hearteater's face. 

*bang* as loud as a gunshot, hearteater fell backwards on his bottom. Tension flew high in the air and hearts grasped in shock of the sudden action. Some of the orphans grew brave enough to get a closer look on hearteater's fallen face, only to find him smiling with a trail of blood running down from his nose. His smile betrayed none of those angry uncertainties as some would expect, just pure delight and thrill.

Hearteater got up and wiped the blood off his mouth and nose, with the same smirk plastered on his snake-like face. The bystanders would have been cold-sweated by now if they weren't already shimmering with such nervousness. But the smile on hearteater scarcely seemed to have a subtle effect. They were no longer daunted by the howls of the brawl. 

"if we trust him we are dead… if we don't we are also dead. We are hanging by the thread of life, the raging sea from behind us and the powerful enemy in front. What would you choose? Tell me, is it the sea or the enemy?" hearteater said once again as his smile wore off. 

"... It's the sea I choose. At least I would have a chance of fighting back against the waves with my ship. If the enemy meddles in, we are dead no matter what" Maximus, with crossed hands, spoke wisely. He was the oldest for a reason.

"Sometimes it is wiser to choose the enemy, dear brother. A stormy night is the one of if not the worst thing one could face on the sea…" nightingale commented to the side, siding with hearteater as usual. The two had the same rebellious nature for some reason. 

"... You–"

" enough!... You all… We shouldn't war with each other right now. I want us to reach an amicable accord for once" Yami set to calm the raging fire every once in a while. 

"..." silence roamed the casino for a second. It wasn't everyday the calm Yami screamed, yet people followed his every word like a holy doctrine. 

"leader, we fear for our dark fates. What will happen once he gives up on us?" nightingale decided to break the ice. 

"... Only cowardly children fear the dark" Yami was colder than ever in his speech. "we are not orphaned children anymore, fearing the dark and running with our tails behind us. We held subtle power for too long in this city, it is high time we hold a real one…"

"the devil should have scorched those men in fire for all we care. He smashed their order, butchered their corpses and broke their 'strong' will. For once in years, we have the rich masters, the tycoons and the underworld higher ups slank in their knees. He could be bashing their skulls right now but he isn't. He didn't have any need for us in any of his hunts. He didn't even bother when the mute spied on him… that speaks to me loud enough about his trustworthiness." 

'how expected of you, leader Yami' Kayn was amused to see his arrogant sister shut her mouth for once. This casino of theirs resembled a wolf's den. Everyone looked over and cared for each other. But once desires and opinions came to light, everything scrambled like dust. The ruler became the ruled, and the morality of the matter shrieked. Desires are dangerous beasts… Far more than men themselves. 

'A pack of hungry oppressed wolves is what we are' Kayn spoke silently. His leader, Yami, had the stomach that a leader required for leading their group of wolves and spiders. Kayn could tell that this meeting will be a long one… 

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