Chapter 31: 12 a.m.

“Alright, so all their cameras are broadcast in this cabin, but it’s pretty obvious that they are also recorded in a server outside the ship. Whatever happens, we’ll be in huuuge trouble with the yakuza.” I explain in Chinese, my finger pointing at the security cabin on the hand-drawn map I made.

We’re lying on the Italian guy’s VIP cabin’s couches and I’m too tired to speak in Omond, so the stupid girl DIANA is doing the interpret.

“I see, it’s all the way up there. It’s the farthest from the auction deck.” Comments ARTEMIS.

I understand well enough Omond now so I don’t need DIANA to translate, but I keep responding in Mandarin. It’s much harder to speak than to understand, even in your mother tongue.

“Exactly, so we have to strike at the exact same time. The problem is they’ve noticed I disappeared and they’re actively looking for me. TIAN HUO won’t be able to cover me for long.”

DIANA raises an eyebrow: “Where have you been hiding?”

“TIAN SHUI is good for remembering the cameras’ locations. He’s been avoiding them all the time, and when he’s being noticed by a crewmate, he’ll answer as if he was me.” TIAN HUO responds in my stead.

“You two don’t look that similar! Are they stupid?” She exclaims.

“You would be surprised by how little most people pay attention to some physical features. We technically joined less than a week ago and we didn’t make friends with anybody. As long as I look confident enough and answer with similar intonation, they will find it odd but will let it go. There are so many deck ratings on this ship that they will just assume they confused our appearance with someone else.” I explain with a shrug.

ARTEMIS seems to be irritated by the situation: “What did he say?”

“Apparently, they’re too dumb to notice.”

This girl didn’t translate anything!

Thankfully, they didn’t add any racist remark on ‘Asians looking similar’.

“Alright, whatever. The only answer I got from Abhi is ‘They’re monsters’, so I’m a little worried. He didn’t answer my messages afterward. I bet he’s going for all-nighters until the last minute. Is there nobody who could help him in the Triads?”

I shake my legs up and down in the air: “No way! We’ve already asked two shidi to help us get infiltrated. If we ask something so complicated, they might spend time on their schedule and be forced to report it. I’m still not entirely sure why we’re helping you at all!!”

DIANA frowns: “Hey, didn’t you agree to take your share?”

“Yeah, but I already regret it. Isn’t your role initially to be our bodyguards? You’re putting us into danger!”

“Come on, you guys don’t need bodyguards at all, why did you even make a request to the agency? You never explained it!”

Well, it’s true they asked that a few times already, and I agree it doesn’t make much sense for them, but I simply couldn’t tell them that we’re actually spying on them and plan to kill them if we don’t find any meaningful information on their agency!

“It’s just like that…” TIAN HUO whispers.

“Well, talking about bodyguards.” ARTEMIS looks behind her to face the Italian. “What happened to your minions?”

The Italian who didn’t move at all since we entered is still lying on the soft hairy white carpet, his arms spread out like he’s asking for mercy.

“They’re not my minions, they’re my cousins.” He says in an annoying tone.

“Oh really? And where are they?”

He turns around to lay on his stomach, his arms still spread out like an idiot.

“They got caught, but it was my fault.”

“What.”

“What.”

ARTEMIS and myself let out our exclamations at the exact same time.

“Don’t worry, they won’t say anything. They’re my family. They don’t know anything anyway.”

“Where are they, exactly? What happened to them?”

He pouts. “I don’t know, they’re somewhere, maybe on a hospital deck, if there is one…”

DIANA stands up from the comfy sofa only to sit back, her butt on his back.

“Hey!”

“Shut up, that’s what you deserve for sulking like an idiot. You’re my seat now.”

Is this guy blushing or what? Oh no, he’s got weird kinks.

“DIANA, don’t seat on dirty things.” Frowns ARTEMIS.

I interrupt their circus with my usual broken Omond: “There is hospital. But too many cameras. It here on map.”

“Hmmm.” The Italian mutters, not even looking at it.

Not that he can in this position.

“So, should we go get them?” ARTEMIS suggests.

“Bad idea. Won’t.” TIAN HUO answers.

“Agree.” I add.

ARTEMIS waits for the Italian to make a choice, which finally is a simple: “Whatever.”

She sighs and grabs DIANA’s hand.

“Fine, keep sulking if you want. If you don’t need any help then we won’t give you. DIANA, wanna eat dinner?”

“Yep. But do you have the money?”

“It’s okay, we’ll share a plate of fries…”

“Not healthy, you healthy diet girl.”

The Italian silently watches them leaving the cabin and then turns around to lie on his back again.

After a few seconds of silence, he asks: “You two… Can you help my cousins?”

I look at TIAN HUO before answering: “Why you did not ag-ac-accept her help?”

“I don’t wanna be in her debt.” He pouts. “You two are fine. I’ll pay you as much as you want.”

TIAN HUO nods: “Not money but an oath.”

He takes the time to think and pulls his back straight into a sitting position.

“A true professional’s answer. What should I swear?”

TIAN HUO points at the sky and responds: “Your clan will grant the Shensu Shu one wish, whatever it is.”

This person, in his utter irrationality, was convinced that to be in a simple woman’s debt is worse than to be in ours. Simpleminded or insane?

Yet, in this situation where any man would be shivering in fear for their human integrity, he smiles.

“I, Francesco Cavalcanti, on my father’s name and on the honour of my family, swear to grant the Shensu Shu clan one wish, whatever it might be. Or may my soul rot in hell and my family fall into disgrace… Perché siamo tigri in un mondo di belve.”

 

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Inside the infirmary deck, the Camorra woman and the two Cavalcanti bodyguards are resting.

I sit behind one of the doctors’ desks, the Camorra man in front of me. Thus begins my interview.

“So, can I ask your name again?”

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“Caasi.”

“Just Caasi? No last name?”

“No.”

“What about Camorra?”

“It’s not our name.”

The man looks like a sad puppy, which is not really what I expected from the Camorra, but he just said it’s not their name, so what is going on here?

“The Cavalcanti prince said he recognised you as a member of the Camorra family, is that correct?”

“No, we’re not from the Camorra.”

“Why did he believe that you were? He knew your names, so did you already meet before?”

“Yes, we met at a Camorra reception in Chicago, but we’re not Camorra.”

“What were you doing at a Camorra reception?”

“We are acquainted with some of them.”

“Why did he know your names? He said you were famous.”

“I don’t know.”

“What are you doing on this ship?”

“Vacations.”

“Did you plan to meet with someone here?”

“No.”

“Did you know the Cavalcanti prince would be here?”

“No.”

“Why didn’t you say to the Cavalcanti prince that you were not Camorra?”

“We didn’t have the occasion. He already was convinced that we were. Do you think he’s reasonable enough to believe what we say?”

Fair enough, he isn’t reasonable at all.

But this man is definitely lying about some things. There is no way he’s here on vacation, the same way nobody here is on vacation.

This cruise is a big meetup reception on a ‘neutral’ site for people like them. They never come here for leisure, but for diplomacy.

“Who is the woman?”

“Airi.”

“Just Airi?”

“Yes.”

“What is your relationship with her?”

“Married.”

“Did you meet through the Camorra?”

“No. We know each other since childhood.”

“When did you meet the Camorra?”

“When we were in our twenties.”

“How did it happen?”

“I don’t remember exactly.”

“Try to remember.”

The man takes a whole minute to think, probably make up a lie before continuing.

“We were gold diggers in America, and the gold we found caught their attention.”

“Gold digging? By hand?”

“Yeah, in mines and rivers.”

“The two of you alone?”

“Yes.”

What the hell?

“Nobody does that since the gold rush!”

“Well-”

“Excuse me, you can’t come here!”

A nurse’s voice rises from the infirmary’s entrance.

A man’s voice responds to it: “Please, I need sir TADPOLE to come immediately!”

They seem to be walking toward this desk.

“Sir TADPOLE is in an important meeting right now, deck rating, ask for a second mate or first mate before disturbing him.”

“It’s an emergency!” He shouts, slamming the door, making Caasi gasp in surprise.

Behind it, a short black-haired, Chinese-looking deck rating is being held back by a nurse who’s reciting “I’m sorry sir TADPOLE, I’m sorry sir TADPOLE” back and forth.

The deck rating, which I’m convinced I’ve already seen before but can’t remember where, steps in with a convinced look.

“Sir TADPOLE this is an emergency, your esteemed sister is in a dire situation and asks for your help immediately.”

I stand up and grab my tablet.

“What an incredibly suspicious request.” I pronounce, rapidly typing on it as to make sure this is true.

But in a blow as quick as a gunshot, my hand starts to bleed.

Holding only a fragment of my once precious tablet, the deck rating, or the Chinese Triads member who infiltrated it, in a punch that broke the sound limit exploded it into star dust.

The nurse shrieks and I sigh.

“Sir TADPOLE, follow me before your brain finishes like this tablet.” He pronounces.

I did everything not to seem like a spoiled brother, but I swear this is the last time I move around without her to protect me.

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