The room was classy, that's the best way to describe it kinda looked like the office of a mob boss from one of those old Italian boss movies. The floors were shined to perfection even more than in the bar like little mirrors. The walls were a muted brown with a floral pattern kinda like the floor of a forest in the beginning of the fall.
On the right side of the room the walls were adorned with different plaques each one detailing a different achievement or being welcome to a different society, ok the guy is a smart ass. The other side of the room was a whole other story as instead of plaques signs of intelligences there were stuffed animals heads each one a sign of a sign of skill and strength, I guess he’s a smart ass who likes to hunt.
In the middle of the room there was a solid red wood desk carved to perception not a singing out of order. Finally my eyes landed on the man who was the reason why I went through all that major bullshit.
He had dark olive skin that seemed to glow in the light, I need to know his skin care routine. He had salt and pepper hair smoothed back giving him a business man appearance or a con man same thing in my opinion. His face was perfectly shaved except for a handlebar mustache that trimmed to be perfectly even. His eyes standout from the rest of appearance being a bright ocean piercing blue. Finally to top the rich old man vibe he wore a nice oak brown two piece suit with gold jacket lining and a nice white button up underneath and a pair of shining dress shoes.
The only reason I was looking at him in detail was simple. Depending on how someone looks, aka the way they make people see them, can give a hint at there personally and this man seemed to be a businessman down to his very core. Now enough with the monologuing time to get that dough.
“Hey Oliver, can I call you Oliver?” I gave my best winning smile as I sat in the chair in front of the desk. “Only friend calls me Oliver but I think we’re friends here” He gave me a shining smile as once again I was wondering how he looked so young even though I could tell he was old, the only signs of his true age was his hair and the crows feet.
“Friends wow that's quick we barely know each other” I made my grin more playful. “Well I see all my employees as my friends, even the temporary ones”. “Aw ain’t that sweet” held my hands against my face as I spoke in a sarcastic manner. I Leaned forward “hey can we skip the chit chat and pleasantries and get to business”.
He gave a light chuckle as his deep voice with hints of European accent obnoxiously ran through the room “I’m sorry I’m sorry It’s just been a bit since I’ve talked to someone who likes to get straight business like myself”. He gave me another winning smile as I grabbed a pin from the table and started fidgeting with it “I just like Curren”.
“And you’ll will get Curren my friend don’t worry well unless you don’t have the ring” He was still still smiling but his eyes told a different story as they narrowed and focused on me. I fug through my pockets and quickly place the ring on the table “don’t get your panties in a bunch I got it I wouldn’t be here otherwise”. “J make sure it’s real you can never be sure” Oliver snapped his fingers as the bartender walked over and started studying the ring, I forgot he was even there
I didn’t know how he could tell if it was fake or not since his mask has no eye holes, maybe he has a power or something. After a few more seconds he finally handed the ring to Oliver “it’s real”. “Honest and good at their job you're special” I raised an eyebrow “I just did what you asked me too what makes that special?”.
“Well the past few people I hired tried to trick me and I can’t blame them since, well being honest in this city is a path to an early grave”. “Cool cool can I get my Curren now?” I just wanted to go home not listen to some man ramble. “Fine fine Mr J get our friend here there reward for doing such a good job” I looked towards Mr J as he was holding a briefcase, where did he get that?
He then unlocked it and opened as I could swear I heard chi ching as I looked at all that Curren. I grabbed one of those thin white rectangles with a little koi fish on it and it was just so beautiful, they were hundreds too! “Seriously all this for a ring?” I didn’t even look at Oliver as I just grinned ear to ear.
“I would say you're naive but it’s more you lack the knowledge because the history behind this ring is just something else” I don’t give a fuck, I have my Curren and that's all I need. “Well it’s been nice but I think this is where my obligation to be here has expired so ta ta” I took the briefcase and went to make my leave “before you go I have a question for you”. I sighed “what is your question” please be something simple like what’s your favorite animal.
“How long do you think that money will get you?” I blink at him “what”. “Don’t play dumb I know you know what I mean” I walked over “it will last me long enough”. “Then after that are you gonna just hope you find another paying job that doesn’t ask questions or care about what you are” I tightened my grip on the briefcase as I started to scowl at him.
“I meant no offense but you have to admit I’m right am I not?” I wanted to say he was wrong but I knew all this money wouldn’t last that long. I could see his grin become more smug as I wasn’t able to reply “silence is the best answer friend and speaking of answers I have one for your current problem”.
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
I took a deep breath as I sauntered over and sat back in the chair “what? You're gonna offer me another job?”. “Close but I’m thinking of something” he leaned forward “permanent”. “Permanent?” ok he threw out the hook “as in I want to hire you indefinitely for the time being” ok I’m hook but let’s see if he can real me in. So I put on my best poker face and lean back on my chair “ok you have my attention but I barely know you and trust you so why should I accept your offer”.
Oliver gestured to the briefcase “well for one I will alwasy pay you a handsome amount of Curren for each job you complete, might lower it a bit or give you extra depending on how well you do”.
“Hey I like Curren as much as the next guy but the money was a given I was more talking about other benefits” his eyes narrowed at me as I could tell he was doing some quick thinking.
“Hmmmm well a place to stay for starters somewhere where you wouldn't have to pay some landlord or hotel owner all the money you worked so hard to earn. I’ll also supply you with much better gear then what you currently use and if that's not enough we do have a scientist who can get you something more how do I put it advanced” that would make work a lot easier.“ Continue” he could definitely offer me more just needed to get it out of him.
“Hahaha you're a greedy one aren’t you?” I smirked “who isn’t?”. “Who isn't indeed” Oliver looked at Mr j and snapped his fingers “get the mask” Mr J nodded as he left the room “what was that about?”. “Oh something that will just sweeten the deal but on to other matters some of the other benefits I can offer include making sure you stay out of the law's sight” a typical benefit NEXT.
“Along with that I can also offer you favors” My smirk turned to a grin “now that's what I’m talking about!”. “To add onto that, unlike other business men I never and I mean never go back on my favors, that's what makes me different from other gangs in this city” yeah right.
“You're probably thinking that what I just said is completely bullshit, I did say earlier that being honest leads to an early grave” his smile disappeared as his gaze hardened. “But I hate this city, every aspect of it from the people leading it to its justice system to the gangs that cause chaos and uncountable amounts of deaths” His smile returned “so I try to be different”. I’m good at reading especially when it comes to lying but what I read off this man was pure conviction. The will to not divert or change from one's ideas no matter what, it was actually kinda scary how much it reminded me of him…………………“is something wrong?”.
I was knocked out of my trance as Oliver was giving me a confused look. I blink a couple times at him as I quickly shook my head “it’s nothing”. “So you can tru” I sighed “yes I trust at least for now”. “Good and our next topic should be here in three two one” Mt J walked in holding a metal box.
It seemed to be made from a sort of black metal and it wasn’t too big, about a foot wide, width and height probably big enough to hold that mask Oliver talked about earlier but why the hell is it in a metal box? “The box as you ask sir” Mr J placed the box in front of Oliver “thank you for services as always Mr J” Mr j gave a small nod as Opened the box.
“Catch” I grabbed the object Oliver tossed me and it was a mask, what a surprise. The mask was made from a kinda inky black porcelain material and it was in the shape of a rabbit even had little white whiskers on it and ears too, cute. “I don’t know how a rabbit mask is gonna sweeten the deal” I pressed my fingers on it “seems pretty durable though”.
Once again Oliver let out a chuckle “oh my friend what your holding is very important” how? It’s just a mask. “Oh it’s more then that” did he just fucking read my m “no I didn’t read your mind”.
“Now my dear my friend I have a question for you, do you know what myth bound items are?”. “Yeah, aren't they just items that have some sort of power” wait a minute? I looked at the mask, is this what I think this is?.
“Correct but it’s a bit more complicated than that example. The name myth bound is not just a cool name it means something. Let’s head back in time back around the time when the great Shinigami attacked, you know what that is right?”. “Yeah I know what is some giant monster that kills anything that gets close to it” Heard a rumor that the Shinigami is the same thing The black saints follow.
“Well when the Shinigami attacked many people blessed with powers aka divergent tried to stop it and well it didn’t end well. Now when most of these Divergent were killed by the Shinigami for some reason the closest object to the dead divergent inherited their power. When this was first discovered it seemed amazing but after some testing they quickly found out the items copy of the power was extremely weakened so it was kinda a bust” The only reason I was paying attention was because this was probably related the mask.
“Now this is where the name Myth bound comes in because after the years went by and the items were sold or simply forgotten after being thrown away people started finding them and discovered that a simple hand fan that could let out a slightly stronger wind now could send a shockwave that could knock down a building. People quickly realized that the older the myth bound item was, the stronger it got. The market went crazy when people discovered this as small wars were fought over these items some would try to hoard as many of these items as possible while others hid it so one of their descendants would have an item worthy of a god”. Yeah this mask was definitely a myth-bound item.
“So you're telling me you just handed me something that hundreds of people have died for just like that? Wow you must really want me to work with you”. “No no it’s not anything crazy like that I bought off an auction a couple months back apparently belonging to some cult. I have the masks of the other members but I think this one suits” aw I would have loved a uber powerful artifact would have made my job a lot easier.
“So what does it do?” I swear if it turns me into a fucking rabbit. “Well from what I was told it would let the user jump insane heights, make them much more agile, enhance their sense of hearing and I think even gave some sort of danger sense”. My eyes widened as I looked at the mask in my hands as this thing could make any random schmuck on the street a total threat.
“Ok ok I’m super confused on something why are you so fixated on hiring me I only did one job for you?”. “It’s quite simple” Oliver leaned forward, his eyes gleaning in the golden light of the room “I have a knack for seeing one's potential and you seemed to have a lot of it so I decided to get you for myself before anything could happen”.
“And I’m guessing you sent me on the job to see not only how well I would perform but also get you your ring” his grin widened. “Two birds one stone, now” he stood up and walked over to putting a hand on my shoulder “even Though I have a good idea of what your answer is to my offer I’ll give you sometime to figure it out”. “Oh yeah almost forgot” Oliver quickly pulled something out of his pocket and placed it on my forehead. When gently touched it was a bandage “for that nasty wound on your forehead don’t want it to get infected Now Mr J take our friend Cass here home”.
“Wait, I never told you my name? How did you k” before I could finish my sentence I felt my soft pressed against my back. I immediately shot up “did I just get teleported” i looked around and ep it was my shitty apartment the only changes were that there was the briefcase of Curren and that Black rabbit mask.
I fell back against my bed not even attempting to take off my gear “huh working for what seems to be a new up and starting crime boss that sounds” I yawned as I felt really tired “interesting I’ll figure it out tomorrow when I’m at a hundred percent” I slowly felt everything fade to black as I finally fell asleep.