Jean was confused.

Impressed, yes. Scared, mostly. Actually, he was almost only scared.

But Lawrence had said something he didn't quite understand.

"It was you who ordered a raid on my house."

That's what his ridiculously terrifying neighbor said.

What was Lawrence implying? That Jean sent someone to raid his house? But that was ridiculous! Setting aside the fact that Jean had no need for money, and stealing because one could was simply... Pathetic. Why would he go through all the trouble that sending someone to break inside a house meant? Especially if that someone was his own... subordinates.

Remind me again how I got them?

You ran into them, they tried to beat the turd out of you, and you kicked their lame asses into submission.

Oh, that's right.

As annoying as having a little voice in your head was, it had it's advantages.

But he was digressing.

"Listen, Mr... Lakewood" he spoke slowly, carefully picking the right words. The aura Lawrence was giving off now was so dense Jean felt like he was in the depths of the sea. Whatever he did, annoying Lawrence more than he already was wasn't a good idea.

Unless you are a suicide.

Which he wasn't. Or was he...?

"I'm sorry, but it sounds like you are suggesting that I might've ordered my... men to rob your house." he made a little pause, slightly disgusted by recognizing the subjects in question as his men.

Lawrence shot him an amused look

"'Sounds like...' you say? 'Sounds like' can't break glass panels, nor deprive me of my toaster. That's a very ugly thing to do, are you aware? Not only are you holding a potential railgun in your hands, but you're taking my breakfast and afternoon snacks away from me." Truth been told, Lawrence hadn't used that toaster in forever, not since Laurent's previous visit to his house.

Jean's eyebrows twitched once again, and he swore he could feel a third layer of veins popping. Even so, he held his tongue, took a deep breath and continued.

"I didn't do a thing. Whatever might've happened to you, I have nothing to do with it."

Lawrence's eyes seemed to pulse purple for a second. Jean stepped back. Was he using some mind reading sight-related power? He had no doubts Lawrence was empowered. The sheer amount of pressure he was giving off told him the man in front of him was on a different level. He wouldn't be impressed if Lawrence didn't at least have a lie-detector skill.

"Very well" after an awkwardly long silence (for Jean) he spoke again. "I'm going to assume you didn't purposefully order those underdeveloped apes to break in my house. Given the size of their brains, I wouldn't be surprised if they tried to justify their actions with a stupid lie like that."

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

Jean sighed in relief... Or he wanted to. But...

Yeah, something smells fishy.

He wasn't sure he was happy to hear those words for some reason.

There's got to be a but somewhere...

Lawrence nodded. He looked at the couch potato man in the couch.

He hadn't said a single word in the entire conversation. In fact, he wasn't moving at all since he came in. No, he was actually... snoring? Lawrence closed in, and snapped his fingers in front of the man's face.

He didn't even flinch.

Jean stared at Lawrence, his dread replaced by curiosity.

Lawrence waved his hand, and still nothing. He karate-chopped the guy's head. Once again, not a single move. All he got was a greasy hand. That dude seriously has to wash his hair, he thought, taking out a handkerchief and wiping the filth.

"Looks like he fainted on the spot..."

Jean nodded. "Well, he certainly doesn't look like the strongest soul around. Maybe you put a little too much pressure on the room..."

Considering Jean himself nearly blacked out himself...

"I pity you and your sorry men..."

Lawrence shot him a condescending look.

Hey. Stop it. Don't look at me like that. I don't need your pity! Come on, that hurts man! Stop looking at me like I'm some kind of abbandoned puppy~

"But!!!" Lawrence abruptly resumed his dignified act, his aura of domination once again flooding the room and his eyes gleaming as he turned back and faced Jean.

The person itself was too busy jumping out of their skin to notice. It took him a few seconds to calm down and another more to assimilate Lawrence's words.

"The fact that you let your subordinates trash around without your knowledge and/or consent shows your failure as a leader!"

Not that Lawrence was someone to talk, since Mika almost always was a random factor and Christiane was literally boiling a mysterious plan on his back, but alas! He had no way to know that. Ignorance could be such a bliss at times.

"Moreover! You still carry the responsibility of the actions of those who follow your will. Which makes you guilty of what happened, if only to a certain extent. Therefor, I have all the right in the world to ask for a compensation suited to the harm you caused!" Lawrence flashed a wicked grin as he pointed his finger at Jean.

"Huh?"

"Therefore!!! I will hereby carry on with your judgement!"

"Wait, wait a second. Oi oi oi! What do you think, that you can just barge in and make me..."

His voice crumbled under the pressure of Lawrence's unsettling eyes staring at him. "N-Nevermind. You were saying?"

"Indeed!" Lawrence turned around arms wide open as he now cackled maniacally. "You, my dear neighbor, will have the incredible honor of joining the side of world dominators!"

If black dots could appear above people's head, they would have now. Still sporting his 'loading' expression, Jean tilted his head.

I give up, Jean. This guy is crazier than us. Together.

"Ahem, excuse me. Whatever do you mean by that!"

"Oh, nothing terribly important. I'll just need all the information you have gathered, full access to all of your resources, a total control over your field assets and so on. You know, petty little things."

What the...?

"And you think I'll~"

"Yes?" Lawrence turned back, staring eyes wide open at Jean, as if eager to hear him mutter the words he was about to. "You were saying?"

Hey John, is it just me or the guy's face is getting darker and darker?

No Jean. I can see a murderous glint on his eyes. I don't think it's you.

Good to know.

"Absolutely nothing, thanks for asking."

"Very well." Lawrence tucked his sleeve and looked at his wristwatch. "Is this the time already! Gah, time flies when you're having fun..."

Were someone to look at Jean's forehead right now, they would mistake it for a giant pulsing tomato.

"Anyways, that's it for today, minion. You are dismissed" he waved as he headed for the exit door. "Remember to report to me at least once a week. Well then."

Jean waited for the sound of the creaking door slamming against it's frame before collapsing in the floor.

"Did our neighbor just force us into minionship?"

Hey, it was you who never said a thing against it.

"You didn't say no either!"

I can't talk!

"Oh, you're right."

I'm always right.

Jean sighed once again. He could feel a headache coming up already...