As I sat in the car, my mind raced with reflections of my tumultuous past. The recollections of my far-from-heroic exploits and the perils I had encountered still clung to the recesses of my thoughts.
Max fixed me with a gaze that exuded unwavering resolve, signaling his readiness to absorb the impending narrative.
Drawing a deep breath, I commenced my tale.
"Listen closely, Max. From a tender age, I navigated a moral void, perpetrating reprehensible deeds such as peddling narcotics and purloining automobiles. I was a felon, a bottom-dweller. Yet, there existed one pivotal moment that would alter the course of my life. A well-heeled family, whom I shall henceforth refer to as the Singhs, enlisted my services to extort unsuspecting bystanders, eliminate rival kingpins, and indoctrinate other impressionable youths into their sinister ranks. This was in the heart of Vietnam.
The riches they proffered were substantial, but I remained confined by the constraints of that wealth. I could not bestow it upon my own kin. Upon returning to the United States, I found myself eluding the relentless pursuit of the law," I paused, seeking a moment to collect my thoughts.
It was a wonder if my Japanese accent had any effect on whether someone would take me seriously. Or did people just not notice it?
Either way, I continued, "Nevertheless, a grievous blunder marred my path. Can you surmise what that error might have been, Max?"
No need to articulate it explicitly; all present grasped the gravity of my allusion. Spelling it out was uselessly inconvenient.
Everyone knew what I was referring to. As I spoke, Max leaned back in his seat, his eyes unwaveringly fixed on mine. I could see the wheels turning in his head as he endeavoured to fathom the scenario.
He muttered, "I think it's beginning to make sense now. You're undoubtedly a pariah." His tone held an undertone of admiration, albeit tinged with wariness. I couldn't suppress a chuckle at his observation. "Come now, Max. Do you genuinely consider me a pariah?"
Max chuckled in response. "I'm uncertain, Maruyama. Perhaps it's simply the way of the world. People are inexplicably drawn to the notion of a monstrosity such as yourself." He leaned closer, his eyes penetrating.
"Let's hope you avoid repeating such recklessness — you're exceedingly fortunate to find yourself in this position now."
It was clear; nobody would tolerate my screw-ups if I didn't learn. I nodded, understanding the gravity of my situation. I had to show them that I could do the right thing.
As we drove towards the DC area, I thought about how lucky I was to be alive.
Really, I should've died back then, but it puts into perspective the true nature of this world's capriciousness.
Some guy who had a promising career ahead of him probably just got killed in a car accident. A mother who has kids to take care of might be suffering from cancer.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.
Then there are people like me, who have done terrible things, are still here, free to wreak havoc on society. I couldn't shake the feeling of guilt that weighed heavily on my shoulders.
Speaking of which, it's obvious that Miranda has to cope with the trauma I inflicted upon her for years and years to come.
She was a radiant and vibrant girl, but now she was broken and scarred. It was a sad reminder of the impact I had on her life.
Well, not that the past can change now~
In fact, I presume we likely won't see each other again. But that doesn't change the fact that I have to make amends for what I did.
I was the monster, but now I had to become the hero.
Ending my inner monologue there, I paid attention to the scenery outside.
Billowing, white cumulonimbus clouds in their formation process loomed on the horizon, casting their shadow over the landscape. The setting sun bathed all objects in a warm, orange luminescence. The air possessed a crisp chill, punctuated by my shallow, contemplative breaths.
Max tapped on my shoulder. "I'm giving you a smartphone. I'm also giving you a smartwatch. Since you're not a baby, I don't need to belabor their operational quirks to you. Isn't that right, Maruyama?" He handed me both devices, and I quickly locked the smartwatch onto my wrist.
I felt a rush of excitement as I saw the possibilities. With the new technology, I could keep in touch with Max and my other contacts and keep track of time as well as location.
Before I even got to ask, he preemptively have me earphones.
Now, the ensemble had reached completion.
To my amazement, the car was equipped with WiFi signal. Remarkable! These government operatives certainly reside in true comfort.
I logged into my SoundCloud account and played Shostakovich's second waltz. As I listened to the music, I felt my mind drift away from the events of the day. The melody was soothing, and I found myself lost in the rhythm of the notes.
It didn't overuse percussion, but still demanded listeners' attention. The trumpet players skilfully blew out the tune, and I was left in awe of their skill.
The waltz was unlike anything I had ever heard before, and I couldn't help but be impressed by the sheer beauty of it.
Classical music was phenomenal, and I imagined a world where more people regarded it as something more than 'Music for fancy people.'
You did not need to be fancy to enjoy Classical music.
The waltz continued, and I remained lost in the tune. It was probably good for tuning the mind to relaxation, and for a person as hyper-alert as myself, it was the perfect remedy.
Soon, the waltz came to an end, and I took a deep breath. I hit the pause button, and looked out the window.
We were on a seemingly endless road, surrounded by tall trees. The other cars kept position on all four sides about us; premier, posterior, left and right. The sole disruption to this tranquil tableau was the humming of the vehicle's engine.
As I looked out the window, I noticed something odd. In the distance, I saw a figure standing in the middle of the road.
Wait a minute... she's brandishing a chainsaw!
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