Part III

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This is the Eighth Eihkand we’ve discovered. Perhaps there were others, but we simply did not link them because of their differing practices?

-From Professor Shokolov’s Journal, 13th Entry

Winters in Lupan took a form that most at the edge of the country didn’t know of. The Capital of HuedoLupan was situated in such a place that it would be one of the few cities that would actually still see snowfall. It was during one of these winters in the capital, that AxEl found himself engaged in conversation with a real estate agent.

“What about a location with a good look at the city?” AxEl asked the man. The agent was a scrawny man with light brown skin and combed hair. He wore a buttoned up shirt, though the sleeves were rolled up.

“We have a few houses like that, but are you sure those would be within your budget?” the man asked. AxEl chuckled.

“Finances aren’t something you need to worry about with me. I just want a look at the best you’ve got,” AxEl replied. The other man lit up and ushered AxEl into his vehicle, where he drove him a few streets further until they reached a giant mansion.

The mansion was taller than his house, having its own personal driveway leading to the entrance. From just his position on the sidewalk, AxEl could see that the cream coloured building was wider than his home five times over.

They stepped through the gate and walked around the entrance of the mansion, snow crunching underfoot as they did. It was lightly snowing at this point, which hadn’t stopped the agent for some reason.

“Five bedrooms and seven bathrooms, each with its own tub. A swimming pool installed in the backyard that’s forty feet across. And finally, with its own underground theatre. This is one of our finer houses and I think you would agree,” the agent spoke as AxEl stared at it in awe.

“How much is it?” AxEl asked.

“Let me just show you ar-oh… Are you sure you would like to know the price now? You should probably take a look around to see whether the accommodations are suitable for you.”

AxEl shook his head. “No need. Just tell me the price.”

The agent was befuddled for lack of a better term. All his training in presentation was wasted when the man would want to buy the location outright without any further questions. He stared at the tall man in front of him, wondering if he was the one being toyed with.

“Two hundred million Laros.”

****

Having finished his purchase of the location with no further issue, it took AxEl a few days to sort out the furniture and belongings that he would have to shift over to his new home. He was excited at having a new place to stay, and Anagen had told him that they could afford it under the current budget.

Though the house was big, AxEl hadn’t planned on staying there by himself. The location would be big enough to host himself, Anagen, Nook and several of his workers if the need ever arose. But currently, it was just a barren house needing to be turned into a home.

LudEe, and a few of his other workers, had been assisting him in that task, as he moved around the whole house working up a sweat.

“Drag that table over into that bedroom,” AxEl ordered.

LudEe nodded and got to work. AxEl barked a few more orders at the other workers there, who were arranging the luggage as fast as they could.

“The lamp should go into my office. Bring the books into the lounge. And get someone to clean up the bottom floor, there’s dust everywhere,” AxEl ordered the rest of them as he sat back in his chair and observed.

LudEe returned after his work and flashed a smile as he always did.

“Moved it, boss. Anything else that needs fitting?” he asked. AxEl shook his head.

“No, that’ll be all. Thank you for the help, LudEe,” AxEl said. LudEe nodded and turned to leave.

“Wait,” AxEl told him. LudEe looked at him, confused, until AxEl pulled out a few notes from his wallet.

“For a job well done,” he said, and gave it to the older man. Once everyone had left the house, AxEl sat down and relaxed his legs for a moment. He works much better as a butler than he ever did as a dealer, he thought when thinking back to LudEe.

AxEl relaxed in his own home and was about to fall asleep when a call rang from his new phone and he picked up.

The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

“AxEl, is that you?” Anagen asked.

“Yeah, I’m here. Why?” AxEl asked.

“I scheduled another meeting this week in order to discuss your move into Lupan and our next moves. It’s due in three days. I just wanted to inform you.”

“I’ll be there,” AxEl replied, and Anagen hung up the phone on the other end. They’d grown a bit more distant during the move, but AxEl was hoping to mend that in the coming days. He looked around at the pristine white walls of his home and let out a long breath.

How could I think I could live without all this? He chuckled to himself.

****

The meeting was as ordinary as it could get for AxEl at this point. Anagen had been the one to suggest that he offload most of his responsibilities to underlings who could handle it. He’d felt anxious about the change in structure, but Anagen had assured him that most of the power would still lie with him.

In all honesty? It wasn’t really power that he was after. He enjoyed the money that came from his trade, but that was about the only enjoyment he took from it.

The giant table they reserved for their meeting room in the office was lined with intricate wooden chairs on each side. At the front of the table sat AxEl, one hand holding up his head.

People started shuffling into the meeting room, wearing suits just as he’d specified. Lex, one of his oldest workers, wore a typical grin as he conversed with the people beside him.

Ervyt, a bald man with a bushy mustache and deep green suit, was his manager of Tonguewisp. AxEl nodded in his direction when Ervyt glanced at him.

LokIn was another one of his managers. He was actually quite muscular under the shirt, which AxEl thought was a hobby of his.

The others were there too, and they each greeted AxEl and took their seats near him. AxEl glanced downwards at his own clothes and was a bit annoyed by their tightness. Wearing a shawl felt annoying, especially, but he knew he had to make a good impression on the others.

“Is everybody here, then?” AxEl asked. Everyone stopped muttering among themselves and fixed him with their eyes.

“Yes, boss. I think that’s just about everyone,” Lex said.

“Then, I think we should start with a rundown of recent reports,” AxEl said.

“Gentlemen, if you would,” he added, pointing towards the trays that sat on the table. They had a yellow hash in them that AxEl took in his hand and chewed on. The Tonguewisp took effect immediately and AxEl felt himself a bit more aware of how people spoke.

He looked around and LokIn was presenting.

“They caught the enforcer we placed there. He’ll be in there for the next six months until they clear him of the charges.”

AxEl listened intently; every word understood as if it had come from his own mind. He’d always had trouble parsing some of the more distant accents of the people present there, so it helped to have the Tonguewisp assisting him. Though he did find his attention wandering.

He looked down at his shawl and held it up with one hand.

Shawl. Blerja. Askahla. Funny how many different words there are for it. The knowledge of those words wouldn’t last long until he learned the actual languages that his managers knew, but that was something he could focus on later.

“Do you think we should proceed, Axel?” asked one of his newer managers. He was a foreign man, and AxEl didn’t quite remember his name.

“It’s AxEl,” he corrected. The other man looked confused.

“I do not understand the difference?” the man asked.

“It’s a Lupanese thing. We like to capitalize the second of the important vowels in our name. It’s what we have in place of surnames,” AxEl lectured.

“I see, then. I’ll try to remember, AxEl,” he said and AxEl smiled in response. The meeting continued as intended, and AxEl sat lethargically throughout it all. That was until he heard a special name.

“And finally, the Company seems to not be taking our move into Lupan kindly,” Ervyt said.

“What was that about the Company?” AxEl asked. He sat up in his seat to look at the other man. Ervyt cleared his throat and continued.

“Our dealers have been quitting. I’ve heard from one of them that they were being threatened by people using Airwaves,” Ervyt responded.

Of course, it’s that damn Bullet.

“Tell me more,” AxEl asked, setting his hands on the table.

****

Nook stood beside AxEl, behind him near the wall of the meeting room. He glanced around at the vases, the displays and the paintings, and found them kind of dull. He stifled a yawn, barely paying attention to anyone around them.

That was, until he looked over and saw OkIx glancing back. Nook looked away and pretended not to notice. He felt the uneasy stare boring into his skull until the meeting was adjourned and he could finally leave the room.

He stomped out as quickly as he could, but found an arm clutching him from behind, near the entrance of the room.

“Someone looks at you funny for a second and you run? Talk about meek,” OkIx chuckled.

“What do you want from me?” Nook asked. Truth be told, he’d never liked the face of the blonde man, nor the attitude he carried with him. He felt… uneasy for lack of a better term. It usually just seemed to be him, though.

“Just making an observation. Keep up this sort of act in the meetings and maybe one day AxEl might not even need you around. He’d probably tuck you into bed himself if it meant his precious little leech didn’t have to be bored,” OkIx said. The hallway was empty of others, so Nook had no one to turn to. He’d put on a fair share of muscle in the past few years, but it didn’t help him feel any more confident against the insults.

“I’m not meek,” he retorted.

“Prove it, then,” OkIx replied and motioned him to follow. Ugh, he isn’t going to stop until I make him, is he? Nook thought as he began to walk behind him.

OkIx led Nook to the end of the floor, where they found the door leading to the stairwell. OkIx paused there and looked around.

“What did you want me to see?” Nook asked. OkIx went into the stairwell and Nook followed, where he saw the other man opening up the control panel. He flipped a few switches and Nook heard distant sounds of annoyance. He also

“What did you turn those off for?” Nook asked.

“Assurance,” OkIx replied and went back into the floor proper.

“OkIx, I will report this behaviour to AxEl. You didn’t turn off anything important, did you?”

OkIx didn’t reply, just shook his head. He then crouched down onto the floor and put his ear to it.

“I’m turning those switche-”

“Shut up for a moment. I’m listening,” he replied and Nook felt even angrier.

“If you’re going to drag me around, at least tell me why!”

OkIx raised a finger to his lips to silence the man and Nook felt his patience receding even further. Just as he was about to leave, OkIx stood up, dusted himself off, then pulled the fire alarm downwards.

Ringing exploded from around them, and Nook had to cover his ears from it. A moment later, a shower of water hit the both of them, and Nook gave OkIx an ugly glare. He was holding up a burning tissue against one of the sprinklers. Nook grabbed the other man and slammed him against the wall, but OkIx only looked slightly annoyed.

“Explain.”