"You double-crossed us."
Upon hearing Seraphina's bone-chilling remarks, Tuna had a ghastly expression plastered across his face. If he knew that this would happen, he'd already fled from the country.
Tuna was in the phase of redeeming himself to his underbosses because 'Luciano' which is Seraphina is back. Hence, to him to offend the big boss even further, he bootlicked them and did whatever errand they ask him to -- no matter how silly it was. After all, aside from Seraphina, there's Tito who could shred him apart with his b_a_r_e hands.
Hence, when he received a messaged that he needed to go in this place, he did with the said time with discretion. However, who would have thought that while he was hesitating if he should just go or not alone, he bumped into someone who Tuna doesn't want to meet in this lifetime taking a leisure walk.
What happened next was obvious, he received a few powerful blows that nearly cast his soul out his body before he dragged him there like it was nothing. Dragon didn't even seem he had a difficulty dragging a person with a size like his.
"N- no, lady boss I--"
"Oh? Still trying to deny it?" Seraphina interrupted Tuna's irrelevant sentence as her eyes squinted. Her gaze was as if she was holding Tuna's heart and any time she'll squeeze it tightly.
"Pffft--! Venus?" Dragon who couldn't contain laughter by the dumbest joke he heard in his life uttered in between his laughs. His confusing reaction broke the strangling atmosphere. Even Tuna who was trembling in fear and Mariel who was holding his breath to lessen his presence knitted their brows by the unbelievable good-looking man; laughing his heart out.
"That's the most insulting lie you had come up with, love." Dragon added, wiping the formed tears on the side of his eyes.
"Huh?" Tuna mindlessly let out a questioned hummed as he darted his gaze back and forth to the terrifying Dragon and to Seraphina who he knew as Venus the black cat.
"Tuna boy, your greediness while being ignorant will lead you to your death. The offense of siding with me while your big boss wasn't around could only make you two choices; be killed by yours truly or to her -- Luciano." Dragon looked down at Tuna as if he was a superior being looking down to a peasant said in a matter of factly tone.
Indeed, the offense Tuna had done while Seraphina was comatose was dire. He broke too many rules of Seraphina which was quite surprising that she was letting her live. His violation was unforgivable and yet, he was only demoted instead of dying.
"Lu-- Luci, you said Luciano?" Again, Tuna stuttered and clarified. Upon hearing Dragon's last words, its as if he was struck by a bolt of lightning. He thought his ears were deceiving him as he said that the woman he thought was Venus was actually the big boss, Luciano?
How come the chubby big boss he had glimpse once was Seraphina? Furthermore, he was a guy! Though the petrifying aura was the same, still, isn't that a little absurd? The man he followed for years was actually a woman?
The shocking revelation was hard to absorb for Tuna. His perplexity regarding Dragon's attendance there was set aside as he would die either way. He could feel that any moment, he'd undergo mental breakdown trying to comprehend to this not a good morning experience.
On the other hand, Mariel who heard the name Luciano made his knees wobble. Since he was entangled with numerous felons in the underground community, he heard one or two big names that no one should offend. One is the cold-blooded head of the largest triad, Dragon and the other person is the mysterious Luciano.
Unlike Dragon's high profile influence, Luciano which is actually Seraphina was the opposite; which made her more dangerous as no one knew the real power and alliances she had. Mariel was rather quick-witted as he concluded that Seraphina disguise as Luciano had an established organization, alas, he only saw/heard a few; Tito, Jack, X, his two patients Leon and Rex.
Does that mean that these people were her selected few and her trump cards? But, why won't she use the power of the Luciano famiglia with countless of members? However, that wasn't the case! Clearly, Mariel was entangled with a more dangerous, bigger organization and not the average gangs that only followed the big bosses' commands.
This scene with Dragon and Seraphina before his eyes didn't made him feel honored but rather, Mariel was terrifying to the core. This legendary moment that the supposed enemies lowkey flirting with each other only distressed Mariel.
With this revelation unveiled before him, like a bucket of cold water abruptly splashed on his face, how can he refuse the proposal from Seraphina? If he was indeed the mysterious Luciano, then, the dangerous people she said that were coming after her was beyond dangerous!
This is not just a petty local fight he encountered in the past years but a war! They were preparing for a bloody war and Mariel, for the lack of luck he already has had to meet these people of all time! He must be the unluckiest doctor to have such bad timing.
Now, Mariel fully understood why Seraphina wanted to recruit him. It's was neither because he has impeccable skills nor anything of the sort; he was just there in the wrong season! With this clarity he concluded himself, Mariel could feel his soul slowly ejecting from his body.
He doesn't have a choice don't he? At least, being under her wing, there's still a chance for him to live a little longer and probably, the only family he had; as long as his beloved daughter would safe then, Mariel would set aside the fear of death.
"I-- I made my decision, boss!"