A newcomer had arrived at the base of operations of the Ongle Empire’s infamous mafia. His name was Gahariet, and he had a very unusual appearance, with a long torso and tiny legs. Lobo, one of the higher-ranked members of the organization, listened to Épée’s introduction of the new recruit. As Épée was the boss, Lobo respected him a lot.
“Aurora asked us to drill some discipline into him. We’ve got to meet her expectations, guys.”
Everyone clapped to welcome Gahariet.
“The ma’am referred him to us, huh? Got it. Leave him in our hands, boss!”
Lobo knew Aurora. She was their next-door neighbor, and Épée was in love with her, although she didn’t reciprocate his feelings. Lobo thought that she was a good-natured woman.
“Yeah, we’ll take good care of him!” said another member of the organization, one who had the same rank as Lobo. “But uh... Aren’t his legs a little too short?”
He had spoken aloud what everyone else had been thinking.
“That’s probably Aurora’s doing,” Épée said. “Which means he must’ve behaved in a way that warranted that punishment.”
The corner of his lips tugged upward, but his eyes weren’t smiling.
“She wants us to turn him into a respectable man.”
Similar expressions appeared on the faces of all the organizations’ members. Just like Épée, their smiles didn’t reach their eyes.
“She’s such a nice woman. To think that she’d even show sympathy to those hostile to her,” one said.
“S-Screw you!” Gahariet screamed in response. “I won’t accept this! I... I...”
“Hmm? What did ya just say? Do you have a problem with Master Épée’s decision?” Lobo asked.
“I do!” Gahariet replied, spittle flying from his lips. “I’m the captain of the Royal Knights of Hanche! And the son of a marquis! Do you think you’ll be able to get off scot-free after disrespecting me?! You’re just a bunch of petty thugs!”
“Oh, he’s a lively one, isn’t he? Looks like he’ll be a ton of fun to discipline. We’ll do our best to retrain him, boss.”
“I’m leaving him to you, then,” Épée said before leaving the room.
With that, the newcomer’s introduction ceremony had come to an end. Yet, Gahariet was still complaining.
“I won’t accept this! Don’t make decisions for me, you scum!”
Perhaps he thought that he’d get his way by screaming his discontentment. He must’ve been quite spoiled to have grown so impudent.
That old man’s like a baby. He doesn’t know a single thing about the real world, Lobo thought.
He needed to make him understand his position: Here, Gahariet was at the bottom of the food chain. Épée had high hopes in their training, and Lobo couldn’t possibly betray his boss’s trust, after all.
Paying the man’s indignant screams no mind, he decided to kick-start things into gear.
“Huh? What did ya just say? Your voice’s so high-pitched, I can’t even hear ya.”
He gave the man’s torso the tiniest of pushes, and Gahariet immediately went flying.
“Wha...?” Lobo whispered.
How...weak. He was way too weak! The ease with which he’d sent the man soaring had left Lobo shocked and appalled. Seeing as the man was a knight captain, Lobo had thought he would be strong. What a letdown. He must’ve just been a knight on paper, huh?
“A-Anyway. From today onward, you’ll be working as the lowest of grunts, ya hear? Don’t worry; we’ll help rehabilitate ya.”
“That’s absurd— Ah!”
One of Lobo’s own subordinates yanked Gahariet down to the floor.
“Hey! Who gave you permission to speak, huh?! Stop disrespecting Mr. Lobo, ya punk!”
Another grabbed Gahariet’s hair and forced him to bow his head. The former captain tried to fight back, but he had no chance of succeeding.
“Gahariet, we’re going to drum proper manners into yer skull. Yer stuck here until you manage to become a new man,” Lobo said.
“C’mon, newbie! Bow your head to greet your seniors or I’ll crush your tiny legs!”
“Eeek!”
Gahariet hurriedly prostrated himself on the ground.
“Well, well, where did yer attitude go, sir knight captain? Ya’re a noble, aren’t ya? Should ya really bow to us so easily?”
Lobo’s lowest underlings were very happy to have a junior of their own. At this pace, it wouldn’t take them too long to rehabilitate Gahariet.
We’ll make him into the perfect fit for our mafia. Lobo grinned in satisfaction as he watched his underlings torment Gahariet.