Chapter One-Hundred Forty-One: Puzzle Pieces

Chapter 141

Puzzle Pieces

Hiroto sat in his office in the embassy of Shin-Yamato. The room was dominated by natural wood tones, used for the large, rectangular desk, built-in shelving, and wall paneling. The desk was positioned to face a full-height window, which overlooked a koi fish pond with cherry blossom trees. To the left of the desk, in front of the window, sat a carefully pruned bonsai tree in a dark pot.

On the right side of the room, built-in shelves held various photographs of Hiroto, Mayumi, Ichiro, and Jaxon throughout the years.

Hiroto sat in a large brown executive office chair as he watched the segment on the news of Ichiro masturbating to Celeste. Hiroto drew a long breath.

Hiroto: “I never thought I would see the day when Ichiro is exactly like Jiro. My sons have brought me nothing but shame.”

His eyes rolled back into his head.

He lowered his head.

Hiroto: “Suck it all up, Sayoko!”

He ordered as his secretary sucked on his cock. Hiroto put his hand on her head as he thrust into her mouth.

The door opened, and Vanessa stepped in, wearing a poly foam pullover heart tunic that left just her head, legs, and arms visible. She wore red heels on her feet and a headband with flashing hearts on the antenna.

Vanessa: “Konbanwa, Tachibana-san! I am a heart that beats for yooooou!”

She sang. Hiroto shrieked and rose from his seat dropping his pants as his secretary bobbed her head up with cum on her face. She covered her face with shame, grabbed facial tissues, and stormed out. Vanessa’s bottom lip trembled.

Hiroto: “Ah, my Italian pet! She… insisted, and I was too nice to say no!”

He smiled. Vanessa bawled her eyes out and ran out of his office.

Hiroto: “Vanessa, wait! She meant nothing! It’s you I love!”

He ran after her and fell on his face, tripping over his pants on his ankles.

He raised his head to see Mayumi standing over him with a hateful glare on her face. She bared her teeth and kicked him in the face.

~

Tristan sat in his office, reviewing the letters Rosemary or Erin had typed for him, signing and stamping them with his seal. He wore an Italian-cut navy blue three-piece suit, white pressed shirt, a dark blue tie with golden paisley patterns, and black wingtip oxfords. He drew a long breath and leaned back into his seat. He withdrew his pocket watch from his suit jacket to look at the time. It’s nearly break time, he thought.

He stuffed his pocketwatch back into his suit jacket, dusted himself off, and rose from his seat. He went into the lounge room down the hall and saw Rosemary seated on the couch watching a Hallmark movie. Tristan rolled his eyes, having had enough of those silly movies, but it wasn’t Ivy, so he sat down.

Tristan: “Hello, Rosemary.”

He smiled and withdrew his gold cigarette case. He took a cigarette out and lit it up. Rosemary checked him out and smiled.

Rosemary: “Afternoon, Tristan.”

He flicked his gaze at her and noticed her somber demeanor. Dare I ask? He wondered. I’ll bite the bullet, he thought.

Tristan: “Is something bothering you, Rosemary?”

He asked gently. She stared at her lap and sighed.

Rosemary: “It’s Lily.”

Tristan: “What’s wrong?”

He asked as he inhaled a long drag.

Rosemary: “Oh, Tristan, her boyfriend has been missing for months, and my useless ex-husband and the girls’ father, Fen, is doing nothing to help find him!”

She cried. Tristan gaped at her, almost regretting he had ever asked. But then he paused and recalled Sylvia mentioning that she had seen Ichiro and Borko driving the night of Ivy’s engagement party.

Tristan: “When was the last time you saw him?”

He asked her. Rosemary sobbed. Tristan withdrew some facial tissues from his box and handed them to her. She took them and thanked him.

Rosemary: “Ivy’s engagement party! He went out to smoke his pipe and returned to tell Lily he had some errands to run and hadn’t been seen since!”

She cried. Tristan nodded.

Tristan: “So when he went out to smoke his pipe, was he driving with anyone? Do you know?”

Rosemary sighed.

Rosemary: “I am not sure. He came back after his smoke. He was gone for a while. You know what Lily is like around him.”

She laughed a bit. Tristan rolled his eyes. Unfortunately, I do, he thought.

Rosemary: “He returned to tell Lily he had some errands to run and he would pick her up that night. He never came back.”

She sighed.

Rosemary: “Oh, Tristan, I think his car went over a bank and they couldn’t find him!”

She sobbed. Tristan heaved a deep sigh. She sobbed on his chest. He rested his cigarette in the ashtray and put his arms over her.

Rosemary: “If we had some closure!”

All this wailing about an old creep who preys on a child compared to him and sells people club soda for two hundred dollars, but I can’t shake the feeling there is something more, he thought.

Tristan: “Rosemary, did Borko ever mention anyone named ‘Ichiro Tachibana’ to you?”

She sighed and shook her head.

Rosemary: “No, he and Lily only spoke of their ‘Dommy Grandpa’ and ‘little’ time. He never mentioned any friends and didn’t do any work outside of selling his love potions at stalls.”

She stated. Never had friends, but he was driving with Ichiro? He wondered. Ichiro doesn’t strike me as someone who would purchase his “love potion,” so they must have had some friendship or something close, he thought.

He cupped his chin. Jaxon believes Ichiro killed Borko, but this is his high emotions speaking, as Rosemary and her family saw him return and drive off in his car that night, he thought. I don’t think he’s alive, but I don’t think Ichiro is responsible either; I just want to know what his connection to Ichiro is, he thought.

Rosemary broke the hug and blew her nose on some tissues.

Rosemary: “Thanks for listening to me, Tristan. You’re a generous young man.”

She smiled. Tristan smiled back. I couldn’t care less about that old man, but I do want to know what he is to Ichiro, he thought.

Tristan: “It’s my pleasure, Rosemary.”

He said gently.

Lily came in and cried.

Lily: “MUM! Borko is missing, and Daddy yelled at me for crying!”

She bawled, and Rosemary put her arms around her.

Tristan: “Hey, Lily, about Borko… Has he ever mentioned someone named ‘Ichiro Tachibana’ to you?”

He asked her. Lily shook her head.

Lily: “No, Borko had no one! He had family he never wanted me to meet, and his family hates him! I think they did because they were diaper racists!”

She cried. Tristan gaped mutely at her.

Tristan: “...What is a diaper racist?”

He asked slowly.

Lily: “Oh, I wear diapers because I am a little, and Borko is my dommy grandpa! It means you hate people who wear diapers.”

She explained. Tristan shifted in his seat uncomfortably.

Tristan: “Interesting.”

He said tersely. And I learned absolutely nothing from this conversation, he thought.

~

That evening, Deimos drove Tristan to a restaurant for dinner. Deimos made reservations for a formal French restaurant in downtown Pink Top City called “La Tulipe d’Automne.”

Deimos and Tristan entered a spacious, luxurious restaurant. Tristan wore a double-breasted black Italian-cut suit, a light purple pressed shirt, a dark purple tie, a gold pocket square, and black wingtip Oxfords. Deimos wore a black suit jacket, a blue shirt with the buttons undone at the collar, black trousers, and black loafers.

The overall ambiance is warm and inviting, primarily due to the soft, golden lighting emanating from recessed lights and backlit panels on the ceiling.

There were numerous round and rectangular tables draped with white linen tablecloths, set with wine glasses and silverware. The chairs were upholstered in a warm, dark brown leather. The servers tending to the patrons wore white pressed shirts, waistcoats with a red rose pattern, black pants, black ties, and black shoes.

A striking focal point in the center of the room is a large, elaborate floral arrangement featuring cherry blossoms in tall vases, surrounded by green foliage.

Deimos pulled out a chair for Tristan. Tristan thanked him and sat down, while Deimos took a seat across from him. A waitress approached them.

Waitress: “Hello, my name is Lisa! I’ll be your server! What can I get you two gentlemen to drink?”

Deimos: “Ah, your finest champagne. Only the best for my prince.”

He smiled at Tristan. The waitress smiled, nodded, and left.

Tristan: “What’s the celebration, Deimos?”

Deimos: “You.”

He kissed Tristan’s hand.

Deimos: “You’re the special occasion.”

Tristan reddened and bit his bottom lip.

The waitress returned with a bottle of French champagne, wrapped in ice. She popped the bottle and poured it into two flutes for the gentlemen.

Waitress: “Here you go, gentlemen! Are you two ready to order, and is this on one bill?”

Deimos: “Thank you! We need more time, and it’s on one bill. I am paying.”

Waitress: “Of course!”

She smiled and left. Deimos raised his glass to Tristan. Tristan raised his glass, and they touched glasses. Tristan took a sip. Deimos reached out and grasped Tristan’s hand.

Deimos: “Is something bothering you?”

He asked softly. Tristan smiled softly.

Tristan: “Rosemary was crying to me about her daughter’s missing sugar daddy.”

He sighed. Deimos quirked an eyebrow.

Deimos: “Borko?”

Tristan nodded.

Tristan: “Yes, him. I can’t shake what Sylvia told us about him.”

He sighed.

Deimos: “What, that she saw him go in Ichiro’s car?”

Tristan nodded.

Tristan: “I don’t think Ichiro killed him, though… or the reason he has been missing.”

He said as his voice trailed off.

Tristan folded his hands and rested his head on them.

Tristan: “I want to know what Ichiro’s connection to Borko is and why Borko never mentioned Ichiro to his… uh, sugar baby or her mother.”

Deimos gazed at him.

Deimos: “I dated Ivy for years and… as long as we did, Lily and Borko were in their weirdo relationship. Borko never mentioned Ichiro to me when Ivy dragged me to her stupid family events.”

He clicked his tongue.

Tristan: “What did he tell you?”

He withdrew his gold cigarette case and took out a cigarette. Deimos whipped out his lighter and lit Tristan’s cigarette for him.

Deimos: “He tried to sell me love potions for two hundred dollars and give me ‘family deals’. He was all over Lily like flies on shit. He was creepy, smelled funny, and looked like shit. He never spoke of any friends, family, or any jobs outside of selling his ‘love potions.’ ”

He explained.

Deimos: “He never spoke of anything deeper than changing Lily’s diaper, spanking her, or burping her.”

He said with disgust. Tristan groaned.

Tristan: “Ah, yes, the usual conversation one has with their in-laws.”

He said dryly.

Tristan: “As I said internally: And I learned absolutely nothing from this conversation.”

He laughed bitterly. Deimos laughed with him.

Deimos: “What do you think his connection to Ichiro is?”

He asked him.

Tristan: “I don’t know, Deimos. I do wonder if they were co-workers or if he was a mentor.”

He said as his voice trailed off.

Deimos: “It’s possible. It would explain why Borko is tight-lipped about his life.”

Tristan: “Yes, and it would be the only reason Ichiro would drive him around in his car. I can’t see him doing that to anyone, except Celeste. She would be bound and gagged and stuffed in his trunk.”

He sighed. Deimos twisted his mouth.

Deimos: “Right, he can’t keep his mittens off her and her feet. It’s like that woman with Jaxon. Weirdos and perverts run that whole organization… and there is my uncle.”

He huffed.

Tristan: “And your cousin, but he doesn’t work there.”

Deimos folded his arms across his chest.

Tristan gazed intently at Deimos.

Tristan: “Maybe we should ask Jordi about this. He might know something since he’s on our side, albeit working for Minerva.”

He stated.

Deimos: “I don’t know if he knows any more than we do, but it’s worth a shot.”

He nodded.

Tristan looked away.

Tristan: “When Jaxon was kidnapped by Minerva the first time, she dropped a name for what we are and our powers. We’re ‘etheressums’ and our powers are ‘ethereal prowesses’.”

He began.

Tristan: “How did they know this? When we enrolled in the camp to inject us with that serum, we were never told this.”

He cupped his mouth.

Tristan: “I believe the company Ichiro and Minerva work for also ran those camps.”

He asked grimly. Deimos bowed his head.

Deimos: “I agree, Tristan. Minerva knew our names and our powers, and those camps are the ones who gave us these powers.”

He said sternly.

~

The Quarterpalace Arcade was vibrant and colorful, bathed in a sea of neon lights. The overall ambiance was dark, with the illumination primarily coming from the arcade games themselves and decorative lighting fixtures.

Large circular rings of pink neon lights are suspended from the ceiling, casting a warm glow. The floor is a dark carpet with star patterns.

Numerous arcade games are scattered throughout the space, each emitting its own bright, multicolored lights—predominantly blues, pinks, and greens.

Jaxon was playing a fighting game. He wore a black button-up shirt with a red and orange ombre paisley pattern and the buttons undone to expose his dragon chest tattoo, tight black leather pants, and Chelsea boots. He was smoking a cigarette as he played against a white man with dark, shaggy hair, who wore a sleeveless Kreator shirt, a denim vest, a bullet belt, torn jeans, and white sneakers.

He felt his adrenaline rush as he was fighting against his opponent in the game. He was so close to beating him until he saw “1P loses!” flash on the screen.

Jaxon: “Fuck!”

He muttered under his breath.

He reached into his pockets to slide another coin in until he overheard a couple say they’re going home as it’s getting late. Jaxon glanced at the clock on the wall. It was past eight. Shit, it’s going to be night soon, he thought.

Jaxon: “We’ll do a rematch later. I have to get home to my Green Queen.”

He said to the guy and waved as he left the arcade.

He knit his eyebrows when he saw the sunset. He inhaled sharply and looked around. I forgot to order food for my babe and me, he thought. He walked through the parking lot and saw a Chinese take-out place called “Ruby Gardens.” I would, but it would take too long, so it has to be quick, he thought as he ventured down the sidewalk.

He saw a red food truck called “Lola’s Burgers and Fries.” He smiled a bit. They should be relatively quick, he thought. He approached it and read the menu. It was burgers, fries, hot dogs, fish and chips, and onion rings. A man wearing a black shirt with a black baseball cap with the truck logo greeted him.

Man: “What can I get for ya, kid?”

He drawled.

Jaxon: “I’ll have an XL bucket of fries and three burgers with lots of peppers and pickles.”

He smiled, thinking how thrilled Celeste will be when she sees this.

Man: “Sure thing, young man. That will be fourteen dollars.”

Jaxon nodded, withdrew his wallet, and handed him a ten and four one-dollar bills. Jaxon anxiously embraced himself as he watched the sunset and the sky grow darker. He tapped his foot, waiting for the food. I don’t want to tell him to hurry up like Ivy would, he thought.

About twenty minutes later, the man placed Jaxon’s food in a bag.

Man: “Do you want salt and ketchup, kid?”

Jaxon quickly shook his head.

Jaxon: “No, thank you, we have some at home.”

He said tersely, taking the bags.

Man: “Have a good night, young man.”

Jaxon waved.

Jaxon: “You too!”

He smiled and ran down the street.

~

Jaxon ran down the street, and Blair walked down, moping that he had learned Ashley was getting rid of the car he had bought for them. Blair wore an orange TMNT shirt, bright jeans, and red sneakers. A June Bug landed in front of Jaxon’s feet. He shrieked and backed away.

Jaxon: “NOPE! NOPE!”

He screamed. Blair glared at Jaxon and noticed he was running scared from June Bugs. Blair stood before Jaxon.

Jaxon: “Get the fuck out of my way, blue bitch!”

He snapped and tried to move past Blair, but Blair stood in front of him.

Blair: “What’s wrong, Jiro? Scared of bugs?!”

He hissed. Jaxon glared at him.

Jaxon: “Get the fuck out of my way, asshole!”

He barked and stammered. A June Bug flew by him, and Jaxon screamed. Blair grabbed his arm. Jaxon tried to pull away as his heart pounded in his chest.

Jaxon: “YAMETE! HANASE!”

He whined. Blair smirked at him and saw a light display on someone’s lawn where the June bugs swarmed. Jaxon tried to run, but a June Bug flew in his face, and Jaxon screamed, trying to get it off his face. He dropped the food on the ground.

Blair shoved Jaxon to the June bug swarm, and he shrieked, writhing and thrashing, trying to get the bugs off him. Jaxon wailed and cried as he tried to scramble to his feet and get the bugs off him.

Blair: “That’s what you get for beating me up!”

He cried. Jaxon sobbed, and he tried to shake the bugs off him.

Blair picked up the bag of food and dumped it on the ground.

Blair: “All that food for Ashley?! They don’t need it! They’re too fat!”

He snapped. Jaxon tried to crawl away, and a June Bug landed in front of him. He screamed and slid his ass back away. He lay his stomach on the ground and wrapped his arms around his head.

Jaxon: “TASUKETE!”

He cried.

Blair marched up to kick him, until he was punched in the face and flew into the trashcan. Blair cried as blood poured down his nose. He rose from the trash can to see Celeste standing over him, glowering at him.

Celeste: “How fucking dare you, you whiny little fuck?!”

She rasped. Blair shrieked.

Blair: “NOOOOOOOO!! DON’T KILL ME! IVY! HELP ME! HELP ME, IVY!”

He screamed and tried to crawl out of the trash can, but Celeste punched him back down. Blair yelled out in pain and sobbed. Celeste slammed the lid on the trash can and kicked it hard down the street. Blair wailed as he rolled down the street.

Celeste rushed to Jaxon, who was curled up, and wrapped her arms around him.

Celeste: “I’m here, my little prince! It’s okay!”

She crooned. Jaxon sobbed and clung to her. She scooped him up in her arms and rushed home.

Celeste: “Hang tight!”

Jaxon nodded and held her close as she ran.

~

When they arrived home, Jaxon shook out his clothes before dumping them into the hamper and ran into the bathroom to take a shower.

About an hour later, he stepped out wearing only his red silk dragon robe. He sat next to Celeste on the couch.

Jaxon: “Sorry, babe.”

He muttered. Celeste wrapped her arms around him and leaned on his chest.

Celeste: “For what?”

Jaxon: “I ruined the dinner I bought for you.”

He frowned. Celeste reached into his robe to glide her nails down his chest and torso. Jaxon laughed and burst out laughing when Celeste dug her finger into his belly button.

Jaxon: “AhahahahAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!”

He laughed.

Celeste: “Don’t worry, Jaxon… I called up delivery!”

She grinned. Jaxon smiled a bit.

~

When their food arrived, Celeste pulled out the dining room chair for Jaxon. He grinned and sat down. Celeste tore open the bag and placed four tacos on his plate, and she put ten tacos on her plate.

Jaxon: “Tacos, huh?”

He laughed.

Celeste: “Extra hot salsa and lots of peppers!”

She rubbed her nose on his. He smiled and rubbed his nose back. She sat across from him and rubbed her bare feet on his. He shivered and rubbed his feet on hers as he bit into his tacos. His eyebrows rose as the spices danced on his tongue.

~

Jaxon and Celeste lay in bed together, cuddling. She rested her head on his chest, listening to his heartbeat.

Jaxon: “Thanks for saving me, babe. Again.”

He laughed a bit.

Celeste: “You’re welcome, my little prince. Again.”

She countered. Jaxon laughed.

Celeste reached up and fluttered her nails on his armpit. Jaxon erupted into laughter.

Jaxon: “AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!”

He laughed and turned over, curling up. Celeste grabbed him and turned him over, snuggling him.

Celeste: “So what did you and Jordi talk about? Fab told me that you and he had dinner.”

Jaxon glanced down at her and smiled.

Jaxon: “He went to me for advice about that weirdo girlfriend of his. She introduced him to her parents as her boyfriend, and she never consulted with him.”

He explained.

Celeste: “The one who wants to dance for cruises?”

Jaxon: “Yup!”

Celeste: “What was wrong with what she did?”

She asked, genuinely curious.

Jaxon: “It was too soon. She didn’t tell Jordi or us about that werewolf guy, and we had to all fight him. He’s hurt, she kept that from him, and I understand that.”

He explained.

Jaxon: “And I think he wanted her to talk about it before they made it official. I told him to set boundaries and discuss those with her. If she loves him, she will respect those.”

He added.

Jaxon: “It could be healthy, or it could turn into whatever Noriko and I had. She never respected my boundaries, and anyway, she never loved me. She loved that ugly big-footed Viking thing.”

He said, followed by a hollow laugh.

Jaxon: “Come to think of it, I don’t think Noriko ever told me she loved me… She demanded I tell her I love her, but I don’t think she told me she loved me.”

He said as his voice trailed off.

Celeste paused and looked down. I don’t tell him I love him, but it’s so hard to say it, she thought.

Celeste: “But… Noriko’s actions showed she didn’t love you.”

Jaxon nodded.

Jaxon: “I know, babe. As I said: she loves that hideous Viking thing.”

He rolled his eyes.

Celeste locked her gaze on him.

Celeste: “Jaxon?”

Jaxon: “Hmmm?”

He smiled at her. She bit her bottom lip and caressed his chest. He inhaled sharply.

Celeste: “Uh, I, uh…”

She stammered.

Jaxon: “You, uh?”

He teased. Celeste reddened and wrapped her arm around him.

Celeste: “I, uhm… I…”

Jaxon chuckled.

Jaxon: “You love me, don’t you?”

He teased and reddened. Celeste gasped as her face turned beet red.

She grabbed his penis and tickled it with her hair. Jaxon hardned when her silky tresses tickled his cock and he laughed.

Jaxon: “AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!”

He laughed, squirmed, and moaned. She fluttered her nails over his testicles and taint. Jaxon groaned and laughed.

Jaxon: “AAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHA!! WAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!”

He laughed, though, moaning as his thighs twitched.

She swiftly tied his wrists behind his back and knelt him on the bed with his legs spread apart. Celeste snaked her arm around his torso and grinned as she tickled his cock with her hair. Jaxon laughed hard, gasping and moaning between bouts of laughter.

Jaxon: “AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!! MMMMMMAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!”

Celeste eyed the film of precum on his tip.

Celeste: “My, my, Jaxon… You want to cum… but what if I don’t let you?”

She purred.

She reached into the nightstand and pulled out a soft purple feather. She tickled his tip with it. Jaxon erupted into laughter and squirmed.

Jaxon: “AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAAA!!”

He laughed and moaned.

Celeste: “I love how much you react to this soft feather against your cock.”

She smirked. Jaxon shut his eyes tightly and fluttered them as the tears dripped down his cheeks.

Jaxon: “OHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHO GOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOD!”

He squirmed and laughed as the feather danced around his cock and balls.

Jaxon: “HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAHAHAHAHAHAAAAA!”

He moaned through screams of laughter.

Celeste: “I can see you want to cum so badly…”

She teased.

Jaxon wheezed and gasped between laughing, feeling his balls ache and his frustration grow. Celeste vigorously swished the feather around his throbbing cock. Jaxon screamed through furious breaths of laughter.

Jaxon: “HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAA!! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAA!!”

He climaxed, followed by a hoarse shout. His release erupted in the air and slapped against the bedsheets. Celeste cupped her mouth and laughed. Jaxon bent over panting. Celeste untied his wrists and wrapped her arms around him. He hugged her back.

Jaxon: “I love you, too.”

He panted and reddened all over. Her eyes widened.

Celeste: “But I didn’t say—”

He kissed her deeply. She closed her eyes and threaded her fingers through his hair.

He broke the kiss and smiled tenderly at her.

Jaxon: “We need to change the bedding.”

He snorted.

Celeste: “Okay!”

He rose from the bed and she slapped his ass. He laughed and started pulling the sheets off.

~

In the facility, Dr. Wolfgang Duerr and Dr. Cedar Garafano watched Maxx through a two-way mirror as he slept in a room, his head fully formed. Cedar gazed at his superior.

Cedar: “So his fecal matter is lethal to humans.”

He began. Wolfgang folded his arms behind his back and pursed his lips.

Wolfgang: “I never knew this about Xuprans. It’s fascinating.”

He said breathlessly. Cedar drew a long breath.

Cedar: “Do you think it might be time to pull the plug on this project?”

Wolfgang swung his gaze to him and scowled.

Wolfgang: “Why on Reona would I do that?! I’ve waited YEARS for this to happen! I am not going to terminate this research EVER!”

His voice rose dangerously as he pounded his fist against the glass. Cedar drew a long breath.

Cedar: “Sir, so many lives have been lost because of him.”

Wolfgang: “Yes, and they died for a VERY noble cause! I can’t think of a better way to die than at the hands of this magnificent beast!”

He smiled at Maxx. Cedar blinked.

Cedar: “Right.”

Wolfgang: “Cedar, do not ever ask me such vile questions ever again… or attempt to put a halt to my research. Those who dared to try are met with death, like my grandson.”

He reiterated firmly. Cedar stared blankly at Maxx scratching his ass in his sleep.

Wolfgang: “Nothing will stop my research. Not my family, not Ilias, or anyone.”

He gave a curt nod and smiled at Maxx, who farted on his hand and pulled his hand up to smell it.