Villain's POV: A Monster's Odyssey-Chapter 20: The Cost of a Misunderstanding

The city breathed with cold neon and tension, shadows crawling under flickering lamps. Vladimir stood outside the old pub, rainwater dripping from his soaked trench coat, cigarette burning down to the filter.

He didn't really smoke that much as his daughter always recoiled in revulsion at the smell every time he would smoke. No matter how much he would try to hide himself, she would always managed to catch him and scold him. He couldn't help but smile when each time he saw her pouting angrily like a little, angry bunny.

'.... I miss her'

She was always a cheerful elementary-school child who loved to eat all kinds of sweets from chocolate to ice cream.

However, she changed after her mother passed away in an accident.

That day was cloudy.

His thought went to the day where he met Yuuta, approximately 4 years ago.

On that day it was raining.

He had just finished burying his wife and placed a white lily from the garden that they had both grown back when they had just gotten married. Silent tears streamed down his face.

Sarah, his daughter, locked the door on herself and kept sobbing behind the doors, refusing to eat at all. She became sickly thin, and it tore at Vladimir's cold heart who only thought of his wife and daughter in his whole life ,the only two things that brought warmness to his heart. His wife accepted him even after knowing that he was a vicious mercenary.

She loved him out of the bottom of her heart.

Silently that day, Vladimir, who had vowed to her to never return to the path of blood, silently apologized to her before he had grabbed his trusty SIG Sauer P210.

Yes, the 'accident' was not an accident, but rather a plotted assassination meant to destroy his ego. Destroy his life. Revenge of him betraying his mercenary group.

He vowed to protect his daughter no matter how much she despised him if she knew what he did for a living. At least, he wanted to keep safe the last thing his wife left him before her passing.

That day, he was caught in a warehouse in the midst of tens of mutilated bodies on the ground and was silently on his knees, looking blankly at the cement on the floor.

What now?

What should I do?

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The sirens of the cops made themselves more clear as they approached his location however he made no attempt to escape. Wouldn't t be safer for his daughter if she lived without him? She wouldn't be put in danger anymore as long as he disappeared.

So for his daughter, he would disappear.

"Don't move !"

The doors of the warehouse were bulldozed and tens of cops entered, infiltrating the place and ignoring the nauseating stench. They surrounded the only man who held a handgun in his hands before one of them succeeded in executing a graceful front kick to his hand and making the SIG fly away.

Dozens of cops tackled him and pinning his arms behind his back, handcuffing him.

"Under the Jurisdiction of the law and criminal code section 2.a., page 4, You are under arrest for suspicion of first degree murder! You can exercise your right to remain silent"

Vladimir merely chucked hollowly at the announcement.

Why was he alive?

He deserved to die.

He was a vicious and disgusting criminal.

Because of him, his harmless and innocent wife died.

What crime did she commit? Was it because she loved him? Was it because of him that she died?

She probably hated herself everyday for marrying such a selfish man.

He only felt self-disgust at himself at that moment. How disgusting. He wished if he could just perish. Lessen GHG emissions in the world. Reduce the waste of breath.

Because of him, his daughter isolated herself.

Because of him-

"Because of you what?"

Vladimir, who was about to get pulled up by the cops slowly raised his lifeless eyes at the unfamiliar and childish voice.

His eyes landed on a peculiar looking boy who wore a monocle on his left eye and walked using a cane. The boy almost looked like he was cosplaying if not for the cops that were sweating and his noble demeanour.

"Sir Olympia! We have arrested the criminal und-"

"Release him"

"Huh?"

The chief cop who had saluted to Yuuta made a dumfounded voice before he stuttered.

"B-but sir, if we release this crimina-"

Yuuta widened his empty-looking eyes and locked it with the chief cop who gulped at the unnerving gaze.

Tap!

He tapped his cane once as it echoed on the cement floor with his other hand behind his back.

He spoke in a calm, dignified, and slow manner, but behind it was Buddhas famous quote of 'The calm before the storm.'

"Do I have to repeat myself?"

"No sir!"

The cop immediately barked orders at his subordinates to quickly release the man. Vladimir who gaze at him lifelessly, looked outraged at the cops that were clumsily attempting to remove the handcuffs pinned behind his back, only to be met with his abrupt violence.

The cops backed away in fear at the violent, unexpected reaction.

"Why? Why couldn't you just leave me die, you fucking asshole? Why?!" He growled in anger as his eyes became bloodshot out of extreme wrath.

He wanted nothing more than to tear the boy in front of him to shreds. Just when he thought he would die and rest from all the problems in the world, the fucking boy came and ruined everything.

In reaction to Vladimir's outburst, Yuuta merely smiled and spoke.

Vladimir's eyes widened for a moment before a tear slid down his eye.

Vladimir emotionally broke down at the boys words.

From that day, Vladimir swore to follow Yuuta no matter what. No matter what evil he committed, he owed Yuuta everything he had.

***

Reminiscing at his old memories he had buried, Vladimir bitterly smiled. As the saying goes, time heals wounds.

Slowly Vladimir built back his relationship with his daughter, and they would now even occasionally go to stargaze at the sky at night when they had time.

They would laugh, have fun, eat, read, self-reflect, and sleep. It was all thanks to Yuuta benevolence that he could enjoy life again.

He slowly exhaled a puff of smoke with the smile lingering on his face. Remembering his little daughter who would get angry at his action, he threw the cigarette on the cement before stepping on it.

Although he hated to admit it, it helped him think. Or pretend he was thinking. Truth was, his stomach was in knots.

He looked down at the trembling girl in the backseat of his sedan in the high school uniform.

Her mouth was taped shut, wrists zip-tied behind her back, knees scraped from being dragged across the pavement. Her eyes were wide with silent fear, tears, snot, and mascara running down her face.

The stain on her skirt was fresh. Shame, sweat, or maybe the loss of control. Didn't matter. She wasn't the point. Just a mere leverage.

Vladimir muttered something in Russian and pulled her up roughly by the arm.

"Get up. You're the key to closing tonight's Chapter, young lady"

She whimpered in response.

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Inside, Yuuta was finishing his mix of blue and purple wine, a mix of Vindigo 1934 and Malbec in his crystal wine glass.

The lights overhead were dim, casting long shadows across the mahogany table. He didn't like bright rooms, to be honest. On sunny days, he would close the curtains and stay under the sheets like a cat that was wary of rain pouring from the sky. He wouldn't leave his house in sunny days except on emergencies.

That was why although he had billions of dollars from arms dealing was he compelled to threaten taxi drivers and cabs to reach his destination. The country his base was in that day simply had a sunny day.

Only on actual cloudy, rainy, and snowing days would he leave his home.

Yes, for that simple reason did he not call for backup, as ridiculous as it may sound. He wanted to make a base in Antarctica where he wouldn't have to worry about sunny days, but because of the international agreement of the countries around the world to surround Antarctica and stop any people from trespassing into the next world, lest they be shot down by ICBM SAM missiles or warships, he had to reconsider his magnificent plan.

In irritation, he clicked his tongue.

'... Tsk'

Just the thought of not being able to make his base on Antarctica was enough to piss him off and ruin his mood.

For now he gave Eliza a mission in Italy she had to fulfill properly.

Back to topic.

The few of his men sat in silence nearby, keeping their eyes low. The previous deal had gone... poorly.

Mr. Gracia, who was some old dog from the black market thought he could haggle over weight and price. He had insulted Yuuta's logic. Even raised his voice. That was two mistakes too many.

Yuuta set his wine glass down, wiping a small blue and purple smudge from the corner of his lips with a napkin as if he had eaten cotton candy.

"Your contract is late"

Mr. Gracia raised his voice in irritation as everyone else in the room did something, waiting for the meeting to end.

Ekidna was taking selfies with Yuuta once in a while, smiling and sending it to her sister who was part of the higher ups, and the rest were dozing off.

Only Dietrich was awake, enjoying 'Legend of the Crystalia Chronicles: Edition X' on his cellphone that had been a phone with functions of a burner phone to avoid tracking or recording. He had long taken off his mask, revealing his golden ridged glasses, tapping on the phone with his thumb enthusiastically.

The silence was suddenly cut by Dietrich's sudden burst of laughter.

"Hahaha! I finally got the dark heroine, Elaria Vaelwyn on only my twentieth draw of the Surprise chest! There was only a 0.01% chance of getting her, every penny was worth it. How lucky can I be?"

A grin adorned his lips from edge to edge as his eyes sparkles, teeth beamed. However, reality soon hit him and he glanced around him, taking in the three weirded gazes of Yuuta, Ekidna, and Mr. Garcia.

Embarrassed, he pocketed his phone and coughed, attempting to lighten the mood.

"So, sir Yuuta, when is the contract arriving? It seems your men are running quite late"