Okumura Syndicate

Chapter 17: A simple ceremony

The next day, Aster woke up early. Rou was kind enough to let him stay with him instead of a dusty broom closet, he was still sleeping as Aster left the room. While marching down the mansion halls, he encountered Edward.

"Aster, I wasn't expecting you to be staying up here. I was just about to ask Rou a favour.", he said, somewhat connivingly. "None of your beeswax, old man!", Aster didn't need another interruption, he wanted that ceremony, and fast. He continued walking. "Aster, wait!", Edward followed him down the hall. "I'd like to congratulate you on getting this far, it's a big accomplishment. Let's just say only 20% of applicants even have a chance of making the ceremony.".

Aster stopped, looking the vampire in the eyes. "Are you saying I'm special? Just a day ago you were going to have me executed". Edward remained unphased, he continued. "I still hate you more than you can imagine, but you're not my responsibility. It's up to Rou to make you more, likeable, per say.". Aster had no idea what Edward was saying. "Me?! Likeable?! How the hell is he going to do that?!", Aster shouted loudly.

The noise from the halls ended up awakening Rou, who left his quarters in a hurry. "Trust me when I say, I'm not always as kind as I am around the mansion.", Rou yawned, he didn't enjoy being woken up so was as stern as ever. "My soldiers are very respectful towards me, but it's because the rules are extremely harsh in my regime.".

The blue haired boy didn't seem like the type to train his soldiers to the death, but the more Aster thought about it, the more it made sense. In battle, Rou was a different man entirely, he was brutal, able to cause any amount of harm he desired. This kindness was a front for the extremely difficult job he had to do, and his soldiers followed his example.

"Come, both of you, we must prepare the ceremony." Edward escorted Aster and Rou down to the ground floor, where the other high ranked members were situated; Fleur, Vox, Viper and Catoria. "Overslept have we Rou?", Vox declared jokingly, Rou blushed in embarrassment. "It's not nice to tease the younger members, they aren't your children Vox, seriously...", Catoria replied.

Edward rung a bell at the head of the table to get everyone's attention. "We are hosting our potential made man for breakfast this morning, please behave yourselves.". As soon as he sat down in his seat, servants brought in breakfast, Aster had never knew how people of high class lived, let alone blacklisted people living in luxury, he was amazed.

"Don't let this be comforting to you, you're only here for one day.", Viper threatened. "Hey Viper, how's Shiva?", Rou asked. "Don't ask me about that brat, I should've killed him while I still could. He's restrained in my closet right now, but who knows when he'll escape...", Viper put her hand on her forehead, seemingly as if Shiva kept her up all night.

"Wouldn't it be nice if Shiva wandered in here in smashed everything?", Aster pondered jokingly. Everyone looked at him in disbelief, especially Fleur, who was poking at her eggs aggressively. "Will you...shut up...with those comments...", Fleur was so fed up of Aster's presence. After all, she had to deal with him all day yesterday, Edward intervened. "Calm down Fleur darling, and eat your breakfast. We all despise him as much as you, but he is a guest."

The rest of the meal was uneventful, mostly just the regular banter. Edward sat up, ready for another announcement. "The servants have prepared the ceremony room, can Rou, Vox and scum please come with me?". "Yes baby.", Vox said flirtatiously, holding onto Edward's hand. The others followed them until they reached a dark corridor.

Edward unlocked the door to a small room with a table for 4, on the table, a sword and a crossbow. At that moment Aster realized the ceremony was going to be more violent than he expected. This was going to be interesting...