The Never Working Organ II. | Kaebedo |

Chapter 22 : Plans Ruined.

[Vera] Did you two leave yet?

[Nikolai] We're leaving now.

[Vera] Finally! You've sobered up right? I don't want you to drive if you haven't.

[Nikolai] I'm sober enough, don't worry. Albedo's passed out tho. I have to help him into the car I'll talk to you later.

[Vera] See ya.

———

With that, Nikolai put his phone back in his pocket and placed Albedo (who was asleep) into the passengers seat.

Nikolai got in the driver seat, he sighed and placed his head on the wheel, turning it to Albedo.

Kaeya...that's such a familiar name. Where have I heard it before?
Nikolai searched through his memory.

"Kaeya can't just leave!"
He recalled a memory from the night of the party. It was of another police officer yelling about his coworker.

They can't be the same people, can they? Is Albedo, the leader of a criminal organization, involved with a police man?
Nikolai stared at Albedo deeply.

"Where's Zhongli? I need to speak with him." Xiao, who was covered in Kaeyams blood, asked Dottore. Dottore hummed, "I'm not sure. Haven't seen him in awhile. Albedo's not here either, perhaps they went somewhere together?"

"Damn it." Xiao mumbled. "If it's urgent you can talk to me." Dottore offered.

"I guess you'll do." Xiao sighed, Dottore was a bit offended but of course didn't say anything about it. They went inside Dottore's office and began talking.

"The mission Albedo gave me is just really irritating me." Xiao crossed his arms.

"And you were gonna talk to Zhongli about this?" Dottore formed an unimpressed / irritated expression on his face.

"Yes. He told me when I was in training that I could talk to him about anything." Xiao tilted his head, a little confused on how talking to Zhongli about his struggles would be weird.

"I think he meant training wise." Dottore leaned up against his lab table.

"Oh." Xiao looked down, thinking about it. Is that really what he meant? It did make sense.

"So, you just need someone to vent to? I'm not great at giving advice but I'll try." Dottore let out a big sigh as he rolled his head back.

Xiao went on for an hour ranting about his mission, not evening leaving time for Dottore to comment on it.

"Are you finished?" Dottore groaned.

"Yes. Thank you." Xiao nodded.

"I'd say come back if you wanna talk again but I honestly don't want you t—" The door suddenly flew open to reveal a infuriated Pantalone, breathing heavily.

Dottore's face dropped. He then awkwardly smiled at Pantalone and started backing away slowly.

"Zandik you imbecile!" Pantalone stomped towards Dottore, he then put his finger up and started yelling; "Do you know how much money you've just spent?!"

"My love, I truly don't know what you're talking about!" Dottore put his hands up as if he's been caught.

Xiao watched this all go down.

"Don't 'my love' me! Oh my god we're gonna go bankrupt because of you.."Pantalone turned away from Dottore, worrying.

"I didn't spend that much money." Dottore mumbled. Pantalone snapped his head back towards him, "400 million dollars isn't a lot to you?!" Pantalone grunted and grit his teeth together.

"What did you even buy?!" Pantalon's voice cracked by how loud he was.

"Uh, well—" Xiao interrupted Dottore by clearing his throat rather loudly.

They both jerked their heads to Xiao, who was standing there with his arms crossed.

"Oh, hey Xiao." Pantalone smiled kindly.

He didn't even notice I was here?
Xiao scoffed.

"I'll leave you two to argue, I need to go clean myself up." Xiao nodded at them as a goodbye and left.

When the door shut, Pantalone twisted his head back to Dottore.

"I'll make it up to you." Dottore grabbed Pantalone's hand with a forgiving smile, but Pantalone wasn't having it. He pulled his hand away, "Ugh.." Pantalone shook his head in disappointment.

"We're running out of money already. And now you had to do this?" Pantalone turned away, massaging his temples.

Dottore eyes widened, "What?"

"We're running out of money. No one's taking our drug offers, organ offers, weapons, anything!" Pantalone sighed, "I don't know how to tell Mr. Kreideprinz."

"I wouldn't have spent that much if I've known I—" Pantalone cut him off, "No. I can't deal with you right now...I need to figure this out."

"Pantalone please, I'm sorry—I can help you!" Dottore put a hand to his chest in honesty, Pantalone let out a loud 'ha!'.

"You? help? Wow. Haven't heard that one before." Pantalone began to walk away.

Dottore scrunched up his nose and turned away from Pantalone's direction. "Fine then," he spoke in such a impassioned, angry, tone making Pantalone stop inside the doorway.

"I guess I'll tell Mr. Kreideprinz myself. Surely he wouldn't be very happy to know that it's been going on for so long without his knowledge." Dottore crossed his arms, Pantalone felt shivers go down his spine.

"You wouldn't. You're not that petty." Even if they weren't facing each other, Dottore could hear the slight fear in Pantalone's voice.

"Watch me." Dottore snapped.

Pantalone huffed and left Dottore's office.

———————

running out of money? Nikolai wants the Fatui's money? is it all clicking? -Author