PACKAGE

The sun is slowly sinking at the heart to the horizon and the cloak of darkness started to cover the Brethren City along with the sparkling constellations emerging in the night sky. The chefs, maidservants, and butlers are busy preparing the family's dinner. Inside the dining hall of Aslanovs' manor decorated with an exquisite golden chandelier, a sumptuous feast was served on the large long table.

All the servants were wearing the same color, black suits. The master chefs, butlers, and maids were dressed in black uniforms as if they were lamenting over someone's funeral. The ambiance reigning the place was gloomy and cheerless.

In the middle of the table, a big empty red plate was placed which catches everyone's attention. And that's what everyone fears when they know what that means.

"How did they get Mischa?" Lady Katyusha, Mort's mother asked in a cold but calm tone.

They were all sitting at the dining table. On the left side was Don Demetrius Aliev seated next to his wife, Lady Katyusha Milena, and Mort. While on the opposite side were Lucian, the clan's Consigliere, Yakov and Laurel. The Chairman, Don Zagreus was seated in silence in front of them.

"And what made me even more surprised, how the hell did they snuck up on Leroy and Klauss." Lady Katyusha added and throw a glance at Mort who was deep in thought. His thick eyebrows were deeply knitted into a squint line. The hunk had been quiet since he arrived at the manor.

"Narco and Lyric kidnapped Mischa and Klauss. As for Leroy, I don't know his abductor even though I saw his face on CCTV. I heard his identity but there is no record of his existence in any database." Lucian answered her in Mort's stead.

Even though he serves as the 'information' of the Aslanovs, Lucian finds it difficult to get the identity of Leroy's abductor. That man looks like he purposely doesn't cover his face. He knows they won't get anything out of him.

"Do you know where they are now?" Don Demetrius asked and gently asked his wife to get his favorite dish that was placed on Don Zagreus' side. He immediately returned to the country when he found out that his youngest daughter was missing. They can mess with anyone in the Aslanovs but not his daughter.

"MDA tower." Lucian and Laurel answered at the same time, which surprised both of them. They looked at each other with questioning eyes.

Lucian tilted his head to the side and nodded to the lady sitting next to them, indicating that she has explaining to do. Laurel cleared her throat before speaking but her eyes were fixed on Mort who doesn't seem to care about anyone around him.

"A package arrived at the MDA building and obviously it was for him. The address where it came from was also written. It was also at the MDA tower of Brethren City. There was also a cake and on top of it was an empty black syringe." Laurel said and leaned back on the chair. She got the hunk's attention.

Mort's gaze shifted to Laurel's place who was already smiling widely at him.

"I guess you already know what package means?" Laurel asked as Mort frowned slightly at her. He massage his temple and shifted his gaze back at the red plate in the middle of the dining table.

"I guess we'll have cake before 8." Mort finally said looking at his wristwatch on his right hand, it was only 6 o'clock. Everything went according to what he said. The Butlers who were busy earlier stopped what they were doing, and back in their station. They await the commands of the Aslanovs.

"Get my car ready," Mort ordered them. They quickly obey and left the dining hall.

Yakov on his seat released a sigh. He thought he could finally have a feast now but it looks like he'll have to wait for Mort to come back from his seat. Stare cruised to his side, Yakov looked at his father who was also watching his actions. Lucian shook his head, threatening him not to touch the food on the table. Laurel followed Mort when the Butler returned and whispered something to the patriarch of the family. Don Zagreus faked a cough to get everyone's attention who was left at the dining table.

"Let's wait for them." The Chairman said authoritatively and stood up, leaving the place which made Yakov left his jaw dropped.

Yakov questions the chairman leaving his seat when he just told them to wait. He just shook his head in disbelief. He badly wanted to eat. After a full day of working his ass out, he was feeling absolutely famished. Lucian gives him tons of workload earlier. He had run out of energy and had no more strength left in his body. He is completely out of juice. Yakov defeatedly leaned back in his chair.

"Did you find out who the Puppeteer is?" Mort's father, Don Demetrius asked breaking the deafening silence inside the dining hall. Lucian thought for a bit. He was having a hard time identifying which of the two people he had on his list was the Puppeteer this time.

"I can't tell who these two are," Lucian replied and at the same time, he gave the black envelope with only two names written on the small piece of paper. Don Demetrius opened it and frowned when he read those names.

"Is this an actor?" Don Demetrius asked, referring to Dreygur Davenford. One of the successful top male celebrities linked to Sumire. He is also a businessman and a lawyer. Mort's mother looked over the paper.

"Oh, right. His name was mentioned in an interview when Sumire was being asked what is her status with that man." Lady Katyusha butted in, now she's curious more than ever.

Since Mort brought Sumire to their manor, Lady Katyusha has watched all the interviews, shows, movies, ads, dramas and other activities of the maiden in the entertainment industry to get to know her better. She has a strong hunch that Sumire will become her son's wife.

"Ohhh." Yakov and Don Demetrius reacted at the same time.

"But I'm questioning this one." Lady Katyusha added and pointed to the remaining name. She was referring to the number one on the list. It's a Massoullève.

"Are you sure about this? I know you're well aware of who you are accusing of." Lady Katyusha said in a serious tone and look at him.

Lucian met her gaze to show how serious and certain he was about the names written on the paper.

"Yes." Lucian curtly replied making Lady Katyusha breathe a sigh of relief. She believes and trusts their Consigliere. Lucian has been loyal to the clan and there's no way she'll doubt his expertise.

"Then everything will be more complicated." Don Demetrius mediated and now frowning. Curious, Yakov wanted to know the Massoullève one they were talking about. He wants to take the paper to see it but Lucian, his father doesn't seem to have any intention of showing it to him.

"I don't think so." Lucian countered him. Lady Katyusha raised an eyebrow, waiting for Lucian's explanation of his objection.

The Consigliere fell into thought. The information he got about these two high profiles was quite complicated. There is no concrete evidence and the pattern of their movements is different. He had a strong hunch that this was just family affairs and he knew it wasn't because of Mort. The only thing that awed him is the enormous amount of damage it has caused both underground and surface for a person it wants to disappear.

"You're not telling us everything, aren't you?" Lady Katyusha mediated and the Consigliere immediately nodded.

"But why?" asked Yakov between his narrowed eyes but Lady Katyusha answered him.

"Because he's not sure about everything. He's certain about the names written on the paper but not their intentions and true involvement." Lady Katyusha explained without keeping her eyes off Lucian whose head was still lowered. Yakov was left confused.

"Then that information is nothing but a piece of trash," Yakov said making Lady Katyusha stunned in her seat.

"Of course not. This is the solution to the problem. The only thing left to do is how to execute that solution." Lady Katyusha replied and Yakov made a confused look. He lowered his head back to the delicious food.

Yakov was confused by what Mort's mom said. He doesn't understand a single thing at what she says and he didn't intend to understand what she meant as he was starving.

"You still don't get it, huh?" Lady Katyusha added. She looked at him with a calm, steady gaze when the young man did not answer her. Yakov nods honestly to which Mort's mother guffawed.

"Kid, you have a bag of rice to eat before you can match the Consigliere, your father." Don Demetrius laughed heartily.

Yakov just shook his head and asked himself how could they laugh like that while their two children were in danger. Second later, Yakov smacks his head when he realized that this family is indeed Mafias and one of the notorious ones. They have no time for useless sentinels.

"Do you think they'll catch the Puppeteer tonight, Dad?" Yakov asked Lucian who fell into thought again. It never occurred to him that they would capture the Puppeteer this present night. But the puppeteer would certainly get the result he wanted with his twisted play tonight.

"Not yet," Lucian replied and heave a sigh.

"Why?" Yakov asked. He thought this drama would end tonight.

"Because this is just the beginning of his next play," Lucian replied without casting a glance at him. Yakov rolled his eyes that he could see his brain inside.

"Can't you just give the location of that Dreygur or whoever it is so that it will be over?" Yakov asked his father again. He is running out of patience for this drama and headache.

"It's hard to locate them. But if I work harder, I can find them." Baffled, Yakov looked at his father who had no emotion cruising on his face.

"Then work harder, Dad." Yakov exclaimed in frustration that Lady Katyusha wanted to burst in laughing, amused while watching them.

"They didn't pay me enough to do that much," Lucian responded making his mouth hanging open. His sounded so much like Klauss.

"I guess it just needs an increase-" Lady Katyusha flashed a smirk when Yakov looked at her as he spoke.

"We have no authority over our own money. And we don't have the right to make decisions for that either. Lucian is in charge of all the family's finance. Even if we want to give him an increase in his salary, if we don't have his permission, we can't do that." Lady Katyusha said while hands crossed on her chest.

Yakov felt his head spinning clockwise at what he heard. The Aslanov family is so complicated than his future.

"Then Dad, let them increase your salary so that it will be easier to finish this job," Yakov said peevishly. He took an annoyed breath.

"I can't do that. Everything is budgeted for this year. I don't want to destroy my reports just for that." Lucian plainly replied.

His smooth brow puckered in a frown, Yakov wanted to leave his seat. He couldn't understand them. Their mind is completely unfathomable. This family doesn't think normally.

Yakov felt indebted and wants to express his gratitude to his father for not bringing him in and for growing up inside the walls of the Aslanovs. He finally understands why Mort left. The hunk has a deeper reason for leaving the family, but whatever it is, he doesn't care anymore. He doesn't want to lose his mind when he finds out.

While they were waiting for Laurel to return, Mort was about to arrive at the MDA tower. With him in the car is Laurel, who looks like not in the mood. She had a grumpy face while driving to the place.

"Why does it have to be me?" Laurel asked in a monotonous tone. The truth is, she doesn't want to come along with him. She has no rest for several days due to the war and his orders that she would not have been obliged to follow. 'This is unbelievable!'

She was already drooling over the food served in front of her earlier. She hasn't had a sensible breakfast, lunch, and dinner for days. And now she will about to go to another war with an empty stomach. Laurel throw a piercing glare at Mort who was right next to her. They were both in the backseat.

"With so many people inside the dining hall, why did you think of bringing me?" Laurel asked in an annoyed tone. She could feel her stomach rumbling.

"You are the best one among the rest," Mort answered curtly which stopped Laurel. There is no sense to argue with what he said because it's all true.

Laurel felt her hunger vanish and stare outside the car's window while whistling and humming herself. Mort, who was forced to say that just to keep Laurel shut, felt defeated.

'Haa... damn, I wanna kill her.' said Mort in his mind. He looked at his phone where he was reading the reports of his men who he commanded to secretly watched over Sumire abroad. To make sure she's safe and sound while living alone in her home.

Mort looks at the captured photo. A picture of the fairest maiden his eyes laid upon on, the fairest of all. Sumire was wearing an innocent smile reaching to her eyes while holding the cat on her chest with so much care. Her beauty seems to fiery glow under the sunset in her white dress. He can see the peace and freedom in her eyes.

His thumb traced the photo of her face, studying every inch of her exquisite features. A small smile curved on his lips and tightened his grip on the phone.

'I miss her.'