BLACK MASK [MxM]

2. Nero, the Black Mask

In the afternoon, Davion sat in his room with racing thoughts, the news he heard from a guard following him in the Nara area was shocking. Actually, a few hours earlier, Davion had intended to return to the palace to check on the situation. However, some elders forbade it because things weren't very safe.

In fact, it took only one day from the Nara clan to his palace. After the meeting was completely over without any obstacles, Davion finally returned home—following Nara's troops who had gone to his palace first. Several bodyguards from the clan leaders also escorted him to his destination.

The palace was already in chaos when Davion arrived in the morning; corpses were scattered about, the smell of blood was everywhere and several buildings were destroyed. Strangely, from the chaos only the guards were attacked—the women, servants, and children survived. In addition, the dungeon west of the palace was broken into and the prisoners escaped.

No doubt it was Nero's doing.

The speculation was reinforced when one of the guard's witnesses reported that Nero had attacked three hours after Davion left. Nero is the name of the criminal in a black mask and black robe who recently terrorized the island. He is also a great fighter and is called the number one villain on the island of Banditi.

Nero's goal is to break ties between clans and kill the elders. However, the news is still confusing because Nero's real goal has been to free the prisoners in the prisons of the four clans. Nero often carries out surprise attacks, which is why Davion continues to increase his palace guard, despite the fact that they are still being defeated by the number one fugitive.

Davion didn't understand how strong Nero really was?

"Dad?"

Davion turned around and found Arsen standing in the doorway of his room. Then the only son came into his room and sat down at the table. Davion studied the face of his son whom he had not seen for a long time. His son had grown up to be a strong man, with a stout beard and jaw. Arsen is more handsome than Davion when he was young.

"What are you thinking?" Arsen asked.

"Why are you only seeing me now?" Davion asked in return.

"Someone named Lavi was injured and I took care of him for a while."

Davion remembered his bodyguards also reporting that Nero had managed to injure his infamous right hand man. Even for a swordsman like Lavi, Nero could beat him badly. Naturally, the palace guards fell in one fell swoop.

"We found him injured in the forest on the way here," Arsen continued. "They said he's your right hand man."

"He's someone I trust," Davion corrected him. "He is the swordsman in this palace."

By the time the additional troops from the Nara clan arrived, it was too late. The entire palace guards were lying on the ground with no sign of Nero there. He escaped again. Previously Nero was obsessed with their prisoners. However, normally, his attacks were easily thwarted by the intervention of some of Bathara's swordsmen. Somehow, this time they let their guard down and let Nero win.

"How is his condition?"

"The physician said he lost a lot of blood because of the wound on his stomach. It looks like a dagger," Arsen explained him.

Hearing that made Davion's forehead frown. Usually the weapon Nero uses is a wooden stick. Not a dagger.

"Are you satisfied now? Come on, stop all this! You can die!"

"Are you starting to worry about your father?"

"So funny." Arsen looked at his father seriously. "I want you to shut down the island and give it to me. Aren't you tired of this year after year fighting over property rights?"

"You still want this island?"

"I want to make this island my weapons business."

Davion rose to match his son's height. "You should already know what my answer is."

Arsen's teeth gritted slowly, felt his father's hand squeeze his shoulder. He knows. This island is like half of his father's life. Arsen had long asked Davion to give him the island, but the old man always refused. However, Arsen was not the type to give up easily, so he asked his father repeatedly and this time his father finally ordered him to come here.

He has come this far, is his request still being denied too?

What is the real goal of his father?

"Now that our clan is the strongest clan, my term will end soon and the elders are expecting another successor to lead the entire clan. I am counting on you, Arsen. For that reason I sent you here."

Arsen frowned, unlike what he had previously thought. "Sorry to disappoint you, but I have absolutely no interest in that primitive position."

Lord of this island? Living in the palace? Arsen was not surprised his father lived before a hundred years ago. What kind of madman was still messing around with palaces in modern times? The island was very primitive and backward. There were no adequate facilities, phone signal was lost, how could anyone live here?

"I'm a mafia. I have no interest in controlling a small island," Arsen replied arrogantly.

His father was silent for a long time until Arsen felt that his hands were no longer perching on his shoulders.

Davion sighed. "Why don't you forget your dark world and join me? We'll rule this island."

"Bullshit. This island is yours."

Davion looked at him.

Arsen was unfamiliar with this matter, even though the island belongs to Davion by contract, it turns out that the island was still occupied by native residents who object to giving up their homes. Since twenty years Davion arrived on this island, he had to mingle and participate in the government of the island. Davion even had a time when the people here rebelled until tens of lives were lost.

It was an ugly m******e of its time.

Fortunately, the rebels were finally arrested and sent to a prison that was divided into four different clans. All of that thanks to the help of the elders who were willing to help Davion take the island.

Thanks to the elder's help, Davion was also able to bring peace to this island. But that peace had not lasted long since Nero's arrival; an island fugitive who wants to free the rebel prisoners. After their previous defeats, it looks like Nero's mission is to conspire with the prisoners to create another rebellion.

This cannot be tolerated.

"If you want me to stay here, I will, but I ask you one thing. Lavi ... give him to me."

"Lavi? Why?"

Arsen shrugged. "You said he's a swordsman, so he's perfect to be my bodyguard."

"You have Rory, even though he looks weak, he was also strong in his youth."

Historically, Rory was Davion's right hand man. Several years ago, Rory helped Davion escape several times in the hunt for the rebels. When the island became peaceful, Davion resolved to send Rory to be the guardian of his son—to guard Arsen from enemies who might kill him. Because at that time little Arsen was only raised by Davion's parents since his wife died.

When talking about Lavi ....

Davion did not understand Arsen's line of thought at all. Of course, the reason the child wanted Lavi wasn't just to make him a bodyguard. Since long time ago, if Arsen was interested in something, he would try hard to get it at any cost.

For their clan, especially for Davion, Lavi's position had great potential to defeat all of his great enemies—that man was his pawn. Lavi replaced Rory after he left. Lavi has fulfilled his role well and was obedient. So that Davion also hopes that many Lavi can defeat the masked criminals who are troubling them;

Nero.

Although in the end his calculations missed when Lavi was defeated by Nero last night.

"Rory can come back to your side if you want," Arsen said, stubborn.

Davion still wasn't satisfied. "Why do you want Lavi?"

"I want to make him my bodyguard." Arsen replied lightly. "I'll take him to town."

Davion was shocked, no way, Lavi is a native of this island.

"It will hurt more people," he said angrily. And shook his head. "Impossible. The prisoners just escaped and I need more swordsmen. A m******e could happen at any time."

"Then you want to sacrifice Lavi?" Arsen asked, half annoyed. "Is Lavi your doll?"

In the mafia world, it's only natural to sacrifice pawns, but Arsen didn't want Lavi to become a puppet.

He wants him.

After a while, there was no answer Arsen could get from his father. The middle aged man was silent and looked uncomfortable with their conversation.

"Why are you silent?"

Arsen sighed, he somehow saw his father was so weak by the ridiculous rules that the elders had built.

"Remember this, Dad, I don't want to be a lord of anything, let alone be a tool for the elders you mentioned earlier," Arsen said, his hands squeezed together. There was anger suddenly rising in his mind. "Have you ever thought, what if you were actually their puppet? And they used you to get this island back. Pretty sneaky, right?"

"Watch your mouth."

Arsen did not respond. He rushed outside and even slammed the door shut as he walked out of his father's room. He swore, this was the most ridiculous thing he had ever heard in his life.

Lord of primitive island.

Pft.

If he usually never wanted to know, it was clear he couldn't do it anymore this time. His clan and power were related to his father. Arsen did not want his father to continue playing the ridiculous games assigned by the elders and become slaves to satisfy the crazed elders' desire. The fact was clear that the clan elders were the true antagonists of this island. Arsen believed there must be something wrong with the elders because that m******e happened twenty years ago.

Hearing about that m******e made Arsen's blood boil. Remembering how his father was badly injured even though there were so many martial arts fighters standing by his side at that time. This attracted even more suspicion in Arsen's mind, the m******e was likely created just to get his father out of here.

Arsen could not imagine what kind of life the inhabitants of this island lived.

Suddenly, Arsen faintly heard a scream and several objects hit the ground. The blonde man hurriedly walked towards the northern courtyard of the palace. He saw Kiril there, fighting with a man. Arsen couldn't see his face, but when the man fell, Arsen quickly got closer.

Lavi.

Kiril, on the other hand, continued to draw the wooden sword nimbly, Arsen's hand immediately held it when it almost hit him and Lavi.

"Stop this!"

Arsen stared at him coldly while squeezing the wooden sword in his hand. He looked at Kiril, whose appearance had not changed in a long time, and his trademark was his long black hair tied back. Also his never-ending smile.

It seemed that Arsen's discussion with his father still left boiling anger and he was sure now was the right time to vent the heat. Immediately he pulled back his sword so that Kiril's unwary body fell forward and at the same time Arsen hit the man's face hard and Kiril's body quickly collapsed with a red jaw and went numb.

"Why did you fight the injured person? Don't you have a stronger fighting partner?" Arsen said coldly. Kiril immediately looked up and was shocked.

"It hurts. Ah!"

Arsen chose to ignore Kiril. He immediately checked Lavi's condition and saw that the man's stomach was covered in blood.

"Can you stand up?" Arsen asked, offering his hand to grab.

But Lavi immediately put his hand away. "I don't need your help," he said, rising very slowly and gasping for breath as the pain returned to his stomach.

Arsen just stared at him flatly.

This time Arsen let Lavi do whatever he wants. However the man looked in pain as he rose to his feet. That man was truly a stubborn person. As soon as he touched his stomach, he saw for himself how blood immediately drenched his palms.

"I have to recover my strength," Lavi muttered. Once again he challenged Kiril and saw the pale man smile—or grin at him.

"Don't fight him, you can kill him." Arsen looked at Kiril with a straight gaze.

"Why, Young Master? You can come play if you want," Kiril said casually with a smile.

On the other hand, Lavi ignored Arsen's presence and took his wooden sword, as did Kiril. Then they signaled a fight. The two men were stubborn enough to listen to what Arsen had to say. It seems that Arsen really has to do something. So he jumped up and moved closer to their midst, the next second the two men with the same hair color were knocked down by his left hand. The two of them immediately fell with bruised jaws.

Arsen looked at the two of them with the same gaze from time to time. "Are you satisfied? Kiril, come in, let me take care of Lavi."

"Yes, Boss!"

When Arsen touched Lavi's arm, the man gasped. "Don't touch me. I don't care if you are the son of the Great Lord, I don't know you."

"I have nothing to do with the old man."

Lavi ignored him.

His feeble legs tried to stand up, he succeeded in the first minute, but he couldn't move at all. It was very painful when he moved a little because Lavi felt his blood keep flowing out of his wound.

"Your wound is not stitched, you must not move much," Arsen said from behind Lavi's back, staring at the man with a mocking face.

"None of your business."

Lavi took another step on one leg, but a sharp pain in his stomach made him groan and fall forward. Before he hit the ground, a strong hand clasped his chest. Lavi wanted to protest but he found it difficult to breathe and his vision was blurry.

Arsen was angry. "Do you really want to die?"

The body in his arms was tilted for Arsen to see his face. Now Lavi's eyes stared at him unfocused. His face was as white as paper. The skin that Arsen touched was icy cold.

"Karna," Lavi muttered, his eyes unable to open anymore. The man looks almost fainted. "Karna ...."

'Karna?' Arsen thought.

Arsen tried to calm the black haired man, whispered softly in his ear, "Hold on a little longer. I'm here."

Lavi was silent again.

Seeing that the blood had seeped into his shirt, Arsen immediately slipped one of his other hands under Lavi's knee to lift up his body. He wasn't surprised to feel how light the man's body was. Lavi was completely passed out when Arsen looked at him, but his lips were still twitching as if he was saying something.

Rory ran from a distance. "Young Master, what's wrong?"

"Get the physician," Arsen said as he walked.

"Let me carry him," Rory offered, trying to match his young master's foot speed.

"No need," Arsen replied quickly. "Get the physician. Send him to my room."

tbc.