Chapter One: The Varia is Recruiting
He was watching you. Again.
As always, you wondered why a member of the Varia would be taking so much interest in one of the 9th's ordinary subordinates. You were around the same age as him, it was true, but he was Varia – an elite killer! And to add to that, a prince. The prince – that is, Prince the Ripper.
So, you weren't some unknown, anonymous, weakling mafioso yourself, but you still weren't on the same level he was, far from it.
Which was why his interest in you was so strange.
After some thinking, you finally decided to arm yourself to the teeth and confront him about it.
"I don't want to be stalked. Even if it is by Varia."
"Ushishishi..." His distinctive laugh, the one that sent fear racing through the hearts even the most dangerous members of enemy Families. "I'm not stalking you; I just find you fascinating."
"How so?" you asked suspiciously.
He laughed again, and the sinister sound sent chills down your spine, although it wasn't an altogether unpleasant sensation.
"The Varia might be recruiting. If you're as good as people are saying, that is." The Varia was recruiting? Was he serious? If he meant that they were actually looking for people to join the upper ranks, and not just as underlings, well... it seemed sketchy, to say the least.
On a whim, you strode over to him, and managed to somehow, in one swift movement, snatch one of his knives out and hold it under his chin. Without even blinking, he knocked it out of your hand, looking pissed at having a knife taken, though he smiled approvingly.
Not bad... "This might actually be a good idea. That would be a first for the moronic boss."
"So... you're telling me this, why?" You had your suspicions, of course, and your hopes too, but for all you knew, the idea of your joining the Varia hadn't even crossed his mind, and he was just running the idea past the first person he saw. That, or he wanted to trick and humiliate you, which was just as possible.
"I keep my plans to myself... although if you're as smart as they say, you should be able to figure it out for yourself. Actually, it shouldn't be very difficult, even for some more slow-minded people..."
You shrugged. "Well, just saying, I prefer to go solo. Actually, I only do solo assignments. Only."
"I know, of course. The Varia doesn't always work in groups; only the weak little peasants do."
"And what about someone like me?"
Belphegor pretended to think about it, though it was clear to you, at the very least, that he'd already come to a conclusion long ago – if it could be called a conclusion.
"Maybe. Maybe you'd be able to get a job all to yourself."
"Maybe?"
"If the prince decides that you should join."
"And will you?"
He smiled. "Possibly."
"Is the prince unsure?"
You could easily imagine him narrowing his eyes at you behind his long blond bangs.
"Of course not. But who would want a useless peasant under his command?"
"Are you saying that I'm a useless peasant?"
He turned around and began to walk away, as if he hadn't heard you. Just before he left your field of vision, though, he shook his head.
"Of course not."
Later, sitting alone at your apartment in Italy, you thought about what had happened. The Varia... join the Varia? It would be a dream come true.
A voice at the back of your head, though, wondered if you were really that interested in the position, or if it was actually the prospect of spending more time with Belphegor that was drawing your interest.
"Obviously not," you told yourself. "Why would I want to spend time with him?"
You smiled to yourself. What a question that was, and you could come up with a never-ending list to answer it. Of course you would want to spend time with him.
After all, he had taken down the two targets that would've made you one of the 9th's most trusted, valued assassins.
So it was your lifelong goal to bring him down, and not just in any simple way. You would learn his skills, and use them against him.
It was only natural, after all. Because you would never forgive anyone who stole your victims.