Vienna was a beautiful city, especially in the nighttime. Magnificent and vivacious lighting entangled most of the tourists in its enthralling web. For the hungry, 5 star cuisine was by no means rare, and for those who were a bit more sophisticated, there was the Musikverein, Vienna's world famous music hall. Mayors, Prime ministers, and ambassadors often visited the world-renowned hall, it was a place of culture, grace, and refinement.

"Butler, put your enormous bulk to good use and shield me from this infernal lighting."

"Right Away, Artemis."

Artemis sighed, "This sickening city is starting to take its toll on me. The food for one is unbearable, 5 star? Please, I could cook better meals than these confounded bunglers who call themselves chefs."

As he entered the building, Artemis's mood only worsened. And after having to wait in line for close to an hour, Artemis was very irritated.

"Would you like a drink sir?" asked an unfortunate attendant at the hall.

"Yes, I would like one half-full glass of Chardonnay, 20 proof," Artemis muttered under his breath.

"Excuse me sir, would you mind speaking a little louder?"

At this, Artemis had trouble controlling himself, but mastered himself, "I would like one half-full glass of Chardonnay, 20 proof," he repeated with a definite edge in his voice.

The waiter could apparently sense the young master's displeasure but was standing stock still, looking very uncomfortable. Eventually, after a long, unpleasant silence, he attempted to say something, but the world will never quite know what, for when he was about to speak, Artemis cut him off.

"Sir," he began making sure to speak very loudly so that the near-deaf waiter could understand him properly, "I find it astonishing that you even managed secure a job at this hall in the first place. In an institution that is said to be refined, elegant, and sophisticated, one would expect, at the least, service that is polite, efficient, and competent. And neither you, nor your "service," possess any of those three admirable traits. You are a blunt, deaf imbecile who should be out on the street begging for coins, feeding off the pity of society, much less here attempting to serve me my drink. Get out of my sight and take your idiocy and your brainlessness with you."

As the waiter scurried away, traumatized by the reprimand, Artemis had to endure a little scolding of his own.

"That was perfectly unjustified Artemis," his father said to him. "The poor man had some kind of a hearing problem, why could you not merely repeat yourself, instead of sending him away like that."

Artemis was perfectly unashamed of what he had done and was just as perfectly prepared to defend himself, "There was no error in what I did father. Hearing problem or not, that man was exactly what I called him, a blunt, deaf imbecile. I see no reason why I should have acted otherwise."

His father was undeterred. "You should have acted otherwise because you are my son, and you have an obligation to act civil and mannered. That man did nothing against you. He merely could not hear your request, and when you did him the discourtesy of not speaking louder a second time, he was kind enough to attempt to ask a third when you ungraciously cut him off with your little tantrum."

Artemis began to raise his voice. "Three years ago to this date, you would be supporting my conduct and, excuse the expression, "patting me on the back" for my swift and completely justified handling of the situation."

His father raised his voice to match Artemis's tone, "Three years ago to the date, I was just as selfish, cold, and mechanical as you, if not more. And though I regret it profusely, I was teaching you to behave in the same manner, and I apologize for that son. But that put aside, the way in which you "handled" the situation was completely unacceptable, and you will be punished for it."

Artemis regained his cold and mechanical tone and finalized the conversation. "Three years ago to the date, you were an intelligent, cunning, and merciless businessman. A man I could admire and respect as my father. What you taught me was wisdom, intelligence, and cunning. Now, you are a sentimental fool, whose pity for the brainless and the weak have blinded you. You celebrate and shield mediocrity as if it were some article of value, and you scorn intelligence and strength as if it were a contagious disease which you were afraid to contract. You have nothing to apologize for when it comes to my upbringing. My father is dead, you are some broken and crumbled representation of the great man my father used to be."

With that, Artemis walked silently out of the hall, out onto the steps and breathed a sigh of annoyance. What had made his father so … pathetic? He could think of no better word for him. Was it some traumatizing event that occurred in Russia that he was unaware of? He pondered the question for some time and was, for the second time that day, surprised by Butler's presence when he looked up from his thoughts.

Artemis started, "have you come to scold me as well Butler?" Butler shook his head, "No, Artemis. I merely wish to say that your father is a good man, and he always was a good man. Nothing in Russia could have changed that."

Artemis sighed and was about to comment when a Butler grabbed him in a bear hug and dived off of the steps. In Butler's tight and concealed grip, Artemis heard only a muffled crash, but to the passerby, the sound was equivalent to a supersonic explosion.

"What on Earth is happening Butler?" Artemis asked upon being released. But Butler didn't have to answer the question. Over Butler's shoulder, Artemis could see the once proud Musikverein hall crashing down in ruin and flame.