He had closed his eyes to avoid Kuroudo Akabane's. "We are sorry, Dr. Jackal. But we simply cannot accept this job." Ginji Amano was expecting scalpels to be drawn. Ban Mido smashed his fist on the table. His teeth grinding, body tensed, eyes wide and harrowed. He was the one who would usually make such decisions. And Ginji just refused the job? He was the one who had made Ban take on all sorts of odd jobs, the ones that did'nt even pay. And Ban was sure Dr. Jackal would'nt be stingy. He grabbed Ginji by the collars of his usual dark green jacket and blasted in his face "WHADDA HELL YA MEAN WE WONT!? yOU JUST GOBBLED THAT CAKE ALL BY YOURSELF! WE HAVENT HAD A JOB IN MONTHS." H pointed a finger at Kuroudo Akabane. "Its not like He's not gonna PAY US!"
"But Ban, we cant. Remember, we promised Hera?" "PROMISED HERA WHAT?"Ban Mido yelled.
"That we wont ever get involved with drugs!" Ginji cowered. Ban pursed his lips and said "SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO??" "Well," Ginji said while turning chibi, "That body is made with solid Aphrodite, that drug that almost killed Kyte. He wants us to get him that drug. We should'nt help him. Just think what He could do with that."
Doctor Jackal eyed Ginji-kun with a seeming adoration. He was quite fond of this little boy. This goofy little boy known as Ginji Amano. But Doctor Jackal Adored for what he had once been. The ruthless lord of the lower town of the Mugenjou. The THUNDER EMPEROR!
& here he was, worried about an inconsequential little detail like people's lives. The irony wiped the patent smile of the Jackal's face. In his cold jarring voice he uttered "That isn't why I need the Aphrodite." At the sound of his voice, a chill went down Ginji's voice. He and Ban sat back down to hear what Dr. Jackal had to say. "Aphrodite is more than just a narcotic, you see boys," He slipped out a viel of clear liqiud. "This is what Aphrodite can be converted into. It can cure almost any disease. Makes poeple upto 70 times stronger. There have been tests done." The smile reappeared again, as Dr. Jackal made another ominious remark. "It was quite an entertaining excercise. They lasted longer than almost anyone I have fought before." Ban and Ginji gulped. Ginji managed to ask "You killed the people that were experimented on?" "But they were mere guinea pigs afterall. Why dont you try this for yourself. It wont kill you. I cant have you die before I find out what your real power is like, now can I?" Ginji innocently picked up the veil. And was looking at it when Ban grasped Ginji's wrist causing him to drop the thin veil. It crashed and broke on the table and a sweet wafting smell arose from the liqiud. "He just wants you to turn into the Thunder Emperor! If this thing makes you that powerful, then you are bound to lose control, go berserk! and thats what He wants."
"This will save quite a few lives. Even that of Mr. Kytes. Aphrodite is the base of this Elixir of life. And it is required in a rather large quantity. The torse of Venus De Milo would be the best source for such an amount"
Kuroudo Akabane slipped out a thin envelope out of his coat pocket. And slid it with his right index finger towards the duo. Then as if spreading cards he spun the envelope to reveal another below it. "An advancement for the equipment you might need, diving gear"
Ban and Ginji gawked at the 2 envelopes. Ban Mido drooled.
"Two million Yen, each. And the rest when I receive my Venus De Milo"
Ban slurped his drool and Ginji blinked as they chorused "REST"
"Yes. The total of 5 million each. The rest 6 million will be wired to you after I receive the statue. Unless you boys would rather have it in cash"
As if they had had their memories erased, the same thought went through Natsumi and Ginji's minds. "Would'nt carrying that much money be dangerous? What if someone tried to mob you"
Almost instantly Ginji trembled as the sight of Akabane Kuroudo's bloodied scalpels came to his mind.