Chapter 36: A Burglary Attempt
A/N: For new and old readers alike, most of this chapter takes place a week following the events of the previous chapter, although it has been over a year for this one to update. If it had not been for the foolishness of this one to not save and email the draft of Chapter 36 prior to rebooting my computer (and several other factors, such as lack of motivation), this story would have closer to completion. Furthermore, I will inform you that because of the apparent timeline that 5D's uses (A/N: I believe that it takes place in the year 2021 AD due to the in-depth, specific wiki.), this story would then be roughly 8 years prior to 5D's. My reasoning? It's because I had to change the year of this fic's beginning from 2005 to 1999 due to the logic that Yu-Gi-Oh! began in '96, the year of its creation, and that it ends on 1999, when Yugi and his friends are around seventeen years of age, which is highly plausible. At any rate, I digress. On with the story. I apologize for the very late update.
The day that "Andre Colombo" and Weevil Underwood first planned out their burglary on the Count of Monte Cristo's city home, they had made the mistake to underestimate the count's level of preparation, which due to his eccentricity, is borderline paranoia. For you see, in order to prevent any unwanted actions to occur, the count had hired one of the best spies that his fabulous wealth could (easily) afford. When these agents spied upon their clients' targets, only a handful of individuals in the world could detect their presence; because of his lifestyle and years of training, the count was among these few extraordinary people. Much to the two criminals' ignorance, a hidden spy, under the employ of the count, had recorded their conversation with a special recording device. Once the agent gleaned this information, it was imperative that he met with his client well before the week would pass. He immediately left the Satellite area (the old Domino City). When he reached his safe haven (his luxurious apartment located in Neo Domino City), the agent looked at his watch – 3:14pm. After making several copies of the recording, the spy, using a secure line, contacted Monte Cristo by phone.
"I trust that this line is secured?"
"Of course. Always, Hakushaku," the spy replied to his wealthy and mysterious client.
"Well, why is it that you have called me for?"
"I have recently uncovered a devious plot that threatens whatever contents you may possess in a certain vault in your city mansion. For you see, the boy and blue-haired man plan to make a daring burglary attempt upon your household at midnight this Friday, a week from today. Shall I send you a copy of the recording I have made?"
"Of course. Upload it to my secure email address, JonDoe297..."
"Very well, then. I'm uploading the recording as we speak." As he spoke these words, the agent uploaded the file into his computer. "Shall I continue spying on those two fools, Hakushaku?"
"Indeed. Keep me posted daily on the whereabouts and plans of those two bakas. As for me, I will put one of contingency plans for the would-be burglary. Until next time, Mr. Dumas."
The two men then hung up. The count, who was in his private study at the time, positioned himself in front of a certain bookcase and pulled out one of his favorite books, The Art of War by Sun Tzu. A moment later, the book rack slid to an hidden opening in the wall nearby, revealing a secret passage behind the bookcase's original location. The count entered the secret entrance and found himself in a hidden room that is unbeknownst to most of his servants and the public. Having seated himself before a mainframe opposite to the secret passage (which, the bookcase returned to its normal position), Monte Cristo accessed his secure email account in order to receive the file that his hired spy sent him recently. After listening to the recording, the count pondered for a moment or two.
Greedy fools. They have mistaken the purpose of my vault—it holds my dueling deck, not money. However, it is of high monetary value. Although I should contact Sector Security, aka the police...I do not wish to involve the police in my private affairs. Otherwise, such an involvement with the law enforcement could seriously compromise the boy's "contract" with me. No matter. I shall deal with this with my own brand of justice, as well as having a bit of fun...
As the week passed, the count received further information from his spy, regarding how and when and where exactly the two would-be thieves carry out their greed-based crime. The Count of Monte Cristo had arranged for all of his servants, (including Rebecca, a former call girl whose freedom was made possible by the count) save for Rafael, to leave for his country villa in the Tohoku area on Friday—the day of Weevil and Andre's burglary attempt. Monte Cristo's right-hand man, Rafael was told by his master of the plan for that evening, and as such, was ordered to stay at the main mansion. To all of Neo Domino City, it seemed that its mysterious celebrity was taking a temporary "vacation" at his country abode.
After being served an early dinner by Rafael (around five in the afternoon), the count began his intense workout regimen for four hours (consisting of aerobic, strength training, flexibility, and combat exercises), took a bath, and slept for an hour. It was now around eleven o'clock in the evening. Rafael was given orders not to rest on the chance that the burglary would occur prematurely. As the count awoke from his hour long slumber, he and his loyal servant prepared themselves for any possible violent action that may befall their persons. Although Andre and Weevil were hardly considered threats, Monte Cristo and Rafael armed themselves with weapons (a pair of .44 Desert Eagles and two battle axes, respectively) and lightweight body armor (which becomes rigid when enough kinetic energy is applied due to shear thickening fluids); the armor is also composed of carbon nanotubes for further protection.
It was barely a minute past midnight when an unidentified van had parked in front of the estate. Because the mansion was located at the outskirts of Neo Domino City (as well as the Kaiba Mansion, which was a few miles away), the two criminals believed that no one could interrupt their plan. The two thieves promptly made their way to the side of Monte Cristo's mansion, and with a grappling hook that reached its purchase on the roof, they scaled the exterior walls. Normally, the count has a highly encrypted security system active to protect his property. But tonight, he has intentionally deactivated it for personal reasons.
One of the first floor windows had given way to the intruder's breach, and as such, glass shards were scattered all over the floor. Apparently, the thief was not very tact and had a tendency to live a life of risk. Fortunately for the thief, no alarms were tripped from his brash act. The man's partner, Weevil, followed suit. With a flashlight in tow, the young man led his partner to the count's bedroom where the secured vault is located. Meanwhile, Monte Cristo and Rafael hid themselves in the secret room adjacent to the vault (the same one found in the private study); they were closely observing the thieves at work by several concealed cameras placed all over the mansion's grounds and interior.
Because Weevil was the better lock pick of the two, he was told to enter the room alone. The former Insect duelist found himself alone in the count's chamber and promptly began to break open the secured vault. While the thief was at work, the count ordered to his right-hand man. "Stay here, Rafael. Under any circumstances, do not leave this room unless I call out your name."
"Understood, Master." Rafael replied, bowing.
The count quickly dressed himself in a priest's outfit, applied some make-up, wore thick, heavy glasses (a stage prop that did not actually affect one's eyesight), and a wig to complete the disguise that is Father Buu Soh Nii. With the transformation from count to Korean priest complete, the adventurer entered his chamber through the secret room's hidden door. Having mastered stealth techniques over the years, the count was able to sneak up behind Weevil without being detected. It was only when the pastor greeted the thief that Weevil realized that he was not alone in this room. "Well, good evening, Mr. Underwood. Why have you come to Monte Cristo Hakushaku's house at this late hour?"
Weevil, taken aback by this sudden appearance of the Korean priest, turned his flashlight towards the strange foreigner, nearly blinding him. "Holy crap! I mean, Father Buu Soh Nii! Forgive me for blinding you."
"Not at all," replied the master of disguise, who was somewhat blinded and now recovering, "But yes, it is I, Father Buu Soh Nii. In the flesh. I am quite happy to know that you have not forgotten who I am, Mr. Underwood. After all, it has been what? Seven years? Seven years since we last met one another?"
At a loss for words, Weevil kept muttering to himself. "This can't be possible...There's supposed to be no one here... Buu Soh Nii... must be hallucinating..."
"At any rate," the fake pastor continued, apparently oblivious to the thief's nervous breakdown, "Are you trying to relieve Monte Cristo Hakushaku of his dueling deck, Mr. Underwood?"
Weevil, having barely regained his senses, stammered. "His dueling deck, you say, Father? No, no, no. Not at all." Weevil was perplexed that the vault did not contain money, but a deck of DM cards. Although the cards themselves would be quite valuable in the black market, it was not expected that someone would appear tonight in a mansion that's deserted. "Father...It's not what it looks like. I swear..."
"A smashed glass window, a grappling hook, a flashlight, several lock-picks, a vault that is obviously tampered with...must I continue?" retorted the apparition.
"But... it's not... what... it looks like!" pleaded Weevil, who again, was saying these words with significant trouble.
The minister implored. "Admit it, my old acquaintance! It is obvious that you have not changed your sinful ways, you cold-blooded killer."
"Yes...I killed Rex Raptor right after you and I first met..." confessed Weevil, dejected. "I was motivated not by greed, but by desperation."
"Bah!" scolded the pastor, with contempt for the pathetic man before him. "Every criminal makes that sort of claim."
After a moment had passed, the count asked. "I don't suppose that you finished serving your sentence. For 1st degree murder. Or was it the 3rd degree?"
"It was first... But no. I didn't, Father. For you see, some Chinese stranger arranged for my freedom." answered Weevil.
The minister snapped. "Who?!"
"I don't know! I think his name was Wei Rin..." replied Weevil, unaware that he mispronounced his savior's name.
"Ah...! Ah! I believe you mean, Wei Lin. He prefers the "L" over the "R" for some personal reason...although either sound is correct. As I know the man, I will find out if you are telling me the truth or feeding me a lie." Monte Cristo warned.
"Are you going to call Sector Security, Father? Or are they already here, somewhere, in hiding?" asked the thief.
"I am indeed alone here, my son. Other than you..." The minister then told Weevil, with a seemingly omniscient tone. "AND that young man who's listening to our conversation outside this room."
The fake socialite ("Andre") upon hearing those words, lost his courage. He immediately left for the broken window across the dark hall, scaled down one story, and departed for parts unknown. The fake minister continued to interrogate the thief. "Like the cowardly youth whom I willingly let go, I shall let you go, if you tell me the truth. Now, Mr. Underwood, who was he?"
Weevil confessed everything. "Back in prison... he was my cellmate. After he somehow became a free man, I blackmailed him when I learned of his rise from rags to riches..."
"And it is obvious that you were living on a portion of his money." the priest said, who confirmed the story. "I see. And does this youth have a name?"
The thief quickly answered. "Ben...Benny the Devil!"
"You are lying, Mr. Underwood!" snapped the disguised foreigner. "That is an alias of his! I want his real name!"
Weevil gulped at this request from the religious figure. With much hesitance, he replied, "His name is... Andre A. Colombo. He apparently was from a rich Italian family who recently regained their good graces in high society. I heard rumors it was Monte Cristo Hakushaku who helped them..."
"Yet you allow the young man to lavish in the life of luxury despite his crimes?" scolded the stranger. "Why, I must inform the authorities about this revelation!" The apparition took a step towards a nearby phone, turning his back in the process.
"The hell you will!" cried Weevil, who pulled out a M1911 semi-automatic handgun from a compartment on his vest. As Buu Soh Nii turned around, he could see that Weevil had aimed the pistol straight at the minister's heart and fired away. The bullet made painful contact with the count's torso, who promptly fell to the floor, seemingly dead. Rafael, under strict orders not to interfere with his master's plan, remained in the secret room nearby. Naturally, he did so, with much reluctance, since he witnessed his master getting shot at point-blank range; this was one of the very few instances whereby the count was actually shot, especially at a close distance such as this episode. "I...I killed...him," Weevil stammered, believing that he has taken yet another life. Shaken by his latest kill, Weevil decided that he might as well just steal the vault, instead of breaking it open. A moment later, the would-be killer found himself at shock, for when he turned towards the door, he heard a solemn voice behind him.
"AND WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING?" asked the apparition.
Weevil turned around, pointing his gun at the dark figure. "Aiii! Oni (demon)!" But before the would-be killer could fire another bullet (this time at his target's head), the minister quickly positioned himself at his assailant's right side and took a hold of the gunman's wrist with his left hand. The count grasped the length of the gun's barrel with his right hand and jerked Weevil's wrist (which promptly broke). Naturally, Weevil cried out under intense pain, while the priest took apart the firearm and emptied its rounds.
"Far from it, my son. I am rather a tenshi (angel) of Kami's (God's) justice," retorted the count, who considered himself as such.
"Please, don't kill me!" Weevil pathetically begged.
The count, taking pity, replied, "Very well. I will spare your life, as I do not wish to break the commandment: 'Thou shalt not murder.' Now leave this place!"
Weevil, rubbing his broken wrist, cried, "But you're going to inform the authorities about the boy's fake identity! He'll kill me!"
"Yes. And no. He will not do so unless you tell him that you confided in me of his charade. When you meet with your accomplice, break ties with him and leave Japan forever; in short, start a new life, an honest one. Now follow me. You're in no condition to rappel your way at this height." ordered the solemn minister. Weevil promptly followed the foreigner to the mansion's ground floor, where he was led to the main entrance doors at the foyer. The would-be thief left for his getaway vehicle, the van, that was still parked in front of the mansion's enclosure. It was not long after that the former duelist entered the van that several cries were heard.
"No, Ben-! I didn't tell him--!" cried the victim, who was fatally stabbed numerous times. "No! No~!" The passenger door opened, and a body, headfirst, slumped out and bled profusely on the now soiled pavement. The van, with its side door still wide open, immediately fled the murder scene. The dying man, covered with several stab wounds, barely had the strength to utter a few words. "Help...! Mur...der! Help...me, Father...Buu Soh...Nii." A dark figure and a musclebound man were seen rushing to the dying Weevil's aid. "My God, what happened, Mr. Underwood?" asked the count, still in his disguise as a Korean priest.
"I've been stabbed... by that damn fiend, Benny," Weevil informed, weakly. "He told me that killing me was... the only option... he saw... fit to ensure... his new, or rather... current lifestyle. He realized... that I ratted him out. Oh, fuck... I'm going to die... aren't I?" But before he could receive a reply, he passed out from his injuries.
The fake minister promptly ordered Rafael to bring the dying man inside, specifically in the parlor room. When the three men brought the murder victim in said room, Monte Cristo and Rafael removed the victim's shirt, revealing several bloody lacerations. The count said to his right-hand man, "Call for an ambulance and Sector Security. When you are done, leave me and this man alone. Understood?"
"Yes, Your Excellency," replied Rafael, who then left the room, whilst dialing the emergency hot line on his cell phone.
When the count was alone with the dying man, he took out a needle and injected its contents into the unconscious Weevil. A minute later, Weevil returned to consciousness and found himself half-naked, and lying atop of a luxurious sofa. He saw the priest sitting in a lavish caquetoire nearby, facing the fireplace diagonally.
"I have called Sector Security and the local hospital of your situation, Mr. Underwood. An ambulance will be here shortly," assured the minister, after realizing that the victim awoke.
"It'll be too late by the time either arrives here, Father," said Weevil. "Could you write a statement for me to sign? So that I can inform the authorities who my murderer was?"
The priest complied. "By all means." Monte Cristo took the notepad lying on the coffee table nearby and wrote: 'I, Weevil Underwood, was killed around half-past midnight of Saturday, August, 3, 2013. My murderer's name was Benjamin Toulon, aka Benny the Devil.' Weevil then was given a pen to sign his signature on the statement.
"Father, you will carry out my last wishes, right? Tell the authorities that my murderer is masquerading himself as the young businessman named Andre A. Colombo." requested the dying man.
The minister replied, "Yes. I will tell them everything."
After a moment had passed, Weevil, after beginning to cough up some blood, felt that he will die any minute, started to speak again. "Do you find it...ironic, Father Buu Soh Nii, that you find yourself by my deathbed... like you have done for Yugi Mutou?"
"Why, the thought has crossed my mind recently, Mr. Underwood," replied the priest, realizing the bitter irony, or rather coincidence.
"It seems that this... is my final punishment, Father. For my indirect betrayal of that young duelist... fourteen years ago."
"Yes, it would seem so...Weevil," said Monte Cristo, who after doffing his most of his disguise, gave a bittersweet smile at the dying man, giving him a feeling of unease.
"Wait a minute!" exclaimed the victim, who noticed a resemblance on the exposed face of the mysterious man before him. "Come closer. You look familiar."
The foreigner complied with the dying man's request. Weevil said to the strange man, "Ah...! Damn, if it weren't for your hairstyle, I would have taken you for Wei Lin, that Chinese economist...you...! You are Monte Cristo Hakushaku, are you not?"
"You are almost right, Mr. Underwood. I am neither Father Buu Soh Nii nor Wei Lin," corrected Monte Cristo. "However, for my true identity, I am not Monte Cristo Hakushaku."
"Then who are you?" Weevil asked, or rather begged to the mysterious man.
"Think back, Weevil! Think back fourteen years ago, and even a few years before that."
The dying man said, "Yes, yes. I think that you are right. I think I did see you before. A lifetime ago." As he said this, Weevil began to cough up more blood than usual, indicating that he has only a few seconds to live. The count realized this and bent over to Weevil and confessed. "I am... Yugi Mutou."
Weevil's eyes widened with shock upon hearing this life-changing revelation. "Oh, God! You're...still alive! Forgive me! Forgive...me, Yugi Mutou..."
And with that, the man's arm lost all power and dropped to the side of the sofa. It was apparent that Weevil had now just lost whatever little life was left in his dead body. It was approximately ten minutes later that an ambulance and the police finally arrived at the scene. The minister was found giving the corpse its posthumous rites.