Chapter 48: The Necklace of Death
Down the street from the bar, Gelato stood opposite of Megara while Hercules and Adessoè watched nearby.
"If you really are a Soldier of the Foglia family, then prove it by beating me," Megara said. "Use whatever weapons you've got, but all I need is this."
As she spoke, Megara held up her pointer finger.
This made Gelato grit his teeth. "Don't you mock me!"
As Gelato charged at Megara, he fired his gun at her. She easily deflected the bullets (Shuriken), and then flicked Gelato's forehead with her finger. The impact made Gelato fall several feet backward and left a bruise mark.
"Ow," Gelato muttered as he got up.
"You're more durable than I thought, but I'm not sure how long you'll last," Megara mocked. "Now tell me, brat, why do you care about the Godfather position so much?"
"Because…that's what I want to achieve, above all else," Gelato stated with a determined look.
It was then that Megara's face softened and she seemed to falter.
Her guard's down, Gelato realized. This is my chance to strike!
Holding his hands in a ball-like shape, Gelato concentrated on combining the rotation and power he had gained from the previous exercises Hercules had him do. A bright blue ball of nature energy started to form, but it didn't stick together for long.
"Spiralis!" Gelato shouted as he ran at Megara once more.
She didn't notice him until the last minute, and slammed her finger downward. A large crack formed in the street, causing Gelato to fall into it and the Spiralis to diminish.
"What were you thinking, Hercules?" Megara shouted. "This idiot couldn't master such a powerful attack even if his life depended on it!"
"No way!" Gelato protested. "I'll do it in three days' time!"
"Is that a promise?" Megara asked coyly.
"I never go back on my word," Gelato replied.
Megara chuckled. "Okay, if you win, I'll agree to become the next Godfather and acknowledge you as a potential successor. And as an added bonus, this necklace can be yours."
Parting her cleavage a bit, Megara pointed to a blue crystal attached to a black string wrapped around her neck.
"Um, thanks, but I'll pass on the necklace," Gelato responded.
"Gelato, that necklace is worth a lot of money," Hercules stated. "Plus, it originally belonged to the First Godfather, Megara's biological grandfather."
As Gelato let this news sink in, Megara reached into her trench-coat pocket and took out the Eagle Wallet (Frog Wallet). "But until you've mastered the attack, I'll keep this and hold onto it if you fail."
"Miss Megara!" Adessoè exclaimed. "That's a bit unfair."
"Nothing's fair in this world, Adessoè," Megara grumbled. "Remember that."
Then Megara left while Adessoè reluctantly followed.
"Nice going, Gelato," Hercules said irritably as he pulled Gelato out of the crack. "You've managed to get on Megara's bad side, and very few people survive her wrath."
"Yet she's the one you elected to be the next Godfather," Gelato scuffed. "What a crock!"
Hercules sighed. "She's a good person at heart, but…a lot of bad things have happened to her."
"Like what?"
"I'd rather not go into it. Maybe I'll tell you later."
###
Over the next two days, Gelato attempted to perfect the Spiralis attack but to no avail. By the third night, he was staying in a hotel room Hercules bought near the bar when Adessoè suddenly showed up.
Gelato made a confused look as he opened the door for her. "Shouldn't you be with Megara?"
"She and Hercules are drinking at the bar, so I think they'll be fine," Adessoè explained while taking a seat on the bed, looking upset. "Anyway, I came here to warn you about Megara's necklace."
"Is it fake?" Gelato asked nervously.
"No, but it's cursed," Adessoè replied bluntly, causing Gelato's eyes to widen. "Every person Megara gave that necklace to died of horrible circumstances."
Gelato's eyes widened. "Like who?"
"Her brother Corda and my uncle Giudice, who was also her lover."
"What happened to them?"
Adessoè shifted nervously. "On his twelfth birthday, Corda was given the necklace by Megara as acknowledgement of his dream to become the Godfather. But then during a mission he ran into an explosive trap. His body was completely destroyed, except for the necklace, so he couldn't be healed. After that, Megara met Giudice, who was a prominent Mobster at the time and working on integrating more Healers (Medical Ninja) into every Squad in the Foglia family. She agreed to help him with this and the two fell in love. He confessed his goal of becoming Godfather to improve things in the Foglia territory, and so she presented him with the necklace. Then the Second Mafia War (Second Ninja War) happened, and Giudice died fighting too many foes at once. Like with Corda, the necklace was retrieved. So Megara took me in as an apprentice and we left the Foglia family."
###
While Adessoè was telling Gelato the truth about the necklace, Hercules and Megara were discussing the same topic over shots of bourbon.
"Gelato reminded you of Corda and Giudice, didn't he?" Hercules guessed, his cheeks glowing red. "That's why you let your guard down."
"Oh, shut up," Megara frowned, pouring another shot. "You're always so annoying."
The two didn't speak as they downed their shots quickly.
"Are you thinking of accepting Typhonragazzo's offer?" Hercules asked.
Megara smirked. "If I was, what would you do about it?"
"I'd kill you."
Hearing that, Megara broke out into laughs.
"I'm serious," Hercules said, grabbing Megara's shoulders and forcing her to stare directly at him. "If he doesn't kill you after you've healed him, you'd be helping a monster destroy the very group your brother and boyfriend were a part of. Their sacrifices would be in vain if you did that!"
"Not if they weren't dead," Megara argued.
Hercules' brow furrowed. "They'd probably be walking corpses with little to no personality."
This made Megara get up and brush her trench-coat sleeve against Hercules' glass. Then as she walked out of the bar, Hercules downed the rest of his bourbon and went after her. But suddenly, his legs gave out and he collapsed onto the floor.
End of Chapter 48