Chapter 34
The draught from the broken window was blowing through the office. It flapped the curtains, swept off sheets of paper from the desk and scattered them all over the room. Flitz looked at the mess and shook his head. He activated the sound transmitter:
«My little Marina, come to my office now!»
Flitz put on his stern voice, but there was endearing tenderness in his grumbling. Kyon wondered who the girl was. What was going on between them?
Kyon walked over to the framed black-and-white photo of a thin woman with gray hair who resembled Flitz. {No... It's not a photo! It's some unknown method of applying color to paper, but definitely not a photo! It's curious, most curious...} He asked: «Is this your daughter or granddaughter, sir?»
Flitz had just taken down some device and was approaching Kyon. He frowned at the question: «This is my great-grandmother!»
Kyon was dumbfounded. «Um... Yes, of course. I was going to say that.»
Flitz, still frowning, put the device to the formation on Kyon's forehead and stared at him, surprised.
«Hm, why is your formation empty? Did they forget about you after Martin's death?»
Kyon shrugged hesitantly: {I don't think I should tell him I have been removed from the database at all. Hmm... What if he thinks I am a spy?}
However, Flitz overlooked that point. He rummaged through the shelves and pulled out another device that looked disturbingly familiar. It reminded Kyon of enema, which made him rather tense.
«Take it easy. It's too early to get worried.» - The formacist laughed and blew the air from the "enema" straight into the formation on Kyon's forehead, into the empty slot, just like Martin described.
A green thread slipped from the device (that's how the spatial attribute looks), hit the formation and disappeared without a trace, leaving an unpleasant tingling as a reminder.
The whole process took less than a minute. Flitz wiped the sweat from his forehead and said proudly:
«Congratulations! It's done. You are the worthy owner of an exclusive, incredible, heartwarming subjugating formation of a high-ranking slave!»
Kyon did not appreciate the gift and grinned grimly:
«Wow…» - He wasn't too keen on the idea. A slave again. The higher they rise, the harder they fall. He used to be an emperor of the worlds, and there he was... A sorry excuse for a miner and now a slave for a girl.
Flitz thought for a while and waved his hand as if brushing away his doubts.
«The subjugating formation on your forehead will get activated every time a family member of the 1st rank gives you an order. There are only a dozen people like that! Well, including me... I'm of the 2nd rank, but I couldn't resist the temptation of linking the formation to myself, ha ha he!»
Kyon felt his forehead. It stung. He was so angry that he couldn't say anything but something insulting. The former emperor of the illusory planet Earth had just been given a subjugating mark. Perhaps, it would be better if he was an ordinary slave.
Flitz ignored Kyon's gloomy disposition and continued instructing him as if nothing had happened:
«When they give you orders, you don't even quite understand why your body starts moving. It's all your subconscious, not you! Imagine how cool it will be when they tell you to disembowel yourself and you…»
Kyon didn't want to hear about such bright prospects and tried to change the subject, talk about anything but what this abominable formation can do:
«While we were traveling here with Ren... I mean the deliverer... I learned about the rules on the estate. If I got them right, even the slaves of the highest rank are forbidden to stay in the inner courtyard. How am I going to live there?»
Flitz laughed:
«Don't worry... You won't live long anyway.» - He burst into another fit of laughter, but under Kyon's black look, he relented and answered: - «Just kidding! I'll ask Juno to make an exception for you. Everything is going to be alright as long as she's in a good mood. Be sure not to screw up during the training session. Show her your strong points! And now dance for me!»
Something in Kyon's head tried to take control of his body. Apparently, the formation influenced the subconscious and forced him to follow the order through the prism of mind.
Kyon could easily take back control, but he didn't want to play his trump card at the very beginning of the game. {Hmm... The goddess's formation manipulated me through hormonal stimulation but Flitz's influences the subconscious... The first case is much worse, it is almost impossible to resist, but Flitz's method... Hah, a piece of cake. The more conscious the person, the less effective the method. I might come up with something better. Neurobiology is my life, after all. Is it difficult to get to the limbic system? I don't think so. Maybe, I should become a formacist in the future.}
The awkward twitching of his arms and legs interrupted Kyon's thoughts... He started to dance Lezghinka. In fact, he danced quite well for someone who was doing it for the first time.
Flitz nearly jumped for joy:
«It works, damn it! I have not forgotten how to apply complex formations! Hehe! What kind of dance is this?» - He clapped his hands, setting the rhythm.
When Flitz had enough of the Caucasian folk dance, he ordered Kyon to stop. He patted the breathless boy on the shoulder and said with almost paternal care:
«Don't worry. The family members of the 1st rank are kind and understanding people. They won't mess with a dirty slave... » - Flitz finished with less confidence. He thought of mischievous Juno with a wistful look on his face. – «All right, I order you to do twenty push-ups!»
Kyon howled inwardly. - {Wait, are you messing with me? Oh yeah... You're of the 2nd rank. Technically, you must be right.}
His body plopped to the ground and started doing push-ups. Flitz watched him for some time and then got comfortable on his back in the lotus position, puffing on his pipe: «Ha-ha-he!... Ha-ha-he!»
The evil old fart made Kyon sick. What a selfish hypocrite… Cruel and power-hungry is a hell of a mix.
There was a life-saving soft knock on the door and, after Flitz's permission, someone came in.
A beautiful long-haired blonde in the maid uniform performed a low curtsey, her two braids nearly touching the floor. The girl's features were graceful, her forms were beyond reproach, especially her thin waist highlighted by a snow-white corset. A cute hairpin glistened in her hair.
The pretty girl looked at Kyon with interest. She looked about 20 and was 175 cm (5.7ft) tall. In spite of her great looks, she was rather a mousey little thing.
The maid sighed and focused all her attention on the old man:
«What can I do for you, sir?»
«Marina, take the boy to one of the vacant rooms in the hotel and bring him dinner. Then come over to my place.» - Flitz grinned lasciviously and winked at the girl. Marina squirmed.
A chill ran down Kyon's spine when he understood what Flitz meant: {Poor thing! I can't believe it... Oh gods, is he going to do that to this pretty one...? The world is unfair...} - His heart sank. He felt sorry for the innocent lamb who was sent as a sacrifice to the old wolf.
Marina did another curtsy, revealing her deep cleavage. Kyon noticed with disgust the lustful veil overcasting Flitz's eyes.
The girl with braids stood up and rustled in a colorless voice:
«Follow me, sir.»
Kyon would have gladly hired her for himself in the simulation of the past world. Her manners, her look, her intonation… She was pretty and knew how to deal with gentlemen. (She'd never throw stones in glass houses.)
Flitz took a malicious pleasure in reminding the boy:
«Don't even think about trying to escape, Kyon! Your balls are hanging by a thread! Ha-ha-he!»
Kyon silently went out with Marina. {What was that? What is this place?} - so many questions and not a single answer. The mere thought about what the pretty blonde would have to go through at night made him want to throw up. However, the girl was doing fine, behaving like a saint.
The wind outside smelled of the sea and the mountains at once.
The beautiful maid led Kyon to a two-story building with lots of rooms. She opened the door, gesturing for him to enter first. She waited for a while till he made himself comfortable and left, promising to come back soon.
Fifteen minutes later, a hot meal was on the table.
Kyon chowed down on his dinner at once.
Meanwhile, Marina sat nearby, humble, looking at the window, without uttering a single word, waiting for him to finish his dinner and take the tray to the kitchen. Her presence alone created an aura of peace and quiet. She was the embodiment of the belief regarding the good wife, the hearth-keeper.
Kyon deliberately left a bit of meat stew on the plate and asked quietly, trying not to startle the girl:
«Your name is Marina, isn't it?»
She gave a start and turned around, getting lost for a moment in his deep attentive eyes:
«It is. Why?»
Kyon did not start this conversation to have small talk. He had always looked for ways to make his life simple, help him achieve something more, reach any goal.
Looking for a hook, he said in a confidential tone:
«There's depression and fear in your eyes. Is Mr. Flitz the reason? Tell me. I can keep a secret.»
The girl hesitated but nodded.
«How long have you been his maid?»
«For about five years.»
Kyon winced. Apparently, she had been keeping the bed warm for the old fart since her young years and even at that time he wasn't young anymore!
«It's my first day on the estate. I don't know how things work around here. I am from the mine. Mr. Flitz spotted me by chance, and now I am going to be lady Juno's slave.»
Marina's eyes widened in fear:
«Juno... Lady Juno is a high-status person. Mr. Flitz has forbidden me to walk near her mansion…»
«I've heard about her. I guess I should be grateful to Flitz, only... I don't like the way he looks at you.»
Marina pursed her lips and stared wistfully at the floor.
Kyon carefully lifted her chin and whispered:
«You know... I want to help you…»
Marina had been avoiding looking at Kyon, but she couldn't take her eyes off him after those words.
«I found out that Mr. Flitz has one weakness, a lever you can manipulate him with as you please. He is absolutely powerless over it. It's an unsanctioned device... Perfect strings for a puppet.»
His enchanting, mysterious voice sent shivers down the maid's spine but the words... their meaning struck her like lightning. She clung to Kyon's arm, her thin fingers grasping his sleeve. She nearly demanded:
«What weakness are you talking about?!»
Kyon did not expect such enthusiasm from her. The poor girl must have been sick and tired of being Flitz's doormat. It was hard not to take advantage of her naivety.
He gave her a heart-melting smile and gently touched her wrist:
«Marina, there's something I need to tell you, but the timing is not right. I have to double-check something... It won't take long. By the way, I was wondering if you could help me with something?»
His touch, his eyes, his voice fascinated her, attracted all her attention like a magnet. She could not refuse him even if she wanted to.
«Tell me what you want me to do. Is it something serious?»
«No, it's not a big deal, just a little something. Do you have a sound transmitter so that we could be in contact?»
«I guess so… There must be one, I'll bring it tomorrow. How can I help you?» - The girl's curiosity had been piqued.
«I'm sorry but I can't tell you anything until tomorrow night, maybe a little earlier. I'll call you, okay? But don't get any ideas. I'll tell you all about Flitz's weakness even if you don't bring the sound transmitter.»
Marina nodded a little embarrassed and softly whispered his name:
«Kyon... It's alright. I would help you anyway because you're... so... Thank you for your concern. I'm very pleased to be with someone like you... I mean to talk with you!» - Marina hastened to add, blushing like a child. A mesmerizing smile played in the corners of her mouth.
Kyon's heart skipped a beat. It turned out he was bloody adorable. Five minutes of conversation and he became "so..." Yet, he was like a brother to her. The age difference did matter, after all.
They shook their hands and said goodbye.
«Good night.» - She purred and left Kyon alone.