Chapter Text
Black Market.
Of course, it's a familiar place for mafias in all over the world. Drugs, guns, weapons, even human slaves, anything that illegal by laws are sold there.
As the mafia family that holds one of the biggest gun supplier chain in the market, it's common to see Arseni's man around the market. What's make it uncommon that today the head of the family himself appear in the market with his wife.
"Honey, you know that i hate to be here," said the matriach softly. "If not because the jewelry dealer can't bring the necklace out, i will never bring myself here."
"I know, love. I'm sorry, okay?" Vassili give her a slight smile. "Next time, we will buy jewelry from other place."
Natlada just nods, not wanting to argue her husband any further. They walk across the market until they pass a slave trader near their destination.
"Since when they sold slave here?" ask the head of the family to one of the bodyguard, his expression shows that he annoyed by that place.
All the family member know well that the patriach hate human slavery more than anything, even of he is the head family of one of the ruthless mafia families that rule in Russia.
"Actually Master, they already here since the beginning. But they only open in the evening, that's why master never meet them before," said one of the bodyguard.
"Is it really necessary to put those poor souls in those iron cage?" Natlada felt pity for those people, she never understand the need of slavery. After all, the matriach is also known for her soft heart. "And also ... why that poor boy's cage have smaller gaps than the others?"
Vassili look at the cage that pointed by his wife. She was right, the bar gaps are two times narrow than other cage. Even cats can't pass through them.
"I don't know, and i don't like that either," said Vasilli.
"Can we go there, love? The jewelry can wait, but i need to see that poor boy first."
Vassili can never said no to his wife, and everyone knows that. Without any hesitation, he agreed to her request.
"Good evening, it's a honor for me to meet the head family of the Arseni family," greet the trader when they arrived at his place. "These are the finest boy you can get for today, Master. Choose anything you like, i can guarantee that you won't disappointed with their works."
"That boy, why he need such cage?" ask Vasilli. "I noticed that his are different than the others."
"You have a good eye, M'lord. Indeed, the boy is really special. He's a really good boy, and his works are excellent," said the trader with proud smile. "He already worked for three families before, so you can tell his experiences are the best."
"If he's that good, why you need a special place for him?" Vassili ask again, still not satisfied with the trader answer.
"At first, i also didn't believe this, M'lord," said the trader. "But that boy, he's special case. I don't know what is him to be exact, but he's definitely not human. He can turn into a cat, that's why we need such cage only for him."
"A cat? How's that even possible?" Natlada asked, not believe what the trader has said.
"I swear in the name of my family, this is also my first reaction when my grand father told me this. But, let me show to you that my words are true." The trader gave a gesture to his men to bring the boy over.
The boy physics are similar to ordinary teenage boy, he's also definitely an Asian by his face. He has skinny body, black hair, and also dark brown eyes. There's no sign of him can turn into another creature.
"Show to them, Mok." The trader ordered the boy, which the boy look at him for a second before finally nods.
The transformation was not instant and magical like in the books, but slow and steady. All the present Arseni members mesmerised by the boy ability, especially Natlada.
It took him two minutes to completed the transformation. He looks like ordinary domestic cat, with soft black fur and clear dark brown eyes. His clothes lay on the ground, not shrinking with him.
"Honey ... he's perfect," Natlada whisper to her husband, her eyes sparkling with admiration. "He'll be the perfect companion for Kian and Rome."
Vassili nods, he understand her wife very well. "How old is he? You said that he already here since your grand father."
"His age counts differently than any human, M'lord. I don't know for sure, but his record in my grand father note is already sixty years. Despite his old age, he's still a teenager by his physics. Believe me, his face still the same for every ten years."
Vassili nods before looks back at the cat. "Can you transform back, young man?"
"Ah, maybe before that, you can close your eyes, M'lady," said the trader.
Natlada nods before close her own eyes, and the young boy start to transform back. The matriach open her eyes after her husband told her that the transformation completed.
"Young man, how old are you to be exact?" Vassili ask the boy directly, the boy look at him.
"I'm 160 years old, Sir. But my people grow ten times slower than humans, so i'm still 16 in ordinary human age," said the boy. His voice steady, but clearly sounds like a normal teenager.
The patriach nods, satisfied with the answer. "You said he was worked for three families before, can you tell me who are they?"
"He was bought by rich families before, but never mafias. All of them are business tycoon. The first family sold him back here because their last daughter allergic to cats, the second because their business went bankcrupt, and the last is simply because they don't like him anymore," said the trader. "Don't ask me why they don't like this obedient boy, they are just weird indeed."
"How much do you want for him?"
The trader eyes sparks with joy, he can already smells that he going home with tons of money tonight. "For this perfect boy? The lowest i can go is four billions and two hundreds millions rubels."
"And the others?"
The trader give Vassili a confused look. "The others? They are cheap, the highest among them are just two billions rubels, M'lord."
"I take them all," said Vassili without hesitation, then he looks to his right hand. "Matvey, prepare the checks for him, just give him how many he wants as long it's necessary."
"Sure, Master. I will handle this and also their legal documents," said Matvey, Vassili's right hand. The patriach nods before looks to his wife.
"Do you still want to see the necklace or not, my love? I can cancel the meeting with the dealer anytime." The patriach ask with soft tone, and Natlada gave him a nod as an answer.
"Make sure those documents already finished when i come back," said Vassili before left the slave trader with his wife and some of his men.
Mok, the young man watch them left the place. He begin to questioning about the man who just bought him. Why a mafia family need much of slave like him? Are their house more bigger than his houses before so they need more people to do the chores? Or because they simply just need more human shield to protect the family?
30 minutes passed when the patriach back, which his right hand already holds a case of information documents of the slaves. For the slaves, they chained together with long iron chain on their hands.
Mok question became a lot bigger when the Arseni men escort them to the vehicle, they don't receive any harsh action from those guards. What has happened? Aren't they are theirs now? Why they don't act like other family do?
"I'm sure some of you must be confused, why i bought all of you," the patriach said while look at the young men, and then he looks to his guards. "But before that, unlock them all."
This isn't normal, Mok knows that. Based on his past experiences, there's no way they would unlock the chains. No one wants their slaves run away, especially when they just bought them.
"Arseni is a mafia family, i'm sure you all aware of this information. But, we can proudly say that we never support human trafficking. Other families may have lot of slaves in their house hold, but not for Arseni."
Mok have lot of doubt hears the patriach words, since it's feels too good to be true.
"You all now free to go, back to your family or come with us and work for Arseni. It's free for you to choose."
All the young boys look at the head of the family, shocks by the news. One of them raise his hand, trembling since it's the first time that they can question their master.
"If ... we go back to our homes ... what will happen after that? And if ... we choose to stay ... what will we get?"
Natlada give the poor boy her sweet and gentle smile. "If you choose to go home, we will send one of our guard to accompany you until you reunite with your family. All accomodations will be fully paid by Arseni."
The matriach looks to their faces, her gentle smile still there. "And if you choose to stay and work for Arseni, we guarantee that all our workers are paid fairly, your own room, three meals per day, a proper education and training, and freedom to choose which departement for work based on your passion."
"Those who want to go home, raise your hands," ask Matvey. At first, none of them raise their hand. But after couple of seconds, they start to raise their hands.
Six person in total.
Matvey nods before ask them to separate themself from the others, so he can start to handle their departure and documents.
And for the four other people, the matriach herself that ask the boys. From their names to their passions, she ask them all with wide smile. Natlada is definitely a flower that somehow can survive in the world of hungry wolfs.
Until Mok's turn arrived.
"Hello Mok, how are you?"
Mok felt paralyzed for three seconds before he nods, he never hear such question before. Well, atleast since he became a slave. "I'm good, Ma'am."
"Are you really want to come with us, Mok?" Natlada asked. "I know i do like you a lot since the beginning, but i want you to know that you can choose by your own."
Mok nods. "I'm sure, Ma'am. My clan are gone, they tried to protect our land before the local government decided to hunt all of the remaining descedant."
"Oh my," Natlada look at him with disbelieve looks. "Where are you come from, Mok? And when that happened?"
"I'm Thai, Ma'am. My clan are gone sixty years ago, when i'm still hundred years old. I believe some of them survived, but not my family. I don't have anyone left." Mok answered without hesitation, he saw his family dead before those people took and enslave him.
"Oh my, i'm also Thai!" Natlada exclaimed in Thai. It's already been years since she meets another Thais.
"Glad to hear that, Ma'am," Mok answered politely in Thai, not sure how to react.
"Are you prefer any place in Arseni, Mok? Or you fine with anything?"
Mok shook his head. "Anything is fine, Ma'am. I'm a fast learner."
"Good. I need a guard, not for me but my oldest son. I need you as his confidant, i'm sure you can get along with Kian."
Mok just nods, he never got treated like this in the past sixty years. Natlada felt like the first sunlight of spring after a endless winter.
"It's okay, Mok. Now you have Arseni as your family," Natlada gives him her most warmth smile. "Welcome to Arseni, Mok. We Will take care of you."
"Nice to meet you, Ma'am. Thank you for ... take care of me and my friends."