Free Web NovelChapter 45: Day to make friends
During the week that followed, Ryan, as was already expected, began learning how to manage the Manhattan Café. Something he needed to do with a certain urgency. After all, the Savant Mafia had been using this café for a long time as an information-gathering hub, espionage in broader terms. As well as, of course, to launder money.
However, unlike what was expected, Ryan did not begin by learning how to be a spy or much less how to deal with the piles upon piles of documents related to the café. But rather with the basics.
John insisted on teaching him everything, from cleaning the place to how to prepare coffee and serve customers. Each of these steps made him look like a rookie intern, which caused some of the regulars to look at him with a certain fondness.
Nobody there was going to say that Ryan was actually the owner of the café. It simply seemed far too absurd. ƒгeewebnovёl.com
All of that preparation took precisely one week. After all, Ryan learned fast and his teacher was also one of the best in the world. In little time he had mastered the world of coffee, at least well enough to serve as a regular barista.
In the same way, he learned the basics of how to handle the clientele. From the most common to the troublemakers. The latter had been particularly easy to deal with, after all the Voice of Intimidation had its uses.
It was good to frighten the bullies, or so Ryan thought. Likewise, he began to rapidly evolve in what he was capable of doing. The roar of his Voice grew ever louder, making it an increasingly valuable resource.
At the end of the period.
On a slow day, close to three in the afternoon. As had been forewarned. The Manhattan Café closed. Having been reserved for the following hours by a select group of individuals from the Elite.
"Are you ready?" John asked, straightening his own collar.
"Of course, it is just doing the same as always, right?" Ryan said, doing the same. The barista uniform suited him well. As for the bandages, they had lessened and many of them were hidden beneath loose clothing. Only part of the bandage on his neck and left eye were visible.
Overall, he still looked battered.
But at least it was possible to disguise it a little.
"Right." John said. "Even so, Aron wanted more than just a servant. And that I regret. I did not teach you how to be an effective spy." Ryan shrugged.
"That is where you are mistaken. He did not want a spy for today." Ryan sighed. "He will find out what happens in that private room one way or another... His central concern is my evolution. The more I evolve, the closer the bonds between master and disciple become, just as the Central and Rebel Factions reunite once again. Aron wants to avoid further friction and that is the way he found, by helping me."
Ryan then said. "The focus here is to make new friends and learn new Voices, and if there is any time left, to spy. So, it’s better to just be myself today and try to make some of those friends." Ryan looked John in the eye. "I think I know how to make friends."
"I hope so, young master." John took a deep breath, glancing at the watch, not that he needed to. He simply did it out of habit. Soon the bell struck above the city’s cathedral, signaling the end and the beginning of yet another cycle.
John and Ryan stood facing the door with silver trays in hand, waiting patiently in silence. And without much of a wait, the door handle turned and a man dressed in dark military green stepped into the café with a piercing and judging gaze, scanning the surrounding environment.
Ryan lost himself for a moment in the man’s decorations, as well as his rank.
’He certainly has some kind of aura...’ Ryan thought with admiration. But a strange feeling grew in Ryan’s chest, making him furrow his brow. He could not name that feeling. ’But... something is wrong... very wrong.’ fгeewebnovёl.com
The door behind him closed automatically, while his son remained in the shadow of his father. A young man with a military haircut, stocky. Simply identical to his father, only without all the many military glories.
Ryan observed in silence as the young man’s gaze seemed to tremble when it landed on his. That feeling only grew and became more obvious. Something wrong was happening. But he did not know what it was.
"Age has caught up with you, John?" The Major asked, glancing at John and then staring intently at Ryan. "I never imagined you would accept an assistant. I thought that was not your way of doing things. That a job well done was one done by your own hands. And I agreed with that."
John simply observed in silence before nodding. "People change." He said without giving many answers, at which the Major looked again at him and then at Ryan once more. Ryan nonchalantly stared back at him, without any fear. For some reason that made the Major clench his teeth, dissatisfied.
"Has he arrived yet?" The Major asked. "Or is he going to make me wait for god knows how long to seem important? Honestly, these small-dick habits are always a surprise."
John simply snorted, holding back a laugh. "He has not arrived yet, but come. I will guide you to the private room and keep you company until then, if you wish."
"Of course, I would love to have a good old chat with good old John." The Major said, letting him lead the way.
Both soon disappeared into a room down the hall, at which Ryan turned to the young man left behind. He cleared his throat before saying: "My name is Ryan. I will be at your service today. For now, please follow me." Ryan said, to which the young man nodded.
Ryan, without haste, guided him to a pre-set table and offered him his seat, where he promptly sat down. The table was obviously one of Ryan’s mind games. Even though nobody had taught him anything about espionage, he figured he could create a test to uncover more of a person’s personality based on a lavish table.
Their reaction to it would tell him everything he needed to know.
The young man at the table seemed a little inert, but it was at that point that he suddenly jolted awake. It seemed as though only now he realized where he was and what he was doing. "My God!" He exclaimed, seeing the table before him.
Parma ham, brie cheese and sweet honey. Cakes, biscuits, various types of cheeses and cold cuts. Butters, eggs. Breads of every possible variety. All the finest of the finest, with spectacular freshness.
Of course, Ryan saw this through different eyes.
Sweet, salty, bitter, sour, umami. All five types of taste a human being could experience. When confronted with a table with so many types of flavors and textures, how would you react?
"This is too much!" The young man exclaimed. "Pardon? Are we expecting someone else? A group of around ten people, I should have dressed better?!" He began to panic. "My God! What do I do now?"
"No," Ryan said naturally. "It is all just for you."
"For me?" The young man said. "I do not eat more than eggs and bread in the morning, at most some ham. This is excessive! I cannot be so indulgent!" He stared at the pile of sweets. "And honestly, this makes me feel like throwing up. So much sweet..."
Ryan smiled, watching his personality unfold rapidly, but most importantly: ’Aversion to sweets and fatigue. Possibly trains a lot.’
"That is fine, just do not eat it. We will find some way to deal with it afterwards." Ryan said, turning his back. "In the meantime, I will prepare your coffee. Please wait a moment."
"Coffee?" The young man furrowed his brow. "But I did not order any coffee. Or did I?" He looked around in confusion. He seemed quite lost.
"No, you did not." Ryan said with a smile. "But it is quite obvious what you need." He went to the counter and began preparing unhurriedly. The young man watched him with curiosity for a while then he just shrugged and prepared bread with ham and scrambled eggs, along with some cream cheese. He had to admit he liked all that luxury, even if it was something to be done only once.
"Here you go." Ryan placed the cup on the table. "A double espresso. See how you feel." The young man looked at the cup for a few moments in suspense before grabbing it and bringing it to his lips. The coffee had a rather bitter taste, which for many was something unpleasant, but for him it was quite agreeable. After all, some people had such arduous lives that bitterness became the sweetest thing of all.
"Very good, really." The young man said. "Ah, and my name is Brayan. It is a pleasure." Ryan nodded.
"The pleasure will always be mine." Ryan leaned against the table, dropping the attendant facade. "That will give you plenty of energy for your training."
"Well observed." The young man said, staring at the cup. "But do you say that because I am my father’s son, or because I look tired?" Ryan laughed softly.
"With a brute like that as a father, the answer is obvious." Ryan said. "It cannot be easy, I imagine."
"You are right once again, damn it! I wish I had been born with a mind as sharp as yours!" He complained, leaning back in his chair. "Instead, I was born with muscles and only muscles. Although..." He studied Ryan a little more.
"It seems that is what you were recently lacking." He looked at Ryan’s bandages as well as the many marks along his body. "Have you got a story to tell? I would love to hear it."
"Hmph." Ryan exhaled. "Nothing too major. I just got involved with the wrong person. It is the old story: a pretty girl smiled in my direction and I started going out with her. Turns out she already had a boyfriend and he was a gangster. When he found out, he and his crew ambushed me and this is the result."
Ryan exposed even more of the bandages.
Brayan calmly took that in. "How many were there?" Ryan laughed.
"How many hit me, or how many were standing around? Honestly, I lost count." Brayan took another sip of coffee, thinking deeply.
"Did you fight back?"
"Yes."
Brayan then nodded with conviction."Then you did nothing wrong and were a real man until the very end." He said with admiration. "You have my respect, even though..."
He looked Ryan in the eyes. "That is precisely why one should not get close to women. They are the downfall of good men. Take the advice of your elders and learn from this mistake. Leave thinking about them for when you are older and already a great man, one who radiates pride and respect to all around him."
Ryan laughed gently. "You are right. I will think more carefully next time. I would not normally act like this, but that woman was a sorceress. And she ended up getting the better of me." He then spotted a car pulling up to the café.
"Either way, enjoy your coffee." Ryan readied himself once more.
