A blood red letter had somehow been placed on Jiro's bed. The sort of letter that no one ever wanted to receive.
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkW80J0ikgR
The seal of Eclipse-Verbrechersyndikat – a sixteen-pointed star (✺) in black – used to embellish the envelope only confirmed that this was one of those letters.
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4TOriwIugr
Jiro's face contorted into a mask of worry as he slowly read through the letter.
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuYuHjlTQoH
To Gur Khan Jiro Estrin of the Dominion,
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHv0CtoYJCT
I regret having to send this. However, it would appear to be necessary. In case whatever half that is reading this has someone not realised who this is from, I am Großfürst Felix Ålrune Brottslight of the Eclipse-Verbrechersyndikat. You were given the chance to do as you told on your own, and refused so now I have an ultimatum for you: If you do not kill Khagan Xantè within the next five days, then we shall give every newspaper and every radio station information on exactly the sort of person....or persons that shall inherit the Estrin Dominion. I will be travelling to Estrin Island to meet Prefect Ellanor Etatè to check on your progress; expect to hear from her soon.
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBh37bh3QF7
Brottslight, Großfürst of Eclipse-Verbrechersyndikat.
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFoJZuKBMJk
Jiro recoiled from the letter as if it was poisoned – which, considering its contents, was not far from the truth – and backed away trembling.
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq3Mqn89QKw
His wife, Jennifer, knocked at the door three times in quick succession – a question tthat he had devised so that she could avoid his brother, Temji, due to her fear of him – and peeked her head round the door playfully.
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpffm3gFzsk
Jiro was not in the mood for such games, and it must have shown. “Come in then.” He said sadly.
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMNDqKJkA9Z
“Is everything alright?” She asked with visible concern.
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtu1GbXAZE2
“I am being blackmailed, first by your handmaiden, and now by a crime syndicate acting on her behalf. What in Empyrea could she have offered Eclipse-Verbrechersyndikat?” Jiro mused.
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVAhNLiC29Z
“An empty threat; the Tumen Elite Guard will stop a band of criminals.” She told him despite not being totally convinced herself.
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOFZq0Kc1Wd
“You lie to me. They all do. She wants me to kill Xantè. THEY want me to kill my father.” Jiro said bitterly. He had not stopped trembling.
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNiOUqpuwDY
“I may not be able to help you..” She said while reading the letter herself, “But is it really that bad if they leak thy..... condition?”
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzGj2mDHfma
Jiro's eyes widened. He had become paler in a matter of seconds.
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3FuCqEobGC
“This is your fault, woman! You failed to keep a bloody Eastern handmaiden from blackmailing Jiro into doing something he lacks the spine to even think of! Must I do everything?” The other personality snarled at her. Jürgen was far more difficult to lie to than Jiro, and he knew that she meant seeking help to get rid of him.
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzS69DOR8z9
“Get rid of me, and our court will eat him alive. He needs me to make the tough choices, to stop us from being used as a doormat! OUR NAME IS NOT WELCOME, NOW, IS IT?” Jürgen continued.
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoAlr1QZeqx
“Enough of this. I do not wish to speak to anyone else.”
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo1imqRJZvt
The colour rushed back into his face. He looked more ashamed than angry all of a sudden.
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq5LUhL5LqZ
“I-I am sorry, Jen. Now you know...about him I tried to hide Jürgen from you to protect you.”
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFDkhG6I0Sw
Jennifer raised an eyebrow at her husband. “He is right, though. Repressing that side of thou is unhealthy and is probably the reason that he exists in the first place. Seeking treatment will only end in disaster, so make peace with it.”
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKA0muaMnnO
“Make...peace? So that he can make me do horrible things?”
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu6kGEhHWTm
His wife snorted at this, annoyed. “Hardly. Have thou ever heard of the Mutt and Jeff technique?”
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡENMSDmrNn6
“Good cop, bad cop. Why is that relevant.”
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqH6rYBlb01
“Because both sides would make an excellent ruler when working in tandem. You, Jiro, can make the administration choicecheck to keep people content. But Jürgen is needed for military matters, as well as keeping everyone in check.”
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5bMkpiYAvC
“That seems like a dangerous game, Jennifer.”
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC7EvL5jLqc
“The alternative is worse. It is called, making thou jump from thy balcony, would that be a better game for the two sides to engage in?”
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9AjJuMrYFw
“Why are you always right?”
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZTk1JQ9Urf
“The Estrinite forgets his wife is magnificent.”
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgzAIGoXqJu
“Ugh...Narcissians.” He muttered.
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6da5DTOXRN
Jennifer giggled and left Jiro alone with the letter, and with him.
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsolNKqEKUw
209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDIAqcMlXpy
