A Story From The Past

Chapter 12

Instead of being intimidated by Selina's threat, this person just casually crosses his arms on top of his stomach and smiles at her.

"La petite fille, you should have known better about him instead of me. Isn't that how it's supposed to be between family?" he teases.

'I need to be careful; his carefree personality might be a bait to lower my guard. After all, he is one of the Black Circle's elders.

"How rude of you to go all quiet as someone who has initiated this conversation. Like I said, if you have nothing to discuss, let me excuse myself."

"STAY WHERE YOU ARE OR I WILL BREAK YOUR LEGS!"

Selina's shout succeeded in halting this person, who had already turned himself away and ignored Selina’s presence. He laughs at such an old-fashioned threat from a young lady like the one in front of him.

"Pardonne moi, la petite fille! It has been so long since I heard someone threaten to break my legs. Ho-ho, I even shed a little tear from the joke. An elder of Black Circle being targeted: What else will you call it, if it is not a joke." He added before continuing to step away from Selina. 

"W-WAIT!"

Once again, Selina is shouting at him, but this second shout contains a desperate tone to it.

"Gary Leonard Hayes, he, I mean my father was killed in the car accident we had ten years ago. I am able to survive, but I never know who he is or how my father's life was in the past before he owned a family."

"Why should I spare my time for you? Moreover, there is nothing to gain from your request. This is the last warning; I kindly suggest you walk off from this illogical feat and hide yourself."

"I will…" strong hesitation has made Selina stop talking. She knows that another threat will not end with the person in front of her just walking away in peace.

"You what?"

"I will tell you the location of Axel Brainer in exchange for my father's past. I believe my offer has similar value to the request I made, don’t you agree with me elder?"

The elder didn't give his response to Selina's counter offer. The smile from the elder's facial expression and his carefree personality has disappeared.

"La petite fille, is that a threat?"

This one question he asks, success giving Selina a shiver down her spine. Unlike Raisen, she could feel the killing intent and fear coming from the man that used to look harmful a moment ago.

"If you choose to eliminate me here, then I suppose you could think of my offer that way. However, if you have no plan to do so, my offer will simply be to share the location of Axel Brainer's location."

"How do you know about Axel Brainer and his location?" the elder asks.

"Not only his location, but I also know that you are close with the Brainer family." Selina replied.

Slowly, his murderous intent fades and is replaced by raucous laughter. "Merde! Like father, like daughter, you are both so cunning in terms of making an unrefusable offer."

"And what is your answer, elder?"

"Follow me, this is no place to talk about your father." He makes a gesture for Selina, inviting her to stand closer to him. "You do not have to worry mademoiselle, I will not do something bad to my friend's daughter, let alone killing harming you."

'Should I accept his invitation or turn his down.'

Selina didn't foresee this invitation coming from an elder from Black Circle, not to mention his statement about being her father's friend, adding another distrust feeling in her mind.

"Let me introduce myself first. My name is Jean Merriel, an honorable Frenchman and also one of your father's friends. The nickname "Joan" is an alias for my title as one of the elders of Black Circle. I'm hoping that this little secret of mine demonstrates my good intentions. Now please introduce your name, mademoiselle Hayes."

"Selina. Selina Maya Hayes, that is my name elder Joan and I am expecting a satisfying answer to my question from you."   

"Pleasure to meet another member of Hayes family. Now shall we switch to another place that is more comfortable to talk?"

Selina nods her head a little as a gesture to agree with his suggestion. Nevertheless, she is still paying attention to keeping the gaps between them.

Joan isn't bothered by how Selina is still on her guard. He understands the choices she has made, not to mention that an elder of an organization that is aiming for her life has claimed to be his late father's friend.

"Very well, I will take the lead to our destination this time. Try not to be left behind, because I walk really fast." Joan ends his talk with a giggle.

'Surely, he is not hinting of testing me, right?'

Joan, who is already walking away, yells, "If you think I am testing you, Miss Hayes, you are totally wrong, just like your father back then."

"Where are we going?" Selina asks.

Joan sighs to her impatient question, "The problem with the younger generation is that they have no patience like yourself. Wait for a moment and soon you will know our destination."

Joan's words manage to keep Selina silent for a moment before they arrive at a small restaurant in the west area of Norland City. The loud chatters from another customer overlapping with the waiters' voices are giving a discomfort feeling into Selina's ears.

"Elder, I don't think coming to this place is the right decision, especially when I expect to hear many things that are important to me."

"I am curious to know the reason for your disagreement mademoiselle. Is the place not to your liking?"

"There were too many noises, and I could barely hear what you said."

Before Joan could give his response, a waitress comes interfering with their conversation, she passes the menu on the table and is ready to write down the order.

"May I take your order, customers?"

"Water, just water, for now, Miss. The two of us will order the food a bit later because there is a friend for whom we have to wait."

"I'm sorry but I have to tell you that we have a five minutes maximum policy for not ordering something. Order something or get the hell outta here."

On the other hand, Joan's index finger is busy scanning the menu up and down. He has no interest in the quarrel that might happen in front of him.

"Mademoiselle Amanda, I want to order one pumpkin pie, please. Oh, also one cup of warm lemon tea if possible. Merci."

The waitress writes his order really fast and glares at Selina again. "Your order Miss?"

"Fine!" Selina replied with an upset voice.

Unlike Joan, Selina wastes minimum effort and pointed out the last meal on the bottom of the menu.

"Here, I order a tomato soup with wheat bread and hot tea as the complement."

While retaking the menu from their table this waitress is mumbling something to Joan, "At first glance, I've been assuming that she is your kid Joan, but thanks to that order I recognize her right away. She is that man's daughter, isn't she? The one with similar peculiar. Only one person chose to order tomato soup here, given how they taste and that person came with you a couple of years ago."

Joan's smile fills in the question she has asked. The waitress didn't ask for more explanation and returned to her station. A look of surprise is visible on Selina’s face who accidentally hears the mumbling.

"Elder Joan, did my father used to come here?" Selina asks Joan who is still smiling.

"Yes, he used to come here often and also was the one who introduced this place to me. The way you are looking at this place has reminded my very first-time visit with your father."

"He never takes me to this kind of place, not even when mother was still with us."

"Protection," Joan replied swiftly to Selina who started to feel disappointed. "It is to keep you from the possible threat and danger that might come."

She's biting her lips while her eyes almost pop out. "And he missed so many chances to spend the precious time with his family. Has the thought of leaving Black Circle never crossed his mind?"

"Mon chéri, I can understand your grievance however, you have to know that mon ami Gary did try to leave Black Circle, twice in fact. The first time was when your mother was gone and the second time was before that incident ten years ago."

Joan's explanation has melted the rage that is ready to explode within Selina. Her greyish eyes are shining, displaying the interest to listen more regarding her father.

"Could you tell me my father's origin? Or at least how he started to associate himself with the Black Circle."

'Strange, Selina should have learned about Gary's past by now through the book he had left at the safe house. Yet she is interested in listening to the same thing from another person. Could it be possible that she wishes to match what was written on there, or she wants a comparison from another perspective?'

"Truly unfortunate, but I met Gary Hayes while he was already part of Black Circle, we are competing to eliminate the same target to be more precise."

Upon hearing this Selina leans back and starts to cross her arms, she looks outside to see the scenery.

"It's indeed truly unfortunate to compete with my father over the same target list. Surely, you have admitted your defeat back then?"

"Ho-ho-ho, non-mademoiselle! I came out victorious in that little competition, while your father was pouting behind me."

Selina's cheeks are a bit distend, adjusting to her mouth that bends a little. "In my opinion father let you win on purpose because I believe he could eliminate the same targets whenever he wants to."

Instead of delivering his argument to defend himself, some loud laughter was heard coming from this French man.