The Blinding Lights

Then, in a move that caught both assassins off guard, Sandatsu bowed slightly. "I want to learn from you, Desolator."

Desolator studied Sandatsu. So many were clamoring for the Five to kill him. ‘He’s not a boy, he’s a monster,’ was a common refrain. Sam didn’t see a monster. He just saw an ignorant boy. A boy who’d flown off the handle and now that he’d had a moment, didn’t know what to do. Sam was reminded of himself when The Master took advantage of him.

Desolator agreed they boy was ignorant. He glanced down at Sandatsu’s proposed ‘gift’ for Midas—the eye and arm of one of Japan’s top heroes, Majestic. Midas would appreciate that gift… if it was attached to something. If it were presented outright it could only be seen as an insult.

Desolator glanced at Maddox—the two locked eyes. Maddox sighed. She left the room without a word.

Sandatsu still bowed, didn’t react as the door closed behind Maddox.

“Lift your head,” Desolator ordered.

Sandatsu kept his head bowed, “Do you agree--”

“Whether I do or not doesn’t matter. You’re the leader of an organization. Your every action reflects that organization. NEVER appear subordinate to anyone. Lift your head.”

Sandatsu furrowed his brow. “But if you’re to be my teacher--”

“You will call me your advisor, not your teacher. I cannot be called your teacher.”

Sandatsu sat up, and even sitting he towered over Desolator. A lesser man would’ve been intimidated by the size difference alone. A lesser man wouldn’t see the expression on the boy’s face. Sandatsu was confused.

“What’s the difference?”

“Perception. Appearances matter in the Underworld.” Desolator pointed at Sandatsu’s proposed gift to Midas. “As an example: How did you intend to present this?”

Sandatsu frowned. “As a gift of course.”

“That is a threat.”

“Eh?”

“Say you had an enemy that you had failed to kill. I kill him easily. I toss his head at your feet. How would you see that?”

Sandatsu’s eyes widened in understanding. “An insult, you’re calling me weak.”

“Correct.”

“So… I shouldn’t bring this to Midas?”

“Offer it as payment.”

“For?”

“What relationship do you want from Midas?”

Sandatsu shrugged. “I just want to make sure the Night Parade and the Wild Hunt get along. Two of my members see one of their members as a sister and I’d hate to have them kill her.”

“A business arrangement then?”

“Sure.”

“Then pay for something small. Ask to purchase a safehouse and offer Majestic’s eye and arm as payment. He’ll gladly accept that.”

“Isn’t that still a threat?”

“No, for two reasons. First, you show you think highly of the Parade’s assets. Second, it shows you will purchase from them rather than seize. Those things together will allow Midas to accept your gift without losing face.”

“… this feels needlessly complicated.”

“It is.”

“Why wouldn’t Midas just accept it as a gift? Surely he’d know I don’t mean it as an insult.”

“Perhaps he would know, but he’d be handing others the pretense that he let an insult pass unchallenged.”

“Others!” Sandatsu snapped his fingers. “It’s not just about how I see him, or how he sees me, it’s everyone else!”

Desolator nodded. “It’s best to think of the Underworld as a stage surrounded by blinding lights. Every villain conducts business on this stage. But you can’t see the crowd. For all you know, you could be alone shouting in the darkness like a madman, or the entire world could be watching you with rapt attention. If you set yourself at a disadvantage in your dealings--”

“The crowd would see you as weak.” Sandatsu finished. Desolator smiled. The boy understood.

“And they will act as if that perception were true. It is safer, therefore, to pretend that the eyes of the world are upon you every night.”

“Is that why you won’t let me call you my teacher?”

“Yes. I may be a capable assassin, but I’m no Disaster. You cannot allow anyone to think you’ve subordinated yourself to me. You’d look weak.”

“Then the flies swarm.” Desolator nodded. Sandatsu smiled. “But what if that’s what I want?”

“Then by all means.” Desolator shrugged, “but you’d doom yourself to a busy few years. It takes a lot to convince people that they were tricked. We are a prideful species.”

“Hrm…” Sandatsu considered his words. “This has been… educational. Can I…” Sandatsu chose his words carefully. “Consult with you again?”

“This session is free, but for future consultations, we’ll have to work out a payment system.”

“I already told you, whatever you want--”

“I refuse. That’s too vague and my services aren’t worth ‘anything I desire.’”

“I think that’s for me to--”

“Sandatsu, we’re on the stage right now.”

Sandatsu’s eyes widened, he looked around as if to search for the audience. He could see none of course, as far as they knew, they were alone in this room. But that didn’t mean they were alone. It didn’t mean that word wouldn’t get out that Sandatsu valued Desolator’s advice so much that he’d give anything for it. It didn’t mean they weren’t being watched. Sandatsu could almost feel the heat from those blinding lights surrounding their stage.

Sandatsu smiled. “All right, let’s figure something out.”