In Giovanni's office, the three men had spent the last two hours designing what would probably be the most generous employee contract in their organization's history. Every benefit they added to the list was a way to compensate for the years of trauma Alleinad had suffered.
"Remember we'll use the new nameβI think it was Alejandro," Santos said, hunched over looking at the contract on the boss's desk.
"We need to supervise his first jobs," Marcus said, reviewing his notes. "To avoid emotional breakdowns or traumatic episodes."
Santos had shaken his head. "Actually, what he did at first was very strange. He looked uncomfortable smelling all that, but then he calmed down completely. And it never got weird again. He was too calm cleaning and mixing chemicals."
Giovanni had leaned back in his chair, processing this information. "Too calm?"
"Yeah," Santos continued. "He mixed acids and cleaners like he was a chef preparing a favorite recipe."
The three men had exchanged worried looks. Extreme calmness at crime scenes could be a sign of something deeper.
"Do you think the kid's a sociopath?" Marcus asked cautiously.
But they had all immediately dismissed that possibility. No sociopath would smile like Alleinad had, with that genuine innocence. No sociopath would get nervous about such small things as asking for fries to go.
"Let's call Jonathan again," Giovanni had decided. "We need more information."
An hour later, Jonathan Blackwood was again sitting across from Giovanni's desk, visibly more nervous than the previous time.
"Blackwood," Giovanni got straight to the point. "I need you to be completely honest. Does Alleinad have any mental problems? Any diagnosis? Previous therapy?"
Jonathan shifted uncomfortably. "Sir, he was never officially diagnosed with anything. The only thing he might have is paranoia and depression, but that would be understandable given the circumstances."
"Paranoia?" Marcus asked.
"After the kidnapping, he started distrusting everyone. He'd check locks multiple times, avoided crowds, never ate anything he hadn't prepared himself. And the depression... well, his family was all horrible and mistreated him."
Santos and Marcus couldn't even imagine it. Giovanni thought about it.
"Did he ever seek professional help?"
"I suggested it several times, but he insisted he was fine. He said medical books helped him more than any therapy."
After Jonathan left, the three men reached a unanimous conclusion: Alleinad needed professional psychiatric help. It was a miracle he'd maintained his sanity so far, but the accumulated trauma would eventually take its toll.
"We're adding psychiatric therapy to the contract," Giovanni had decided. "The best money can buy."
They had also remembered that the kid was living in a hotel without real security. It was an unacceptable situation for someone they'd just adopted as family.
"We'll give him an apartment," Marcus had said. "In the same building where Santos and I live. 24-hour security."
Since there wouldn't be cleaning cases every day, they had established a fixed salary of $40,000 monthly, plus what he'd earn from each crime scene. If he needed help selling found drugs, Santos would help him. Marcus would teach him administration and take advantage of his foundations in medicine and criminology.
It was more than a work contract. It was a complete rehabilitation plan.
Meanwhile, at the hotel...
I was sitting on my bed, mentally conversing with Loki about everything I'd seen that day.
"Honestly, I think they pity me," I told him. "The way they looked at me in the restaurant, like I was a wounded puppy."
πΎγOH! Each of them has a very complicated life!γ
πΎγThat's why they have a weakness for young people!γ
πΎγLet me tell you their stories!γ
Loki explained the backgrounds of the three men: Giovanni's loss of his younger brother, Santos's brother's death, Marcus's murdered son. Each story was more devastating than the last.
"Now I understand why they looked at me like that," I murmured. "They probably see in me the people they couldn't protect."
πΎγExactly! But instead of worrying about that!γ
πΎγWhy don't you take advantage and check out the store?!γ
πΎγYou have money and need things!γ
He was right. I opened the LokiMarket and was impressed by the variety available.
βββββββββββββββ LOKIMARKET βββββββββββββββ
β π§Ή SECTION: CLEANING SUPPLIES β
β β’ Industrial Universal Cleaner β
β Price: $50 (Cash) β
β β’ Acid for Difficult Stains β
β Price: $75 (Cash) β
β β’ Complete Protection Kit β
β Price: $120 (Cash) β
β π¬ SECTION: SPECIAL CHEMICALS β
β β’ [EXCLUSIVE] DNA Eraser β
β Price: $300 (Cash) β
β β’ [EXCLUSIVE] Odor Neutralizer β
β Price: $200 (Cash) β
β ACTIVE DISCOUNT: 45% (Fries offering) β ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
"The fries counted as an offering!" I exclaimed in surprise.
πΎγOf course! It was a genuine gesture of sharing!γ πΎγSincere gifts always count more!γ
With the discount, I could buy cleaners that didn't exist in the real world and would be extremely difficult to detect even with advanced forensic equipment.
Then I set up the laptop they'd given me. Loki granted me a new ability:
βββββ NEW ABILITY UNLOCKED βββββ
Β β π»β¨οΈ β
β [CYBER ADJUSTMENT EXPERT] - Level 2 β
β Type: Technology β
β Description: Advanced mastery of β
β computer systems and configuration β
β Effects: β
β β’ Dual system configuration β
β β’ Medium encryption β
β β’ Surveillance detection β
β β’ Performance optimization β ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
I configured two profiles on the computer: one for work with maximum security systems, and another personal one for my needs and hobbies.
"My level is low," I noted. "What else can I do with the system?"
πΎγFor other things you'll need more experience!γ
πΎγBut you can buy routine things!γ
πΎγFood, electronics, clothes, all the basics!γ
I checked the everyday products section and bought a new set of clothes and pajamas. I was sick of wearing the same clothes for weeks.
After showering and putting on the new pajamas, I sat down to watch TV for the first time in days. Normalcy felt strange but pleasant.
At 9:30 PM, my new phone rang. It was Marcus.
"Alleinad, tomorrow at 9:00 AM we'll pick you up to finalize your contract. Does that work for you?"
"Perfect," I replied. "Do I need any special outfit?"
"We'll take care of that. Just be ready."
"Thank you so much, Marcus."
"Don't mention it. Rest well."
πΎγTomorrow's going to be an important day!γ
πΎγYour official contract as a mafia employee!γ
πΎγAnd probably many more surprises!γ
I went to bed feeling a strange mix of anticipation and tranquility. For the first time in weeks, I had a clear future ahead of me. It wasn't the future I'd originally planned, but it was mine.
And that was more than I'd had in a long time.
πΎγSweet dreams, my agent of chaos!γ
πΎγTomorrow begins your official life as a professional cleaner!γ
πΎγWith benefits you probably can't even imagine!γ
As I fell asleep, I couldn't help but smile. Giovanni, Marcus, and Santos had given me something I'd lost with my family: the feeling that someone really cared about me, even if it was just out of pity.
It was a feeling I'd forgotten existed.