Martin and Gale, both 15 years old, were sitting in their high school classroom in the middle of a test. The room was filled with a hushed silence as students focused on their papers, and the teacher diligently kept an eye on them to ensure no cheating. The boys sat near the window at desks that faced each other, diligently working on their test.
Suddenly, Gale, who was sitting one desk behind Martin, began to feel puzzled, causing him to start spinning his pencil in his hand without making a sound and tapping his foot on the floor in repeated and fast motion. Suddenly, he tapped Martin's back with the tip of his pencil in a subtle gesture, trying to get his attention.
Martin, who was sitting at one desk in front of him, was focused on his test paper, feeling Gale's silent call, but didn't look up from his test paper and responded with a barely perceptible "Hmm?"
Gale, quickly ducking his head to avoid being seen by the teacher, leaned in closer and whispered, "What is the spelling of 'spelling'?"
Martin, a look of deep concentration and focus on his face after hearing his question, turned his head a little to the side towards Gale, but only a little so as not to draw the teacher's attention.
After a long moment of thought, he replied in a hushed voice. "The spelling of 'spelling' is S-e-p-a-l-i-n-g."
Upon hearing this, Gale nodded, a look of determination on his face, and immediately began to write the said spelling of the word spelling onto his test paper, taking care to be quiet and not draw any attention to their conversation.
But a student sitting next to Gale had been watching the whole exchange silently without any expression.
Sensing that student's gaze, Gale quickly turned his eyes towards him and the student, startled by the authoritative but still quiet glare from Gale, quickly understood his gesture and sheepishly returned his attention to his own test paper. As soon as the student did so, Gale turned his eyes back to his test paper.
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Gale and Martin entered the high school canteen with their hands stuffed inside their pant pockets, Gale walked ahead with a confidence that demanded respect, while Martin trailed slightly behind.
As soon as they entered, all the students who were seated immediately stood up, abandoning their meals mid-bite. Like a flock of sheep paying their respects to their ruler, they all bent down in a respectful bow towards Gale and Martin, who were walking with an air of authority befitting the leader and vice commander of the most powerful gang.
The atmosphere in the canteen was reverent as if the students subconsciously acknowledged Gale's power and position. Even the noise and chatter in the room seemed to diminish at the sight of him, replaced by a tense silence.
However, the two boys paid no mind to the acknowledgements and walked straight towards the counter, their demeanour unruffled by the display of respect or maybe fear.
As soon as the boys reached the counter, Gale confidently requested, "I'll have a bowl of ramen."
The counter assistant immediately nodded in response, already accustomed to Gale's demands.
Then, Gale turned to Martin and asked, "What do you want?"
Martin quickly responded, "I want a box of Manju sweets."
As soon as Martin mentioned the sweets, the counter assistant hastily apologised, "I'm sorry, but those are out of stock."
After a moment of contemplation, Martin sighed and said, "Alright, then I'll have ramen as well."
The assistant nodded in agreement and quickly prepared the two bowls of ramen. Once they were ready, Gale and Martin quickly purchased the food and started walking away from the counter, each holding a bowl of steaming ramen in their hands.
As they walked past a table, Gale's eyes fell upon a student who was eating the very Manju sweets that Martin had wanted.
In an instant, Gale turned back and walked up to the student, placing his bowl of ramen on the table in front of him with a smug smile on his face. Leaning forward, Gale asked the student, "Are you interested in a little exchange?"
The student, caught off guard by Gale's sudden approach, eagerly got to his feet and held out the box of sweets towards Gale, practically shoving it in his face.
The student's expression was a mix of excitement and anxiety as he spoke, his voice slightly shaking in Gale's intimidating presence. "Anything you want," the student said urgently, clearly eager to comply with Gale's demands.
The moment the student agreed to the exchange, a satisfied smile spread across Gale's face. Taking the box of sweets, he said, "That's more like it."
As he turned back to face Martin, who was standing a little distance away, already watching Gale exchange the ramen for the sweets, a sense of happiness passed over Martin's features. He was clearly happy that Gale had been able to procure the manju sweets that he had wanted.
Gale approached Martin with a warm smile on his face. As he reached him, he glanced at the ramen in Martin's hand and teased, "Are you interested in a little exchange?"
At Gale's words, Martin chuckled and handed over his bowl of ramen, taking the sweet box in return. With both items exchanged, the two boys made their way towards the outside together.
As they were heading towards the outside of the canteen, all the students inside once again bowed down in respect to them.
At that moment, the voice of that student who gave the sweets to Gale echoed loudly, with a nervous tone, saying, "I need something else in exchange for those sweets."
Upon hearing this, an undercurrent of chatter began to ripple through all the students present, while Martin, holding the sweet box in his hand, turned around and snapped, "No, we don't want it." However, before he could continue, Gale reached out and grabbed Martin's arm, stopping him in his tracks.
"It's Okay, let him speak," Gale said, turning to the student and gesturing for him to continue.
Martin's initial resistance gave way to acceptance, and he stood there silently, waiting to hear what the student had to say.
"I want to join Kamisato." The student nervously made his request, keeping his eyes averted from Gale.
Hearing this Gale looked at him for a moment then without any hesitation, he swiftly turned around towards the exit with Martin and declared, "Alright."
The other students who were present were taken aback by his swift agreement.
"Thank you, leader." The student who had made the request thanked Gale with a grateful smile and bowed before him.
However, Martin, who was walking alongside Gale, looked at him in disbelief and confronted him, "Gale, you already know, that he is the brother of our rival gang's leader?"
Gale, continuing to walk with Martin, replied casually without looking at him, "Yes, I'm aware of that."
Martin then protested, "There was no need for you to concede to his demand for just a few sweets."
Gale chuckled and wrapped his arm over Martin's shoulder, pulling him close as he responded, "Hey, leave it, It's okay. These sweets are way too valuable than that."
Gale's confident demeanour and Martin's suppressed concern created a noticeable tension between them. The decision to let the rival gang's brother join their gang weighed heavily on Martin's mind, but he chose not to say anything further for the moment, continuing to walk silently with Gale in resignation and acceptance.
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Martin and Gale, sat straight side by side on the couch in the room, their hands clenched into fists and resting on their thighs.
Daisy, 20 years old, who looked so beautiful that anyone would want to look at her 24 hours without blinking, she was standing in front of them, scolding them with irritation in her voice.
"You two had all the correct answers, but you wrote them all with incorrect spellings, Due to which again both of you have got very low marks." Daisy exclaimed. "Why does this keep happening?"
As Daisy continued to berate the boys, Gale appeared to be completely bored and uninterested in what she was saying. His gaze continued to aimlessly wander around the room, taking in everything with a sense of detachment. Meanwhile, Martin remained motionless and expressionless as he listened to Daisy's scolding, his face betraying no emotion whatsoever uninterested.
Then Daisy gave Martin a disapproving look and said, "Jay, your memory is excellent, yet you can't seem to remember the correct spellings. Why is that?"
Martin, who had been staring off into space, finally focused his attention back on Daisy.
She then turned to Gale and said, "And you Jae, stop looking around and pay attention to what I'm saying."
Gale quickly turned his attention back to Daisy.
Daisy looked between the two boys and asked again, "Do you both understand what I've been saying?"
Martin and Gale both exhaled heavily. Together, they responded simultaneously, "Yes, we understood."
However, Daisy still continued to lecture the boys for a long time, ignoring their response. Time passed, and soon, Gale abruptly stood up, prompting Martin to follow suit.
"We understand," Gale said flatly, before putting his hands on his trouser's pockets and lazily turning to leave. Martin, also eager to escape the lecture, reached for an apple from the fruit bowl on the coffee table and began to make his way out of the room.
Daisy, taken aback and still speaking, attempted to stop them. "Where are you two going? I am not done talking yet."
But the boys ignored her and walked out of the room without looking back, leaving her standing there, frustrated and annoyed.
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The moon was high in the night's sky, bathing the world in a soft, silver light. Martin slowly pushed open the door to Gale's room and stepped inside, pizza in hand which he cooked himself. He looked around, noticing that the lights in the room were dimmed, plunging the room into semi-darkness. He scanned the room, looking for Gale, but he was nowhere to be seen. Feeling a little puzzled, Martin walked toward the balcony, his footsteps echoing softly in the quiet room.
As he stepped onto the balcony, a cool, nighttime breeze blew gently from the nearby forest, tousling his hair. His eyes adjusted to the dim light of the outside world, revealing a figure lounging on the couch, staring up at the night sky with a contemplative gaze.
It was Gale, his legs crossed, his hands resting behind his head as he looked up at the moon in the night sky, a look of longing in his eyes.
Martin's heart skipped a beat as he took in the sight before him. The soft glow of the moonlight illuminated Gale's majestic features, making him appear almost ethereal in the dim light. His dark, deep oceanic blue eyes were magically and mysteriously shining, like the fathomless depths of the ocean.
Martin slowly approached Gale, then took a seat on the couch opposite Gale. As he settled down, he noted that Gale still hadn't looked at him, his gaze remaining fixed on the night sky.
Curious about the significance of Gale's stare, Martin asked, "Why do you always seem so captivated by the moon? Is there any story behind it?"
Gale turned his head towards Martin and smiled softly. "Yes," he replied, "there is a story. Do you want to listen?"
Martin leaned forward, his interest piqued. "I'd love to hear it," he said.
Gale paused, gathering his thoughts, his gaze returning to the moon, when suddenly Martin interrupted. "Hold on," he said, placing the pizza plate between them on the circle-shaped wooden table. "Before you tell me the story, you need to eat this pizza first. I made it myself."
Gale looked up from the pizza, surprised but amused. "You made it yourself?" he asked, a hint of a smile on his face.
Martin nodded, already dividing a slice of the pizza into two. "Yup!" he said, holding out a slice towards Gale. "Come on, try it."
Gale, sitting up straighter on the couch, eagerly accepted the slice of pizza from Martin and wasting no time he took a bite. Along with him Martin also started eating his pizza slice.
In the midst of their meal, Gale abruptly mentioned, "You know, I have a maternal cousin and I heard he's also into cooking, just like you."
Martin, between bites of pizza, responded unseriously, "No, I just found out."
After his saying this, a shared chuckle between them followed. Then Martin, finished with his slice, suddenly snatched the slice that Gale was currently enjoying, his mischievous grin betraying his intentions.
"You should know better than to eat slowly in front of me," he said, starting to devour the slice he had just taken.
Gale looked at Martin with a mixture of surprise and disbelief, his mouth still open from the moment he had been interrupted.
"You just stole right from my mouth!" he exclaimed, amusement in his tone.
Martin looked at Gale with a playful smile. "Well, you should know better than to eat slowly in front of someone," he repeated, before offering the last saved bite to Gale. "Here, finish it off."
Gale looked at Martin in disbelieved amusement for a moment before finally accepting the final bite from his hands. He couldn't help but shake his head at Martin's sudden cheeky behaviour.
Martin wiped his hands in a gesture of clapping, then he sprung up on the couch, crossing his legs and resting his hands behind his head. "Well, now that we're done eating," he said, "let's hear that story you were going to tell me about the moon."
Gale, who had just finished his last bite of pizza, followed suit and laid on the couch, mirroring Martin's pose. They both looked up at the moon, a moment of silence passing between them.
After a few moments, Gale turned to Martin with a smile, not facing him directly but keeping his gaze on the moon.
"Are you ready?" he asked.
Martin responded immediately, "Absolutely ready."
Gale began to speak, his eyes fixed on the moon. "Once upon a time, on the far side of the moon. There lived a group of little creatures called Moomen. They were small, luminescent beings that had the ability to change colour and shape at will. And some of them were blessed with incredible powers, including extraordinary physical strength, the ability to see glimpses of the future and were immortal."
As Martin was listening, he felt his mind transported to the world of the Moomen that Gale was describing.
"The Moomen were known for their peaceful nature and spent their days dancing and playing among the rocks and craters of the moon. They were the secret keepers and caretakers of the moon, always watching over it and ensuring its safety. They had a unique way of communicating with each other. They could send and receive messages through the vibrations of the moon's surface. They had an innate connection to the moon and could sense its every change. They were very curious about the universe and would often gaze at the stars and the Earth. Despite their small size, the Moomen were powerful beings."
"They had one more access to a unique form of magic that allowed them to manipulate the moon's gravity. They were also known for their mischievous nature and would often play pranks on each other, creating harmless chaos among themselves. They had a strong bond with the Earth and its people. They often observed humans from afar and would secretly cheer on humanity's triumphs and achievements. They would sometimes even interact with humans in subtle ways, like appearing in dreams or leaving behind subtle physical evidence of their existence."
As Gale continued to speak, the combination of the night's natural melodies and the subtle illumination of the moon added an almost otherworldly feel to the setting, as if the Moomen themselves were at work, creating the perfect atmosphere for Gale's story. The only sounds that broke the silence were Gale's voice, the occasional insect noises and the faint stirring of the night breeze, creating an almost magical ambiance that perfectly complemented the fantastical tale.
"Some of the Moomen, who held unbelievable powers and strength, decided to leave the moon and its secrets behind to experience life in human form on Earth and they took birth on Earth in a human child. They had access to information and abilities that humans could only dream of. They lived among the people, blending in and secretly using their powers when necessary. They observed the world with wisdom and a sense of responsibility without revealing themselves to the humans."
"Although destiny remained to ensure that a Moomen who would choose to stay permanently on Earth by their heart would perish their existence on Earth but because of being immortal they would be forced to teleport to the moon after their death on Earth." Gale paused, a captivated small smile on his face.
While Martin was so immersed in the story, he had never shown as much interest in any fantasy story as he was showing in Gale's story. And slowly he was understanding why Gale kept looking at the moon whenever he found an opportunity, perhaps he somewhere believed this story to be true, that was why he felt that if he would look towards the moon, the Moomen would also look back at him.
"And they say even in the current present, these Moomen still existed among humans, their true selves concealed and their powers kept a secret. They continued to observe the world with wisdom and responsibility, ensuring the future and safety of it."
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The night enveloped Jitsaki Forest near the city, and the deep river that ran through the middle of the forest was still and calm. The city skyline was visible through the gaps in the trees, and the flickering city lights cast a faint glow over the forest.
Over 200 male and female members of the Kamisato Gang stood in a clearing, each 15 to 20 years old and older, dressed in the same uniform.
Their uniform included a black denim jacket with a silver coloured word of Kamisato and full moon shaped Kamisato logo on the back, paired with black cargo pants with white and silver combination belt and a white T-shirt. The jacket also had few square shaped silver studs attached, and the uniform included a black coloured bandana, some were wearing it on their head, some were hiding their face with it and some were wearing it around their neck. And the white combat boots were completing the look.
The uniform was modern and edgy, with the logo on the back and the silver details giving it a touch of luxury. The use of denim and white with black and silver details gave the uniform a sense of mystery, and the inclusion of the Kamisato logo added a nod to the gang's pride and identity.
The number of male members outnumbered the females. They all stood silently facing forward, waiting for their Head to arrive for the meeting. Among those members, Sano Hiroto, who had a big fight with the founding members of Kamisato gang two years ago, and Kato Ken, who had suggested to form a gang, who was now showing confidence and courage, were also included.
In front of all of them stood a huge, broken square wooden structure that resembled a tall house, with a flight of stairs extending up to its top. Two corners, and supports, held up the top level of the structure, on which Daniel, the third division captain, and Jackson, the second division captain, stood, leaning against the wooden support. Meanwhile, Daisy, the first division captain, sat on the bottom step of the stairs, while Martin, the gang's vice-commander, sat on the top step, with his legs spread. They were also wearing the same uniform.
The night was still and the only light came from the two pole lights either sides of that square broken wooden structure which were planted there by the gang and the light of the moon overhead, casting long shadows across the forest floor.
As the members stood patiently, awaiting the arrival of their head. Suddenly, the footsteps echoed and the head Gale appeared on the top of the stairs who came from the back side of the stairs, he stood beside Martin's sitting figure.
Gale's long flowing hair and with the same Kamisato logo on the back of his black hooded, open belted silk satin trench long coat different from other members' code jackets were billowing behind him with the breeze of the night, his hands were inside his black cargo pants pockets. Every member's gaze was trained on him, his authoritative aura unmistakable. Due to his coat, he just looked a little different from the rest as a head, however, except for his coat the other gang uniform code was the same.
All the gang uniform designs and different and unique coat from others for the head were masterfully created by Daisy.
As soon as all of them noticed Gale, all the members, including top members and the vice commander, stood up and bowed at him respectfully. After bowing at him, Martin, Jackson, Daniel and Daisy stood straight facing other members, their expressions straight.
Then Gale began speaking in a loud voice. "I hope you all know what the topic of today's meeting is," he said, his eyes scanning the troops. The members listened intently, their focus entirely on him.
"Some members of the Rensei gang recently ganged up and attacked one of our female members, due to which she is in the hospital right now," he continued, anger and determination in his eyes. "We must avenge her and teach them a lesson."
The members' determination grew, and they shouted in agreement, raising their fists in the air. Gale paused, his gaze sweeping over the mob before him, and then he continued speaking with a firm voice, "In three days, we have a fight with the Rensei gang. You need to be prepared. Remember, this fight isn't just about winning or losing. Our priority needs to be extracting revenge against them." He paused and continued with a determined loud tone. "Are you all ready?"
The members were fired up, their fists clenched in anger and determination In unison, they yelled their response, "Yes, we're ready!"
On the other side Martin, Daisy, Jackson and Daniel were standing straight watching other determined members with their unwavering eyes. While Gale's eyes scanned the troops, as he gave a firm nod, satisfied with their response.
"Good," he said, his voice loud and clear. "This is what I expected from all of you." As he expressed his satisfaction with their response, his words were met with excited cheers again.
But before the members could continue their cheering, Martin suddenly interrupted, "Quiet down, everyone!"
His words brought the group to immediate silence, and they all turned their attention towards him, waiting for his next words.
"There is an announcement to be made today," Martin continued, his voice booming with authority. "Starting now, the position of the captain of the third division's "assistant" has been given to Kato Ken." The members were taken aback by the announcement, their faces registering surprise and confusion. "Ken, come forward."
They all turned their attention towards Ken, who appeared confident and determined as he stood before them, the Ken of two years ago had now become completely fearless, just as he had thought of himself.
Martin standing at his own place beside Gale, his eyes glued to Ken as he spoke again, "Ken, do you accept this position?"
"Absolutely, I accept the position." Ken answered without hesitation, his voice firm and determined
Hearing his response, the top members of the gang couldn't help but break into proud smiles, their faces lighting up with approval.
"Good," Martin said with a satisfied nod. "I'm glad to hear that. You'll make a fine addition to the team."
At the same time Daisy turned to the members, her gaze travelling across the group. "Everyone, appreciate Ken's abilities that have earned him this position," she said.
Immediately, the group started showering Ken with praise and gratitude. But before the congratulations could continue, from among all standing, Sano Hiroto's loud voice interrupted them, grabbing the attention of all members.
"I have more ability than Ken, and I deserve an even better position," he declared, his eyes fixed on the top members. The arrogant Hiroto of two years ago now seemed a little reformed.
Daniel turned to Hiroto, shaking his head. "You have the potential, but there's something holding you back," he said, his expression serious.
Hiroto looked at Daniel, a puzzled look on his face. "What?" he asked.
Just then, Jackson interjected, a smirk on his face. "Your ego," he said bluntly, his words making Hiroto visibly uncomfortable.
The members all tried to suppress their laughter, causing Hiroto to become even more embarrassed, his face turning red.
After the brief episode with Hiroto, Gale's authoritative voice cut through the air, announcing that "The meeting is over now."
And then without saying any further word, he turned around, and walked away. The members watched him go and immediately bowed to him in respect, showing their loyalty to him.
While hearing him, Daniel, Martin, and Daisy followed suit, each exchanging quick glances before leaving. Jackson, however, couldn't resist flashing one last funny rivalry smirk towards Hiroto before departing with the others.
The members remained bowing respectfully as the senior members departed, murmuring amongst themselves with some humour and light-hearted banter.
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Morning rays streamed through the trees and into the clearing, illuminating the hill where Martin lay sprawled out on his back, his legs crossed and his arms behind his head. His notebook was open in his lap, and he was fiercely biting his lower lip in concentration recalling his study while his eyes were closed facing the sky. The grass on the hillside was soft and green, punctuated by wildflowers. Birds sang and chirped in the nearby trees, adding a soothing melody to the morning air as the cool morning breeze blew through the area, bringing a refreshing energy to the surroundings.
Suddenly Martin heard a mischievous, melodious voice call out his name "Martin!" near his ear. He immediately opened his eyes and turned his head to look in the direction of the voice as he completely knew who this voice belonged to. There sitting comfortably against a tree, Just beside Martin, was Gale, a smile on his face as he looked at Martin.
"When did you get here?" Martin asked, still lying down.
Gale shrugged his shoulders and replied with a smile, "Just now."
Martin nodded in acknowledgment and turned his gaze back up at the sky, continuing to lay there as he knew Gale had the ability to appear anywhere without even being noticed.
Then after a long silence Gale asked, with a slight questioning look on his face, "Have you ever thought about going to find your Fairy?"
Hearing his sudden unexpected question, Martin remained quiet for a few moments without a change in expression. But deep down he was feeling a storm of memories and thoughts inside his mind, which literally gave him goosebumps. While Gale waited patiently, a smile still playing at the corners of his lips, until Martin finally replied.
"You told me that destiny would bring her back to me on its own," Martin said, his voice low.
Hearing his response, Gale chuckled softly before responding, "That doesn't mean you shouldn't even try."
Hearing him, Martin remained quiet for a few more moments before replying. "You know everything, don't you? Why don't you just tell me where she is?"
As Martin spoke, Gale chuckled softly in response again and said, "Sometimes, the answer is within yourself. Trust your instincts, and your heart will guide you."
Martin's gaze remained fixed on the sky, his expression one of helplessness. He replied with a hint of sadness in his voice. "I don't know how to communicate with my heart. How am I supposed to trust it if I can't even talk to it?"
"Then let your heart communicate with you instead"
Listening to Gale, Martin scoffed with a bitter smile while seeing him like this Gale also smiled breathingly.
There was silence between them once again and all the memories in Martin's mind that he had created with his Fairy were now running in front of his eyes from coming out memories buried in a corner in a box, just like a movie.
After a long silence, hiding his memories again, Martin opened his mouth and asked. "If you become the Mafia King after inheriting the throne from your family, and I noticed how eager you are to take on this role, what will you do with the newfound power, connection and responsibility?"
Hearing his sudden question, Gale took a deep breath with a tight lipped smile, looking up at the sky as his head was resting against the tree trunk. "My rise to the position of Mafia King is a mere deception for the outside world from my side, the true motivation behind this endeavour is my determination to reform the customs and rules of my family, spanning through the years and generations."
Hearing his words Martin finally turned his head towards him in bewildered surprise. "What are you saying?" Martin asked with a small frown on his face at the newfound revelation.
While looking at him with the corner of his eyes, Gale smiled.
"Once I assume the role of Mafia King, I will possess the authority to wield powers that are beyond my grip at present. Should I desire to utilise them to my own end, no member of my family will be capable of standing in my way." Gale paused, looking at Martin's confused and curious face with the same smile.
Then he continued. "The generation connected to me will be different from all others, where no shadow would be forced to die after the death of its owner, where this generation would slowly be removed from the tag of mafia family, where no one would be murdered, where no kind of illegal work would be done, and the generation coming after this will get a normal family and life."
"And what about the gang we're running now?" Martin, who was listening to him intently and curiously asked in an inquisitive tone.
Gale tilted his head towards Martin, a hint of affection in his eyes. He responded. "There is no murder in this gang today nor will there be in the future, and all its members will live the same life that their Mafia King wants to offer them." He paused, resting his back against the tree trunk again. "And this Kamisato gang is just there to create good memories and keep the thrill in life alive." He took a breath, looking at the grass in nothing particular, then continued. "Otherwise fighting is one of the sins, which I am doing despite knowing it."
Martin, looking at him without blinking, was trying to understand deeply what he was saying.
"How strange and bad it is that we humans do the same things about which we also know that these are sins, and now I too have become included among those humans." His words came out thoughtfully. "Do you think, is it morally justifiable to be involved in organised crime, gang culture, or to hold it in high esteem? These individuals are known for their malevolent actions, and no amount of good intent can ever absolve us of our unfavourable reputation." His question was more like his own words.
While intently listening to him, Martin recollected his event from six years past where he had discovered he was stuck in a Mafia family and had been asked by Daisy whether he was ready to commit to this type of underworld mafia life. Having no other choice, he had readily accepted his fate within the mafia world. On the other hand, Gale, who was born into this family, how he demonstrated a completely different mindset, wishing to put an end to the incessant cycle of illegal activities?
"Why do you feel the need to alter anything when it appears that you are already enjoying the full measure of both positive and negative aspects of your current circumstances?" Martin asked.
"Because," Gale continued. "No matter how good your intentions are, if you do something that is unacceptable for the entire world, your end will be excruciating."
"Do you mean death??"
"No, there are multiple ends in life, and the death of bodily existence is merely the end of the physical form, not of the eternal soul or spirit."
Martin found himself increasingly perplexed as he attempted to perceive Gale's unique point of view, his unusual thought process, the enigmatic aura that seemed to envelop him, the formidable power he held to speak with such depth and insight at such a young age. Martin could never stop himself from feeling that the more he tried to understand him, the more he was getting lost and entangled in him.
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