A blood red letter had somehow been placed on Jiro's bed. The sort of letter that no one ever wanted to receive.
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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.
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Jiro's face contorted into a mask of worry as he slowly read through the letter.
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To Gur Khan Jiro Estrin of the Dominion,
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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.
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Brottslight, Großfürst of Eclipse-Verbrechersyndikat.
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Jiro recoiled from the letter as if it was poisoned – which, considering its contents, was not far from the truth – and backed away trembling.
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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.
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Jiro was not in the mood for such games, and it must have shown. “Come in then.” He said sadly.
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“Is everything alright?” She asked with visible concern.
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“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.
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“An empty threat; the Tumen Elite Guard will stop a band of criminals.” She told him despite not being totally convinced herself.
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“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.
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“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?”
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Jiro's eyes widened. He had become paler in a matter of seconds.
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“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.
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“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.
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“Enough of this. I do not wish to speak to anyone else.”
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The colour rushed back into his face. He looked more ashamed than angry all of a sudden.
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“I-I am sorry, Jen. Now you know...about him I tried to hide Jürgen from you to protect you.”
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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.”
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“Make...peace? So that he can make me do horrible things?”
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His wife snorted at this, annoyed. “Hardly. Have thou ever heard of the Mutt and Jeff technique?”
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“Good cop, bad cop. Why is that relevant.”
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“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.”
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“That seems like a dangerous game, Jennifer.”
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“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?”
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“Why are you always right?”
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“The Estrinite forgets his wife is magnificent.”
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“Ugh...Narcissians.” He muttered.
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Jennifer giggled and left Jiro alone with the letter, and with him.
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