Strongest Among the Heavens
Chapter 470: Have I met you before?

Chapter 470: Have I met you before?

EARTH, FRANCE, NICE - 2013

"---yes, I gotta meet this woman. She is, according to my inner circle, something of a loner. Skinny too." Agitating, hollow laugh echoed through the window. "I hear a good friend call her a skeleton. She will be perfect, I tell you. Perfect."

Pavvo de Seat spoke on the phone loudly and proudly. Donning a white mask, the green and black suit, and the rapid gestures near the window made him the perfect target for somebody watching in the trees.

AKA Kazi Hossain.

’Yep, definitely him.’

Pavvo threw a piece of candy in his mouth.

Kazi smiled and put down the binoculars. He was younger back then. His smile was graced with cool arrogance and he sat with one leg crossed and the other hanging off the tree. The expensive light-blue suit was but a cover for the bullet-proof vest he wore underneath and the hidden knives and guns.

Kazi Hossain, at the age of twenty, was a mercenary, a hero, a rebel, and so much more. Back then, his face was defined by a heavy stubble and a modern-esque hairstyle; nicely cut, shoulder length, and done in a manbun.

His eyes were brightly hazel and framed by some loose strands. The noble he eyed was known for his great art and preservation of it. He did illustrations on the human body and many of his works were held in the most prestigious museums. Pavvo de Seat himself was eccentric and led a quiet life. He had no fame among the common people or news media. However, in the inner circle of wealth in France, he was renowned for his parties, his ability to sell his art, and the women that accompanied him.

There were two security guards at the gate here and he suspected one inside. ’I could just jump to the window and ambush him but...’

That was boring. Efficiency was just boring in this world. The skies above could lay witness to the fact that Kazi Hossain could do anything.

Including walking right up to the guards at the front gate of the grey home and introducing himself with a bow and flourish.

"Gentlemen, gentlemen." Following the bow, he flicked a card between his two fingers. "I believe Pavvo is expecting me."

Glances were exchanged. Kazi had gotten here on an expensive motorcycle so he wasn’t a random homeless man, that much they could ascertain. The security guards spoke into their ear mics. Neither the house nor the mansion were the biggest thing in the world. Pavvo was a modern man living in a modern city.

"I believe we met at the Midas Cruiser in ’09. I believe we discussed a certain gold statue of his...? Ah, but if Pavvo is busy..." Kazi slowly started walking back to his bike. "I do not mind. Give him all the time in the world. I too have places to be. I am sure he understands. Oh, but I will only be available next Thursday. My schedule is quite busy, you see."

Ramble, talk, make some sense, and confuse.

"I am sure you can get in contact with my people." He put a hand on the seat of his motorbike

More whispers. Finally..a nod.

"It is fine," said the bigger security guard. "Pavvo will see you now."

"Excellent!"

The gates opened. The short walk to the door was accompanied by the big, tall security guard. He was over six-five and his muscles bulged through his suit. Kazi was leaner and in a double-breasted light suit that was sleeker and less intended for combat.

As expected, the home itself was shiny and polished. Every inch felt like gold. Indeed, although this wasn’t the largest mansion in the world, it had quality. It had sufficient space for art and paintings and statues.

"Beautiful," Kazi noted. "That’s the quill of the Kangxi Emperor...! I was meaning to get my hands on it. Truly impressive."

’And look at that, a third security guard. Walking the halls just as I predicted.’

The security guard was silent and professional and walked him upstairs to a room. The very room Kazi had been spying on ten minutes ago.

The doors opened and in they went. Kazi was face-to-face with Pavvo de Seat. Close to the desk near the large window and balcony, he was no longer on the phone, his mask halfway uncovered to look at Kazi. With the mask halfway up, he tossed a ball of candy in his mouth and chewed. His pupils dilated and his nose wrinkled.

"Pavvo!" Kazi spread and raised his hands, grinning and mimicking a hug. "I can see that look in your eyes! You don’t recognize me, do you?"

"...no, no, of course I do."

Kazi Hossain was beautiful and held an expression so bright and happy that wanting to be anything else felt like a sin. Pavvo adjusted his shades back on and went in for a hug. After the hug, they shook hands. "Salaam Alaikum," Pavvo greeted.

’Look at him!’

The year was 2013, the time when the French cozied up to the Middle Eastern powers in full. When the world was becoming increasingly globalized and connected. It was inevitable, what with all the money and greed. They shook hands with grins.

"So, the gold statue?"

"I...do recall something of the sort."

"You were a bit drunk," Kazi lied smoothly, "but you very much wanted the materials and well, you know my family specializes in mining gold. You see, I’ve got a connection in Louvre Museum and I know you have a connection there too. With a bit of prodding, we can get it there."

"Hoho! You speak fast, don’t you, my friend?"

"I am excited is all. Come, let us sit."

This wasn’t even Kazi’s place yet he dictated the pace of the conversation. They sat on plush, white couches and conversed.

"Candy?" Pavvo offered.

"I prefer chocolate."

"Chocolate?"

Kaz winked. "Brownies."

Pavvo keeled over from laughter.

Before Pavvo knew it, he and Kazi had been talking for a whole hour. Drinking water, eating desserts, and having an all-around good time. Kazi Hossain had mastered the art of capturing people, of lying to their faces and hypnotizing them with their own dreams. Back then, Kazi’s smiles had been brighter and fuller. Perhaps it was the potential of youth overflowing. Perhaps it was him simply at his absolute peak.

Perhaps it was both.

Back then, he saw the world differently. He believed he could change everything.

"Hahaha, so you’re telling me the woman attempted to steal from you like that?"

"There are three types of rich: one that love the poor, one that hate hate, and one that are simply curious about them. I am so, so curious. I love walking the streets. It gives a certain rush, no matter how much others disapprove."

"I understand. You have no idea how much my own parents disapproved of my art ideas. They wanted me to follow in their winery business." Pavvo shook his head and put one leg on his knee. He caught the eye of his security guard and ordered, "Drinks, please. It’s almost the evening. I need my daily wine."

The door closed shut. They were alone and Kazi just laughed. "Daily wine? Tsk, tsk, tsk. Still the same habits, hm?"

From his pocket, Pavvo unwrapped candy and flung it into his mouth. "Our Lord and Saviour drank and so I do too."

A cocky smirk lay on his face, elbows on the couch. See, his family sold sacramental wine and for a Christian-majority like France, there was lots of business and money to be had with that. Nobles remained nobles because they were blessed from the start.

"You do not drink?" Pavvo asked.

"Sometimes, here and there." He didn’t, but Kazi understood the ways of the Middle Eastern elites. They may have preached one thing but what they did in reality was different. "I only drink when I have certain company—and I don’t mean by good company."

"The Midas Cruiser..." Pavvo’s eyes dimmed. "There were some amazing women on there."

"Mhm." Kazi wore the kind of smile that said, "I know."

"So...did you really come here for that or...?"

"Honestly, no. My brother, you see, is more in-line with your side-business."

"I see, your brother..."

"You’ve never met. But, maybe you should."

"Maybe we should," Pavvo agreed. The security guard returned in that moment. Kazi’s eyes immediately flicked to his footsteps.

Tension. Certainty. The security guard eyed Kazi ever so subtly. Kazi did not look back.

’Ah, so he’s figured it out.’

Pavvo didn’t ask for wine. He asked to research this man.

’The past couple hours have been fun, I suppose. I got the information I needed on him.’

Family, friends, likes and dislikes, that sort of thing. Right as the security was about to whisper in Pavvo’s ear...

Kazi grabbed the glass of water and flung the liquid over. The sudden act caused the security guard to gasp and step back. This wasn’t an attack after all, it was just water on his thigh.

Except the next move was.

Kazi dashed toward him, hips dropped low, and practically tackled him. He then grabbed the two-hundred-twenty male and flung him over his shoulder, slamming into the floor. He kicked his throat so hard that the security guard gasped and stopped breathing.

"Y-you...!"

Pavvo stood up. Kazi walked right up to him and grabbed him by the throat, smirking. His pesky guard was taken care of, choking on the floor, and the door was shut.

"One security guard outside, one walking the halls, and one that is already taken care of."

"W-w-what do you—"

His fingers tightened and Kazi’s smirk grew. "I’m going to knock you out for a bit. See ya." His fingers went slack and he buried a kick into his gut. Pavvo dropped like a puppet, eyes wide and saliva frothing.

Kazi laughed. He turned and saw that the security guard had gotten back up. He wheezed and swung. Kazi caught the fist and knocked him out with a right hook. "Phew, good stuff today. Now then..." He went over to his desk. Two monitors, one for casual use and one for the security cameras. Both required a password. Kazi did some thinking, opened all the drawers, and guessed:

LOVECANDY4EVER