A Magnate's Composure

“Your face is full of antipathy. Good. Let us leave this conversation at that. There is no need to twist my words; I have only come to drink today.”

The Ascetic laughed at my deeply furrowed expression.

If nothing else, his audacity to chatter leisurely out loud in a bar that a patrol officer had just visited was worth acknowledging.

Should I say it felt like an aura that only magnates of the criminal underworld could exude?

“As you requested, I shall place an order.”

It was a relief he would quietly shut his mouth and just drink. I would appreciate it if he drank as quickly as possible and disappeared from my sight.

I spoke with a sigh.

“Please do. What would you like to order? Shall I show you the menu?”

“There is no need. I have already decided.”

The Ascetic spoke to me with a refreshing look in his eyes, as if he were pondering something along the lines of, “What novel terrorist act should I commit tomorrow?”...