27 Chapter 27: You shalt be...

[Cahaya POV]

"Tonight you shall officially join the Naja.", I heard both of the heads say simultaneously, restraining myself not strangling my grandfathers. 

My gills unconsciously twitched in annoyance at how they spoke, then I tasted the air, the meat's smell was mostly unfamiliar. Not that I'm an expert, the only land animals that I ate were leopards, jaguars, lions, and mongoose.

"Thank you, I'm happy about this prospect.", I said with a smile, obviously fake but convincing enough, my snake half curled around itself, making me appear taller. The left head, Ruhin, smiled at my action.

"Can I?", I asked as I took the golden chopsticks next to my plate, 'They are really made of gold…', I noted their weight.

"Of course, you can, grandson. It's a family reunion after all", the right head, Rihan said. Their tail moved with extreme dexterity as they picked the fork and took a thin piece of red meat.

I followed their example and took the same meat. It tasted like pork, but different, it was also still warm. I liked it.

"What is this?", I asked, before picking another piece of raw meat.

"Humans, it's very fresh.", both heads said simultaneously, the left head eating a piece of the said meat just after.

'Wha… okay I guess. I'm not human and it isn't cannibalism, not that the act is wrong either. And I already ate plenty of other sapient animals, what's one more?', I briefly thought and ate another piece of human meat.

There was a sadistic glint in their eyes as they looked at the human woman that was serving them what looked like white wine, she was visibly trembling in fear, and tears threatened to fall.

Oh! So that's where the meat came from. Well, that is very sad indeed, anyways.

I then took a sip of my glass of water, sized for my body. Different animals have different objects adapted to them, a mouse won't use the same scissor as an elephant.

"So how powerful are we actually?", I asked, if they use 'grandson' so will I use 'we'. 

"This is a complicated question that We sadly cannot go into in detail now, but when you visit us next year at our estate, We will do. 

From what We can tell here, the Naja is currently in control of most fossil energies in the known world. We could buy the Horn Conglomerate if We wanted to… for example.", both heads declared, Ruhin took a sip of his glass of wine and said.

'Damn...', I thought, they controlled the market for something that could destroy countries' economies. No wonder the place was so luxurious.

"On another note. I can say that what you did this year was quite profitable for us. Especially the death of those dull cats. This Black Market is ours and you will rule it. You shalt be its leader, I and my brothers want results, do not disappoint Us.", I frowned and was going to say something but was interrupted.

"You see, this place is quite important. It's one of the most valuable cities in this country, if not the most valuable. 

The Naja might be powerful but not omnipotent, only Ceto knows who is, if the Supreme Beastars is pushed too far I don't know what he will do, the horse is quite powerful and has tricks up his sleeve. If there is a war We will win, however.

But the real point is to see how competent you truly are, you are young We know this. It doesn't matter as Naja you will do everything for the Naja.", Rihan declared with utmost confidence with a smile that showed his fangs. I was starting to get angry but calmed myself down. 

It wasn't the fact that I will control the Black Market that made me angry, I was going to do it anyway, or at least try to. I was 15, and my mental age was probably a bit higher, I didn't know anything about how you lead a criminal organization.

But that's how he said it and everything they said before this nearly made me snap, they acted as if everything was a tool for the Naja, even the family members themselves, some included.

And I didn't like it because I was not in control and prideful, no, I'm clearly arrogant but not stupid, the similarity between them and me was unpleasant to acknowledge. Both 'monsters' compared to others.

I was just superior compared to other animals, smarter, stronger, more beautiful, and evidently less sane but who was sane in this world full of hypocritical anthropomorphic animals?

Hybrids like me were overall better. I know It's a generality full of flawed logic but I was the perfect example that there was truth in it.

That is also why I consider myself as a new species, a naga. I created a category for myself, even if it's silly, it's at least my choice.

I'm from two different species that are both parts of me but at the same time, I'm neither of the two. Adding to that, I was human before and it affected me if the mark on my new hood is an indication.

"Don't worry you won't be alone. Ghabi will manage and teach you and my friend Kayaku and some of his boys to protect you, even if it doesn't seem necessary from what I saw.", Ruhin said with a slight chuckle.

"Thank you for your immense kindness, grandpa Ruhin.", I said, the golden chopstick bending slightly under my grips. They noticed it. 

'I love this side of the family…', I thought sarcastically, my gills twitching again. 

_______________________

[Third Person POV]

It was 3.34 am.

Cahaya was on his way back to the Academy, his mind going through different plans for the future. He will be incredibly busy.

"Hmm.", he hummed and played with a new phone in his hand, as he slithered into a dark alley, the Naja Patriarchs proposed for him to sleep in the hotel but he refused.

He flicked his tongue out and looked to his right. The smell was familiar. He slithered in the direction until he was face to face with the origin.

"I thought you were dead, well if you wanted to become a pirate it works too.", the hybrid said as he looked at the figure of a deer that was getting helped by a wolf. Behind the two was a panda, glaring at him.

"Very, very funny, Cahaya. Anyway, thanks for saving Haru… and not thank you for not saving me.", the deer in question said with sarcasm and a weak smile, he was missing his left eye, hand, and left foot. Dried and fresh blood matted the bandage area.

"Your lucky to even be alive, a fucking herbivore attacking the Madaragumi by himself and for absolutely nothing… teenager this day all nutjobs.", the panda said with anger, his remarks aimed at the two hybrids and the deer missing some body part.

"At least he didn't take a cross-bolt in the eye. Right mister, I released psychopaths in the wild after I caught them and healed them, naively hoping that they would never commit such an act such as, for example, predation, ever again.", Cahaya rebuked, and the red deer snorted at the mention of the pierced eye.

Anger started to build inside the panda, replacing the fear he had but it was halted as he gazed at the puzzled expression on the wolf's face. He scratched his head and breathed in and out. Regaining his calm.

"Anyway, your job at the moment must be quite time-consuming, am I right? Sorry not sorry, it's partially my fault.

I know it's a vital one for the Black Market inhabitants, even if you are naive in how you work. I decided that as of now, you shalt be my subordinate.", he declared with a hiss, his eyes seemingly glowing, he said this without a care in the world for the bemusement of everyone present here.

The panda was the more shocked of the three like he was going to obey a brat. He wanted clarification.

"Wha-" he rudely interrupted the panda by taking a picture with the phone given to him by his new butler, Ghabi the Arabian sand anaconda.

The flash briefly blinded the three, though the exaggerated reaction of the two carnivores in the picture made the hybrid chuckle.

"How does it feel to be on the receiving end, Gohin? Everything will be sent by mail in the week. Goodbye.", the hybrid said and waved before he slithered away, he was going to sleep in one of the sea caves. One with a pocket of air and land inside.

The last few hours were quite exhausting.