Ah.

Fas est ab hoste doceri. One should learn even from one's enemies.

-Ovid, Metamorphoses

I touched the ink and rubbed its remnants between my fingers, trying to feel the texture. This ink is thicker than normal. Smells like metal too...like iron.

"Explain this, Mr. Joseph?" I held the other contract signed in black ink and showed it to him.

"That's Titan to you from now on, kid. Explain what?"

"This, Titan. You said you have people sign the contracts of joining El Matador with their blood. I don't think that's entirely true though. I see black ink here."

His face paled and his palms clenched when he saw that paper in my hands. Everyone else was busy chatting with Abner and eating coconut lemon bars with cream tea.

"Abner!" He angrily called out his butler's name and he rushed to his side in a jiffy.

"What is it, Titan?"

"How many times have I told you to keep my desk neat? Clean everything at once!"