Devil's Business

The Riddle

Juno’s private escort, the personal chauffeur for his sport car, was waiting on the front yard for their departure to Vena. It is the designated place and central figure for art collectors and merchant alike. Of all the auctions occurred in a day, lots of them were embarked in this very place. Otherwise, the top-brass universities for arts were also domiciled within this region, therefore made them a perfect residence for anyone interested in arts to visit.

On their way to the airport, the traffic jam was suffice. It seemed everyone has the similar reason with Juno to disembark from their hectic workload to go overseas at some point. Being a professional chauffeur as he is, sticking with taciturnity is a freedom reserved to the busy man on the rear. However, in this moment, the driver realized that his boss needed some human to talk with, pictured by the wrinkled eyebrows when sightseeing upon the activities outside of their moving car. As his long-term experience drive him to keep looking at the road, he also learned that expression as Juno’s sign of deprivation and indication of stress inwards.

 “So, Boss, how long would you stay there? Weeks? Days?” Asked the chauffeur to break the ice-cold nuance. Juno chose not to reply to the question accordingly, but then deciding that his driver should know of his decision and plans for the time being and replying,“Well, I will go traveling around the world in 80 days or so, Bruno. I’ll contact you once I’ve arrived back to Jatra.” Said Juno afterwards.

“Any plans, then, Boss? Should I take you somewhere out or preparing something? A confetti, perhaps?”

“Haha, if it’s pleasing you, why not? Let’s have some party once all of this tender finished.” Declared Juno to Bruno’s quest as he laughed to the proposal. 

While it seems that the anxiety has not perished, The driver felt relieved to see his boss smiling sincerely in subsequent to his proposal and not pursuing any further questions afwerwards. Party has become the principal foundation of Juno’s life. Connections and business proposal was ratified beyond measure in this type of convention, therefore brought Juno to senseless schedule and non-stop flight to the entire major city of the world. A small chat like this is rare for him, and stood in silence is golden for a hectic personality of a man.

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“Much obliged, sir. Have a nice vacation and welcome to Vena.” Greeted the customs officer as Juno passed the foreigner check of his visit. He smiled to the officer before moving along rapidly to the baggage areas for retrieving his carriage. From Melina’s strict schedule, the private guide is awaiting him for precisely one hour after his arrival, in exception to any delay and re-schedule of his departure. It means that Juno has to be punctual for the meeting with the man and on his own if there’s lateness smearing his schedule onwards.

As he ventured to the baggage for taking his own from the conveyor belt, his sense of thought was tingling. His secretary, Melina, was arranging everything according to his needs. However, in contrary to her obligation to follow the rules and conduct, she constructed her moral conduct into Juno's bracket of needs.

Because of this, Juno is sighing and mumbled to himself,“Sometimes having a perfectionist secretary is tiring.” Mumbled Juno in hesitation within his colourful mind. Luckily, the baggage of his are closing in as Juno getting inside the baggage areas so it would be hasty for him to retrieve and collect. When he ventured outwards of the building, his name is written amongst the crowd of whom waiting for someone inside. The holder is a blonde lady with similar feature to Melina, which is small in figure and having serious nature upon her smile.

“Mr. Ayodhya, is it?” hailed the woman as Juno came close to the notification. Without much to speak to the lady, he came close and greeting her with a nod,“Welcome aboard. I am Melissa, your guide to the hall of arts in Vena. I am currently studying in one of this city’s prestigious school of fine art called Vena University. Nice to meet you, Mr. Ayodhya!” Clamored the woman as the next liaison method to her role and position. Due to Juno’s fatigue, he could not reply the warm introduction of Melissa with proper answers from his side, only laid down smile to the woman seamlessly to her enthusiasm.

An hour have passed and they both currently within the safety of an automated taxi. Vena’s status as the capital of mode figuratively embossed even to their public transportation’s design. Its entire body also got smeared with blossoming red flowers as the main coloring of the car’s exterior. Some of the tail-end of the flower’s paintings are decorating the inside wall of the car as well.

“This here, Mr. Ayodhya, is the mark of our city’s national flower. Edwaisse, as we called it, are only blooming in July to september. Such a rarity to possess, yet a beauty to conserve.” Liaised Melissa further along the way.

Juno’s attention was then drawn to the city’s busy days as their carriage paving ways to their destination. A lot of the city’s painters were working on their drawings over the vacant spaces on the shoulder of the city’ main street. They carefully stint their inside-out creativity to the wall and concrete of the highway’s downside pillars.

“For the one right there.” Spoke Melissa while pointing at the street painters,”Are my colleagues. We are reaching the national holiday, Atria’s independence from the goons of Gram military of the past.”

“Oh, so the auction were appointed as the other day to behold, I suppose.”

“It’s being cleared out by the owner, Mr. Shudo Mann, as he wanted to commemmorate the freedom of Atia by releasing the shackles of ‘the last supper’ off his stash.” Reply Melissa to Juno’s curiosity.

Shortly after, a massive building is close to their sight. The main entry of the structure were enamored with eight pillars and classical age construction upon their framework. Military forces and police officers were congregating across the gate, inspecting high class elites and journalists. Juno were enthralled by the commotion and trying to snap pictures with his handheld several times, all before Melissa snuck in and grasp the phone immediately.

“Sorry, Mr. Ayodhya. We can’t take pictures here. Those officers would notice and asking us queries before long.” Explained Melissa to Juno before any mode of protest were laid down against her action. Juno was disgruntled by the dubious performance from her, obviously, but does nothing to her despite the mounting wrath.

“Good morning, Sir. Welcome to this city’s greatest hall of arts, Sivana del monte. May I have your identity card, please? A passport would do, if any sort of national card is not within Sir’s possession at the moment.” Addressed the receptionist in the front lobby of the building when Juno happened to register himself upon the list of guests for the forthcoming ceremony. Juno’s responded to the sincere hospitality by one broad grin across his lips.

”I’ll have one right here. Melissa, please administer yourself firsthand.” Asked Juno as he dug through his pockets for his passport.

“Hahaha, don’t worry, Mr. Ayodhya. I have you already on the paper.” Stated Melissa in advance,”His name is Juno Ayodhya, and he would be on the gala for ‘the last supper’. He would want to have some rest in here beforehand, so please book him a seat in one of your most exquisite room.” Ordered her to the receptionist in following to the introduction of her client.  

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Two nights at the capital city of Atia was an outstanding experience to Juno. Of all his venture across the major metropolis of developed countries, the artistic feature of this old school country was fascinating to drown upon. Grafitti was not the sole key to its ‘future’, but also antique sculptures and ageless buildings across the city were piqued the interests of tourism in Vena. Melissa works on her role as a guide for his travel under the veil of the city, with her careful annotation on every segments of arts that they perceived. The main entertainment of the city’s tremendous craftsmanship, the last supper, were also inclined to be the next on their queue in the last evening before the offering battle begin to rise up.

As Juno and Melissa arrived to the venue, a lot of influential personality were already perceiving the art much earlier than they are. Juno’s closest friend of Jatra, Je-llo, was even there as he talks with another superstars of the showcase. As he concerned of his friend’s inquisitiveness, he tried to circumvent the menace by turning around a little and took everything that he could eat on the spot.

“Even that person were interested with this painting like us. Wonder how much would he carry for the price.” Mumbled Juno as he strides along the crowd to avoid being seen on site.

However, His escort could not perceive the intention of them sneaking around the bush, despite kept shadowing his movement in meticulous fashion. Luckily, Je-llo himself seemed to be satisfied with the sight, as he ventured out from the front side of the showcase and fled from the scene.

Before long, Je-llo’s departure was the perfect cue to Juno. He chose to directly coming out and walking to the base of the hanged-up paintings along with Melissa, which then speeding up and took the captainship afterwards for explaining about the painting in detail.

“So, the entitled ‘the last supper’ was painted by Geronimo Luda. He is one famous painter to name upon the figure of excellent quality. In overall to his prowess to conceive authentic creation, he also proven that riddles were existed in the realm of paintings, given that this one right here possess enigmatic blank spot-” Described Melissa with dent of eagerness as her smiles beaming up across the entire session, even though her escort didn’t pay attention to her explanation as much as she does to herself.

“So, as we can see right here, it’s  the hand of The 14 guests that were in question. They were all having an inscribed red dot all upon their index finger, and a knife with some papers aloft the desk of which they were seated in another riddle to solve.”

Mischievous laughter of the demon were instilled inside the head of the man, which realized something interesting upon the picture. He was also there once, sealing the pact with the devil of old. The desk, as far as his memories would remind him, were awfully close-knit to the pattern of the summoned one by the beast.

“When did this painting produced, Melissa? Asked Juno for the insurance of his realization upon something trivial, but fundamental to the issue. For the questions, she answered in full determination.

“1213”