13 Mink Street

Chapter 66: Protectors

“This is inappropriate.”

Hearing Tiz say that, Karon just spread his hands. “I think it can be considered from the standpoint of family, but there is one problem: Aunt Winnie and Clarice do not know how our family differs from others. At most, they think we just live a bit better. They do not know that the words ‘go die’ are not merely spoken in anger, but can be turned into something real. More importantly, once they are turned into something real, we can handle it cleanly, without burden or consequence.”

Tiz took a sip of tea and said, “Do you know why, after you recovered, I told your uncle to involve you more in the family business?”

“Because we were short-handed?” Karon asked.

“Corpse movers are not difficult to hire; The pay is high, and the work is not exhausting.”

Karon nodded. Tiz set down his teacup. Karon stood up, refilled it, and sat back down.

Karon said, “Grandpa, you want me to understand the boundaries of life and respect through the operation of the funeral home, so that I will not become reckless after gaining power.”

“Heh.” Tiz smiled. Talking with a clever grandson was genuinely pleasant.

“I understand your meaning,” Karon continued. “I have always guarded my principles, and I am beginning to understand your moral standard. I will not cross lines. I respect rules. But Aunt Winnie and Clarice are our family, while you and I are also their family. Family works both ways.

“This isn’t about pitying a poor mother and daughter. It isn’t about being disgusted by a man who abandoned his wife and child. It’s not even about despising him for crawling back once he became penniless. It’s because Parker hurt Winnie’s father, you, and he hurt Clarice’s cousin, me. So, I believe I have a legitimate reason to respond to the harm I received.

“If a passerby snaps the roses I plant in my garden, I’m at least going to argue with him. If he speaks rudely, I might even hit him, let alone when something involves harming family.

“That is my reasoning.”

“A judge would not accept that argument,” Tiz remarked.

“As long as Order accepts it,” Karon replied, tapping his chest. “I mean the Order inside me.”

“I still think it is inappropriate,” Tiz said.

He then took an envelope he had prepared long ago from the desk and placed it in front of Karon, who accepted it. It was an enforcement order, not issued by a father, but by an Inquisitor of the Church of Order in Roja City.

“Yes, Grandpa. I accept the criticism.”

Mobilizing demonkin to act against ordinary people was forbidden, but if that demonkin was registered and carried enforcement authorization, the actions became lawful, an act performed in defense of the Church’s authority.

Karon took the envelope and stood to leave. As he opened the door, Tiz asked, “Did you come in here just to compliment the sweater your aunt knitted for me?”

Karon turned back, smiling, and tapped the envelope lightly in his palm. I came to take this, because I knew you had already prepared it.

Both grandfather and grandson smiled.

“Oh, right,” Tiz added. “Tomorrow is your aunt Mary’s birthday.”

“I know,” Karon said. “Aunt Mary has given a great deal to this family.”

Not only had she remained with Mason after his fall to Mink Street from the financial markets, she had always been an outstanding wife, mother, and elder, both in memory and in Karon’s own observation.

He also understood the deeper meaning of Tiz’s words, just as Karon had earlier reminded him that five days remained. That was why Karon chose to raise a hand and send Parker on his way.

“I will prepare properly,” Karon said.

“Will it be rushed?” Tiz asked.

“No. She is family.”

“Good. Thank you.”

“It is what I should do.”

***

In a bedroom on the second floor, Mason lay under the light of a bedside lamp reading the financial times.

Finishing her bath, Aunt Mary also climbed into bed. When she saw that he was still reading such material, she frowned slightly, only to quickly steady herself and allow the emotion to pass without revealing it. “That print is so small; Doesn’t it not strain your eyes?”

She wrapped an arm around his head to gently massage his temples. Mason flicked the newspaper, rolled it up, and set it aside. “It’s not that I am unwilling to accept the state of things. There is some reluctance, yes, but I never plan to return. I only read these to look.”

“I know,” Mary said, resting her cheek against his head. “I know you have always blamed yourself.”

Mason took her hand and kissed it twice. “I wanted to give you and the children a better life. I’m sorry I wasn’t capable enough.”

“Our life now is already good,” Mary protested. “Being a mortuary makeup artist isn’t bad. I get fewer hostile looks, and even if some clients stare after death, their stares are not unpleasant. The longer you work with them, the more lovable they seem. When memorial services begin and I see clients lying peacefully after I have prepared them, I feel what I do has meaning.

“And Mina and Lent are well suited to life here. Before, we were always busy and we barely had time for our children. Now, they are always right here with us.

“Father may be strict, but the family values are upright. I believe Mina and Lent will grow up well.”

Mason held her waist and breathed deeply. “I am grateful to fate for letting me meet you.”

“I feel the same,” Mary said. “You have always been a good husband.”

They held each other for a long time, then Mason suddenly commented, “By the way, our inventory is much smaller this month.”

“The household finances are tight.”

“That shouldn’t be the case... Buying the crematorium and the new hearse was expensive, but we all contributed. Business might not have been booming, but we settled several Package Bs with good margins, so why does it suddenly feel so constrained?”

“Because Winnie and I have been discussing withdrawing a sum from the shared account. We were calculating it last night.”

“For what?”

“For Karon.”

“Karon? What happened?”

“Karon and Miss Eunice.”

“They’re a good match.” Mason was very confident in his nephew.

“Miss Eunice is from Veyn.”

“Alright?”

“She is a Veyn noble. She and her mother live on Rhine Street. When I try to discuss Karon’s future with Father, his answer is always the same: let them develop freely.”

Mason finally sensed something wrong. His father adored Karon.

“When Miss Eunice visited with her mother, Father deliberately sent us to the amusement park, even in the rain,” Mary continued. “I think Father doesn’t want us to be too involved, and that points to just one possibility.”

Mason’s eyes widened. “Father wants Karon to go to Veyn?”

“And that’s why Winnie and I thought that if Karon really is going back to Veyn with Miss Eunice, we need to prepare a sum of liquid cash right now to exchange it for rels. Housing in York City isn’t cheap, but we should prepare a smaller apartment for him at the very least.

“Whether or not Karon ends up living in the woman’s manor is one thing, but how can he not have a place of his own in York City? If they argue, if they clash, Karon might not even have any place to go. He’s a man, after all.”

“I’ll ask Father about this tomorrow. No, I’ll ask him right now! I’m going to ask him exactly what he’s thinking and if he truly intends to send Karon to Veyn.” Uncle Mason rolled over and put on his slippers.

“Sigh. Where are you going?” Mary said. “Do you really have any position to speak about a decision Father has already made?”

“No, I have to go. I’m furious! Our brother is already gone, so how can we let Karon go to Veyn? The Immers family hasn’t fallen so low!”

“Then ask Father tomorrow,” Mary pressed. “It’s too late now. He may already be asleep.”

“No. If he isn’t in his study, I’ll go to his bedroom. If he’s asleep, I’ll wake him. I didn’t know before, but now that I do, I won’t allow myself to pretend!

“Mary, do you know what I’m truly afraid of? I’m afraid that Father is planning to send Karon away because we came back here, that he’s doing this so that I can inherit the business.”

Pa! Uncle Mason slapped himself. “How could I even think something like that? If that were true, would I still deserve to be called Karon’s ‘uncle’?”

“Father wouldn’t think that way,” Mary softly replied. “He has always been fair.”

“But I won’t allow it,” Mason continued. “Absolutely not! This house, this funeral home, it belongs to Karon. Long ago, Father gathered the three of us siblings and asked us, very solemnly, who was willing to inherit the family funeral home. Winnie and I both refused. We longed for the outside world. We grew up with the Immers funeral home, and were sick of it. We thought that if we still worked in this business after we were grown, it would be wasting our youth, our lives, and our futures.

“After Winnie and I refused, our brother chose to inherit.

“At the time, Winnie and I were young and foolish. We only thought that if our brother agreed to be the heir, we would both be free. Without that, we feared that Father would force a choice and pick one of us.

“And yet, our brother actually offered us that choice back. He looked to help his younger brother and sister.

“After I began working, before I even knew you, the first funds I used for stock trading were given to me by my brother, and it was not a small sum.

“Where did Winnie gathered enough personal savings to help that piece of filth Parker start his factory? That was also from our brother.

“Our brother chose to remain behind and protect the family business for our sakes. At the same time, he was already dividing the family assets with both Winnie and me.

“And now, his only son is to be sent to Veyn. Mary, I’m sorry, but even if I have to take you and the children to sleep on the streets, I won’t let this happen.

“Why was it that Winnie and I chose freedom back then while our brother stayed behind, yet now that we’ve broken our wings outside and crawled back, we want to steal our brother’s son’s nest?”

Hearing Mason’s rant, Mary withdrew the hand she had been using to pull him back.

“Back then, when Father said that offering us shares would help the funeral home to run better; I shouldn’t have agreed. Winnie and I came back here just to work, only to be taken in completely. What right did we have to accept any shares? Those shares, this business, was always Karon’s in the first place.

“I’m going to ask Father clearly.” Uncle Mason left the bedroom and went up to the third floor. He went to the study door first to knock.

“Come in.” Standing before that door, Mason took a deep breath. He opened it and walked inside.

About a quarter of an hour later, Mason came out of the study.

***

Creak. A bedroom door opened, revealing Mason’s face. Karon looked up from the book he was reading at his desk. “Uncle?”

“Karon, come out for a moment.”

“Alright.” Karon followed his uncle downstairs to the first floor.

Only one lamp was turned on, the one in the northwest corner where the sofa and coffee table both sat.

Aunt Winnie was already sitting on the sofa, wiping her reddened eyes while pouring coffee.

“Aunt, what’s wrong,” Karon asked as he hurried forward. “Someone like that isn’t worth getting angry over, really.”

Karon assumed that his aunt was still upset from Parker’s visit earlier that day. But by now, Parker was likely already in heaven confessing to a god. Alfred should return soon with his report. Karon had no intention of telling Aunt Winnie or Clarice the truth. Let that man leave in the form of an accident.

In truth, Karon had misunderstood; Aunt Winnie was wiping tears caused by the scolding she had just received from her second brother, Mason.

Mason had shouted at her, “It’s understandable that Mary didn’t tell me, she doesn’t carry the Immers name. Of course she’ll first consider Mina and Lent and her own household. But you, you already noticed, so why didn’t you tell me? Have you forgotten that you’ve taken your maiden name back? Immers? Are we deserving of our dead brother, acting like this?”

Beneath Mason’s relentless questioning, Winnie had not tried to argue. She merely wiped her tears.

“Sit,” Mason said, pointing at the sofa. Karon felt that the atmosphere was off, but still sat down.

Mason also took a seat. He looked at Karon and asked seriously, “Karon, tell me honestly. Will you go to Veyn with Miss Eunice?”

Karon froze for a moment, then nodded. “Probably.”

“Is it of your own will? Your grandfather said that you are willing.”

“Grandpa is right, I am willing. He asked me several times, and each time, I chose to go to Veyn.”

Mason grew agitated. “What kind of sense does that make? This is your home, Karon! This is your home! This house, this funeral home, all of it is yours, and it belongs only to you.

“Stay. Grow a bit older. No, you don’t need to grow older. Right now.”

Mason looked at Winnie. She offered a sheet of paper she had just written.

“Karon, your aunt and I will withdraw all our of shares, including Mary’s. This house, this business, is all yours.”

Karon felt he understood what this was about. A warmth blossomed in his chest. He had seen too many relatives tear their faces off in front of money and profit. Relatives who were able to keep a steady hold of themselves were rare.

He pushed the paper back over to Mason and Winnie with a smile. “Uncle, Aunt, I truly want to go to Veyn.”

“Listen to your uncle,” Mason argued. “Becoming a live-in son-in-law in another family’s home won’t be comfortable, and you have your pride. I can tell.”

“That’s not it,” Karon said. “Uncle, I want to go out and see things. Honest. You and Aunt were allowed to wander and struggle while young; Why should I be denied even the right to see the world?”

“It’s not the same thing,” Mason retorted.

“It is the same thing,” Karon protested.

He walked behind Mason and Winnie and put an arm around both of their shoulders. “I’ve heard from Grandpa before.”

In truth, he had heard it from Pu’er.

“That you and Aunt were very close with my father.”

“Your father was an excellent elder brother,” Mason agreed.

“Yes,” Winnie said.

“Back then, you and Aunt went out into the world. You saw it. And then you returned home, because this has always been your home. No matter when you come back, this door would always be open to you.

“I’m the same. If I don’t do well in Veyn, or if Miss Eunice and I don’t end up together, I can come home, just like you did. Because I know that this will always be my home, that once I return, my uncle, my aunts, and my cousins will all accept me without conditions. You’ll just welcome me home.

“So what’s the point of signing this? If you have no shares, will you stop recognizing me as your nephew? If you do have shares, then am I no longer your nephew?

“We are family. Something like this can’t separate us. It can’t become a barrier between us.”

With Karon’s persuasion, Mason finally stopped insisting on the transfer.

Karon pushed his uncle and aunt upstairs and told them to rest early.

When Karon returned to the third floor, he saw Tiz standing by the staircase.

“Mason came to see me,” Tiz stated. “He even wanted to argue with me. That has almost never happened before.”

“Uncle was overly emotional,” Karon said.

Tiz said, “From past to present, having a family like this makes me proud.”

Karon nodded. “I’m proud as well, to be able to protect a family like this from now on.”