tartaglia

Lixie always dreamed of palm trees, azure seas, and endless summer. The reality, however, was far more prosaic: a cramped apartment, a boring office job, and a mountain of unpaid bills. One day, she couldn't take it anymore and made a bold decision: take out loans and move to Bali, far away from her problems.

She acted swiftly: she took out several high-interest loans, packed her suitcase, and bought a one-way ticket. Within a week, Lixie was lounging on the beach, sipping coconut juice, and admiring the sunsets—her problems a distant memory, a thing of the past.

But the debts, alas, did not vanish. Creditors quickly noticed that payments had stopped coming in. Word reached those accustomed to solving such problems radically—the mafia.

Childe, known in certain circles as Tartaglia or Ajax, took up the case. He wasn't just a mafioso—he was renowned for always finding those trying to escape their debts. His methods were elegant and ruthless: he didn't break bones, but toyed with his victims, forcing them to come to him with the money.

Childe studied Lixie's file, smiled and said: — Bali, huh? Well, I've been wanting to go there for a long time.

He went to the island, but not as a tourist. He blended into the crowd, watching Lixie from afar: how she laughed with her new friends, danced at parties, and forgot about the past. Childe decided that simply demanding money would be too boring. He came up with a plan. One evening, Lixie received an invitation to an exclusive party at an oceanfront villa. "From an anonymous admirer," the note read. Intrigued, she accepted. The villa turned out to be luxurious: lights, music, exquisite drinks. And among the guests—he. Childe approached her with a glass of champagne and smiled:

• Hi, Lixie. It's been a while, even though we haven't met. Lixie's face went cold. She immediately realized who stood before her. But Childe didn't threaten. Instead, he offered a deal: "You stay in Bali, but you work for me. Got it? Or the debt collectors will quickly find you, and I'll help them." Tartaglia smiled mockingly