Mafioso

(you are for Chance)

The mafioso was the captain of a sea vessel, or, more simply, a ship. He had a loyal crew. Everyone rushed to shake his hand when they saw him. He served as chief captain for over five years, and he was quite good at his job. He wasn't overly strict, but he wasn't lax either. However, yes, his strictness was complemented by his serious nature. His discipline and composure earned him respect, and everyone liked him.

Throughout my time as captain, or rather, throughout my entire time at sea, everyone believed and generally knew that mermen and mermaids existed. Catching such sea creatures was a tall order. Many people working on the ship saw mermaids perched on small cedars or rocks in the sea, and when they tried to catch them, they immediately dove into the water. Catching them was difficult, as they usually hid and lived in secluded places, and were amazingly fast swimmers. Faster than any cheetah or even peregrine falcon. No one had ever managed to catch them.

The day was drawing to a close. The sun was on the horizon, gradually leaving behind only a beautiful orange-red sunset. Mafioso stood near the side of the ship. There were no problems, and everything was calm. At some point, he noticed something strange on the surface of the water. A tail? A huge, floundering tail. Apparently tangled in a rope or something. Mafioso narrowed his eyes. This tail looked very strange. Without a second thought, Mafioso ordered the sailor-fishermen and the harvesters to pull this creature right up to their deck. A few minutes later, Mafioso's men succeed. And it turns out... A mermaid!! A real mermaid! His long tail was tangled in barbed wire, and his hands were tied, also for some reason. Everyone froze in shock. And the gray-haired mermaid was floundering again. Up close, his tail was even bloodier. There were wounds on it.