The Awakened Are Always Happy, Part One

Jodio's approach to building Passione was simple: use force to establish order. Even a lousy order was still order, and most people would support it.

Besides, Passione wasn't all that lousy. It didn't extort people, it was willing to help residents, and it rewarded and punished fairly. That was hardly a bad order. It was more like...

Yes, Jodio really had modeled his Douluo Passione on Passione and the hilariously named Snake Quake Eight Families from Dragon Raja next door. Its structure was closer to Passione from JoJo, while its approach to ordinary people resembled the Snake Quake Eight Families. Well, Jodio thought an organization like the Snake Quake Eight Families could exist, but one actually appearing was unlikely. So he hadn't copied it wholesale. He had only stitched the two together in broad strokes.

They met Jodio again at a healing Soul Master clinic called JoJo's Gospel. It had become the most famous clinic in Suotuo City, known throughout the city for its affordable prices. Most healing Soul Masters now spent one random day each month seeing patients there to build their reputations. Word was that the healing department of Suotuo City's intermediate Soul Master Academy was considering it as an internship site. They had already reached the contract-negotiation stage.

The crime boss was a doctor? Dai Mubai found it ridiculous, but all he could do was shake his head and go in.

"Nothing serious. No surgery needed. It looks like a surface wound—just a scrape. Oscar, perfect timing. One sausage will take care of it." Jodio was examining a middle-aged woman's injury. The moment he saw Oscar arrive, he nodded to him.

"Leave it to me, boss. You go take care of your business." Oscar grinned as he put on a white coat.

"Right. I'll leave it to you and the others. Call me if anything comes up that you can't handle."

Jodio stood without hesitation and gestured for Dai Mubai to follow him. Dai Mubai wanted to argue, but he didn't think he could beat Jodio, so he followed in a sulk.

Suotuo City was still bustling at night. Dai Mubai tried several times to speak, but never managed it. In the end, he watched Jodio nod and greet people along the way until they entered a barbecue restaurant. The sharp, spicy smell made Dai Mubai frown, but he went in after him.

Noise filled the place. Dai Mubai wasn't fond of crowded places full of ordinary people, but then he spotted two Soul Masters in black cloaks lifting a curtain for Jodio, letting him into a private room. That made him even more curious—and more intrigued.

Beyond the curtain lay a darkened room. Ma Hongjun was idly kindling a little flame in his hand as he waited for Jodio. As soon as Jodio entered, Ma Hongjun pulled out a chair with a grin and invited him to sit. This was the real boss here, the true head of Passione.

"When is that person coming?" Jodio asked in a low voice.

"Soon. Probably just a little while longer," Ma Hongjun explained from behind him.

"Hey, newbie! Aren't you going to pour the boss some tea?" Ma Hongjun slapped the table and glared at Dai Mubai.

"Pour tea?" Dai Mubai was so angry he almost laughed. I'm your captive, and I still have to pour you tea? Fine. I'll do it. What's there to be afraid of?

"How are your wounds healing, Dai?" Jodio asked, picking up a pleasantly warm cup of tea and holding it in his palm.

"Fine. There aren't any wounds." Dai Mubai drew a deep breath and forced the answer through clenched teeth.

"Jodio, why did you—"

"Your next line is, 'Why did you insult me like that?' Right?" Jodio asked casually.

"Why did you insult me like that—what? You saw that coming too?" Dai Mubai asked, stunned.

"Hmph."

Jodio moved his left hand away, revealing the teacup beneath it. The little cup was spinning at high speed in his palm, yet not a drop of tea spilled. Dai Mubai was even more stunned. That was... astonishing control over Soul Power!

"Dai Mubai, what do you think you are?" Jodio asked evenly. Dai Mubai felt as though Jodio was looking at a loser. It was similar to the way his older brother looked at him, yet somehow even more arrogant.

"Ma Hongjun, tell him what you are." Jodio lifted a hand while Dai Mubai was still in a daze.

"I'm Brother Jo's good friend. I'm going to be in a band with Brother Jo for life. Pah, I mean fight alongside him for life. My goal is to stand by Brother Jo's side forever and never get left behind." Ma Hongjun struck a cool pose as he spoke.

"I don't care about anything else. Raising my level and reaching the top—that's my goal," Ma Hongjun went on.

"Tell him what you are." Jodio pointed to a Soul Master standing guard in the private room with his hands behind his back.

"I'm a member of Passione, determined to become a gangster superstar. The boss said a member who doesn't want to become a gangster superstar isn't a good member. For me, that's what I'm striving for," the Soul Master answered earnestly at once.

What? Dai Mubai found the answer absurd. Who would believe that? Was he really that committed, or was he putting on an act for the boss?

"Dai Mubai, everyone has a goal. Everyone knows what they are. What about you?" Jodio asked lazily, propping his head on one hand.

"Are you a prince? A Soul Master? Or a failure? Or are you... weak?"

"You have considerable talent and the will to work hard. But that was the old you, not the person you are now. As I see it, you're merely a failure who has barely gained a shred of self-awareness. To me, you're beneath the ordinary people outside—the lowest of the low," Jodio continued.

"I, Jodio Joestar, have only ever befriended geniuses and the strong. Never losers or cowards! That's my creed and my standard for friendship. Low Soul Power doesn't matter. Neither does poor talent. Even being ugly is no obstacle. All those things can change sooner or later; none of them are certain. Only spirit—that determination to fight to the bitter end and never admit defeat—is what I admire, and it's what the weak and the worthless lack!" Jodio set down his teacup and pressed his fingertips together in a triangle.

"And people with the refusal to give up that I'm talking about tend to become either geniuses or the strong. They've usually already resolved what they want their future to be—and resolved to sacrifice everything for it!"

"Even if they fail, they build their strength in secret and wait, nursing their grudges, for a chance to rise again. They have clear plans for everything and unwavering faith in the path they've chosen. Dai Mubai, that quality isn't found only in Soul Masters. Ordinary people can have it too." After his impassioned speech, Jodio's voice grew calm again.

"When an ordinary farmer realizes that caring for his children is everything to him, he finds his purpose in that moment. Whatever happens, he can draw happiness from it. Dai Mubai, right now you're nothing. You don't deserve to be my friend yet. So would you please stop using my name when you're out there?"