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 helped residents, and it rewarded and punished fairly. That was hardly a bad system. It was more like—

Yes, Jodio really had modeled his Passione in this world on Passione and the rather amusing Snake Quake Eight Families from Dragon Raja. Its structure was closer to Passione in JoJo, while its approach to ordinary people was closer to the Snake Quake Eight Families. Well, Jodio thought an organization like the Snake Quake Eight Families could exist, but its emergence was hardly likely. So he hadn't copied either one outright. He had just stitched them 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 took a shift there on one random day each month to earn themselves a good reputation. Word had it that the healing department of Suotuo City Intermediate Soul Master Academy was considering it as an internship site, and the two sides had already begun discussing a contract.

A mob boss was a doctor? Dai Mubai found it ridiculous. All he could do was shake his head and go inside.

"It's nothing serious. No surgery needed. 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 and said this.

"I've got this, boss. Go take care of your business." Oscar grinned as he put on a white coat.

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

Jodio rose without hesitation and motioned for Dai Mubai to follow him. Dai Mubai wanted to object, but he had a feeling he couldn't beat Jodio. He could only trail after him in a sulk.

Suotuo City was still bustling at night. Dai Mubai tried several times to speak, but the words never came. In the end, he watched Jodio nod and greet people along the way before entering a barbecue restaurant. The sharp, spicy aroma in the air made Dai Mubai frown, but he followed him in anyway.

The noise was constant. Dai Mubai didn't much like places packed with ordinary people, but then he saw two Soul Masters in black cloaks lift a curtain for Jodio and let him into a private room. That only made him more curious—and more intrigued.

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

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

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

"Hey, rookie! Pour the boss some tea already!" Ma Hongjun slapped the table and glared at Dai Mubai.

"Pour tea?" Dai Mubai nearly laughed in anger. I'm your prisoner, and I still have to pour you tea? Fine. I'll do it. What's there to be afraid of?

"Dai, how's your wound healing?" Jodio asked, cradling a pleasantly warm teacup in his hand.

"Fine. There's no wound." 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 cut in casually.

"Why did you insult me like that—what?! You predicted that too?" Dai Mubai asked in shock.

"Hmph."

Jodio moved his other hand away from the teacup, letting Dai Mubai see it clearly. The little cup was spinning rapidly in Jodio's palm, yet not a drop of tea spilled. Dai Mubai was even more stunned. Such extraordinary control over Soul Power!

"Dai Mubai, what do you think you are?" Jodio asked evenly. To Dai Mubai, Jodio looked at him as though he were worthless. It was much like the way his older brother looked at him, yet somehow even more arrogant.

"Ma Hongjun, tell him what you are." Jodio raised a hand while Dai Mubai was still stunned.

"I'm Jodio's good brother. I'm going to be in a band with him for life—no, wait, I'm going to fight alongside him for life. My goal is to stand beside him forever and never get left behind." Ma Hongjun struck a pose as he spoke.

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

"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, and I'm determined to become a mob superstar. The boss said a member who doesn't want to become a mob superstar is no good member. For me, becoming one is what I strive for," the Soul Master answered earnestly.

What? Dai Mubai found the answer absurd. Who was he trying to fool? Did he really believe that, or was he just putting on a show for his boss?

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

"Are you a prince? A Soul Master? Or a failure? Perhaps you're... weak?"

"You have considerable talent, and you used to work hard. But that was who you were, not who you are now. As I see it, you're nothing but a failure who's barely developed a shred of self-awareness. To me, you're beneath even the ordinary people outside—the lowest of the low," Jodio continued.

"My friends—Jodio Joestar's friends—are only geniuses and the strong. Never the useless or the cowardly! That's my creed, and that's how I choose my friends. Low Soul Power doesn't matter. Poor talent doesn't matter. Neither does being ugly. Those things can all change. None of them are certain. Only your spirit matters: the will to resist to the bitter end and never admit defeat. That's what I admire, and it's what the weak and the useless lack!" Jodio set down his teacup and brought his fingertips together in a triangle.

"People with that refusal to give up are often either geniuses or strong in their own right. They've usually already resolved what their future will be—and resolved to give everything to reach it!"

"Even if they fail, they gather strength in secret and wait, nursing their grudges, for a chance to rise again. They have clear plans for everything and absolute faith in the path they've chosen. Dai Mubai, those qualities aren't found only in Soul Masters. Ordinary people can have them too." After that impassioned speech, Jodio's voice returned to its usual calm.

"When an ordinary farmer realizes that caring for his children is everything to him, he gains that resolve. From then on, no matter what happens, he'll find happiness in it. Dai Mubai, right now you're nothing. You're not worthy of being my friend. So please don't go around using my name to get things done. Can you do that?"