Chapter 27 - Volume 2 (1/2)

The four rulers of New Port City’s streets sat together. Usually, these meetings were just battles of pride where they exchanged insults. This meeting, however, was the first time they grimaced and conspired with one another for the same cause.

Dinozo stepped into the room, and everyone’s eyes turned to him. Wearing his trademark emotionless face, he sat and poured himself a gla.s.s of wine.

Foxt impatiently asked Dinozo.

“What did the masters in Port City say?”

Each syndicate had their own master who looked after them, but the only person that could see them was Dinozo. In truth, it was them who placed Dinozo on the seat of Captain of New Port City’s Police Force. His task wasn’t just to act as the middleman between the syndicates during times of conflict, but he also worked as a messenger and collector of ‘donations’ which were sent back to the masters in Port City.

“They told us to solve the problem ourselves. They are having enough trouble with creating their own Merchant Guild, so they don’t have the time to look after us.”

“Hmph! To think they said all those big words when they got their f.u.c.king money!”

“Even they want to refrain from joining with the possibility of Central getting involved. They are quite agitated by the constant interference from the Seven Grand Merchant Guilds for their project. They didn’t say this, but I could tell from their eyes that they don’t want us to cause any trouble that could make it difficult for them.”

“Seems like even those b.a.s.t.a.r.ds on their high horse fear Central.”

“Is there any man who could stand against Central?”

Isaac’s face came into their heads, but they quickly removed the thought. The best way to deal with lunatics is to not deal with them in the first place.

“Does that mean I have to feed those d.a.m.n brats from tomorrow onwards?”

“Yes you do.”

Everyone sighed simultaneously at Dinozo’s words. They were confused by this sudden turn of events. Everyone here were criminal masterminds who had risen to their power through victories against countless other criminals and syndicates. Murder was just the tip of the iceberg. They’ve made numerous people cry tears of blood as they stole, kidnapped and ransomed both innocents and enemies alike.

They were the darkest of the alleyway shadows. Their cold-blooded nature had earned fear from everyone who looked at them. But now they were going to run a charity feeding all the orphans on the streets. The homeless and the orphans that live in the city are the ones who make the bottom of the food chain, even in this city full of lowlifes.

“If we do as that man said, the retaliation from our subordinates will be a problem.”

Those who lose their reputation lose their heads with it. That is the unspoken rule in the streets. They feared losing their reputation and pride because they too have risen to their seat using the same tactic against their enemies. That is why they’ve used all measures cruelty to have their vengeance, but they couldn’t do anything against Isaac because they will always be on the losing end.

“Then just leave.”

“…”

Everyone shut up at Dinozo’s words. That was indeed the most definite solution. If you have a problem with your home, you can simply look for a new one. All of them have saved a significant amount of wealth of their own, which would allow them to live a comfortable life no matter where they go. But even this pitiful power they had ama.s.sed was something they wanted to protect. Plus, they’ve made many enemies to get to where they are. The moment they leave their pack, they become vulnerable to whatever comes their way. Without a solution in sight, all they could do was sigh as the night pa.s.sed.

“Yawn! That’s a good sleep.”

“Hehe, Good morning Sir Isaac.”

Ratt listed off all the curses and insults he knew in his mind as he brought a bucket of water for Isaac to wash his face with. Isaac had refused to reside in a house in New Port City that was prepared for him, opting to stay in the City Hall as his residence.

Even though it was a small 2 story building, it still had everything that was required to function as a government building. But because of Isaac’s decision to live here, the entire police force was called over to perform a ma.s.sive clean-up operation of the house, not leaving a single speck of dust in their wake. Isaac had also brought much furniture transforming this government building into a comfortable house that suited his own needs.

Once Isaac was done was.h.i.+ng his head, Ratt quickly handed a towel to him.

“We will prepare your breakfast immediately.”

“No need.”

“Sorry?”

“I said no need.”

Ratt looked at Isaac as if he was seeing a ghost. For the last week, Isaac had been using Ratt as a punching bag if his meal was even a second late. Isaac’s physical abuse was focused entirely on Ratt’s nose, and at this point, he had given up on fixing it. The nose that had been crushed into his face made his appearance hideous.

But now he said he won’t be having breakfast today.

While Ratt wondered what the reason could be, Isaac threw the towel away and walked outside the city hall.

Ratt quickly pursued to question him.

“W, where are you going?”

“I’m getting my breakfast.”

“What? If you just ask, I can quickly prepare…”

“It’s fine. My body just feels tensed up because I’ve been only eating and sleeping for the last week. I just want to go for a walk and get some free food on the way.”

“W, where are you…”

“Well, I wonder.”

Ratt had risen to the rank of vice-captain through his exceptional flattery. He quickly figured out the meaning behind Isaac’s words.

“Come to the Police Headquarters. In truth it was our captain who ran this city. Why don’t you two have breakfast together and use the time efficiently by discussing how you’re going to use the tax money collected in New Port City?”

“Hm, let’s go to the Alta District.”

“W, we don’t know what that stupid brute will do! Just staying with him in the same room would harm your reputation.”

“Who says I’m eating with him?”

“Huh? Then with who?”

Alta District was where all of the warehouses were stationed. All of the s.h.i.+ps that docked in the ports unloaded their goods here, and the workers were tasked with looking after them. Foxt did have the t.i.tle of the President of an a.s.sociation, but just as Isaac had described him, his main occupation was seizing the income from workers who were hired in this district.

First of all, all workers were forced to join the a.s.sociation. Foxt’s syndicate would do everything they could to prevent non-members from getting any jobs. Once they do join, they were forced to pay a third of their income to the a.s.sociation as a members.h.i.+p fee every day.

On top of squeezing the workers dry with this policy, he also ran a loan shark business and made his workers sit on a mountain of debt, taking back the rest of the workers’ income to pay their interest. The workers were forced into slavery at this point.

Any merchants who refused to pay a donation to the a.s.sociation were hara.s.sed by refusing to unload or store their goods into the warehouses until they had no choice but to pay up. Anyone who tried to resist in any stage of this process was brutally killed and left on the streets as an example. He was ruling the district through fear and violence.

Don’t starve the children.

The order was baffling, but it couldn’t be refused. n.o.body wants to do it, but they had no choice. So the order was carried out in the most despicable way as possible, and all of the districts carried this order out in their own way.

Foxt was a man whose action spoke before his words. He was never going to put any effort into an order he didn’t want to follow. So all he did was make it look like he was following the order to the bare minimum.

“Come and get your meal, maggots!”

With an idiot as their leader, all of their followers naturally became the same kind. Isaac wondered how these brutes could come up with such an intricate ploy for their business, but it turned out they simply took over this business from another syndicate through force and carried on.

At the corner of the docks stood a shanty town where the poorest citizens in the slums resided. Citizens who didn’t have the money to live in the smallest of lodges. They were the children and the elderly who couldn’t find a place to work.

Clang! The mobster pushed the barrel over, spilling its contents. It was a soup and it was spilled all over the dirty streets. It was made with ingredients that should have been thrown out and boiled with the water from a river. Calling it a soup was too good of a name.

“Che! p.i.s.ses me off whenever I see them.”

The mobster spat on the ground. He was given this role because he drew the short stick. The children and the elderly crawled out of the alleys and carefully picked up whatever they could from the ground. To the people who starved more often than not, even this filth was a gift from the heavens. They quickly swept the streets clean with shaking hands in fear that the mobster could turn at them at any moment. Once the street was cleaned, the people of the slums disappeared back into the alleys.

Isaac, who had been watching it from the start, scratched his head and walked up to the thugs who were distributing the food.

“Oi.”

Che! What do you want? We did as you asked.”

When Isaac approached them, the mobster turned the barrel upside down. It was a rebellious act, showing how ‘well’ he had taken cared of Isaac’s order. Isaac simply approached near the man and picked up a rotten apple near his foot. It was left behind since all of the people were too afraid to go near him.

After looking at the muddied rotten apple, Isaac took a bite off it. Even the thugs were surprised at this act. They didn’t think he’d actually eat it.

After chewing the filth Isaac spat the thing out of his mouth and called Ratt over with his finger.

“Have you called?”

“It’s disgusting.”

“Sorry?”

“I said it’s disgusting you f.u.c.k!”

Slam!

Isaac picked up the wooden ladle and swung it at Ratt.

“Kuuk!”

The ladle shattered to pieces and blood was dripping from Ratt’s head.

“I don’t care whether you make food out of the trash or make soup with the sewers. It’s a special meal and special meals require special ingredients. But if it’s a special meal, it should at least taste nice! Am I a f.u.c.king r.e.t.a.r.d to you? Huh! Do I have to shove this piece of s.h.i.+t in my mouth as my special?!”

Smack! Smack!

The mobsters’ looked in fear as Isaac kicked Ratt’s face like a ball. Once he was done stomping on Ratt’s head, he turned around with a relieved face.

“Phew! I knew I needed some exercise to loosen up this body. Get up.”

Ratt, who was curled up to protect his head, quickly got back on his feet and Isaac turned to see the mobsters again. The mobsters flinched at Isaac’s intimidating presence.

“Go bring out proper food and distribute it again. Something I can eat and say ‘ah, that was delicious.’ Otherwise he will die.”

“I don’t care if he dies.”

Flinch. It seemed the mobster spoke what he was thinking to Isaac out of confusion. Ratt wasn’t part of their syndicate. They weren’t exactly enemies, but there was no reason for this mobster to do his best to save that man.

Isaac watched the mobster for a moment and smiled as he tapped Ratt with his foot.

“I think he’s pretty smart? Trying to make me kill one of his rivals’ leaders. Not bad. You better watch out if you survive today. He’s going to get big.”

Ratt’s eyes quickly turned to the mobsters when Isaac spoke those words. He seemed as if he was ready to kill every single one of them. His crippled nose and bloodied face did well to help the intimidation. The look on his face was a mix of anger and sadness, asking why he had to go through this bulls.h.i.+t.