Chapter 649: Rate (1/2)
A solemn promise to appease the tragedy carried into the people's hearts. No matter the obstacle ahead, the drive to carry on their memories outweighed the bitter truth.
Time passes to an awkward drive to Konlda, where many of the buildings stood at equal height. Most shops were closed to honor the deceased, or so was the portrayal, the truth, none wanted to be stuck in the firing line, especially the small businesses.
Kul and Asmodeus headed on to where Esvalo called, the glances were rather awkward and uncertain. The mental image of the prince of lust being dominated couldn't be washed either with bleach or acid. The traumatic experience etched itself into her heart.
Soon, the driver pulled to an elevated pavement. A hail from Kul signaled them to continue forth. Behind, the prince stumbled to dust off his clothes, the mind and body trembled by the subsequent 'enjoyment' of before. To their shoulder, people in trench coats walked briskly, some accidentally hit and begged pardons to hurry along.
'Peculiar,' pondered Kul. Most kept their heads down before the rather blocky building ahead. An estimate showed around six floors excluding the ground level. White frames protruded out the building, the architecture was a simple rectangle on which had boulder frames.
”Come along,” said Asmo, ”-we ought to meet an old comrade,” they climbed the rather dirtied stairs to a stuffy inside. Cold and free to hot and smokey, the wood kept the stench of spilled liquor and tobacco. To the left side after an arrangement of maps, laid seats bolted to the walls. A deeper scan inside revealed scratches and dents across the wall paint.
”Gets rather eventful at night, doesn't it,” commented the sneaky Asmo.
”How do you come to that conclusion?” they paused, a known suited man nodded down the hall, '-I'll fetch Esvalo,' said the expression.
”Because,” the arms crossed, ”-bolted chairs and empty shelves. A violent drunken stupor, don't you smell the alcohol. It's pretty self-explanatory…”
”Oh yeah, pretty easy,” she glared.
To and fro of concerned figures crossed the open-ended room, childish remarks proved the entourage as daft and sexist.
”How goes it,” gestured Esvalo, ”-you guys came at the perfect time,” the hefty arms drowned the bystander's view, ”-let's go for a smoke,” he whispered. ”Tell the boss I'll be back,” he chuckled with a fake sense of control and left.
”Holy hell,” he panted, ”-that man has presence if I've seen one,” quick on his step, ”-follow me,” they walked at a father pace to the closest intersection. The stoplight interval between green, yellow, and red. Pedestrians were confident to cross no matter what the little man said.
Back again to a drippy wall, ”-sorry about that,” the fingers trembled to light a cigarette.
”Here,” offered Asmodeus, ”-how ruffled are you?”
”Very,” *cough,* ”-you don't understand the Yanok's reach.” Kul watched straight-faced and unimpressed.
”Don't give me that look,” he coughed, ”-the Yanok and Vermillion are on bad terms. I came here as a mediator for both families. The Yanok was money, and the Vermillion wants brute strength, I'm stuck as the middle man.”
”Karma,” said Asmodeus, ”-you two-faced fat-drum. Stop with the burgers and be loyal for once. The packages at the normal location. Send the money to the same account, 10000 Exa for 1 Kg.”
”Too expensive, come on,” he shouted, ”-the going price is 1 kg for 8,500.”
”Too bad,” he smirked, ”-the other suppliers have run in a bit of trouble since the terrorist attacks. The shipyards were attacked, and guess what…”
”You greedy bastard,” gritted Esvalo.
”Mind your tongue, big boy,” threatened Kul, ”-supply and demand. Control the former and the latter is easy pickings.”
”Ay, Esvalo,” approached a heavily accented man, ”-the boss wants to see you.”
”Damn it,” he snarled, ”-negotiate to the boss directly then,” he smirked. 'I'm not taking the blame alone.'
Thereon, the setting changed to a stuffier blacked-out room. A broken desk held the leader's authoritative elbows, ”-what's this?” he squinted.
”They're Raven,” said Esvalo.
”I'll introduce us,” interjected Asmo, ”-my name's Asmodeus, and here's my right-hand man, Kul. We're from the newly established motel in the red-light district, and the ones who exterminated the 50-Blood Brothers gang.”
*SMACK,* he pounded the table, ”-IT WAS YOU,” as weird as it was, the eyes clenched,”-YOU SLAUGHTERED MY MEN-”
”Don't blow your load,” remarked Kul, ”-the blame is on the two-face Esvalo. We had a contract and fulfilled it. We kept our promise.”
”-Here I thought the underworld to be based around Loyalty and family,” completed Asmodeus, ”-numbers or weapons don't scare us,” a cheeky half-smile neutralized the onlooking watchmen.
”Weapons down boys,” said the boss, ”-the sheer hatred and will to kill, I see the Raven's are fearsome,” leaned into his chair, ”-Sorry about the outburst, I wanted to judge what characters you are. When someone's faced with death, the true self comes out. Esvalo here turned to be a great asset, given the opportunity, he turned coat and became a Yanok.”
”Please,” a distant voice stumbled through the door, ”-I don't want to anymore,” begged a lady in but a dressing gown.
”WHY YOU!” an unzipped, peculiarly dressed man crossed the door, ”-shit,” escaped the lips, ”-sorry boss, the lass ran away… it was my turn too.”
”N-no m-more,” she begged, ”-I've repaid my debt already, please, let me go,” she clawed to Esvalo's feet, ”-please, I wanted to be an idol… Ansoft's done, I can't find anything else, please, I bear your child… ESVALO!”
”Shut up woman,” *kick,* the head knocked back, the weeping continued, guards and boss alike watched with a certain disdain. ”-Sorry boss, the girl got a bit too carried away,” he grasped her hair, ”-I'll teach her a lesson, don't you worry.”