Chapter 99 - Payback Preparations

<---Chapter 98 - Weapon Lessons|Table of Contents|Chapter 100 - Village--->

A month later...

Wide-eyed children led by their parents squeezed with one another as they meandered along, following a bright lady waving a tiny little red flag hoisted at the end of what seemed to be a conductor's stick. The frills of her dress coupled with the immaculate beauty of her face dazzled and angered men and their wives respectively as she led a large group behind her, strolling down the wide streets underneath the towering housing apartments, some of which had just been recently completed.

"And that's the end of the tour! We hoped you enjoyed your visit to the Golden Snakes shopping arcade and its various subsidiaries, where your dreams can come true!" The lady smiled and took a bow to rising applause, some of the more daring children running forward to request a picture together. The tourists began to disperse one by one, flooding the already crowded high street and shopping arcade, looking to buy souvenirs back one by one.

The beautiful lady held a determined smile as she weathered the endless request for pictures, selling the photos by the hundreds for a tidy profit. It took nearly two hours before the queue and crowd finally began to thin out, though it did not mean that people had stop ogling at her. The lady was hardly worried about her security, however, as there was an entire squad of Seven Snakes covering her and keeping an eye out for anyone thinking a bit too far.

While the lady was about to raise her hand and wipe the sweat of her forehead, someone else firmly gripped her hand, forcing it down while using a cloth to dab the sweat off instead and chiding her : "Careful, Emily. The makeup will be smudged if you do that. Need water?"

"Thank you, Alex, that would be great."

"OLLIE! Get some water for Emily here. Ollie!" Alex glanced behind his shoulders, trying to spot where his squad's member had gone, only to find Ollie completely missing. His eyes locked onto Bola with a stern gaze, Bola immediately saluting and running off to find Ollie.

"Bola, you fucking idiot, get the water fir- nevermind." Alex's voice trailed off as he watched Bola disappear into the throng of people loitering outside the shopping arcade, many of whom were couples out on a date. "Sorry about them. No idea why I'm in charge of kids."

"At least they got energy. I'm tuckered out now, thank Yual that was the last one." Emily smiled as they both entered the air-conditioned interior of the shopping arcade. She took a seat carefully on a nearby bench facing outwards to the expansive foyer, taking great precaution to not crumple up her large skirt.

"I wish they had less energy, at least that way they would actually listen to me. I feel like a babysitter instead of a cobra. Stay here, gonna get some drinks nearby. Any preferences."

"Oh oh! I want the radish sherbet at Haui's cafe!"

"What?! Are you serious? That thing is bland as hell!"

"No it's not, it has a good spice to it." Emily stood her ground.

"Fine." Alex left to buy it, Emily soaking in the usual environment before she spotted someone unusual amidst the crowd. The moment Alex returned, she hurriedly grabbed his arm, shaking it violently and nearly causing him to drop the drinks.. "Why, what's the matter?" Alex asked confusedly.

"Over there, over there! It looks like Kyle, right? Our boss!"

"Nah, you must have gotten it wrong. He wouldn't wear a such a funky yellow shirt like that out into the open." Alex muttered to himself until he saw the man put on a similar coat, just like Kyle's. "Huh, I guess it's him. Didn't know he liked to idle at the foyer of the shopping arcade."

"That's what I'm saying! In fact I feel like I've been seeing him everywhere! Yesterday I saw him at the Lusty Arcian as well!" Emily asserted while slurping on the sherbet, shivering slightly from the cold tingle. "He was trying to hit up one of the other girls."

"Now that's a bit too far. Kyle has practically zero interest in the girls. I may not be a good judge of character, but Kyle wouldn't waste his time on things that don't improve him."

"Who knows?" Emily shrugged as the two of them watched Kyle walk off into the distance. "Maybe he got a bit lonely after all."

Alex didn't argue, but he soon recalled something strange as well. "You know, now that you mentioned it, I did see him two days ago at the Seductive Serpent. Like the main branch. But he wasn't talking to the bartender or anything, just having a simple drink on his own."

"Maybe... maybe we're on to a secret side of Kyle!" Emily got excited, her hands waving wildly. "If only I could track what he does from time to time..."

"Still, there's something clearly wrong. I got word that Damian, Monica, and Niko would be gone for a good while, along with Kyle and Sasha. Did you see Kyle last week?"

"I did, I did! I saw him last week hanging around Thresher Street!" Emily patted Alex's shoulder. "What about you?"

"I saw someone that looked like him, but I wasn't too sure. He was at the trade school's entrance, smoking a Euria Pipe."

Emily recoiled. "Kyle doesn't smoke!"

"I know, but I never really thought too much about it. I mean, he has every right to take whatever substances he wants, really.... hold on, who's that?" Alex squinted his eyes to the far end of the foyer, before gasping in shock. "It's Kyle!"

"Yeah, that was what I said at the start-"

"No, no, it's a different Kyle! Look he's walking back into the foyer from a different direction, with a completely different shirt!"

"Huh? He has the same coat, though!" Emily craned her neck in suspicion, though she could not deny that the man definitely looked a lot like Kyle, at least from afar.

"This is bad. Someone is trying to impersonate him. All the other Kyles that we have been seeing might very well be imposters!" Alex exclaimed, shooting out of his seat in horror. "We must quickly warn the vipers. Stay here, I'll get my squad to catch him-" His agitation was halted by Emily's firm grip on his arm.

"No, let me approach him and try to stall him first, so he doesn't run away. You find your squad members and surround all the possible exits!" Emily insisted, while Bola and Ollie finally returned, Ollie holding a nice small bouquet of flowers and handing it to Alex much to his confusion. Alex grabbed Ollie and Bola by the shoulder, dragging them out beyond Emily's hearing range.

"What the hell is this for?" Alex whispered angrily.

"What you mean?" Ollie gave a stunned look. "The uncles in the slum told me you should buy flowers if you want to date a girl. Isn't it obvious?"

"You fucking brat, shut the fuck up now!" Alex quickly snatched the bouquet of flowers away and stuffed it into his coat, before smiling nervously at Emily, who thankfully was still locked on the imposter in the foyer. "Look, I'm a grown man, I know how to play the game, I don't need two kids telling me what to do!"

"I don't know, boss, Niko seems to be doing a better job at getting dates than you are. You've been with her for a month now!"

"You-" Alex clenched his fist tightly, taking deep breaths to relax himself. "Anyway, we got more important things to do. See that man over there?"

"Oh, Kyle? Weird." Bola scratched his head. "I saw another Kyle on the way back here, a different one!"

"Nevermind that. Emily is going to talk to that imposter, and then we're going to surround and capture him, you hear? Secret mission!"

Bola and Ollie immediately grinned, scampering off to the position that Alex had told them, forming a triangle around the imposter without arousing suspicion while Emily walked up to the man. Alex acted aloof as he paced slowly up and down the street near them, watching Emily talk to the man, ready to pounce at a moment's notice.

However, Emily suddenly recoiled, letting out a gasp as she took three steps back in shock. "GO GO!" Alex kicked into action, charging right at the imposter at full sprint, his thighs pumping as hard as he could as he launched himself in a direct shoulder tackle, nailing the imposter right in the guts and pinning him to the floor. Both of them tumbled to the floor while Alex wrestled him to the ground, the bystanders shouting and running away from the site. "I got you, you little bastard. Emily, you alright? What did he do to you?"

"I'm fine, sorry, sorry, Alex, I was just a bit startled." Emily spoke with a flustered face.

"I din du nuffin, wats the meanin?" The imposter blabbered, Alex immediately recoiling in shock too. "Hei, wats with the look?"

"Sorry, I just uhhh.... I just never expected you to have such an accent..." Alex mumbled too, understanding why Emily had let out a gasp. He just couldn't imagine someone who had Kyle's face to talk in such a gibberish manner.

"I was pracitsin, n u just rondomly hit me. Wats the beg deal?"

"Practicing? Practicing what?" Alex asked, the situation even far more confusing when he realized Bola and Ollie wasn't here. "Where are they?"

"THERE'S ANOTHER ONE HERE! GET HIM!" Ollie roared in the distance, Alex turning to see the two of them charging yet another imposter who had just gotten of an arctech wagon, one who also looked like Kyle albeit holding a briefcase of sorts.

Ollie threw his body at the other imposter in a tackle, only to be grabbed and hoisted up by his collar, while Bola was sent flying and tumbling with a single kick. Alex gulped as he saw the real Kyle glare at the struggling Ollie, Kyle about to punch the living lights out of him for the surprise attack. "So, this is treason?" Kyle spoke with clear intention to kill.

"Sir, wait, wait, wait, it's a misunderstanding!" Alex let go of the imposter, who tried to scamper away only to be held down by Emily's heels.

"Misunderstanding...?" Kyle looked around, his gaze locking onto the other captured imposter. "Right, of course. Keith did not inform you, but these are my doppelgangers."

"Doppel... huh?" Alex stared blankly.

"Body doubles, essentially." Kyle dropped Ollie unceremoniously onto the ground. "All of you, follow me."

He led all of them including the other imposters up to the shopping arcade's office, where the other doppelgangers requested long ago were gathered and being trained by Keith.

“You idiot, Kyle doesn’t pose like that. Be more menacing! More intimidating! And when you give a smirk, your eyes need to smile in a sinister way as well! And you should not smile very often either. And keep your body straight! Kyle doesn’t stick out his butt like that!” Keith used a wooden stick to tap the doppelganger’s body, pointing out the bad points of the posture.

“And when Kyle talks, he talks in a deep accent. Go bass! Go low! Feel the Kyle in your veins!” Keith passionately exclaimed like he was an instructor for actors. “When you walk, you got to walk like you’re the cock of the town. No one is above you; everyone is beneath you! Drill that into your mindset! Okay, now you! Number 3. Try Line 15.”

Number 3 stepped forward, clearing his throat as he approached Keith, who was already on the verge of tears. He arched his jaw forward while glaring at Keith with a fearsome expression. “Keith, I would like to ask you a simple question.”

Keith immediately burst out laughing, unable to hold back any longer. Number 3 frowned, wondering what he did wrong.

“HAHAHAHA…sorry…hah… it’s not your fault.” Keith wiped the tears of joy from his eyes. “It’s just that it’s such a good impression! It’s exactly like him when he first became leader!”

“Glad you found it funny.”

“Indeed… wait, wow! That was a perfect impression of Kyle; it sounds exactly like-“ Keith turned around to see who it was, only to come face to face with the real Kyle. He immediately straightened his back, standing at attention.

The real Kyle walked up to his table with the six doppelgangers and Keith lining up in front of him. It’s been a month since Keith recruited them. Emily, Alex and his squad could only marvel at just how similar they looked in both facial features and posture, though the accent was clearly distinguishable and hard to mask.

“Keith, have you tested them combat-wise?”

“Erm, well… they are competent. But none of them has the same strength as you.”

"Good. Have them do a proper rotation. Keep them all in secret training - it's clear that if even our own cobras like Alex over here can tell the difference apart, it is not working as expected. For the rest of you, I trust that you will keep this a secret, even on pain of death."

"Yes, sir!" Everyone saluted, while Kyle had all but Keith dismissed from the office.

"Sir, I assume the training went well?"

"It did. Damian, Monica and Niko will be returning tomorrow to assume their former positions. Good work holding down the fort. Updates on the businesses."

"Of course. Over the last month, we have now possessed more than a third of all land deeds in the three districts. Expansion of the Lusty Arcian and Seductive Serpent is being done hand-in-hand with facades of redevelopment, allowing us to build in fronts. Our advertising and marketing campaign is doing wonders - currently our shopping arcade district has the fourth highest population, only outmatched by the Ardent Cretins and the Magda."

"Good. I assume there has been no trouble so far."

"Not unless you include the usual thug rackets and small-time criminals trying to leech off our businesses. We now have Seven Snakes guards on regular patrol, we're basically the police now, everything is feasible as long as we don't go overboard. The workers are all under control thanks to the moderate union - our bribed council members are helping us tame down expectations and manage the wages as well as worker happiness. Fake negotiations have been performed recently to appease any potential dissidents. Some remnants of Gunther's union are still out at large, but have as of yet been of any issues."

"Enforcers, Red Lions?"

"No activity as seen. The Red Lions have paid back half of what we 'requested' from them. Bishop Vernette and Inquisitor Mason are still promoting the housing district. For the military exercise, it is about to begin in less than a week. However, we have new information regarding the Ardent Cretins."

Kyle sighed. "What did Sebastian do this time round? I assumed he was still handling business in Kregol."

"They lifted the embargo just two hours ago before you arrived. I got word through the black market dealers, and many of them are raring to buy designs and mindtwisters off us."

"Do it. Increase our production of all addictive potions and spread it as far as we can, without dropping the price. Current finances?"

"Combining everything we've earned so far, we're currently holding at ninety million rakels. Much of the money has been allocated into developing new housing apartments and their respective infrastructure, as well as buying up land deeds at market price, forfeited by the landowners who retaliated against us."

"Perfect. With the districts under us now fully stabilized, it's time to look further beyond. Raktor may be our starting point, but it is not the end of our growth." Kyle smiled.

"Versia, sir? Adrian should have already delivered the information he had collected regarding the smuggling routes. It has information on Ocra's current defenses."

"I have indeed received it. Culo and Sasha have already been dispatched accordingly as the forward team. Through them we'll begin to collect information on Harrison and his movements, and subsequently plan our strikes. Once the other vipers return from training, begin stocking up and training more Seven Snakes in case another embargo were to befall us. We cannot rest on our laurels forever."

"Understood, sir." Keith complied, leaving to carry out the orders, while Kyle overlooked the district beyond the glass wall of his office, the construction and development of the district moving rapidly with a industrial fervor instilled in the air. It was the combination of amenities, technology and living standards that helped to gather and accumulate talent, money and resources under his banner, and now he was ready to expand it to the next level.

A more amateur gang leader at his position would think that the gang would need to take down the Ardent Cretins first before moving overseas, but that is far from true. Instead, attacking Harrison was the far safer play thanks to Kyle's close connections with Baron Cain and the enforcers, who would hardly tolerate any Versian attempts to destabilize Raktor further.

Now, the boot was on the other foot, and Kyle was ready to squash anything Harrison had to throw at him. You've fucked with the wrong man.

***

At the Central Sector's Harbour...

Scores of workers and managers hollered out over the never-ending din of bells, machinery and rumbling of arctech engines, fuelling the heavy cranes that hoisted large wooden crates back and forth, loading them onto barges that ferried cargo down and up the main river that ran through the whole of Raktor.

The murky water stained with the refuse and sludge dumped by uncaring factories along the shores splashed against the grimy hull of a decrepit barge, the crates being marshalled in by workers who gingerly stepped through the mushy deck layered in a coat of algae, while two enforcers moved through the various cargo being hauled, a manifest of the items reported in their hands. "Where's the damn captain of this ship?"

"Th-that would be me, sire." A grungy old man wearing tattered clothes limped over with a nervous smile, his clammy hands clasped together while rubbing feverishly. "Anything that I can help you with...?"

"You know the rules - no classified technology to Versia, and no smuggling."

"Of course, of course! Feel free to check any cargo you want. But sire, I dont think the list is complete. We recently had a few new... additions."

"New additions?"

"Right here, sire." The old captain handed over a clipboard with a new manifest, the enforcer grabbing it only to feel a thick envelope hidden beneath it, filled with notes of rakels.

"Hmmm... Only to Ocra and back, correct?"

"Yes, sir. Nothing further."

The enforcer quickly pocketed the envelope into his coat, glancing around to make sure no one else was watching. "Good, because if you were moving to Tenar by any chance... even I can't help you then."

The old captain waved his hands frantically in denial. "No, no, no of course not! I'm not an idiot! Everyone knows there's bad things coming, I just wanted to keep my head down. You won't get no trouble from me, no sire."

"Alright. Your barge is cleared. Clear the dock in ten minutes."

"Yes, enforcer, right away." The old captain bowed lowly as he watched the two enforcers disembark, the two already preparing to split the bribe.

The captain's submissive behaviour immediately disappeared the moment the enforcers were out of hearing range, assuming his full height as his back straighten while he entered the lower cabin of the barge, where there were rows upon rows of slaves trapped in cages, some of whom were still sobbing loudly, only stopping when he kicked the cage's grills violently. "COME ON! SHUT THAT BITCH UP AND GET A MOVE ON! We got three trips to make today!" He roared at the workers, spurring them on to move faster.

He returned back to the captain's quarters, where a well-dressed man wearing an immaculate suit complete with a handkerchief and monocle was sitting quietly, reading a newspaper while oozing the very epitome of wealth. The captain's submissive behavior appeared once more as he bowed respectfully to the man. "Apologizes for the delay, Mr...?"

"Culo."

"Mr. Culo, yes. There are quite a few additional processes we needed to clear before making the transfer. I'm sure you understand that relationships between Versia and Raktor are.... tenous."

"Of course. But I have a deadline to meet, and if it is not met..."

"No, no, no, we will be on time to deliver the goods as per promised." The captain hurriedly interjected.

"Good. Then please, continue about your work."

"Yes, sir. Please enjoy the trip and do not hesitate to call for me if you require my assistance." The captain bowed out of the quarters, closing the door with a grin on his face. His lack of pride was hardly a concern to himself, his mind only filled with the thought of money to earn. Only a bigshot can pay to smuggle this many slaves. If I can impress him, I'll be set for life!

While the captain giggled about his non-existent future, Culo on the other hand was paying great attention to every detail of the smuggling sequence - the loading of cargo, the masking of goods and slaves, the bribing of enforcers, his mind quickly jotting down each and every tiny facet to allow the Seven Snakes to replicate it when compiled. Even the names of those involved in the process were memorized for future references.

The barge lurched forward, the anchor raised as it began to slowly drift down the river at a snail's pace, the river's current carrying it along. The arctech motors onboard whirred to life, the reverberations shaking the flimsy shell of the barge violently as motorized paddles along the side of the barge inched outwards, before pushing the water in a rowing fashion. Culo glanced out of the porthole, watching the riverside pass by gradually, filled with the hustle and bustle of industrialization.

The smokestacks of various factories soared into the sky, chugging out black fog while the various ships moved goods along the river, even within the city. A barge filled to the brim with sand sailed past them, headed for a glass factory, while an empty food barge overtook them from the other side, heading back to the grain bins on the outskirts of Raktor to pick up more grain to fuel Raktor’s food demand. Culo slightly marvelled at the drastic change from when he had first came to Raktor as a starving factory worker. Now? He was returning to near his hometown, well-dressed and rich beyond his wildest dreams, not to mention bristling with strength and power thanks to the one month of training.

A few hours passed, with Culo sitting in silence and keeping a close eye on the route into Versia. The ferry passed a few more rows of factories as they neared the city of Ocra. He spotted a sign, demarcating the end of the County of Raktor and where the Versian border began. It took three hours on the river to even get a glimpse of city lights as day turned to night, the hue of arctech lanterns reflecting off the rolling clouds in the distance.

As they approached the city, Culo noticed men working along the side of the river, digging what seemed to be trenches and placing defensive fortifications that stretched more than a few kilometers, forming a defensive line, apparently having started more than three months ago. The entire river was gated between two towering secondary military forts with cannons aimed at the river, a metal grill preventing boats from crossing immediately.

[Halt! Security check!] A loud arctech speaker from the top of the gate bellowed towards the barge, while arctech spotlights flooded the deck brilliantly, dazzling the workers.

Culo could see from the windows of the captain's quarters that a team of Versian soldiers had boarded the deck of the barge randomly inspecting crates and workers for their purpose of visit, shoving the captain aside even when he tried to bribe and stall them. That's not good. Culo began to prepare himself, checking his equipment and clothes and making sure he was ready to go at a moment's notice.

Soon, three soldiers led by their squad leader made their way to the captain's quarter, coming across Culo with a clear look of disgust on their faces. "What the fuck is a Versian doing on a Yual dog's barge?" The Versian squad leader spat.

"Why? Do I not have the right to choose my friends?"

"No, of course not. Though I'm sure the friendship will not last long..." The Versian squad leader was suddenly distracted by a sudden chirp on the arctech radio hooked to his belt.

[Sir, there are slaves in the lower cabin of the barge! Fifty of them!]

Before the Versian squad leader could even accuse Culo of being a smuggler, he was already faced with Culo's fist aiming right for his nose, the knuckles crushing into his face and sending him tumbling unconscious. With one swift motion, Culo drew a sharp knife from his coat, jabbing the cold blade straight into the neck of the other soldier who was caught offguard.

The remaining soldier tried to draw his rifle, but Culo closed the gap in no time, the knife thrusting right at the heart and cutting it open, killing the soldier on the spot. Culo hurriedly grabbed the fallen soldier's rifle and left the captain's quarter, but not before finishing off the unconscious squad leader. He rushed down to the lower decks, where there was already a brutal brawl going on, the slaves seemingly fighting back against the workers who were also fighting against the Versian soldiers. However, if one were to look closely enough, only ten of the fifty slaves were hitting back with skills far beyond what a slave should have, Sasha herself leading the charge and massacring anyone who had seen them save for the other slaves.

The sudden skirmish was over as soon as it had began, the workers, captain and Versian soldiers alike all killed and hunted down. Culo quickly approached the slaves, setting them free and giving them directions. "If you want to survive, jump off the barge and swim to the left shore! Grab the weapons and move!"

Following his word, nearly thirty of the surviving slaves armed themselves and began to escape the barge, with the alarm now blaring on the two secondary forts. The spotlights all focused on the swimming slaves, the Versian soldiers manning the turrets at a complete loss on whether to shoot them or not.

"Rest of us, grab the gear and to the right shore! Sasha, clean up the ship!" While the guards of the fort were preoccupied, Culo led the remaining ten slaves and scoured the ship, breaking apart specific crates in the lower cabin, unveiling a few units of Aspis MK1 knight armour, packed into large sacks. Sasha prowled the ship, checking for any remaining Versian soldiers or workers who might have seen them.

They hauled the sacks over the edge, dropping them into the water towards the right shore, jumping in after them while avoiding the spotlights who were far too focused on the escaping slaves. Gunshots and rapid pellet fire rang out through the cold night air as Culo braved the chilly waters, paddling frantically while lugging along a heavy sack that weighed him down greatly. His head began to sink underneath the water level as he struggled to fight the current, only to be finally hoisted by Sasha, his entire body lifted effortlessly and thrown onto the shore.

As soon as he made it to the shore, a large explosion rocked the barge, the dazzling fragments of unknown metal bits spilling out into the air in a ball of flame and light, Culo's group keeping low in ditches and underwater to prevent being spotted. "Sir Culo, now that the route has been compromised, what do we do? Do we return to Raktor?"

"No. We still have a way in." Culo had already learnt the information collected by Adrian, knowing there was still a gap in the walls that was currently built in a ring on the outer radius of Ocra.

The moment Sasha reached the shore, Culo ordered the other to pack their stuff up, motioning at them to follow her. They lug the sacks as they trekked through a muddy swamp, approaching close to a half-built wall where the workers had already gone to sleep. Exploiting the gap in the fences and walls, the group hurriedly sneaked by, entering the border of Ocra proper.

Within an hour, they found themselves close to the city of Ocra, the city far different from what Culo remembered. It was now built up with great walls and defenses, mounting points for cannons and siege weapons dotting the top of the fortifications. Countless trench lines and ditches were dug in the ground, the land and original forest cleared for miles. "Over on the western side of the wall is a door reserved for members of Nest. It is here that we will be able to enter Ocra proper."

They kept low as they snucked through the trenches and muddy soil, keeping low to avoid detection by patrols and watchtowers intermittently dispersed along the side of the wall. Sasha's keen senses helped them to see who was looking their way, every member hinged on her every command. With expert manuovering, they made it to the wall without a hitch, hugging along its coarse rugged bricks while Culo felt around for a secret brick. "Get your rifles ready."

Soon, he found it, a loosened brick that somehow acted as a door handle as well, Culo pushing in to reveal a spiral staircase that led downwards.

Panicked voices could be heard from the bottom of the stairs, clearly discussing what had just happened to the barge. "Did you see the explosion? Wasn't that one of the smugglers' barges?"

"Yea, it must have been a bad one. Those new Versian guards from Tenar don't fuck around, they barely take any bribes at all, it's like they are all possessed- wait a minute. Did you hear someone enter?"

Culo immediately signalled to the squad, prompting them to launch an attack as they rushed down the staircase into what seemed like an underground cavernous pub, smugglers and criminals of all types gathered together. In a withering barrage of fire, the pellets whizzed across the cavern, killing most of them caught off guard. Some of the more fortunate ones cowered behind wooden tables and chairs now pockmarked with pellet holes, others scampering for the exit. However, those trying to flee only found themselves facing Sasha, who easily cut them down one by one with little to no effort.

The blitz attack ended in mere seconds, allowing Culo and Sasha to now gain a proper foothold into Ocra. Culo grabbed one of the surviving smugglers, dragging him onto a chair and aiming the tip of a knife right at his face. The smuggler tried to put on a brave face, grinning at Culo: "Do you even know who you're fucking with? This city is ran by Masir!"

"Masir? Who even is that? Last I heard, it was Makoa."

"That rat went to Raktor a long time ago. Masir is the one in charge now."

"How many men?"

"A hundred, maybe even two. You better let me go, or else he'll-"

Culo smacked the smuggler hard, tossing him onto the floor next to the other surviving smugglers who were all now rounded up by the rest of his squad.

"As you can all see, our outfit - my outfit - is small, but there's plenty of room for aggressive expansion. Now, let's put it this way." Culo grabbed a rifle from another squad member, aiming the barrel at the first smuggler. "Masir, or me?"

"You think you can -" A loud bang had a pellet tear through the brains of the smuggler, him dying immediately. The remaining smugglers stared in horror while Culo immediately swivelled the rifle to the next man.

"Now, Masir? Or me?"

<---Chapter 98 - Weapon Lessons|Table of Contents|Chapter 100 - Village--->