Back in the dark restaurant where Mammon resides….

She was dealing with many business owners and politicians acting as a third party person. Of course, Mammon was not her real name but her business name. She uses the alias to hide whatever information could or was pertained to her even if it was just by name. To her, acting as a third person means being neutral to all sides while trying to gain the most profits. But mutual trust was still kept at the top of the list. Especially if the person had a chance to make a grand comeback even in the depths of despair. After all, business is like gambling. You win some and you lose some in business no matter what. There are no sure fire gains. But the risks are higher in this dark business and finding people to trust is hard.

Mammon grew up in the dark business and was raised never to trust anyone and only trust what people can prove to her. So if someone gained her trust, it would give them great power in the underworld. In her life, she only trusted two people. The first being her kind mother who’d passed away early from a sickness. Not that the sickness was incurable, but the father abandoned the mother because he didn’t want to waste money on someone replaceable. So her father was already on her black list. The second person whom she trusted naturally is Belphegor. That was the name he went by whenever he wanted to meet her. She never knew his real name and thus it was hard to find him. But the reason why she trusted him was a deep one. So whenever he wanted something, she would usually accept to do the things he requested for free if it wasn’t too much.

But what he’d given her before was something precious to her in order for her to accept his request. The object was something that’d belonged to her which was an old panda doll necklace. Looking back at the object, it was not shiny or amazing and it was crudely made, but she was happy to have it back. It was because that was the object she’d hand sown for her mother a long time ago but then later on gave it to Belphegor as a token of trust.

“Humhum! Still has his smell” She happily said to herself. She deeply sniffs the old panda doll almost to the point of licking it. While she was deep in her moment of lust, she remembered back to the time when she’d first met Belphegor.

The first time she’d laid eyes on him, he looked like an innocent kid no older than ten who was lost. While being lost, he entered the dark world by accident and many people already had plans for him. The first person who came up to him with the intention to sell him into public slavery unexpectedly had his balls cut off mercilessly without warning using a hidden knife. At that time, she was shocked. ‘How was a kid so merciless to cut off another man’s jewels and still looked innocent?’ she was scarred by his first act.

When the man was about to retaliate, the boy named Belphegor did not give him the chance. He mounted the man and cuts all of his fingers off and removed the man’s tongue with pure innocent eyes. But that didn’t end there, he carved scars on the man’s body in slow motion letting his scream pierce the skies and ran. This contrasting scene was really shocking to her and left a deep scar in her mind. How could someone who is barely a teenager could do something so cruel and easy?

Two years later, she met the boy again on a poker table still looking innocent. He was not even looking at his hands but the people around him. He watched their expressions and could read what was on their mind. Only when he got a clear picture did he pick up his cards and make a decision. After many games and losses did the boy won. From that point on, he did not lose and kept on winning a lot of money and walked away with a calm face. Those who wanted to get in his way were dealt with mercilessness like the first time she’d seen him.

Mammon snapped out of her lust and stared at the door thinking, ‘I really want to see him right now…’

Just as she was thinking that, she saw a shadow walking in carrying multiple silver suitcases. ‘It can’t be…’ her eyes widen. But it surely was. It was the Belphegor she knew and behind him were multiple suitcases being dragged across the floor covered in blood in one hand and ten in the other. Behind the suitcases he carried were people being dragged by force on tied together by ropes.

Her mouth drops when she saw the people and almost screamed because he was getting blood all over the floor. Seeing the man named Belphegor, she rushed down in both joy and fear. Joy because she was able to see the blue haired masked demon again. Fear because he truly was like a demon leaving a trail of blood.

“Belphegor!” She calls out. “What are you doing dragging all those bloody people in here!?”

“Oh Mammon. Good timing. I’ve been wanting to see you. Ah… these guys? They tied themselves to my suitcases and wouldn’t let go because they wanted me to give them money. Too bad I had have little to spare so I had to rough em up a little for nine tenths to let go. These people behind me are the remainders whose wills are stronger than steel it seems. *Sigh*” Belphegor summarized his last few minutes.

“Well you can get them out-“ She was saying but stopped to realize that Belphegor just spoke to her in a long and kind manner. Her eyes filled with surprise to hear so many words coming out of the silent Belphegor. She narrows her eyes and said, “Are you really Belphegor?”

“What!? … Whatever… I’ll stay silent like before and just pass slips of paper from here on out like I’ve always done and stay cold. *sigh*” Belphegor sighed.

“N-no no no no. Talking is fine. But how can I verify that you are Belphegor?” She had to ask.

Belphegor/Jin, stopped for a minute, took the five suitcases in his one hand and handed to her.

She looked through all of them and surely one of them had his receipt and the laptop and external hard drive inside. The other four had stacks of cash inside surpassing the original amount owed to the woman by 500%

“These four other suit is the payment for the loan. I added extra because you’ve helped me so much not only as a business partner but an old friend. Thank you” Belphegor bowed in appreciation. “Now I have to find a way to get rid of the people behind me….”

Her beautiful lips were left wide open in shock. Even the receptionist who saw this was about to collapse at the sight of so much money. The person who brought the loan now realize the reason why he borrowed so much on such a high interest. It wasn’t because he was cocky. It was because he had the ability to pay it back and to give even more.

“Oh Mammon. I still have to ask you for a few things before I leave. So let me get rid of these people off my suitcases and then we’ll talk. Okay?” Belphegor said. He then turned back around to punch the living daylights out of each and every person who was clinging onto his suitcases and threw them out the door like rags.

Seeing this mercilessness, she had no doubt that it was Belphegor. Because, reflected in those eyes, was a pure look like she’d seen before in her life. A smile cracked along her face as she giggles at the merciless Belphegor. Surely, someone had woken up the demon and those who woke him up will not have a fun life from here on out.

Belphegor, finishing off the last person, opens a suit case and stuffs a few bills of cash into their pockets and kicks them away."Here, your hospital bills" he coldly spoke. He turns back to see the smiling Mammon waiting for him. “Sorry about that. Didn’t mean for you to see the bloody scene. Now let’s get down to business” he clearly said.

Those who’d watched him smiled at his calm attitude. “Whoever this Belphegor fellow is… whether or not if he is real… he sure is nice… He was nice enough to give them a few bills” one of them whispered and some thought he was an easy target. The crowd inside began to chatter about the mysterious and cruel man.

Mammon shook her head and scoffs at Belphegor. What he’d given then was a large sum of money and was no doubt nice. But that was when he was nice. If he was cruel, he would’ve just broken their hands and legs right off the bat. Not delaying things anymore, she snapped her fingers and had her servants to take the suitcases given to her. She then start to lead Belphegor into the business room of her. “He should’ve beaten them all to a pulp…. Maybe he has gotten nicer over the years? I liked the old Belphegor better…” she murmurs to herself in a mild manner.

Hearing this, Belphegor didn’t say anything and walked. Those who saw him, saw that he was carrying over fifty silver suitcases in his one hand and thought that it must’ve been a lot of cash he was carrying. Some flew down intending to steal the suit cases. Belphegor did not worry. They were quickly dealt with by Belphegor himself as he broke their necks and limbs without killing them to set them as examples to those who were daring enough to even try to go against him. One was unlucky enough to have three of his ribs popped off. He them threw them out the door just like those before them.

“Nevermind. I think I like the nice Belphegor better” Mammon quickly changed her thought while leading him inside.

When they were inside, it was a clear bright and pink room. A different room than where she’d dealed with him before with the previous transaction.

Belphegor, seeing this, did not like it one bit. Having a pink room is one thing. But to bring a man to a room filled with pink items while on a serious transaction, it just kills his mood.

“So, what did you want Belphegor? Hm?” She suggestively insisted for him to sit right next to her, but he stood there standing in front of her. He then took the mask off which made her eyes pop out. She’d never seen his face in the six years he’d been gone. Now, when she look at him, he did not have that haggard look or dark circles on his face. His face looked more supple and a lot healthier. ‘Wow… I didn’t know he was a pretty boy…’

“I need a lot of information. Whatever type of information you have, I want it on an external hard drive and a good computer to go with it. All the small information you got, I want.” He said in a clear voice.

This was the first time she’d heard his voice and the words carried a soft mellow feeling to it in contrast to his everyday action. Or at least how he acted towards her every time she’d seen him.

“*Humph* If you want information, then you might as well go on the revelation channel or the unearthing channel. Or better yet, go on the web to search for these small information.” She playfully said.

“Too bad. I despise those channels since it’s full of media guano filled with extreme director’s cuts and ass flavorings. Same goes for the internet. I can only trust ten percent of the information online while the TV media about five percent” Belphegor joked.

“Oh? But I am sure you are asking for more am I not?” She said with a light tone. Seeing that Belphegor was lighter, the atmosphere was much calmer and the business talk was more like a chat between old friends.

“Ah yeah. I’ll also need you to gather a few things for me. Set up an underground laboratory, and gather information on a few people.” Belphegor admits. He took out a slip of paper which had a long list of names on them. “I’ll need them within five days. Can you do it?”

Her face just paled. “You know you are asking for a lot right?”

“Hmmm yeah. But I have my reasons. If you can’t set up the laboratory, then just get information on the people in three days. I won’t go overboard.” He said nonchalantly.

Hearing this, she lets out a sigh of relief. She turns her head to the chain of bloody suitcases and frowned. “What is in those suitcases?”

“Oh these? Mostly money. Some are DNA samples I took from hospitals, some are medicine, others are cures, a few are poison, and inside one is one of the suitcase is a giant hand cannon” Belphegor casually said.

Now Mammon was completely out of her mind. She could not believe what’d she’d heard. Hand cannon? Poison? DNA samples? Medicines? But it was mostly full of money? HOW!!!!!!!? How was it that he was able to acquire so much within such a short time?

“Wait Belphegor. How much money do you have in there?”

“Eh… few millions? Maybe tens of millions?” Belphegor casually said.

“What the hell? Millions? Where the hell did you get such money? Aren’t you afraid of getting robbed?” The corner of her mouth twitched

“What’s wrong Mammon? Doubting my strength? Well… this is only a small part of my assets anyhow. So it’s all good even if I lose it” Belphegor chuckled

‘Oh my god… This guy is beyond daring… a small part of his assets? Is he crazy? This money can be used for the rest of his life and it still wouldn’t run out! How in hell was he able to say small part of his assets?’ Mammon was completely gone. Her rationality was gone. Not a single thing made sense to her.

In truth, Belphegor already deposited most of his money in his bank. So the word small was not an exaggeration. But he would cry a little if it was gone and robbed by someone. Those DNA samples were really hard to get.

“Anyhow, if there are those who wants to come at me, let em. I’ll just decimate them like I’ve done before.” Belphegor lightly said.

“You are broken aren’t you? You are like a broken RPG character.” She laughed.

“Not really. I have an above average strength if that is what you mean. But compare to others, I have to be more prepared than others. Not just one, not just two, not just ten, but hundreds of steps ahead. Which is why I am not worried for my life as of now” He shrugs.

“Whatever mister hot shot. But tell me, how are you going to get out of here alive? There might be some people hearing us?” She points to the door suggesting that there were people listening.

“It won’t matter. Like I said. If they come, let them. I’ll welcome them with a smile like always” Belphegor smiled.

“… you know Belphegor, you’ve changed. In the six years, you are more bipolar than I thought” she smirked. But Belphegor said nothing. “When I first met you, you were silent and merciless while looking innocent. Now, you still are somewhat like that, but you are warm and cold at the same time. What happened to you?”

“Eh… I’ve been the same since a long time ago. I was just cold because I had to many enemies. I’d rather make friends than enemies. But there are too many traitors in the world so I only have a total of four friends in this world. Those who are my friends are like my family. So I can go easy around them” Belphegor said in a straightforward manner. This surprised her. He only had four friends in this world? She too had friends but never trusted them. But thinking back to what he’d said before, he did call her a friend. “Eh? Does that mean…”

“Yeah. You’re a friend as well Mammon. Just know that I trust you a little.” He shows how much he trust her with his two fingers. This made her a little mad but quickly subsides knowing that she was his friend.

“Hmph! I thought we would be a little closer than that! I guess I was wrong.” She snorts.

“… It is best for some people to stay far away from me as well. You too should know how this dark world works. Trustworthy people are hard to find and dishonest people are plenty. Especially when it is tested by people who don’t know their limits” Belphegor points out. This too was something she can’t deny. Any weakness will be exploited and the person would be used till the end if that weakness is exploited.

“I’ll be leaving now. Here is another slip of paper to get things done. I’ll come back within a few days to see if things go smoothly. I’ll also make a upfront deposit right now as well.” Belphegor said as he drops a lot more suitcases full of money. Now he only carries at most ten suitcases full of money. When he opened the door, she saw a bloody world in front of her. Most of the people who were here dropped dead almost as if an unknown force just took their lives. She even saw the people who were after his money just dead with white eyes and bleeding out of all seven orifices in their head. The only ones who did not die were the people who were her servants.

“*Sigh… He went too far… I told him I didn’t need his help” Belphegor grumbled. “Sorry Mammon. Try to keep things under control as much as possible. Get some rest as well. Don’t want to see your beautiful face all wrinkly when I come back here” he said in a light tone. Belphegor didn’t mind the corpses and walks out of the room and towards the entrance with his mask back on and carrying five suitcases in each hand.

Mammon, looking at his back remembers to the day when a similar thing happened. He too painted the world in scenes of hell like this before. Just not as surprisingly as this. Nor did he take any lives. He made people bleed and smeared their blood all over the room and floor like a demon while leaving just enough blood for them to survive. It was as if the old Belpehgor was back. But the Belphegor in front of her was a little lighter and wasn't as overbearing.

But deducing from his words, it sounded like it wasn’t him who killed all these people. Seeing this, she finally knew why he wasn’t scared. He himself already was sufficient enough to protect himself. She saw him kill before and there were times when he chose not to kill because he saw that it was not worth it. But now, there is someone else that is protecting him who might be just as much of a monster as him. Who was Belphegor? Is it possible that there is more to Belphegor? If so, what is it?

“Who are you?” A mystified Mammon murmured. She’d seen terrifying people, beyond cruel demons, but Belphegor was plain mysterious.

When she checked her cameras, people started to drop dead when they entered the room to talk business. Those who were about to scream died. Those who try to even to come close to the door spurted blood from nose, eyes, mouth and ears along with their eyes rolled back. A dark sensation crept up her back like she’d never felt before. An ecstasy warm like feeling mixed with fear flowed through her blood as she watched this scene many times over. People except her servants died without a known cause and was diagnosed with a heart attack and a popped blood vessel in all seven orifices. “I knew it. You really are interesting Belphegor.” She laughed. “Everyone! Keep the media quiet and get a list of these things done! I want them in four days!” Mammon’s voice was filled with strength and excitement. She couldn’t wait to see what Belphegor would do with the information given to him. ‘Especially when he’d already shown something as interesting as this! I really want to make him mine now!’