“Can I leave now?”

“How many times have you asked me that?”

“17.”

“Right. And my answer stays the same— No. Do you really wanna leave me in danger?”

“You're stronger than I am. Besides, I'm sure you have someone protecting you.”

“None.”

“Liar...”

I hear distant voices. There's something wrapping around my head. I can't see anything despite having my eyes opened. I feel like I'm suffocating as well.

My senses haven't properly woken up yet. I can't feel anything except pain.

Where am I?

The last thing I remember was.... gasp! THAT BITCH! THAT BASTARD! I swear I'll kill them both! No. I will torture those fuckers first!

Argh.. My head hurts. I want to grab it but I seem to have been tied. I can now feel the rope digging into my skin.

“Looks like you're awake fufufu.”

“?!”

I didn't hear him get closer. But this voice..

Fuck this bastard! It's him!

“Mmmmmffh! Aaarrrmmmmfffph!” I can't speak. They gagged me as well huh.

“Eli-chan, take the sack off his head.”

“You can just do it yourself...”

“Err... I'm supposed to be the boss.”

“Aren't I supposed to be higher ranked than you?”

“Well... come on.. You really lost your sweetness to me haven't you? Do you really hate me now?”

“I despise you. Be thankful I'm bound to you with an obligation otherwise you'd be dead. Tch. I'm leaving!”

They're fighting?

“Hey!”

Deserve.

“I guess we're left alone here huh...”

“Mmmmmffph! Mrrrrmmmpff!” Fuck this shit. And fuck you and your mom! I want to curse him but I can't.

“Stop cursing me please... It hurts me. Well, because Eli-chan left, you'll be keeping that sack around your head for a while. Think of it as an apology gift... You're very welcome, Ian.”

This son of a bitch... Just wait!

“Oh. But I'll be removing your gag—”

Fool!

“HEEEEEEELP!”

“.............”

“HEEEEEEEELP MEEE!”

I keep shouting but I only hear echoes. Just where the hell is this place?!

“Bloody hell.. you scream like a girl. You almost made me deaf.”

“I can do much worse than that if you don't let me go...” I wanna tear him apart.

“No. No can do.”

“Aren't you supposed to be in the hospital?”

“No worries, I left my clone there.”

“What?”

“It was a lie... A joke to be specific. You should laugh.”

What?

“?!”

*Splash*

I can't breathe! I'm drowning! Nooo! This bastard! This son of a bitch! He's drowning me! No! I can't breathe. I'll fucking kill him. I swear!

*Splash*

He pulls me out of the water.

“Sniiiiiiiiiiifff!”

Fuck! A water got into my head! Aaargh..

“GAmmmhfffh..” I want to breathe through my mouth but I can't!

What the fuck is this all of sudden?

“You must be dehydrated. You tried to drink water through your nose. Impressive,” he's clapping. He's clearly mocking me. Go on. Keep it up. Enjoy it while it lasts because it won't be very long!

“You should clap as well..”

“MmrrrmffMrrfmmmffh!” The fuck are you talking about? My hands are fucking tied!! Are you fuckin with me?!

“I guess you're still dehydrated,” I feel his clutch somewhere around my neck.

W-wait! This bastard! Enough!

*Splash*

FUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK!

This goes on for a few more times. I feel like dying.. No I want to die. What the fuck does he even want? Revenge? This is extremely painful... I think my lungs have water in them.

“Still thirsty?”

I shake my head. I'm tired. I am angry but I'm too tired. I should comply with him for now. That's the logical way to ensure my survival. I doubt he wants to kill me. He must have something he wants from me. Otherwise, I'd be dead already. Or what if..?

What if he first wanted to torture me before killing me? This bastard may actually do it. He's a quite nasty after all.

Fuck! No. I have to calm down. It's fine it's fine. It's just d-death.. I'm not afraid. I'm used to pain.. this wouldn't bother me at all. Calm down. Calm down Ian. Just submit for now. He has the upper hand after all.

We'll deal with him after we're out of this shit...

“'Mkay. I'll be taking off them now. Don't ever scream again.”

He does what he said. Even though my eyes are still adjusting, I can already see his blurry smug smile. I want to bite him off. This arrogant son of a bitch. You'll see what I can do! I think you're underestimating me. And I'll make you regret it..

“You're fierce. Do you hate me?” He says as he removes the cloth that has been gagging me.

“..gasp...!! ...hahh.. haahh.... F-fuck you... Just tell me what you want...” I finally caught my breath.

“Oh.”

“What?” He's looking at me with curiosity.

“I guess you can't stay in your position if you're incompetent huh.”

“What?”

The hell is this kid on about. I can't really understand him. It's like he's always thinking differently.

“Fufu. You're an official aren't you?” He sits on a wooden chair parallel to whatever I'm sitting on right now. I can't really see it clearly. “Tribu de Démons de Rubis.”

“?!”

“It's the small gang that owns Leo Cosmetic Corporation— A company you're working for in public.”

“‘Small gang’ you say... You're quite arrogant.”

Our group is second to the biggest syndicate in France. It looks like his knowledge about us is very small. He probably only knows of us through his miserable connection in the underworld. That's why he called it ‘small”.

Because of the Twilight Rose Syndicate, our influence in the Philippines is indeed quite small. They're limiting our business and power here after all. But in France, hmmp...

“You people are responsible for selling illegal gems and metals to the Philippines. You sell it cheaply to the Twilight Rose Syndicate and they sell it all over the country for an expensive price.”

I have no idea where he got his intel from but he's right. Just what does he want from me? Connection? As if I'll agree. He has blood to pay.

“No. I don't want to be friends with you.”

“?!”

Was I thinking out loud?

“Oh. Did I guess right?”

“Shut up...”

And I also don't want to be friends with you!

“More like I want us to join hands. Aren't you tired of being bossed around by Viper?”

“?!”

“Even though your position in Tribu de Démons de Rubis is somewhat high, you're nothing to Viper!” Grrrt.. I hate to admit it but... Viper is more powerful than I am. It's natural for him to order me around. But... IT PISSES ME OFF! want to defeat him but I don't have the power to go against Twilight Rose. Besides, my superiors wouldn't want to get into her bad side. I HAVE NOTHING...

“So? Are you telling me you have the power to fight Viper Gang... No. Of course not. That's why you want me. Because you know you'll have to defeat Twilight Rose as well. Hmmp. Why not just join her? Oh right... Weaklings aren't accepted in her group. Hahahahaha.” I wanted to piss him off but he doesn't look disturbed at all. Or maybe he is. It's just that his stupid smile hides it.

“Well weaklings should come together.”

“HUH?! DON'T PUT ME IN THE SAME LEVEL AS YOU?! WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU EVEN HAVE TO EVEN DARE TO SAY THAT?!”

“I'm high ranked in Schadenfreude.”

“Lies. You're a gigolo of your brown haired bitch! It's disgusting.”

“You heard us huh...? I didn't expect you to wake up earlier than expected. I mean, Eli-chan injected you with a sleeping drug from Schadenfreude. It was quite expensive you know.”

It's a terrible product then.

“So? Why don't you tell me why should I join hands with a bastard like you? We hate each other remember? I almost impregnated your nurse.”

Fuck. Why am I trying to anger him? He might kill me. No. It's stupid. I already said it. It's too late.