Chapter 132: Humiliation, Not Vengeance
“It's just up ahead.”
Falco rested one hand on the steering wheel and nodded toward a run-down house not far away. Several bonfires burned around it, making it clear there were quite a few people gathered there.
“So what exactly did that guy hire us to do again?”
“Something like teaching that other guy a lesson.”
“…What? Seriously? He’s that spineless? His girl cheated on him and he didn’t hire us to flat-out kill the guy?”
“He said he believes his girlfriend will come to her senses. He wants to humiliate that guy in front of him.”
Rebecca’s face immediately twisted into a look of pure disbelief.
“That guy’s a lost cause.”
The others nearby nodded in agreement.
“Well, whatever the client’s thinking isn’t our concern. At least if we don’t have to kill anyone, things stay simple,” Pilar said lazily, slouching back in his seat.
“I think killing him would be simpler…” Rebecca muttered as she got out of the car.
Jhin didn’t say anything and followed her out.
...
“Hey, Nika, you think your ex might come looking for trouble with me?”
A man wearing military-grade body armor and sporting a buzz cut grinned maliciously as he rubbed the massive cock pressed against his chest.
“He wouldn’t do that. I know him well—and the one I like is you,” said the striking woman called Nika, leaning in to kiss him.
“Damn, you two are really into it. What, gonna put on a live show for everyone later?” Pilar said, hands clasped behind his head as he twisted his hips.
At those words, the pair’s faces darkened. The surrounding 6th Street Gang members noticed the disturbance and slowly began to close in.
“Who the hell are you?” the man holding Nika demanded, frowning.
“You Dop?” Jhin ignored the question and stepped forward instead, looking down at him from above.
“Hey, man, I’m the one asking questions here. You’d better—AAH!!”
“Too much talk.”
Jhin grabbed Dop’s wrist and twisted hard. With a sharp crack, Dop screamed in agony.
“Dop! Dop, are you okay?!”
Nika’s face went pale as she rushed forward, pounding on Jhin’s arm, but his grip didn’t move at all.
The tension spiked instantly. The surrounding 6th Street members raised their weapons and aimed them at the group.
Rebecca, Pilar, and Lucy drew their own weapons. Inside the car, Falco took a hard drag from his cigarette, flicked it away, and grabbed the steering wheel with both hands, ready to ram through if needed.
Jhin glanced around, then released Dop’s wrist.
Cold sweat soaked Dop’s forehead, and his wrist was visibly twisted out of shape.
He glared at Jhin with a feral expression. “You bastard! I’ll kill you!”
“Disgusting. Get him out of here.”
A deep, steady voice cut in. A man wearing a cowboy hat stepped forward, one arm clearly cybernetic, a cigar clenched between his teeth.
He extended a hand toward Jhin.
“Oro. I’m the boss here. I’ve heard of you. Want to talk?”
“There’s nothing to talk about. I’m here on a Gig, not to start a big fight. And… I don’t think you want to clash with me either.”
Jhin stepped closer, meeting Oro’s gaze head-on.
Oro’s eyes narrowed, a dangerous glint flashing through them before quickly fading. Clearly, he had no intention of fighting.
He waved his hand, signaling his people to stand down.
“That mess is his own problem. But you’d better watch yourself.”
After delivering his warning, Oro turned and walked away.
“Tsk, tsk. Turns out he’s just all bark,” Jackie said, shaking his head with a disappointed look.
“Alright, take him away,” Jhin said with a light laugh, gesturing at the pale Dop and the flustered Nika beside him.
“Hey, hey! What are you doing? We don’t have any beef, right? Who hired you? I’ll pay double!”
“Buddy, you can’t afford that,” Pilar replied. “Just accept it. Relax—we’re not killing you. You’ll just suffer a bit.”
Nika stood off to the side, not daring to say a word. She even took a step back, hoping they wouldn’t notice her.
“At least let me know why!” Dop pleaded.
“You’ll find out soon enough. Why are you so damn noisy?”
Pilar scratched the back of his head irritably, then his eyes lit up. He pulled a small toy from the trunk and shoved it into Dop’s mouth.
“Holy shit!”
Everyone nearby recoiled in shock. Humiliated beyond endurance, Dop slammed his head against the car and passed out.
Seeing this, Roland’s eyelid twitched.
“Miss Nika, please get in the car as well,” Jackie said, carrying his shotgun as he tilted his head toward her.
“I… I understand… Wait—was it that guy who sent you?!”
Nika looked dispirited at first, then suddenly stiffened as she realized something.
“You guessed right,” Jackie said, nodding openly. The employer was supposed to meet them anyway.
“Then I’m not going! If he wants to see me, he can come himself!”
Nika crossed her arms and sneered.
Bang!
A gunshot rang out, the bullet striking the ground right at Nika’s feet and making her legs tremble.
“Did you misunderstand something?” Rebecca said with a pleasant smile. “We’re not negotiating with you.”
“I hate people like you the most.”
Nika didn’t dare argue anymore and scrambled into the car.
Jackie quietly gave Rebecca a thumbs-up.
“Nice work, chica.”
“Obviously. You know who I am.”
Meanwhile, Lucy silently watched Jhin. She’d long felt that something about him was… off.
Spending time with him lately had only confirmed it. He was colder and more unhinged than when they first met—yet today, at moments, he seemed to revert to how he used to be.
Multiple personalities? Cyberpsychosis?
Old Vik had once suggested taking Jhin in for a checkup, but Jhin had refused. They couldn’t force him, so they’d dropped it. Still, Lucy couldn’t shake the feeling that something wasn’t right.
Author's Note
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