Chapter 5: Revenge

 The town of Longtown was a place where the Bloodeyes family ruled the back streets with an iron grip.

Even the family executives began to show up at Dyson's.

"There's no greeting here. Who gave you permission to run this business?"  

They demanded that Raul pay 100,000 yen in protection money within three days. If he didn't, they threatened to set the place on fire.

I stood up, introduced myself as a hired bodyguard, and glared at the man.  

"Don't underestimate Don Bloodeyes," the executive spat, then stormed out.

I ignored their threats, but four days later they set fire to the place while I was gone.

Fortunately, it was only a small fire, but Raul wasn't one to take things lying down.  

"Raul, I'll go in your place. I'll take care of this," I said.

"I'm no fool either," Raul replied. "I'll pay them fifty thousand for now and ask them to wait."

"They won't listen. I'll pay it myself."

"No! If I let you go and something happens... I'd never forgive myself for putting our most important customer in danger."

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When Raul tried to negotiate with them, they silenced him.

Brutally, With a .38 caliber.  

He was shot in their office and his body was dumped at the back door of the restaurant.

I hated myself for not being able to stop it.

I wished I had gone instead.

Raul's wife broke down in tears, and I was consumed with rage.

Anger. Boiling rage.  

But before I let my anger get the better of me and ran to the Bloodeyes, I knew I needed a plan.

After days of burying my face in the sheets and crying, I took a deep breath. To ensure my revenge, I had to stay calm. I bit my hand to keep my emotions in check.

I took my time, jotting down notes on the behaviors, routines, personalities, and even the vices of each member of the Bloodeyes family.

Every person has a weakness. Even those who call themselves untouchable have to sleep sometime.  

Tony Bloodeyes, the man who killed Raul, was short-tempered and cautious. But he couldn't resist the temptation of a lucrative deal.

He always traveled with two bodyguards.  

Knowing that my face had been seen, I decided to act.

I approached them as they passed.  

"One hundred thousand," I said. "I'll use that to run the business. Is that acceptable?"  

"It's not enough. Give me twenty thousand up front. Then we'll talk business. After that, forty percent of your sales each month."  

"I understand. But there's something I need to discuss."

I whispered to Tony about an alleged money-making opportunity and led him into a narrow alley.  

The thunderous sound of the textile factory's boilers roared in the background.

It was just the three of them and me, standing shoulder to shoulder on a street barely wide enough for one person to pass.  

When I whispered the information he wanted into his ear, he grinned smugly.

At that moment, I grabbed his head and twisted it 360 degrees, breaking his neck.

I took the gun from Tony's pocket and used his lifeless body as a shield to shoot and kill the two bodyguards.

The echoes of the gunfire faded, leaving only the hiss of steam and the sound of my heavy breathing.