Chapter 7
Carl has been in this business for a long time. He prided himself on being able to read people. Just from one look, he could tell how pathetic most of them were. Idiots, high on hope or down in desperation, just couldn't help themselves from falling into their trap.
Most of their money came from gambling, but a good portion of it came from loans. There was always someone sick, someone to impress, something to buy, and so on. So they came to people who didn't ask questions, just gave the money, and then collected it one way or another.
The funny thing was that those people were always ashamed of themselves to the point of not being able to tell a soul about it. Not like it would help them much, but it certainly made it more convenient for Carl and his associates.
Money just rolled in for him; there was always something he could take from these people that made it all worthwhile. And now, even if Carl was a humble person, he couldn't deny that he was filthy rich.
One of the three bosses running this business, he had power, wealth, and fame with certain people. He took everything he had now from those idiotic people who thought they could get something out of him.
"Boss, we gathered all the boys."
"Good, very good."
Carl liked the sight of the forty men, all loyal to him and only him. It wouldn't take long before he reached the level of power of those at the top of the chain. Cappone Bege would soon regret his decision to dismiss him as just another crook.
Still, as powerful and invincible as he felt he was, there were always times when his gut feeling told him to take a step back. Warrant Officer Castiel, a rising star within the local Marines, was the one who triggered Carl's fears.
Something was wrong with that guy. He had his men investigate him the moment he entered the gambling den. There was nothing special about him, just that he was a bit braver a Marine than others, with a tragic story of being an orphan and having to take care of his sick sister.
But he was there when he faced that pirate who managed to escape from the Marines. He watched as those two faced each other. And that made Carl very hesitant, because Castiel didn't look like some nobody.
Carl watched as he looked into the eyes of death, and it was death itself that blinked first. But then again, who gives a shit? The Warrant Officer was just another Marine, just a bit luckier than the rest. And like everyone else, he had a weakness.
It also wouldn't be his first time dealing with the Marines. Another one in his pocket would be advantageous. That's why he called out his boys, and he was ready to take him in. He would show the power he held.
Not only by showing off his men, but also by showing off all those who owed him. Marine or not, he would see his place and have no other choice but to beg him like every other nobody, too hopeful or too desperate to realize their place. He would show him, like he had shown everyone, where they belonged.
"Boss, everything is ready. The others have already arrived; only we are left."
"What about the Marine?"
"He's coming this way, like a good little puppy, following the grunts we left behind."
It seemed all his worries were for nothing. A Marine was still a Marine, a complete idiot who easily fell for a trap like this. Did he really think nobody would notice him following his men around? Let's see how he liked it when he realized how he fucked up.
He must have thought that he was smart, and with Marines backing him, he was invincible. Now he would be brought to his knees and back to reality, and Carl would have an even bigger grip on the Marines in the West Blue. Soon, his empire would be built.
…
Well, he's done it now. How much was it now? Ten million? Probably about forty million. Well, he never expected his luck to be so low. Oh well. He was reaping what he sowed in the end. There was nothing he could do about it.
Issho knew he should have stopped a long time ago. But he just had to push it further and further. He believed that his luck would turn around at any moment. And now it was time to pay up. However, he had no idea how he was going to do so, since he didn't have a penny on him.
"Please, give me another week, no, just three days, no, two days, a day, please."
"Come on, man, you know I'm good for it. I was just unlucky lately. I promise I will win it back."
"Fuck. Do you think I am scared of you?"
Begging, reasoning, and showing courage. There were all kinds of people here today. Issho was no different from them, but he kept his silence. He just had to do as he was told, and he would get this over with.
Maybe it was time to leave his hometown. He didn't even know why he returned. It's just that nothing seemed to have changed, no matter where he went. Even in this place, where he thought time would change things, everything stayed the same.
As he was dwelling on the matters of the world, Issho heard the doors open as a group of people barged in. There were many of them, forty if his hearing wasn't failing him. With the twenty who were here to begin with, this place was getting cramped.
Issho didn't even know where he was; he was led here with nine other people and brought to his knees. He didn't resist; he knew he lost fair and square. Even though he could beat anyone and everyone who was here, that wouldn't change his life much.
He would still find another place and gamble away his life once again without taking any responsibility. That wasn't something he wanted. After all, he took his sight away so he wouldn't witness such a world where injustice ran rampant without anyone taking responsibility.
He didn't want to be part of it, as he couldn't even bear to witness it. But all of that left him not a part of anything. Wherever he went, he was an outsider, looking at situations from the side without being able to interfere in anything, because he had lost belief in everything.
"Well, well, well, what do we have here, Issho, my old friend?"
"Carl?" Issho recognized that voice. "It truly has been too long; you sound old."
"And you look old, though I guess you can't see it, haha."
Power, it only corrupts people. Once upon a time, Issho put this man down as he harassed the weak and the innocent. But it was a long time ago, and yet nothing had changed. Only he had given up on doing anything anymore.
As they reminisced about old times, Issho heard a set of footsteps. They were different from anything he had heard before. The sound was accompanied by the smell of smoke. Then the doors to the place they were in broke apart as the one arriving stepped in.
"Oh, Warrant Officer Castiel, what a surprise." Issho could hear excitement in Carl's voice. "Welcome to our humble abode. Though you shouldn't have come yourself, we would have come to find you. But let's first introduce ourselves, since we will be working together from now on. I am..."
"Shut the fuck up already," Young, the Marine, very young, at least that's what he gathered from his voice. "Did you think I didn't know that this was all set up for me? Don't kid yourself; you are just small fry, crooks that are a dime a dozen on this island alone. And I am bringing you all down today."
"Phahaha," Carl laughed, but Issho could hear nervousness in his voice, something he couldn't hear from the young Marine. "Oh, seriously. And people tell me I am the criminal. But it is people like you who lose, know they can't pay it up, and now use their authority to run away from their responsibilities. Don't worry, we are not bad guys; we can make a deal to lessen your heavy burden, something that will help each of us."
"Haa," Issho heard as the young Marine let out a long sigh, or did he just blow smoke out of his mouth? Either way, Issho was more impressed that he couldn't hear the Marine's accelerated heartbeat or irregular breathing; everything was normal. "Can't you just shut up already? Yap, yap, yap. Just get over with your threats before I bring you down, and let's get all of this over with."
"Phahaha. Take him!" Carl was pissed, but there was fear in his voice, too.
"So typical," Issho heard the Marine mutter as he was brought to his knees, hard, as he heard the Marine's knees hit the floor.
"Do you see this?" The click was definitely that of a pistol. "Let's get everything straight first. You came to our gambling den first, you lost, and now you are going to pay up the money you borrowed while you lost."
"Sure, sure, sure." The Marine's voice was as even as before. "But before that, let's get things straight properly. I am twenty years old. By state law, it is illegal for me to gamble and for you to let me gamble. Also, it was illegal to serve me drinks, and the money I borrowed was obtained under the influence and in a hostile place, so all of it is null in the end."
Issho heard the crack of the pistol hitting the young Marine's head. Blood dripped down onto the floor. But what shocked Issho was that the Marine said all of it was illegal. He didn't know that. So why would he even try to pay them back?
"Brave little soldier. Laws and rules only apply to the weak. To you, not me, because I am strong. Do you see this man? His name is Issho. Twenty years ago, he was as brave as you; without any uniform, he would deliver justice to this lawless land. The rules of the jungle didn't apply to him because he was strong, and nobody could stand against him. But now here he is, like the rest of you, weak and pathetic on his knees. That is your fate, so you better realize your reality, boy."
"That's not how you use a pistol." Issho was surprised to hear such a reply, especially when the voice carrying that answer was so even and calm. "Do I have to teach you everything? Use the other end of it, point it at my head, and pull the trigger."
"Phahaha." That laugh was even more nervous than before.
It was weird. He hated this. Nothing had changed over the years. Those who held even a bit of power used it against those who didn't have any. That kind of injustice was why he blinded himself. But now he regretted it, as he wanted to see what that young man looked like to be so calm.
Carl was a vicious man, ambitious and power-hungry. He hadn't changed a bit from the last time Issho saw him, still treating others like they were beneath him and deserved to be under him. And yet, he was nervous, even though he was the one holding the gun.
"Very well, you proved your bravery. I can't scare you; you win." Carl's voice dipped down. "So, how about this: you work for me, and I promise not to touch your pretty little sister. It is already a pity how sick she is."
Issho could feel the cold in the air. Others might not notice, but he did. The murderous intent was so powerful that it could overcome anything. And it wasn't coming from Carl, but from the young Marine.
A.N. As always, thanks for reading and supporting me, so I can continue writing without any concerns, and if you want more, up to seven more chapters, you can support me on pa treon. com \ ironwolf852.