Chapter 224
In the dead of the night, stood a certain warehouse which had once been a place of honest work, but now, was nothing more than a den of sin.
Some of the fense around it had fallen while rusted, slightly ajar gate barred the entrance with a battered “Keep Off” sign hung there. The main gate’s lock consisted only of a chain looped through holes, that anyone with half a brain could undo. But that was the point because only fools or dead men tried to trespass.
This was Red Dragon territory.
Two monstrous dogs with foaming maws and gleaming teeth prowled the perimeter, their low growls meant to ward off any wanderer.
Inside, naked fluorescent tubes buzzed overhead, illuminating the sorry sight of men, women, and even children stripped down to their underwear, bagging and packing precious white powder into sealed pouches.
A handful of tough-looking enforcers patrolled with weapons in hand, ensuring no one stole so much as a pinch of their merchandise.
But the real business took place in a separate room, its door guarded by two mean-eyed thugs. Samuel sat at the head of a long metal table, his fingers idly tapping against the surface. He was the underboss of Red Dragon. Second only to their Don, Titan.
On the opposite side of the table sat their guest, Umal, a brown-skinned man with neatly trimmed beards, and ruffled brown hair that somehow made him look more dangerous than unkempt.
Two of Samuel’s armed men stood on either side of him, rifles in hand. But Umal wasn’t intimidated. His own two guards flanked him just as confidently, each armed to the teeth.
Samuel rapped a knuckle on the table. “Where is it?”
Umal signaled one of his cronies, who stepped up carrying a brushed-steel briefcase. He set it down gently. When Umal flicked the latches, it opened to
rows of small, delicate bottles, each filled with a milky-white liquid, nestled neatly into their cushioned compartments.
Umal lifted one between his fingers, rolling it in the light before finally speaking.
“We call it Ignis. That is Fire.” He smiled, the word rolling off his tongue with satisfaction. “Because once it’s in the bloodstream, it burns explosively, unlike anything else before it.”
The upper gang members seated at the sides of the table exchanged wary glances.
Umal continued, his voice smooth and honeyed with greed. “Just one taste, and the victim is hooked.” His fingers tightened around the bottle.
“Then comes the real beauty of it, the power.” He chuckled, dark and knowing. “For five minutes, they will feel limitless. Strength beyond human means. Speed to match a wolf’s. A high unlike any other childish drug on the market.”
Then he set the bottle down and leaned forward.
“And once they come down from that high?” His smile widened, cruel and serpentine. “The withdrawal is five times worse. That’s what makes it so profitable. The addict will do anything, and I mean, anything, to get another taste.”
He leaned back, self-assured. “I see a promising partnership here.”
There was silence in the meeting room.
Samuel glanced at the other ranking members seated around the table. Their gazes met in silent conversation.
Finally, Samuel spoke. “And how do we know your claims about these powers are true?”
Umal’s eyes glimmered with anticipation. “I thought you’d ask for a demonstration.”
He motioned to his men and one stepped forward, grabbed a bottle, and extracted its contents with a needle.
Umal’s voice was as smooth as a salesman closing a devilish deal. “We’ll need… an experiment. ”
Samuel nodded to one of his own. The man slipped out and returned shortly after, dragging a pitifully emaciated figure inside. The man was no other than their tester and his eyes lit up feverishly at the sight of the injection.
“Give me!” he begged, already reaching desperately for the syringe.
Samuel gave a small nod. Umal’s henchman moved in, jabbing the syringe into the tester’s scrawny arm. Everyone watched intently. At first, nothing. Then the man groaned, dropping to his knees as though in agony, clutching his head and snarling like a beast.
A moment later, his agonized groan twisted into a maniacal laughter. His head snapped up, and his wide, dilated eyes gleamed with a sick, unnatural euphoria.
“It feels so good,” he whispered, almost reverently. “It’s so good. I’ve never felt anything like this before.”
Umal stood before the tester, “How do you feel?” he asked.
The tester stared at his own hands, eyes wide with awe. “Powerful. Like I can do anything.”
Umal smiled like a proud father. He turned to Samuel. “Now, we’re on a time limit. So let’s test it out in a rather… productive way, shall we?”
Samuel’s eyes narrowed. “What do you mean?”
“Let’s say, perhaps there’s someone at this table you’ve been meaning to eliminate.”
The air in the room shifted and Samuel’s men stiffened.
Umal continued, his tone almost amused. “Maybe someone’s been stealing from you. This might be the perfect time to make an example.”
A cold chill settled over the room. No one dared to breathe.
Then, Samuel spoke. “Xander.”
A ripple of shock followed. Xander’s eyes snapped up, fear etched in them. “Boss, please… it was just once—!”
But Samuel’s face was like stone. That was when Xander realized there’d be no forgiveness.
“Shit!” he swore, leaping from his seat in a last-ditch attempt to flee.
But it was too late.
With terrifying speed, the drugged tester went after him, eyes shining with twisted excitement.
Xander sprinted for the exit, but before he made it three steps, the tester lunged, grabbing him by the neck.
The room watched in horrified silence as the tester lifted Xander effortlessly into the air. A sickening crunch was heard as he slammed his skull into the closest wall, smashing it like an overripe melon. Brain matter splattered down the floor in a gruesome display.
The tester dropped him like a piece of garbage, panting heavily, then let out a triumphant laugh so wild, it sent a chill through even the most hardened men in the room.
Umal turned back to Samuel, smirking.
“Shall we discuss numbers now?”