Romeo maintained his calm demeanor as he replied nonchalantly, "I came for the book launch."Mrs. Davidson's eyes flashed with anger. "You? Here? For this event?" She spat the words out with contempt. "You are not supposed to be here for several reasons. First, you don't belong in this circle of elites. Second, you have no respect for the exclusivity of this event. Third, your appearance is a disgrace, and fourth, you have no invitation."Romeo raised his hands in a gesture of peace. "Mrs. Davidson, please calm down. I didn't mean to be a nuisance.""Get out of my grand hall, now," Mrs. Davidson ordered, her voice seethed with anger.A good number of guests watched the confrontation unfold, and their expressions ranged from disdain to mild amusement. Many looked at Romeo with a disregarding gaze, judging his carefree appearance and seeming lack of self-respect as Mrs. Davidson berated him. They saw him as someone who didn't deserve any respect, especially after tolerating such a pub
Mrs. Davidson, who was caught off guard by Don Francisco's direct address, hesitated for a moment before raising a trembling hand and pointing toward the back of the hall. "There," she stammered with a voice that was barely audible. "He is sitting right there."Don Francisco's eyes followed her finger until they landed on Romeo, who sat with a puzzled look on his face. The room fell into an uneasy silence as Don Francisco motioned subtly to his men who were stationed discreetly around the hall. Instantly, they moved with swift precision towards Romeo.Romeo's scowl deepened as he saw the men approaching him. Confusion mingled with a growing sense of alarm, and he instinctively stood up and took a step back, only to find his path blocked by another of Don Francisco's men. The realization of what was about to happen dawned on him, and his heart pounded in his chest.Suddenly, two of Don Francisco's men grabbed Romeo's arms with a vice-like grip. He struggled briefly, but their hold w
Three of Don Francisco's men gripped Romeo tightly, their hands were like iron clamps on his arms and shoulders. Romeo's struggles were futile against their combined strength. One of the men, a burly figure with a cruel glint in his eye, knelt down and began to tug at Romeo's trousers.Romeo's face contorted with a mix of desperation and anger. He kicked out wildly, but another man swiftly pinned his legs, rendering him helpless.The crowd's laughter reached a fever pitch, as the cruel amusement was palpable in the air.Finally, with a triumphant yank, the burly man pulled Romeo's trousers off. The humiliating moment was met with a cheer from the audience, their excitement echoed off the grand hall's ornate walls."Give me those trousers," Don Francisco commanded, as his voice sliced through the cacophony.The trousers were handed to him with a flourish, as if presenting a trophy. Don Francisco held them up, examining them with a sneer of disdain. The soaked, tattered garment hung l
Meanwhile inside the grand hall, the atmosphere was electric as the opulent chandeliers cast a warm glow over the elegantly dressed guests, who were gathered to celebrate the launch of the highly anticipated book. With Don Francisco still at a podium, his commanding presence captured the attention of everyone in the hall. Mrs. Davidson, looked fulfilled and satisfied that her useless ex son in law had been treated the way he was treated by Don Francisco's, infact, she revelled and relished the thought of Romeo's disgrace like it was a hard earned Victory.Don Francisco's continued in it's smooth and confident tone as he continued his endorsement of the book. "Ladies and gentlemen," he began, his eyes sweeping over the captivated audience, "this book does not just depicts extraordinary storytelling; it is a beacon of innovation and insight in the field of business and politics. It encapsulates the spirit of progress and the relentless pursuit of excellence that we all strive for."Th
Don Francisco's men began to step back, their initial bravado instantly evaporated as the soldiers' intimidating presence became undeniable. The soldiers, clad in dark uniforms, exuded an air of authority that immediately cowed the once-aggressive henchmen. As more soldiers moved in, their guns were held at the ready, and they systematically surrounded the hall. The guests, who had moments ago been laughing and reveling in Romeo's humiliation, now shuddered in fear and panic. Whispers of dread rippled through the crowd, and many clutched their champagne glasses tightly, as their eyes were wide with terror.The first group of soldiers, without hesitation, took out whips and began to flog Don Francisco's men mercilessly. The sharp cracks of the whips echoed through the grand hall, mingling with the anguished cries of the men as they pleaded for mercy. "Please! Stop! We didn't mean it!" one of Don Francisco's men screamed, writhing in pain as the whip struck his back."Have mercy!
Don Francisco, Viktor "The Snake" Armand, Elara "The Widow" Darnell, and Juro "The Phantom" Sato were dragged from the bullion vans they were contained in to a storey building that was situated within the barracks. Their hands were bound and eyes were wide with terror.The soldiers, moving with practiced efficiency, herded them through a series of dimly lit corridors.The dealers were forced into a small, cozy yet oppressively dark room. The only sources of light were the flickering torches attached to the guns of the soldiers, casting eerie shadows that danced on the walls.The dim light illuminated their faces, revealing expressions of raw fear and desperation. The soldiers stood silently, with faces that were grim and determined, their eyes reflected the coldness of the mission at hand.Viktor Armand was the first to break the silence, his voice was shaky but laced with defiance. "You can't do this to us! We have rights! You can't just—"A soldier silenced him with a harsh shove,
Don Francisco, whose fear was momentarily overridden by a flicker of defiance, straightened himself. "Come on, G, a man has got to survive," he began, his voice was a strained mixture of desperation and bravado. "I had to make money on a big scale."Romeo's eyes darkened with rage. He moved swiftly towards Don Francisco, the cold fury in his gaze was freezing the air around him. Without a word, he raised his hand and delivered a sharp, resounding slap across Don Francisco's face. The force of the blow sent a shockwave through the room, and the other dealers flinched as they watched."Do you know what harm you have brought?" Romeo's voice was a low, dangerous growl, dripping with contempt. "Do you know the consequences of the shitty business you involved yourself in all because you wanted to make money on a big scale?"Without waiting for a response, Romeo delivered another thunderous slap, this one was even more powerful. The impact sent Don Francisco sprawling backward, crashing to
Don Francisco's trembling intensified as he struggled to speak with a voice that was barely a whisper. "The same way you ravaged the lives of the youths of Yilaburg, that is the same way these pitbulls would ravage your bodies," he choked out, with his words broken by sobs.Romeo's smile grew wider, his eyes gleamed with satisfaction. He stepped a bit closer with the pitbulls towards the opium dealers, and their growls grew louder and more menacing. The fear in the room especially amongst the opium dealers was palpable, and the other dealers' began to crumble out of fear.Viktor Armand, usually composed and confident, who was on his knees had his hands clasped together in a desperate plea, and with a shaky voice, he said. "Please, your majesty, have mercy on us! We didn't realize the extent of the damage we caused. We can make amends, we can help fix things. Just give us a chance!"Elara Darnell, her face pale and eyes wide with terror, joined Viktor on the floor. Tears streamed dow