UNDER HIS RULES

Sam growled in frustration. The car Rulli was driving came to a sudden halt as a barrage of gunfire was directed at them. “Why did you stop?” Sam snapped, displeased.

“There are too many barricades, Boss,” Rulli replied.

“Tsk!” This time it was Hugo speaking up. “Push through!” He grabbed one of the prepared weapons.

“Karl, protect me!” Hugo ordered, pressing a device on his communication device. The screen, which had been shaking, began to display signals again, but all communication shifted to wireless.

“Done, Boss.”

Like Hugo, Sam also took a long-barreled weapon. It was no problem for either of them to handle firearms. Although they rarely used them directly, they regularly trained in the jungles of the Southern region.

Rulli glanced through the rearview mirror and knew what he had to do. Meanwhile, Thomas also prepared, with the car’s dashboard filled with weapons. The car’s windows were lowered, and Thomas launched an attack on the heavily armed enemies in front of them. Similarly, Hugo released the latest MR 13 from behind.

With a single press, ten bullets were rapidly fired, causing the opponents to panic but still trying to stop the car Sam was in. Hugo grinned at this attack. If only they hadn’t been obstructed earlier, he wouldn’t have had to break through like this. But it seemed fitting to give this to Jimmy Lee.

Hugo had disliked the man for a long time. He only emerged because of the influence of Alfred? Goodness, God! If Alfred hadn’t supported him, Hugo knew for sure that the man wouldn’t be able to do anything.

“Get ready, Boss,” Rulli said as they crossed the gate area. Thanks to Hugo and Thomas’s gunfire, as well as the cars behind them, they were able to continue driving swiftly. Flames began to soar high. Outside, cries of pain could be heard from the shots fired by Sam.

Sam opened the top of his jeep. A warning shot, along with his amplified voice through the loudspeaker, boomed. “Stop, or we’ll destroy you!”

Hugo grumbled in annoyance, holstering his favorite weapon. “You’re annoying!” He sulked with a pouty face. “What kind of party is this when we’re asked to stop right at the entrance?”

“Shut up!” Sam said. Once again, he spoke through the loudspeaker. “Jimmy Lee, come out. If not, don’t blame me for my actions!”

After the recent warning, everyone who had been targeting Sam stopped. Although it couldn’t extinguish the fire that had already engulfed the mansion’s guard area, everyone guarding there appeared immobilized. Most of them were either unconscious or dead on the ground. Sam didn’t play around with his attacks.

In his eyes, it was an eye for an eye.

In his eyes, Tony was valuable. He couldn’t be underestimated. This was just a small part of what Sam could retaliate for the death of someone loyal to him. It had been quite difficult for Sam to reach this point. His captive was someone who stubbornly held onto secrets.

“You still won’t answer?” Sam glanced at his hands, now covered in blood. Turning the defenseless man into a punching bag didn’t feel fair to him, but… he found satisfaction in seeing someone powerless. He gently wiped the remaining blood on a handkerchief that Hugo handed him. “Ah… it’s a shame you won’t talk.”

The man was already weak, gasping for breath. His eyes were swollen and flickering. The scent that filled his nose was the acrid smell of blood oozing from wounds all over his body.

He couldn’t even utter a word of pain because his whole body was battered. He had lost count of how many punches and kicks he had received.

The torment didn’t stop there. But no, Yengki wouldn’t speak. He knew he had to keep everything Sam wanted to know tightly sealed, including the accidental shooting of one of Sam’s men. Unfortunately, he had neglected to clean up the crime scene. The bullet casing that should have been disposed of had become its own weapon.

“Damn,” he muttered softly.

“Ah, Boss.” Hugo chuckled. “Didn’t you hear him groaning just now?” He approached Yengki, who was barely able to see him. Yengki knew everything about Hugo. He was the number one person Sam trusted the most, and his words were never doubted, including this time.

“If you want to beat someone up properly, Boss, should I be the one to step in?” he said, laughing. Simultaneously, he delivered a precise kick to Yengki’s face, which had tilted slightly. It wasn’t just once but several times.

“Enough,” said Sam, which Hugo immediately followed. “We need him alive.” Sam stood up from his chair. “Or dead?” He tilted his head, looking at the suffering Yengki not far from his seat. “What do you think, Hugo?”

“Life for a life.”

“He was just following orders, Hugo!” Sam laughed loudly. “But alright. Let’s give a surprise to his master.”

Yengki tried to look at Sam, who stood towering near him, and spat with whatever effort he could muster, dirtying the ruler’s shoe. Sam frowned in annoyance. In one swift motion, Sam forcefully stepped on the face that had spat at him. The room filled with groans of pain in the dimly lit space.

Yengki’s weak hand tried to push away Sam’s foot, but Sam wouldn’t let Yengki move that easily. The wound he had created on his captive’s thigh became the new target.

“ARHGHHH!!!” The wound started bleeding fresh again. The tip of Sam’s shoe was stained with the blood, but he didn’t care. Once again, Sam targeted the wide-open wound and pulled Yengki’s hair as a final act.

“This is your last chance,” Sam approached the beaten face. “Who ordered you?”

Yengki gasped for breath. “I… was ordered.” The constant pain he felt kept assaulting his consciousness. Just looking at Sam made him lose his sense of direction. “I was ordered to kill Alfred.”

Sam fell silent.

“But…” Yengki closed his eyes slowly. He felt like he couldn’t bear it any longer.

“Answer!” Sam snapped forcefully. Regardless of Yengki dying in his hands, all he could see in his mind’s eye was Tony covered in blood at the edge of the forest.

“But your men were there.”

“You bastard!” Sam delivered a kick without hesitation. “Finish him!”

One thing Yengki knew about the Boss referred to by Yengki was Gerald Hasolomone. Yengki was one of his most trusted men. It was unlikely that he would betray them, but Anne had been observing unusual movements from Gerald and Jimmy for the past year.

There was a strong possibility that this was related to Jimmy.

So Sam did what he had to do, to threaten the Boss Yengki mentioned to come out of hiding. And here he was. Getting out of the car with the weapon he used. By his side was Hugo, looking relaxed with his MR 13. Shortly after, Eland and his men were ready with swords in their hands.

Meanwhile, in front of Sam, Jimmy was already there with a group armed and ready to fight against him.

“Once a thug, always a thug,” Jimmy sneered.

“Yeah. I am a thug.” Sam approached. “But not scum like you.” He took out a cigarette that was always in his suit pocket. He casually lit it, even though there were many guns pointed at him nearby, ready to unleash bullets. Sam knew no fear.

Defending what he believed was right was his path. That included rendering his men helpless.

“Eland,” Sam said after taking a puff and exhaling the smoke freely. “Bring Jimmy a gift.”

Eland immediately went to Sam’s car. With the help of his men, he carried a brightly colored yellow bag. He simply threw the bag until it fell right at Jimmy’s feet.

“Open it,” Sam commanded.

Jimmy ignored Sam’s words.

“Oh, our boss doesn’t want to open it, Eland,” Sam said with a mocking tone. “Thomas, you open it. Who knows, there might be treasure inside.”

Thomas didn’t object. He quickly approached and untied the straps and zipper of the yellow bag. As soon as Jimmy saw what Sam brought, he widened his eyes in shock. He took a step back, and his previously arrogant face turned pale.

“If you dare touch my men again, you’ll be the one in this bag,” Sam said softly.

***[]***

Beatrice was restless. The sound of gunfire continued to echo. It sounded terrifying, and for some reason, a deep sense of worry crept into her heart. As a form of her frustration, she paced around the room, ignoring Hera’s questions.

“Beatrice!” Hera finally snapped. “What’s wrong with you?”

“Oh, Ra.” Beatrice quickly joined Hera, who was sitting on the large sofa in the room. “I’m scared.”

“Scared of what?” Hera was confused. “You still haven’t answered why we’re here and what you’re doing, right?” Hera grabbed Beatrice’s hand. “You have to tell me why we’re here.”

Beatrice let out a sigh. She tried to dismiss the sound of gunfire that still rang loudly in her head. It felt as if the shots were right next to her, making her whole body stiff and frightened. “It’s a long story, Ra.”

“Take your time then, can’t you?”

Beatrice sighed again. “I don’t know, Ra. I don’t know if I should tell the story in detail or how. It’s also difficult for me to talk about it, Ra.”

“Why?” Hera looked at Beatrice intently. Observing her closely, her friend seemed troubled. There was no sign of her eyes being burdened, but how did she end up here? Hera also hadn’t forgotten what Anne said about her purpose.

The house of a leader from the Southern Division, whom she herself was confused about who that person was. Eventually, Anne revealed a bit about Sam and this house, including Tony’s involvement.

“So… Tony is a thug?”

Anne hit the brakes hard. “Don’t say things like that, Ra,” she snorted disapprovingly. “It’s like saying I’m a thug.”

“Then what is he?” Hera herself was puzzled.

The newly revealed facts by Anne made no sense to her. But her intuition couldn’t deny that at the funeral, many people whom she considered fierce and intimidating had helped with the final tribute procession for Tony.

Also… “Who is the tall, well-built man in the black suit? The one named Samuel?”

“You saw him at the funeral?”

Hera nodded without hesitation and said, “Yes.” Because she realized that Anne wouldn’t be able to see her nod. She was fully focused on driving her motorcycle at a fairly high speed. It seemed like Anne was pressed for time.

“Yes, that’s Sam. Our leader. The person we respect and revere the most in the entire Southern Division.”

And what was surprising being why Beatrice was here. What connection did her friend have with this grand house or the leader of the Southern Division? Looking at their strange and intimidating conversation, Beatrice didn’t seem bothered at all.Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.

Was this also what made Beatrice seem to disappear from the face of the earth?

“I guarantee that the Old Man is clueless, Ra,” Beatrice said with a downcast face. Her hands intertwined. “I don’t know why that person always gets me into trouble, and this time, it’s a big one that I can’t escape from.” She lowered her head even more, recalling her current situation.

“A lot?” Hera asked softly. This time, she approached and gave Beatrice a hug as a show of support. “I thought your dad was just into gambling and drinking. He wouldn’t do something like this.”

Beatrice chuckled. “My luck is really bad.”

“Do you… work here, Beatrice?” Hera asked cautiously. “Like Anne. From what I know, she works but I don’t know what she does.”

“Anne? I just found out about her job too. Turns out, it’s related to communication headquarters. Isn’t it, right?”

Hera nodded in agreement.

“I don’t know what my job is here. Well, I’m not allowed to do anything without Sam’s permission.”

“You… are close to Sam?” Hera asked, wide-eyed. “The Sam from earlier, right? The one… on the screen?”

“There’s only one Sam here, Ra,” Beatrice said with boredom. “Yes, it’s him.”

Before Hera could respond, Anne suddenly entered the room where Beatrice was staying. “The boss wants to talk, she immediately handed her phone to Beatrice. This immediately furrowed Beatrice’s brow, but she didn’t stop her steps to approach Anne.

“Yes?”

“Get ready. With Ute’s help, all of you will leave the headquarters.”

“What?” Beatrice didn’t understand what was happening.

“Hurry!”

“B-But, Sam-”

“Quick, Beatrice Catalina!”