Bullet XXV

After some time away, because he was attending to outside business, Chang was glad to be back in Roanapur. He was glad to be home again.

After wasting fuel by taking a few extra detours, Chang ordered his driver to stop at a restaurant, located right in front of Yellow Flag. After getting out of the vehicle, he ordered his bodyguards to stand guard at the entrance and to politely ask any customers to go somewhere else while he was inside.

Chang walked through the restaurant, scanning with his eyes to see who he didn't recognize. But they were all the same old faces; cops on their lunch break.

Chang sat down at the table where one of the many uniformed officers was sitting, but the difference between the others, was that this cop had cool dark glasses just like his, and he was waiting for him.

Okay, maybe his dark glasses weren't so cool.

"Chang." -Greeted the man.

"Boss Watsup." -He said, nodding. "What news do you have for me?"

"Straight to the point?"

"I've heard some rumors that have bothered me a little bit, so yeah, straight to the point."

Watsup shrugged and took a sip from his coffee cup. "Yesterday things got a little heated around here, but I don't know much either. The thing is, I sent some patrols out to Little Pidgeos yesterday when they called the station to report a possible shooting at the location."

"Does that mean it didn't happen?"

"Oh, it did happen." -said Watsup, laughing. "But my guys couldn't get in, because they found some fucking Russians taking out some family-sized plastic bags, you know what I mean?"

'Ah, Balalaika.''. -Chang thought, nodding.

"So, after those Russians sent my guys to hell.". -Continued Watsup. "I decided to wait another hour for them to finish taking out the garbage so I could go pay Rowan a visit so he could explain to me what the fuck was going on. But when I was able to talk to him, that bastard played dumb and denied that anything had happened. Rowan even cleaned up the place, but he forgot that bullet holes and the smell of blood can't be easily covered up."

"I'm surprised that Rowan has been in the middle of Balalaika's business." -Said Chang, lighting a cigarette. "Wasn't it that that guy doesn't like trouble?"

"Well, whether he likes it or not, he's had it, and one as big as my belly. One of my guys identified one of those plastic bags..."

"Verrocchio."

"Did you know that already?"

Chang shrugged. "I told you I heard rumors."

However, he did not expect Balalaika to be involved, nor that she had killed Verrocchio. And he also did not expect Roanapur to be so calm and without tension in the air, when it would be normal to get shot just walking down the street.

Chang had rushed back with the intention of intervening in a war and stopping it, but fortunately it wasn't necessary. Although he found it odd, he would be lying if he said he wasn't relieved about it.

Unaware of the disaster that could have occurred, Watsup snorted. "So, surely you heard about those piles of slaughtered Koreans, too."

"...Koreans? I didn't know there were Koreans here in Roanapaur."

"Well, not Koreans exactly. You know, I'm talking about the Chinese version of you Chinese."

"Oh...ohh, you mean the Japanese."

"Yes, the Makuzas."

"Yakuzas."

"Whatever. Didn't you know about that shit?" -Chang shook his head, Watsup clicked his tongue. "Well, now you know. I don't know if it was that Russian bitch or the Italian bastard, but yesterday someone killed a lot of those Yakuzas across the fucking town, and my people had to be cleaning up all that mess. Besides, then I had to hand out pay raises and paid vacation to keep these corrupt motherfuckers from doing the fucking paperwork, and thus keep them from kicking me out on my ass."

All the cops on the scene, as Watsup and Chang spoke with their voices at normal volume, turned to look at him and let out complaints and boos.

"Oh, you deny being corrupt motherfuckers? So, you guys turn down the pay raise and the fucking paid vacation?". -Watsup asked. No one answered him. "That's what I figured, corrupt motherfuckers."

Chang thought Watsup was also a corrupt motherfucker, but he remained silent as the police boss took another sip of his coffee.

He also thought it was strange for Balalaika to seek out fights with such small groups, and the same applied to the now deceased Verrocchio, but he didn't share those doubts with Watsup, because that man didn't care at all. The bastard only cared that no one would cause him unnecessary trouble with noisy business, or at least do it in the shadows, and that they had a big bribe ready for him.

That Watsup had agreed to meet with him to talk a bit, in broad daylight and in full view of everyone, indicated that none of those three things had come to pass, and that he was pissed off.

And if Watsup was pissed off, that meant no one could do noisy business in town for a good season, which also pissed Chang off. He would have a few words with Balalaika, and with the new Visconti leader, about discretion in conducting business.

Or in any case, not to be stingy when it comes to giving a bribe.

"My apologies, boss Watsup, that whole mess won't happen again.". -Chang finally said. "Then I will send you compensation for the inconvenience."

"Well, you'd better." -Advised Watsup. "And I'll make it clear to you, I'll put any son of a bitch in jail who goes around causing trouble. Or I'll put a bullet in his ass. Or maybe both, and not exactly in that order."

"C' mon, Watsup, I haven't done anything wrong lately. In fact, I just got back to town."

"I don't care. And if you're done confirming your rumors, I'd like to continue enjoying my-"

Watsup could not finish speaking, because suddenly and without any explanation, Yellow Flag was blown to pieces due to a huge explosion. The shockwave was strong enough to shake the cafeteria where they both stood, spilling food, coffee and curses everywhere, and shattering the window glass.

After getting up, since he and Watsup had dropped to the ground for cover as soon as the explosion occurred, and without having released the cigarette from his mouth, which was quite a feat, Chang walked over to the shattered window and turned his gaze toward the ruins of Yellow Flag.

A thick cloud of black smoke was rising from the rubble, plus there was a small fire going on, as people crowded around to browse.

Chang scratched his head. "Wow... Did a fucking missile fall or what?"

After the RPG incident, the twins finished inspecting the arsenal and finally chose their weapons. Gretel had chosen a rather large and heavy-looking automatic rifle. An M1918, as Priest Rico called it. Hansel had opted to choose a few smaller pistols, and a fearsome looking axe.

"I have to ask." -Said Eda at the kids' choice, because, apparently, Rock and Revy had no intention of doing so. "You two know how to use these things?"

The twins turned to look at her.

"No." -Said Hansel frankly. "But one doesn't learn if one doesn't practice first."

He carelessly waved the axe a couple of times, which made a metallic 'vrnn' sound as it cut through the air. Eda looked at him with pursed lips. "I feel sorry for the thing, or person, you intend to practice on."

"Where is that priest?"

"You plan to use Rico!?". -Eda exclaimed. From a safe distance, as he was still afraid of the children, Rico pointed to himself with a horrified expression on his face. "Yeah, man, he wants to use you as his practice dummy!"

"I don't plan to kill him.". -Clarified the boy. "I just want to cut off his limbs."

"That's worse!"

"Not necessarily." -interjected Gretel, after loading her new toy with a round of ammunition. She didn't seem to have any trouble lifting the gun and leaned it against his shoulder casually. "You can live without arms and legs."

"Although if I take out his eyes and ears, he won't die either.". -Hansel pointed out.

Eda turned to look at her assistant. "Run, stupid!". -Rico hesitated for a few moments, but finally obeyed. Moments later, however, Hansel shot out at him with his axe raised. The boy had surprising speed and in no time shortened the distance between them. "Run faster, he's behind you!"

"You can do it, Hansel!"

"Don't encourage him, you little brat bastard!"

Rico increased the speed of his desperate flight and began to zigzag in an attempt to throw the boy off the scent, but the boy followed him like a homing missile. Realizing this, Rico ended up entering the church through a window, breaking it in the process, with the intention of hiding somewhere. That gave him a few seconds' lead, but Hansel continued to follow close behind.

Eda watched everything with a blank stare. Beside her, Gretel let out a small laugh. "Don't worry, my brother won't kill the priest, he's just playing.". -She said.

"What a fun way to play."

"I know."

"I was being sarcastic."

"I know that too." -Gretel replied, smiling maliciously at her. "Now, can you bring me some targets to practice on, or would you prefer I use you as one? But I'm warning you, it's been a while since I've used a big gun and my aim may be a little sluggish."

"I'll bring you a few right away.". -Eda replied, without hesitation. She wasn't curious enough to know if the girl was joking or not.

" Smart girl..."

"Don't sound so disappointed!"

After Eda handed Gretel some targets so she could practice with her gun, the sister walked back to where Rock and Revy were and plopped down on one of the seats, exhausted. These seats had been brought by Rico, moments before he was attacked by Hansel, along with some cold drinks.

All under the sister's orders. She had called Rico her 'assistant', but she worked him like a slave.

Rock couldn't help but feel bad for the priest, since, by suddenly arriving at the church, he and Revy had increased their workload... besides the fact that he had now become the target of the twins' practical jokes.

"How is it that you two can be so quiet around those brats?". -Eda said, opening a can of beer and taking a long drink. She burped. "They're terrifying."

"I've grown accustomed to them.". -Rock replied. "They're not so bad once you get to know them well."

" Right." -Said Revy, also with a can of beer in her hand. Despite already getting her refund, she seemed to have no intention of leaving the church. "They're worse."

"Hey, Gretel likes you. And Hansel hasn't tried to kill you yet, so I think he puts up with you." -Said Rock.

"And that's supposed to make me feel better?"

"No, I'm just telling the facts.". -He replied, getting a nudge from her.

"Very funny." -Grunted Revy.

"In any case, Hansel and Gretel won't kill anyone unless necessary...". -Rock shrugged again. "Or get bored, so it's completely safe to be around them."

"That doesn't sound safe at all to me.". -Eda pointed out, frowning.

"I never said it was safe for anyone other than me.". -Rock replied, with mild arrogance.

Both Eda and Revy rolled their eyes, then exchanged glances. "This guy pisses me off.". -said the sister.

"I know, me too. I think that's the only skill he has."

"What a useless skill. By the way, how long ago did you catch Fish?"

"His name is Rock, don't change it.". -Responded Revy, pointing a finger at her to emphasize that point. "And I kidnapped him last month, I think, I don't quite remember. But since no one wanted to pay for him even a penny split in half, I decided to keep him as a pet."

"Fuck you, Revy." -Said Rock.

"Hey, hey, that's my line. Don't reverse our roles...it makes me feel weird."

Eda nodded a couple of times after hearing the little story. "I see, I get it. Seeing that the only thing he had of value was his nice ass, you kidnapped him." -Eda raised her thumb by way of approval. "Well done."

"Don't congratulate her." -grunted Rock.

Revy gave a thumbs up as well. " Thanks."

"And you don't thank her!"

However, Eda and Revy seemed to be having too much fun to pay attention to his complaints. Or maybe they were but didn't care. Both cases seemed equally likely.

"Anyway, he doesn't look tough enough to be called Rock.". -said the sister, suddenly changing the subject. "No tattoos, no muscles, no guns...he's just an ordinary guy."

"Hey..." -Rock complained again, but he was ignored.

"Uh... I guess you're right, but, still, I don't like you calling him Fish.". -Revy grimaced. "It doesn't fit him."

"I can think of another name...like Rosh."

"Sounds awful!" -Rvy exclaimed with a smile on her face, perhaps finding it amusing, she now seemed fine with the idea of changing names. "How about Roshi?"

"Too cool." -Recused Eda with a thumbs down, but also smiling.

"Croshi then.". -corrected Revy.

"What the hell? That makes it sound like he's a character from some video game."

"It's just that his name only has four letters, and so does the other one, so the options are very limited."

"Okay, let's try...Fosh."

"...What is he, a sound effect?"

"Hmm...so, I guess Rock should be fine, then. It's surprisingly suited to him, I mean, I can't think of anything more ordinary than a rock." -Eda stated, with Revy nodding a couple of times in agreement with her.

"All right, all right, I think that's enough!". -Said Rock. He had no intention of intervening, because he was aware that, if he did, it would only generate more ridicule towards him, but that last comment was especially painful. "It was Dutch who picked the name, not me, okay? I never intended to make myself the cool guy or anything by calling myself Rock, I just accepted the name."

"Really?" -Eda raised an eyebrow and turned to look at him. "What's your real name like then?"

"Okajima Rokuro."

"I see...Rajukoi."

"Don't mix them!". -He exclaimed, causing both women to laugh.

Rock let out a tired sigh. How did Eda go from showing concern for the twins, to being interested in changing his name? And the worst part was that Revy was playing along. This new duo was too much for him and he was unable to keep up with them.

Fortunately for him, Hansel returned a few minutes later and reported that he was unable to catch the elusive priest. But he vowed to catch it next time he saw it. Eda was smart and wasted no time in handing him a test dummy so the boy could practice.

And so that he would not decide to use her as Rico's replacement.

So, after the children were satisfied with their new toys, and after reaching an agreement and paying Eda, the group said goodbye to the unusual sister and finally left the Rip off church.

Revy was a little annoyed at acting as a driver, but since she really had nothing else to do, she agreed to Rock's request and drove him and the kids to Yellow Flag. And Rock owed her about three beers if she remembered correctly, so she found no reason to refuse his request.

Besides, she didn't want to see Dutch right now either.

Revy could understand that he was pissed off about her screw-up the other day, but she couldn't forgive him for returning the minigun as punishment. Worst of all, she had only used it once.

In any case, the group made their way to Yellow Flag... only to find that the bar was in pieces.

"It wasn't a gas leak.". -said Bao, after Revy asked him what the hell had happened. Bao shook his head. "Honestly, I don't know what happened. The bar was closed at the time, so it wasn't because of a shootout. And because I was on the second floor with my girls, thank God nothing happened to them or I would be ruined, I couldn't see what happened. It was like someone dropped a bomb."

'Ah.'. -Revy thought as she remembered what happened in the church, and glancing at Rock. 'Here's where the fucking missile fell.'

He seemed to notice too, as he ducked his head slightly. "I'm sorry..."

"Hmm, what are you apologizing for, Rickson?"

"No... I'm saying I'm sorry about your bar.". -He said, quickly correcting himself. "I mean, the repair is going to be expensive, right? And my name is Rock."

"Oh, yeah, it'll be a bitch to pay for the repair...but not for me." -Bao shrugged. "I've already had five of my colleagues call me to offer to pay for the cost of repairing the bar. So don't worry, I'll just be away for a few days and then you can go back to work as normal."

"I'm sorry..."

"Huh? What's with this idiot apologizing all the time?"

Revy slapped Rock on the head, signaling him to shut his mouth. Bao might not look it, but he was a real motherfucker. If he found out that Rock and his brats were responsible for the destruction of his bar, although Eda was also to blame, Bao would hang them all on the pier for the seagulls to peck to death.

If he didn't kill them first.

"So, no cold drink then?". -She said to change the conversation. "I'm thirsty."

"There's a little piss in the toilet, but that one's warm.". -Bao replied acidly, pointing in the direction of the toilet. Oddly enough, the bathroom and the second floor were the only things spared from the missile's impact. "Of course there's no drink, you stupid bitch."

"Your mother is stupid, as well as a bitch."

" Yeah, you're right, my mother was a stupid bitch who didn't even know how to make a fried egg. But that doesn't take away from the fact that there are no drinks.". -Bao replied.

Revy didn't say anything, just blinked, because she didn't expect that kind of response. However, the owner of the destroyed bar didn't seem to mind and continued.

"So, since you're here opening your mouths, are you going to help me clean up this mess?"

Revy raised an eyebrow. It's not like she had anything else to do, and she had no problem doing a little hard work, but the problem was that she wasn't planning on doing it for free. "Are you going to pay us for that?"

"No."

"Then...no."

"I see, in that case, go fuck yourselves."

Chang paced in front of Balalaika's desk.

The man had arrived suddenly, without any warning, and requested a small meeting between the two of them. Balalaika agreed, because basically that bastard was already there, besides she wanted to talk to him anyway. Fortunately, Chang put aside his ridiculous pleasantries and got straight to the point; he wanted to know what the fuck happened yesterday.

Balalaika told him everything from the beginning. Well, almost everything. There were a few small details that Chang didn't need to know.

After hearing her story, Chang started pacing back and forth in front of his desk, his hands clasped behind his back. He looked like one of those teachers who had caught his students getting into mischief, or a police officer who was about to interrogate his prisoner.

The stupid thing Chang was doing was solely to add psychological pressure, and it would work pretty well against most people. But not with Balalaika, and certainly not with her men... with the exception of Boris.

The poor sergeant had developed a severe trauma towards Chang, due to the practical jokes he played on him the last time they were face to face, so he was probably more susceptible to that kind of attack.

It was practically taboo among the Hotel Moscow members to mention Chang, because Boris could act erratically. But having Chang in front of them was totally different.

Boris, as usual, was standing next to his Kapitana and had his gaze fixed on Chang...or so it seemed. In reality, although the sergeant's body was in the office, his mind was somewhere far away.

He wasn't staring at Chang, he was looking right through him.

Balalaika could only roll her eyes at the uselessness of her second in command.

Then, as she thought of some way to break the sergeant's trauma, Chang stopped and turned to look at her. "What a screw-up." -He said.

"What a screw-up.". -She repeated. "So, what's wrong?"

"Don't tell me 'what's wrong', like there's no problem, dammit. While I was gone, a lot of Yakuzas killed a lot of other Yakuzas, there was a fucking shootout at Rowan's club, where several Italians were killed, including their leader, and there was almost a civil war between gangs... in just one day?"

"In fact, it was only about two or three hours.". -corrected Balalaika, something that left Chang even more incredulous. "But, even though the whole thing was a screw-up, it worked out smoothly in the end."

"Is this a fucking joke?"

"No, if it were a fucking joke, you'd be stuck in the elevator right now." -Balalaika replied. "I have a button here on my desk that makes the elevator stop, so, if I were you, I'd use the stairs from now on."

"...Really?"

"You are free to go to the elevator to check it out if you wish."

Chang looked at her with pursed lips, then turned his gaze to Boris. "Okay, let's hear the thinker's opinion..."

"Chang..." -Advised Balalaika as she guessed what he was planning.

However, the other man ignored her. "What do you THINK about all this, thinker?"

Boris shuddered, and his gaze refocused, reflecting deep fear. "I... I don't want to hear that word."

"Ah, you THINK you can refuse to answer?"

The sergeant crouched in a fetal position as he covered his ears. "Stop it!"

Chang was clearly having fun. "Why do you THINK I'll stop?"

"Help!"

"Enough, Chang." -Balalaika cut in, to stop the mistreatment of her sergeant from continuing. Chang chuckled and, much to her chagrin, she smiled with amusement, though that only lasted a moment. "I didn't let you into my office to further damage my sergeant's mind."

"Hnn, I guess you're right. Although I was already thinking of retiring-". -Boris let out a squeak and Chang laughed again." What is it, Balalaika?"

"In a few days I will meet with those Japonskis I told you about. And most likely, I'll end up traveling for a stint in Japan with them to take care of some business there, so I won't be in town in case the other leaders request a stupid meeting."

"Oh, so asking me to take care of everything while you're gone? I have no problem with that."

"I am not ceding my territory, the Hotel Moscow will maintain it' s position here in Roanapur." -She clarified, so he wouldn't get any silly ideas. "My business and operations will continue as normal, I am simply informing you that I will not be around for a while."

Chang downplayed it with a wave of his hand. "I get it, I get it. Don't worry, I'll keep an eye out to make sure no one tries to steal your territory."

"I'll kill any son of a bitch who tries to steal my territory, you included."

Chang changed his relaxed expression to a stern one. His voice had also become more serious. "Balalaika, you should know better than anyone, that, if I wanted that, you would already be dead... so save your ridiculous threats, it's boring for me to hear everyone tell me the same thing."

For a moment, Chang had shown the real Chang. However, that attempt at intimidation did not affect Balalaika in the least. "You're just trying to act cool."

"I'm always cool." -Chang replied, smiling again. "In any case, I repeat that I have no problem in taking charge of the town during your absence. I'd wish you a safe trip, but I hope the plane you're traveling on blows up with you inside."

Balalaika merely showed him her middle finger.

"How mature..."

"That was all I had to talk to you about.". -Said Balalaika, holding up her middle finger. "Get the fuck out of my office already."

I can only say, calm before the storm.