Ch1 of Mastermind - Yag confesses to (OG) Blue Mary that he cut off Billy Kane's thumb for threatening his landlady - Shates.

"Th' little Bitch still goin'?"

"Afternoon boss. Yup. He's still chugging along, if not a bit dehydrated. Physically, he'll be fine. Mentally? Not so much. He's gone absolutely stir."

Billy Kane smirked and slumped into the chair beside one of his associates. Yesterday morning, Billy Kane's security group had abandoned all of their other operations to successfully kidnap and subdue Iori Yagami. The operation was tremendously expensive to carry out - as gaseous paralytic was both dangerous to transport, and difficult to obtain - but the operation went off without a hitch. Billy managed to nab one of his most hated enemies and imprison him at the bottom of the bay without issues.

Fookin' bastard…

Of course, Billy Kane would've been happy to watch Iori slowly die of oxygen deprivation, or thirst - whichever came first - but the red-haired man had enough connections in the underworld that Geese wanted him alive as a hostage for negotiations. As a result, the revenge Billy had been looking forward to for so long, was snatched out of his grasp - and by his own superior, no less. Geese needed Iori alive, and Billy - to his chagrin - needed to follow orders...

That didn't mean he wasn't going to make Iori suffer though. Billy Kane had a bone to pick with the red-haired man. It had happened many years ago, but the situation was so bizarre, and the shame was so poignant, Billy remembered it like yesterday.

Nearly four years ago - while Billy was still Kain Heinlein's underling, he had been tasked with going about the city and collecting protection money from the businesses in the area. After a long day, he and his team found themselves in a miserable little flower shop next to a crackhouse. It was run by some naggy old woman, who claimed she was too poor to pay. She cried and begged and nagged, but Billy was having none of it. He was tired. He just wanted to go home and call it a day.

… Should've just left… now Yagami gets to pay...

So Billy was quite happy to simply empty her cash register, and leave it at that - but for whatever reason Iori Yagami heard the commotion came a-running.

Billy had been surprised to see him, since Iori was quite famous for being extremely stony-hearted. He hardly lifted a finger for anyone. The type of heartless bastard to leave a crying child in the middle of traffic. He simply didn't care about people. But, obviously, he cared about his landlady. Iori stomped in, wearing nothing but a full face of makeup, and threatened to cut everyone's thumbs off if they didn't leave.

Naturally, Billy wasn't about to be shoved around by a naked man wearing badly applied mascara, and obviously impaired by illicit substances. He foolishly stood his ground.

So, he lost the last joint of his left thumb.

That was the cost Billy Kane paid for underestimating the Yagami heir. It wasn't something he'd ever do again… and the result of that caution was this: Billy was now watching Iori slowly lose his mind at the bottom of PortTown Bay, from the comfort of an office chair.

Serves you right, bitch...

It was immensely satisfying seeing Iori so desperate. Billy was no sadist, but it felt so good delivering comeuppance to the man who thought he was untouchable. At the moment, Iori was curled up in a corner, hugging his knees. He was soaking wet, and trembling quite visibly. His face was buried in his arms, and according to 'Big Man' Gomez, he hadn't moved since this morning.

"He awake? Don't let him sleep."

"Eh, don't worry about it. I just convinced him to take off one of his fingernails about twenty minutes ago. Nobody could sleep right after that. Let him chill a bit, I'm starting to feel bad for him, haha..."

Billy, surprised, clapped a hand on Gomez's shoulder in congratulations. The fact Iori's holding cell was 100 feet deep in the ocean, meant Billy couldn't use any of the traditional means to torture his prisoner. Thankfully, Gomez was not only a fantastic (physical) tourterer - but also skilled in psychological manipulation. Iori's fragile psyche was no match for 'Big Man' on the intercom, and after only 24 hours he was already tearing bits off himself.

"Good work Big Man. I hope you recor'ded it on film for me."

"Of course I did, boss. I'll rip the DVD for you now."

"Ten grand if ya convince'im ta cut his thumb off. How'bout it?"

"I'll see what I can do."

"Left Thumb."

"Hehe, sure thing."

*Kzzzt*

"Morning Sunshine! No sleeping - remember?"

4th is gonna be so mad.

Like:
4- Iori! why did you pull all your fingernails off!
I- The voice told me to!
4-...