Bullet XXXIV

Balalaika left to make calls with Boris and her other contacts, all related to the theft of her money. Jane no longer needed him as a guide, she had obtained everything she needed to continue her work and was now immersed in her own world, completely ignoring the questions he asked out of curiosity.

So, now that he was free, Rock walked over to a window to look out at the light snow falling on the streets of Tokyo, thoughtfully.

He had taken the news of the theft at the hands of the Lagoon company badly, though perhaps not as badly as he should have. Balalaika had mentioned that she would send people to get their money back, which clearly implied that Revy, Dutch and Benny were going to have a hard time dealing with those guys…

But then, Rock remembered that they were mercenaries trained to take on anything, and that they had brought this big trouble on themselves.

'What the hell were those idiots thinking?' -Rock wondered. But the answer was obvious: easy money.

Balalaika had mentioned that Dutch had tried to blackmail her to keep the bank account that held all her money 'safe', taking advantage of their working relationship they both had, and of the fact that Balalaika owed him a few favors. Rock didn't blame him for trying, just like him, Dutch had seen an opportunity and took advantage of it.

That the move went wrong was just bad luck.

But, on the other hand, he could also understand why Balalaika was so pissed off with them, even though she didn't show it. She had taken the theft as an insult, one that had gone too far.

"So, what are you going to do now?" -Said Gretel, approaching him.

Her brother had retreated to the room where Kageyama, his boss and other partners were confined. Hansel had learned of their fear of human fingers, thanks to Balalaika's threats, and now he was psychologically torturing them by using a very sharp knife to cut, in front of them, carrots that looked very similar to the shape of fingers.

If it had been other people, Rock would have stopped him. Instead, this time he let Hansel have his fun, only warning him not to go too far, as these guys could still be useful to him.

"What do you mean?"

"Anego and the robbery she did to the Ruskie. What are you going to do now that you know the mess she's gotten herself into?"

"Oh, that." -Rock took the time to pull out a cigarette and light it before answering. That answer was obvious, too. "Absolutely nothing."

"Nothing?"

Apparently, the frankness of his answer caught Gretel off guard, her voice note revealed her surprise, so Rock hastened to specify his previous answer. "Revy and her friends were the ones who got into this mess of their own free will. I don't see why I should get involved in their business. In fact, I'm sure Balalaika would prefer it that way."

"Maybe why if you hadn't had the bright idea to steal money from your company, they wouldn't have had the bright idea to steal that money from the Ruskie?"

Rock finally turned to look at her. "Are you blaming me for the stupid thing they did?"

"I didn't say that."

"Well you made it sound like you did." -He replied, defensively. Rock scratched his cheek. "Look, it's not that I don't care what might happen with Revy, of course I care about her, she's a good friend and I like her-"

The girl rolled her eyes. "Really, a 'I like her' is the best you can say to define your relationship with her?"

He ignored her. "But I didn't force them to take Balalaika's money, okay? No one from the Lagoon company is dumb enough to do something like that without thinking about the consequences, they knew full well the shit storm they were getting into. What happens with that money, as well as anything in between, is not our responsibility. I have done my part in this work and our current business with Balalaika is concluded, the debt we owed her is over. It is best for us not to get involved in her business again."

For a moment, Gretel stared at him in silence. "I don't understand, why are you so reluctant to intervene?"

"Because we won't gain anything, except get into more trouble?"

Again, it's not as if Rock didn't care about Revy's safety, and to a lesser extent Dutch and Benny's. But as long as he could get what he wanted, which was to get rid of the debt he owed Balalaika, as well as the one he owed Chang, and get the twins a normal life, then Rock was willing to do whatever it took to get it done.

And if the price to pay was to let Revy fend for himself, so that he and the twins wouldn't be dragged into a new shitstorm that she and her friends had unleashed, then so be it.

"And since when has that ever stopped you from meddling in other people's business?" -Gretel replied, earnestly. "Nor was it any of your business when Hansel and I caused a ruckus with the scar-faced bitch and the guy with dark glasses, and yet, even though you didn't gain anything except trouble either, you intervened on our behalf."

Rock grimaced. "That was different. In a completely different context..."

"Well I don't see it that way. I mean, Anego and his idiot friends have screwed Balalaika over, pissed her off, and now she wants to kill them. The only thing different than what's happened between me and my brother's case and those guys is that they've stolen money from Balalaika."

She had a good point, but, at the same time, she was also wrong. There was a big difference between the Lagoon Company case, and what happened with Hansel and Gretel.

Rock wondered if he should tell Gretel that although Revy had given him a new chance, a second life, it was she and his twin brother who gave him a reason to go on. Without them...Rock didn't know how long he would have lasted in Roanapur if he hadn't had the chance to meet them.

He probably wouldn't have lasted long in that chaotic city before crawling back to safe Japan, begging his boss to take him back into his company. Or maybe he would have ended up dead, with a bullet hole in his head, the product of some mugging, or a random shooting in Bao's bar.

He might even have ended up putting the hole in himself.

In their own strange way, Hansel and Gretel had saved him from an unhappy existence, giving him a reason, a purpose, to stay alive when he had nothing and knew nothing to do.

"You complained the last time I decided to voluntarily get into trouble.". -Said Rock, in a last attempt to disengage himself from the matter.

He didn't want to get involved, but if Gretel was asking him so insistently to intervene...

"Yeah, but that was because you went into business with the Ruskie to kidnap a bunch of guys in suits and steal their money.". -Responded Gretel. "I'm not going to bother if what you're trying to do is save Anego's life, and the other two morons she has as friends, for a moment of stupidity."

Rock smiled in a resigned manner, though he was not displeased. "Okay, girl, you convinced me. I'll talk to Balalaika and try to find a solution that doesn't involve the Lagoon company turned into soup, but no promises, okay? This is a very delicate and complicated matter, I don't know if Balalaika will take it well if I get involved."

Besides, Rock would rather that no-nonsense gunwoman didn't die if possible. It would be a real shame to lose someone so easy to piss off and with such funny reactions.

Gretel smiled. "So...this sense of triumph you feel after persuading someone is the reason you're such a busybody in other people's business?"

"One of the reasons, brat. Feels good, doesn't it?"

"Yeah, it's not bad at all."

"Well, don't get used to it." -Rock replied, patting her head. "I'll make sure it doesn't become a habit for you."

Dutch felt like a mummy rising from the dead.

His vision was a little blurry, the metallic taste of blood in his mouth and a sharp stab of pain ran from the tip of his chin to the back of his head.

The last time someone had knocked him out with a punch in the face... it was years ago, when he was a skinny brat living in a neighborhood full of assholes who picked on him for being black and poor. At least until he turned 15, when his body finally grew into a mountain of muscle, thirsty for revenge.

After that, Dutch had dedicated himself to beating up those assholes and becoming the toughest guy in his neighborhood, and later, his city.

Dutch let out a slight chuckle. "Fuck. That bastard Chang sent me thirty years into the past in one punch."

"How envious." -said Benny's pained voice behind his back. Turning to look, he saw that his employee was sitting in a chair, leaning against a wall, and with one arm across his abdomen." He's only broken a rib or two for me."

"Where are we, Benny-boy?"

"In your office. Mr. Chang took the disk from me and then ordered some of his men to bring us here."

Dutch nodded, even though it made his head hurt more. Now that his vision finally began to clear, he realized that indeed he and Benny were in his office. And so was Revy, who was lying on the couch there, still unconscious.

That was good. Revy hated receiving surprise attacks, so she'd probably be pissed off and want her revenge on Chang. Which would be a bad idea.

Dutch wasn't stupid, they were alive because the Chinese gangster wanted them to be. Chang had even brought them back to the company office instead of killing them, or leaving them lying in some garbage dump...nor had he sent them to a Shanghai jail for ideological re-education, which used to be Chang's favorite joke.

"We lost the disk, huh?" -Dutch muttered. "Can't say I'm surprised, Chang can be a real jerk when he wants to be."

"I won't argue with that, but I still don't get it, why did he attack us? I mean, I know he's doing Balalaika a favor by guarding her territory, but-"

"It's a long story, buddy, but I'll keep it short so as not to be filler for the chapter. Remember when Revy was stuck in a cell at the police station a few days back?"

"Yeah..."

"Well, Watsup wanted to put me in a cell along with her for not keeping her under control, so I handed Chang over to him as a bargaining chip, since Watsup, for some reason, was pissed off with him. Then, Boss Chang swore revenge on me."

"I see." -Benny grunted. "So that's why you wouldn't want to see him in the first place."

Dutch nodded. While he at the time didn't take him seriously, he hadn't entirely let his guard down around the guy either. For that reason Dutch preferred to go around all over Roanapur, even though he was aware that no one wanted to get involved in a business deal with something that was stolen from Balalaika, instead of going straight to Chang.

But the Triad leader didn't seem pissed off about that old business when he met them at Balalaika's base, so Dutch thought he'd forgotten about it.

However, he was wrong. He was terribly wrong.

Apparently, Chang was deadly serious that time.

But hey, looking on the bright side of things, this would serve as a lesson. Chang and Balalaika may have been friendly with him and his employees, but Dutch sometimes got carried away and forgot that they were dangerous criminal bosses and that they were sick in the head.

And so was he, considering he stole money from one and had another locked up. It was truly a miracle that he was alive and not being fed to the fish, or hanging by his balls on the dock.

"Well, from now on, we'll have to keep some distance.". -said Dutch, standing up. He was left lying on the floor, but Revy was left on the couch and Benny on a chair. It was kind of unfair. "We'll be more professional and not try to get smart with those people again. Any idiot who suggests that kind of thing again will get beaten up."

"I wish you'd thought of that from the beginning." -Benny replied.

"Mind you, you're the one who started it all, I can still give you that beating."

"I don't want to argue, okay? It hurts to breathe." -Intending to change the conversation, Benny pointed to his partner. "What do we do with her?"

Dutch glanced toward the couch. Revy was still unconscious and with no signs of waking up soon...that moron was even snoring nonchalantly. But then again, that was for the best.

"For now let her sleep. ". -said Dutch. "It didn't go as planned, but we finally got rid of that ticking time bomb and Chang will no doubt attract all the attention when we start divulging that he has a disk worth a million dollars, so we'll be fine if we keep a low profile during this shit storm."

"What, you plan on releasing that kind of information?" -Benny was visibly shocked. Whether it was because of his intentions or the loss of the disk, Dutch didn't know. "What happened to the 'not-try-to-get-stmar-again' rule?"

"The man hit me, and, despite the fact that I deserved it, I can't just let him get on with his life so quietly after that. My mother would be ashamed if I did, besides, I've killed people for less than that. And as for the rule, it will start to take effect from tomorrow."

"That's cheating, dude..."

Dutch ignored him. "Anyway, I'll give Balalaika a call to explain what happened, with any luck, she'll drop her desire to turn us into soup."

He had already been wrong several times throughout the day, he hoped this time it wouldn't be like that.

"If that asshole thinks I'll let this treachery go so easily, he's wrong.". -Balalaika declared, after one of her Vytsonikis received a call from Dutch, explaining the new and complicated situation, and he came to inform her.

She would have preferred to talk directly to the head of the Lagoon company to tell him to go fuck himself, besides rejoicing at the beating he and his mentally retarded employees suffered at the hands of Chang.

But her soldier, the one who received the call, had flatly refused to hand over his phone for fear that she would destroy it in one of her little fits of rage, and simply relayed the message to her.

Normally, Balalaika would have punished this insubordination severely... but she couldn't deny that her soldier had a good point for disobeying her. Only for this, she simply dismissed her soldier to leave the room without receiving any punishment.

"So?" -Rock asked, smoking a cigarette. "What's the next step?"

The hacker, Jane if she didn't misremember, had asked for a moment's break from her work and Balalaika allowed it, as she had made good progress during all this time, so Rock could also rest a bit and lounge around.

Or so Balalaika thought at first, but he had approached her and asked her to inform him of the latest news regarding the Lagoon company and the theft of his bank account. He seemed interested in the fate of those jerks, or maybe he was just bored again.

In either case, she could use his opinion. If Rock put aside his stupid, joking attitude, he could be someone intelligent, with the ability to think long term. That was the main reason she bothered to maintain a slightly friendly association with him.

Then there was the little extra that he was shy and younger than she was.

"To get my money back, of course.". -She replied.

Rock snorted, letting out a stream of smoke. "Sure...because Mr. Chang will kindly give it back to you if you ask. It's not like you collaborated with someone who wanted to kill him or anything."

Balalaika raised an eyebrow, she had forgotten about that issue. "If you're suggesting that this had something to do with what happened between him and Koko Hekmatyar...then Chang probably isn't interested in the money, but is just doing this to spite me by way of some stupid revenge."

"If so, then your current situation is even worse than we imagined, since, if he just wants to screw you like you say, it means that Mr. Chang can give that disk to someone else, he can destroy it, or take all the money out and return the account to you completely empty."

Just as Balalaika expected, he offered her some realistic scenarios that went along with her Chinese rival's behavior. "On what basis do you assume that?"

Rock smiled. "It's what I would do."

However, she was in no mood to play along with his provocations. "The pessimist role doesn't fit you, Rock. You've thrown enough shit on the table for me, now tell me something useful or you'd better shut your mouth."

"All right. First, start with dropping the Lagoon Company betrayal-"

"Denied."

Rock rolled his eyes. "And that's as far as my useful input goes."

"In this business, reputation and respect are everything, Japonski." -Balalaika replied. "If I forgive these jerks for stealing from me, my partners and allies will think I've gone soft and will want to do the same."

"But what friendly partners and allies you have."

Unable to help herself, she smiled. "And that you have yet to see the ones I qualify as my enemies."

Rock opened his mouth as if to retort that, but apparently thought better of it and continued earnestly, "Anyway, if the option of letting this incident go is not a good idea, then the best thing would be for them to be the ones to retrieve the disk and deliver it to you."

For five or six seconds, Balalaika stared at him, waiting for him to explain that. But Rock didn't add anything else, then, just as she was about to press for an answer, Rock's words made sense.

"Are you suggesting I use Dutch and his idiot employees to go against Chang, and get my money back by way of redemption?"

"Exactly, smart girl."

"Deni-"

"Ahh, wait, wait a second!". -Rock exclaimed, waving his hands in panic at her imminent rejection. His cigarette fell out of his mouth as he screamed. "What I'm trying to say is, instead of wasting time and resources hiring mercenaries, assassins, or whatever against Mr. Chang, demand that Dutch and the others recover the disk they lost and return it to you. That way, you're punishing them for their crime and you'll be getting your money back without the need for you to have to intervene directly, and without having to kill the Lagoon company."

"...I didn't know you got along so well with them that you'd bother to think of an idea to protect them."

"It's not exactly like that. I don't have anything against Dutch and Benny, they're nice guys, but I really don't care what happens to them." -Responded Rock frankly and earnestly. "Who I care about is Revy, and I wouldn't want her to die if I can help it. Besides, I think we both agree that killing someone as useful as her would be a waste."

Well, technically Balalaika would not be killing Two Hands, but the mercenaries hired by Boris to recover the disk in her bank account, regardless of whether the Lagoon company had it or not. Well, that was if any of them managed to complete the suicide job...and Boris hadn't reported any progress to her so far.

And it didn't help matters that the disk was now in Chang's hands.

'Those Bastards.' -Balalaika thought with irritation. 'Not only did they steal my money, but they also lost it.'

With this in mind, Balalaika kept silent to consider Rock's proposal.

However, she had to agree with him almost immediately...even though he would hear none of it. The Lagoon Company, as assholes as they were, were far more efficient than any other mercenary or assassin she knew, that was the main reason she hired them and commissioned them for various jobs, as well as many others in Roanapur.

And, although she was not afraid to do so, she had no desire to wage war against Chang just for money. In the end, the losses would far outweigh the gains. There was also the fact that her main strike force, her Vytsonikis, was stuck with her in filthy Japan.

Dutch and Revy was the best option right now, and without having to pay them anything in return. At the same time, she would forgive the Lagoon Company without letting the theft go unpunished. And if they could kick Chang's Chinese ass in the process, then the outcome would be even better.

Of course, this was all just an idea with an execution that counted on many diverse and unpredictable factors beyond Rock's control and assumptions. But it wasn't bad.

"Not bad at all, Rock.". -Said Balalaika approvingly, after considering his proposal for a moment. "You're a cunning bastard."

It was a shame that he'd rather waste his time raising psychopathic brats, rather than go into the business of crime. Balalaika thought he could go a long way if he ever got into this. One more reason to keep him around.

Rock rolled his eyes. "I'd rather you said I just had a good idea."

"You're a cunning bastard!". -Balalaika insisted. "Still, should he decide to go through with this idea, Dutch and Revy won't be enough. Like me, Chang has plenty of underlings at his disposal to serve as protection and hitmen for him. As skilled as Dutch and Two Hands are, it will be difficult for them to take on so many enemies, besides, Chang himself is an even bigger threat."

Rock seemed interested in this tidbit of information. "I know the guy has two guns, so he's like a male version of Revy?"

Balalaika nodded seriously. "Don't be fooled by his laid back and stupid attitude, Rock, that man is more dangerous than he looks. I've seen him in action a couple of times, in fact, we fought directly once, and I'd say his level is pretty close to Two Hands."

"...But what's with that damn city, is it a monster magnet or what?"

"It's what makes Roanapur so interesting."

"Anyway, back to the main point, if Mr. Chang is as strong as you say... then how about a 'pincer attack'?"

Balalaika stroked her chin absently. "Not a bad plan, but then again, Chang still has the upper hand with his own force and minions. Besides, no one besides Revy and me would be crazy enough to want to fight him."

Rock smiled again, leaning forward slightly. "And that's where your friend, Koko Hekmatyar, comes in."

"...Tell me more details."

Koko was reaching for her ringing phone. Without taking her head off the pillow, on which she slept face down, she fumbled on the small table next to her bed, pawing at some coins, sheets of paper and an alarm clock.

"Hello?" -she said, hoarsely. She was never good at waking up, regardless of the time of day.

"Did I call at a bad time?". -Said Balalaika's voice. "It's a business matter."

Not without effort, Koko managed to sit up on the edge of the bed and rub her eyes hard, she bothered to move from her bed just because it was Balalaika. Koko looked at the alarm clock on her bedside table and grunted as she saw the time, looking for an ideal formula to send her to the hell without violence.

"It's 1 a.m. Couldn't you wait until noon?"

"No, and that's not a time when a young girl should wake up.". -Balalaika replied, as serious as ever. "As I said, it's about business. I called you to collect on that favor I did you last time."

"... Yeah, listen, just a moment ago I was asleep and dreaming that my life hadn't gone to shit, so I don't remember what you're referring to. Could you be more specific?"

"When you called me, about two weeks ago, asking for information about Chang's location-"

Koko hung up the phone as soon as she uttered that name, it was an involuntary action, a gesture of anger. The phone rang again, and, although Koko was tempted not to answer, in the end she did.

"What was that?" -Balalaika asked. Her serious tone changed, now she sounded slightly annoyed.

"I'm sorry, my lines are malfunctioning lately.". -Lied Koko, easily. "What were you saying?"

"Okay." -Balalaika apparently accepted that excuse. "Look, I'll be, ughh, honest, ughh, with you.".". -Koko rolled her eyes. The word honesty made the Russian leader nauseous. "I called you because I need a favor. That asshole Chang has stolen a very valuable disk from me, but I can't go retrieve it personally right now, so I need you and your squad to go and get it for me. And if you can kick Chang's Chinese ass in the process, then even better."

"We are not mercenaries, woman. We sell weapons, occasionally kill those who try to screw us over in one of those businesses, and fuck up the lives of people I don't like." -Koko replied, acidly. The idea of allowing herself to be treated like a mercenary irritated her, as that would almost be like admitting she had hit rock bottom. "But you already knew that. Anyway, what the hell is it about that disk that's so important that you can't wait to get back to that dirty town of yours and get it yourself?"

"A bank account worth approximately $1 million." -Replied Balalaika this time. "And for every hour that passes, there's a chance Chang will take all that money from me."

"That's shit."

"Yeah, that's why I'm asking you for this favor, or rather, I'm cashing in on the favor I did you last time."

"That's even shittier, you're a terrible friend."

"Money and business come before friendships."

"Aww... so you finally accept that we're friends?"

"I hate to admit it, but Chang is a pretty tough foe.". -Said Balalaika, deliberately ignoring her question. She was a hard bitch. "That's why I'm implementing a pincer attack. Lagoon Company-"

Once again, Koko cut off the call. That was another name she didn't want to hear. As she waited for Balalaika to call her back, she began to grind her teeth due to anger.

"-They will attack Chang, too.". -continued the Russian, once she called back, ignoring the sudden interruption. "This way, you'll have more chances to get my disk back, at the same time, you might also have a chance to bump Chang off."

"...That sounds too good.". -Said Koko, after a moment of silence. "What's the catch?"

"Other than that guy, or those mentally retarded mercenaries, might kill you in the process? None. This is a win-win situation for you and me. On the one hand, I get my disk and money, on the other, you clean up your damaged reputation by attacking and stealing some good loot from one of Roanapur's top bosses. If this move goes well, we'll both make a profit, girl."

Koko scratched her cheek. "It still sounds like a trap."

However, despite her misgivings, she was actually considering it seriously.

Koko had had enough of Roanapur and the jerks who lived there, Balalaika included, and she would rather not set foot on that island again for the rest of her life. But her main problem was still not solved, her father had not yet given her back her position as an arms dealer for his company and she still had limited resources.

Besides, her idiot brother had found out that she had been arrested and called her specifically to laugh at her.

And if Kasper had found out, then Floyd, her father, probably had too, which meant Koko was doubly screwed.

That's why Balalaika's proposal, attacking Chang to take away a disk worth a lot of money, was a tempting offer. The Hotel Moscow leader was right, that would be a good way to recover her damaged reputation at the hands of that damned Chinese and his idiot mercenaries, who, for some reason, would now collaborate with her against the gangster.

But then, they were mercenaries. They didn't need a reason, other than money, to do that sort of thing.

Besides, if Koko agreed to Balalaika's request, she would be doing her a great favor, regardless of what the Russian said. That would play in her favor in the future when they both did business.

It wasn't the perfect plan, in fact, it was quite dangerous. But at least she would have a chance to do something and not be stuck on her new ship, a much smaller and more discreet one, with her squad doing nothing...Like she had been doing since she was pulled out of that dirty cop station.

The big problem would be...

"Do I have to collaborate with the Lagoon company?". -Koko asked, grimacing in disgust. Apart from the fact that they had sunk her precious ship and caused her big trouble...that tomboyish, tattooed bitch and that brainless blonde had almost killed her and half her squadron in that bar.

It would be really fucked up to have to work with someone like that.

"Not if you don't want to." -Said Balalaika. She sounded like she was shrugging. "Dutch and Revy will be attacking Chang on their own, and for other reasons. But if you think collaborating with them will make your task easier, then go ahead."

"Sounds like you know them, you know I want to kill those bastards too, right?"

"What I'm interested in is my money, if you want to kill them I don't care."

"Why don't you hire them then? Hiring some experienced mercenaries you know would be more reasonable than asking this sweet, innocent young girl to get involved in such shady business as money, death and revenge."

"Because they stole that disk from me in the first place."

"Oh..."

"Yeah. So, are you going to do me this favor, Miss Hekmatyar?"

Koko envied the coldness and disinterest with which the Russian leader spoke. She was giving her the difficult task of retrieving a record valued at a million dollars, which was in the hands of a powerful rival gangster, as if she was sending her to buy a cup of coffee at the corner store. That was one of the reasons Koko respected Balalaika.

Someone else in her place would be nervous, pissed off and desperate.

"Okay, you convinced me. I have nothing to lose and much to gain, so I accept.". -Said Koko finally. "I still have to discuss it with my bodyguards, but in general terms I accept your request, Bals."

"I would prefer if you treated me in a more professional manner." -she said.

"I can call you Miss Balls."

"...Forget it." -Koko could almost see Balalaika roll her eyes. "By the way, as I have been informed by my agents, Chang is still in my office. Apparently, he has barricaded himself in my base for protection."

"Great, I've got a demolitions expert in my squad with enough explosives to send him to the other side of the planet."

"I like your enthusiasm, but I think you'd better drop that option."

"You take the fun out of life.". -Koko complained, then let out a yawn. She was still having trouble waking up at all, why couldn't that bitch call him at noon? "Anyway, my squad and I will take care of this. When you get back to Roanapur, that disk will be waiting for you."

As Dutch had expected, once Revy opened her eyes and her brain understood what had happened in Balalaika's office, she quickly prepared to go kick Mr. Chang's ass. But Dutch couldn't allow this, as Chang was a powerful, well-connected partner who gave the Lagoon company plenty of profitable paying work.

Of course, he also didn't want Revy to die, or get badly hurt. That would be bad for business.

He had seen Chang in action a few times and considered the Chinese gangster the deadliest gunman in Roanapur, even more so than Revy. So Dutch had no choice but to step in and explain to him in detail and calmly that she could not go after Chang for revenge.

Of course, this he did once he and Benny had managed to reduce her, tie her to a chair and lock her in the office bathroom.

"Let me go, you piece of shit!". -Bramed Revy, straining to free herself from the ropes that bound her to the poor chair. "Let go of me so I can kill you!"

Dutch pretended to consider it for a few moments. "No."

"I'm serious, Dutch! If you let me go right now, maybe I'll let you live with one less arm or one less eye!"

"You should reconsider the way you negotiate with people, it's not very effective."

"Fuck you!"

Even though Dutch outweighed her in size, weight and brute strength, and had Benny's help, it took a lot of work to restrain Revy. He was now replete with bruises, bumps and scratches all over his body, that bitch had even bitten him a couple of times. The minute it took him and Benny to restrain her and tie her to a chair left them exhausted.

Revy, on the other hand, seemed to gain more strength and energy with each passing minute thanks to her own anger.

And the man was scared.

"What are you, a fucking saiyan?"

"When I get out of here I'll give you a beating you'll never forget!". -Threatened Revy. She then turned her furious gaze to her other partner, who was standing in the bathroom doorway. Like Dutch, he was showing several wounds all over his body and exhaustion. "And you, four-eyes, I'll shove that computer of yours up your ass!"

"I'll like that." -Benny replied.

"You're depraved!"

"Revy, if you're going to go looking for trouble with Boss Chang, you're either going to die, or you're going to cause me more trouble. And I don't like either option." -said Dutch, trying to calm the waters. In fact, he himself was surprised to be so calm despite the situation." So, for the greater good, you're going to stay locked in this bathroom until the shit storm passes."

"If you think I'm just going to sit here submissively, you're dead wrong, you fucking nigger!"

After this last threat, Revy once again began to struggle to free herself. With great trepidation, Dutch noticed that the small chair creaked a little at her violent movements, and he wondered how long that chair could hold out until she broke it.

He and Benny were in for a lot of pain once she was free

Repressing a shudder, as showing fear would only increase Revy's strength, the Lagoon company leader exited the bathroom and closed the door. He turned and faced his other employee, who, unlike him, was indeed showing his fear.

"I don't think this has been the best of our ideas so far." -said Benny, his eyes wide.

Revy's grunts, though muffled, were filtering out of the bathroom...and they were creepy. She looked like a fucking Tasmanian devil in there.

"I'm open to suggestions, Benny-boy.". -Said Dutch, breaking out in a cold sweat.

"I mean on how to deal with this thorny issue."

"I can work as a mechanic, while you can be a security guard at some nightclub in the capital of that country. I hear the girls there are crazy."

"Don't try to escape reality, Benny. We can't abandon Rev' here in the bathroom and run off to another country to take refuge among some whores." -Dutch sighed, resigned. "Besides, as much as I'd like to, running away won't do any good, she'll hunt us down."

Benny shivered. "Come on, man, don't overdo it. She may be strong, but even she has her limits."

"Maybe I'll get around her for a while, but you're so screwed. She's smelled your fear, Benny-boy. Now no matter where in the world you hide, Revy will find you."

Benny panicked, curled into a fetal position, covering his ears. "Stop it, shut up!"

Satisfied that he had given his employee a not entirely exaggerated trauma, Dutch headed for his office kitchen to get a cold beer. If all went well, then all they would have to do was wait for Revy to calm down. She wasn't someone who was very reflective, but she was capable of thinking and understanding the situation if he gave enough time to do so.

Besides, there was nothing else to do in that bathroom, and at some point Revy was going to get tired of struggling to get free.

Dutch, with his beer in hand, took a seat behind his desk and tried to relax, his gaze intent on the phone, as he was hopeful that his call to Balalaika, explaining that the disk was no longer in his possession, had been delivered to the Russian leader and that she had decided to set aside her vendetta against them to concentrate on Chang.

Shenhua had moved from Hong Kong to the chaotic city of Roanapur a few days ago. Originally it was to accept Chang's request to take care of someone who wanted to kill him, which didn't happen often. But since her boss withdrew that request, she had stayed in Roanapur to do various jobs out of boredom and fun.

But now, she was heading to the Hotel Moscow base, her Triad's main rival, to do business... with Chang, who for some reason unknown to her, was currently running his business from that location. Specifically, the Fry Face office.

Or burnt face. Shenhua didn't remember the stupid nicknames her boss gave people, nor did she care.

What he did care about, but Chang would never hear a question about it, was what the fuck he was doing there. Also why the hallway leading to Balalaika's office was partially collapsed and in the middle of construction.

She was also interested to know why the fuck Biu Yuen, perhaps the only sane man in the Kan Yi Fan Triad, was dressed like a foreman, yellow helmet included. But then again, Shenhua wouldn't ask any questions unless she was given permission to do so, or asked for an opinion on the matter.

After all, no one got far in this business by asking inopportune questions.

"Aren't you going to ask why the fuck that sourpuss Biu Yuen is dressed like that?"

But Boss Chang didn't seem to give a shit about this fact. His bodyguard, who was standing next to him behind the desk, gave him a sour look that could be noticed despite the fact that he was wearing dark glasses, but his boss didn't seem to notice. Or maybe he did, but he chose to ignore it.

"Does it matter?" -However, Shenhua gave the bodyguard an analytical glance. To tell the truth, he looked nice. But she quickly returned her attention to Chang. "I didn't come to judge the curious fashion of your subordinates, I came because you called me for a job."

Chang ignored her completely and pointed at her. "Your hair has grown back since we last saw each other. That was fast."

Unable to help herself, Shenhua brought a hand up to her hair, which currently reached a little below her shoulders, just enough to pull into a ponytail, though that wasn't her style. It was just a shadow of her previous mane.

Those bratty bastards would pay for it someday.

"Whatever. Say what the job's about, or go fuck yourself." -She replied, maybe more aggressively than necessary, but he had hit a nerve.

Mr. Chang dropped his joking attitude and took on a more serious expression, sitting properly in his seat and interlocking his hands on Balalaika's desk, taking on a more professional posture. "Alright. I won't go into details because I don't see it necessary, but I've recently had problems with the Lagoon company. And if I know them, and I know them very well, I bet they'll come looking for a rematch. I need you, in case they come after me, to take care of them."

"Take care of them in what way?"

"I'd rather you chase them away. But if you have to kill them, you're free to do so."

"..."

Shenhua would have more respect for her boss if he decided to act that way more often. When Chang went into his serious mode, he commanded respect and trust. Fear, too, because he usually played around and talked bullshit. However, she wasn't going to show any of this, or else her boss would get his ego in his head and start acting like a jerk again.

"That sounds like a pain in the ass.". -She said finally. "Two Hands' bitch is no game, and her boss is a tough man."

"Both things are true, that's why I will pay you very well." -Responded Chang, with a half smile. "So, baby, do you accept the job?"

Before she could answer, a small object flew in from the open window in the office behind Chang's back, landing right on the desk. A grenade.

Shenhua's eyes bugged out in panic, but, unlike her, Chang and Biu Yuen remained calm and looked dispassionately at the object. In fact, Chang's bodyguard leaned over the desk, grabbed the grenade and tossed it back where it came from, as if it were a food wrapper and not a small, lethal bomb.

A few seconds later, the grenade exploded, shaking the office a little.

"Ignore that." -Said the bodyguard, deadpan.

"How!?" -Shenhua exclaimed, incredulous. "How could I ignore that, what the hell is going on here!?"

"See? That's what I meant when I said I had problems with the Lagoon company." -Chang said, shaking his head. "Dutch leaked... some important and valuable information about me, now I also have a bunch of mercenaries attacking me like this. Honestly, I'm cornered here."

"And why don't you take off back to your own base!?"

"He can't, they're attacking there too." -Biu Yuen commented. "Even more forcefully, so it's safer to stay at the Hotel Moscow until our own people take over to repel them and things calm down a bit. Here at least the Russians have only let in a few Yakuza groups, since they are allies of Balalaika...led by a blond asshole who had the bright idea to throw grenades at us."

"Yeah, but if that guy thinks I'm going to be intimidated by a few simple grenades, he's wrong." -Chang stood up and walked over to the window, completely ignoring the obvious danger this posed, waving a hand in the air in a threatening manner. "Did you hear that, pingpong!? I will never submit!"

"It's Nippon, you Chinese bastard!". -Someone answered him from outside. Shenhua recognized that voice, it was that Japanese guy who used to frequent Bao's bar and cause ruckus when he got drunk...like 90% of Bao's customers. He was called Chaka if she didn't misremember. "Just hand me the disk and let's get this over with already, you fucking larva soup lover!"

"Why don't you come over here and try to take it off my hands, you fucking lover of men dressed as women who wear cat ears!?"

"Fuck off, motherfucker!"

Satisfied with that, Chang turned to Shenhua. "Anyway-"

But before he could continue, another grenade came through the window. Chang swung with the back of his hand to hit it back where it came from... however, he missed completely and the grenade entered the office. Biu Yuen quickly stepped in and slapped the grenade, but he too missed, managing to hit it only with his fingertips.

This caused the grenade to change course and now headed toward Shenhua, who moved out of its path.

The grenade went through the open office door and ended up in the hallway, where it then exploded.

"Nooo~." -Biu Yuen wailed, falling to his knees. "Not again, goddamn it!"

Chang looked at him for a few moments and then ignored him. "Anyway-"

"Close that damn window!" -Shenhua interrupted him, pointing accusingly at him.

"As I was saying-"

"Don't ignore me, you bastard!"

"Do you take the job, baby?" -Continued Chang, of course, ignoring her. "Lagoon Company represents the biggest risk I have, but those assholes out there are a pain in the ass to me too, and that tendency to throw grenades at me is starting to piss me off. I was the first one to start doing that."

"You're more than enough to finish them off.". -Shenhua replied, now calmer. He didn't look worried, and his calmness ended up rubbing off on her. "Why do you let those worms play with you like that? It's pathetic."

"Yeah, I know, but every time I go out or send someone to kill them, they run away like cockroaches only to come back later. You know, typical guerrilla hit-and-run tactics."

Shenhua reconsidered for a moment. Truth be told, she would rather not get involved in her eccentric boss's new craze, but the job promised action and good pay, and she lived for both. Besides, the idea of possibly going up against Revy and measuring forces with her, something that had always been on her mind, seemed attractive.

Two Hands would be a good challenge to test her own skills.

"Alright, I'll do it." -Shenhua finally said. "I accept the job."

"But what a bloodthirsty little creature you are."

She ignored that provocation. "So, what do you want me to do?"

"Well, even though those cowardly Yakuza don't dare come in here at the moment, I'm still cornered and with no chance of getting out of here without half the city coming after my ass. So your job is to guard the hallway and keep those nuisances from entering this office, until they get bored or deem it too dangerous to keep looking for trouble with me." -Responded Chang. "Simply put, you'll be the mini-boss of the game."

"Great..."

During her short time locked in that bathroom, because she was able to free herself very quickly, as it wouldn't be the first time she had been tied to a fucking chair, Revy came to the conclusion that her boss was right.

She wasn't running from a challenge, let alone a fight, but Mr. Chang was in a different league. That he was able to knock her out in one move, even if it was by a dirty and treacherous sneak attack, proved it. Dutch was right, it was best to put that disk away and let Balalaika and the shitstorm deflect towards Chang.

Balalaika would find a method or two of retrieving her disk from the Chinese gangster's clutches.

However, even though she now understood Dutch's reasoning, that didn't mean Revy was going to let go of the fact that he and that waste of oxygen who called himself Benny got away unscathed after they had locked her in that damn bathroom.

That's why Revy went on the attack once she was free, thirsty for blood and revenge.

Benny stared at her for a few moments, paralyzed, where his face indicated that he understood her situation, represented in different expressions; first it was fear, then panic and finally resignation. He put up no resistance and voluntarily sat down on a chair, awaiting punishment.

Dutch was a little harder, she had a hard time slowing that fucker down, but with a good kick in the balls she was able to work it out. That trick never failed.

Then, just as they had done before, Revy proceeded to tie both men in their respective chairs. Once that was done, she started looking around the office for some cable. Ideally for the punishment she had in mind she would have a whip and a dominatrix outfit, but she didn't want to waste time looking for both.

"Aha!" -Revy exclaimed with satisfaction when she found a strip of black cable, it was one of the ones Benny used for his car when it... had car stuff happen to it. She didn't care about that, the point was that the cable would do. Maybe it was a little short, but its width was perfect for her purposes.

"Rev', baby, let's talk about this.". -Said Dutch, with his usual calmness. However, beads of cold sweat were trickling down his face. "I'm sorry for locking you in the bathroom, okay? But there's no need to go to extremes."

"Dude, relax." -Revy waved the cable in the air a couple of times and then hit Dutch's desk, letting out a sharp crack. She nodded, liking the sound. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Dutch and Benny wince. "I've done this many times, at first it will hurt and you'll ask me to stop, but I promise you'll enjoy it. You know, like when you get fucked in the ass."

"I've never been hit with a fucking whip, I'm not a masochist, and I've never been fucked in the ass." -Dutch replied.

"Really? Perfect, then you have two choices; I'll beat you with this shit that looks like a whip until I get bored, or I'll put a dildo up your ass. Your choice."

"..."

Revy smiled wickedly, enjoying finally being able to see panic cross Dutch's usually expressionless face. "Don't worry, don't worry. Like I said, I have experience in both. One I learned at Rowan's club and the other in jail."

"Option one." -he said, instantly.

"Tsk, coward." -Just as she raised her makeshift whip to deliver the first blow, the office phone rang. Revy let out a grunt of irritation, annoyed at the interruption, while Dutch sighed in relief. "Yeah, don't be so happy, I'll get to you soon." -Revy crossed the office with quick strides and abruptly picked up the phone. "Lagoon Company is not available for work. Call back later or go to hell."

"Really? It's a pity, I was planning to entrust you with the difficult task of getting common sense for a trio of brainless mercenaries."

She was about to hang up, but that voice, that bad joke, stopped her. "...Rock?"

"It's been a while, Revy, do you have a minute? I have a proposal, approved by Balalaika, that might just manage to keep your ass and your friends' asses from turning into soup."