Chapter 14 - Devil Himself

"What?"

Nathan's reaction left Nick confused. This was also the first time that he saw his big brother panic.

"Are you sure that it is Boss Hark? Teren Hark? The one with the brownish hair and scary eyes?" Nathan leaned forward in interrogation.

"Boss Hark...? Y-yes, he has brownish hair and... scary eyes..."

The scene where Teren took out his knife flashed before Nick's eyes. The way Teren looked at him was like scarring him for life.

"Holy shit, Nick..." Nathan dropped on his chair as he held his head.

"Big bro, what do you mean he's your former boss?" Nick curiously asked. He was greatly doubting. He would believe it if his older brother was just joking with him.

Nathan then frowned and looked at Nick.

"Of course, you wouldn't know about this. Boss Hark only became our boss recently."

"Huh? I thought you're his former boss?"

Nathan nodded, "Correct. He is also his former boss. In the Handwing Gang, strength and skills are the most important. We don't care about how rich or influential one is. With our own strength, we will control the police."

"The police... is that the reason that old detective was helping me?! He knows that you're part of the Handwing Gang?"

"Maybe. But of course, we don't fully control the Heren City's Police. We can just influence them as much."

"Then... that old detective will definitely help Teren!"

"No, Boss Hark didn't do much to be known. Also, he didn't want his name to be spread, after all, he didn't want to be a part of the gang anyway."

"What? Then how did he became the boss?" Nick was getting confused and confused.

At that moment, Nathan narrated a story.

"We met Boss Hark... Teren Hark unconventionally. He should just be one of our victims of mugging. However, instead of giving his money out, he lured our men somewhere and we never saw them again. The more we sent out men to investigate, the more our numbers dwindle. At first, it was just tracing him then our boss back then decided that Teren Hark is too dangerous that was why we went on a full raid with guns."

Nick didn't know what to say and could only continue listening.

"Do you know why our boss deemed him as too dangerous?"

Nick shook his head.

"Because he blackmailed our boss, the one known as the Ogre in the streets. Teren Hark only sent one picture to the Ogre."

"What... what picture is that?" Nick sweated.

"On the picture, it shows our boss back then, the Ogre, sleeping."

Nick then frowned. He felt it was anti-climatic.

Nathan scoffed at Nick's reaction.

"You dumbass don't understand, do you? In that picture is about the Ogre sleeping at night in his bed. The Ogre is alone at his house!"

"..."

When a spark of realization occurred, Nick shivered in fright.

"Hmph! Seemed like you get it. Even if we're a gang, that doesn't mean our security is low. In fact, our securities are tighter than your average citizen's. After all, the rivaling gang can invade our territory at any moment."

Nick nodded, showing that he finally realized the weight of that one picture.

"But before we raid his home, many streets away from his house, three of our men died." Nathan assumed a gun in his hand and pointed at his head.

"Like a trained elite, that monster invaded us before we can invade his house! After the three men, two more, then three again, until a quarter of us were shot in the head, dead! In the end, we were unable to fight back. This man is like the darkness itself. If we didn't use any flashlight, we wouldn't even see a trace of him! The gunfight continued until the Ogre fell on the ground. That was when we dropped our guns and... begged for his mercy."

If Nathan didn't have a serious and heavy expression, Nick wouldn't believe what his big brother was saying at all.

"Do you know how ridiculous it is for the whole Handwing Gang to drop their guns and beg for mercy just because of one man? It's like we're dancing in his palms. He knows where to hide, how to distract us, and how to kill the most skilled as if he was preparing for this gunfight for a year now. Once we lost our composure, that was when the Ogre died."

Nathan smirked when he saw his little brother's reaction. He imagined that he had the same reaction back then when he recalled the scene.

"However, it was not that all bad. To not left any bitter disagreements, Boss Hark agreed to lead us. Over the course of one summer vacation... Handwing Gang is back on its feet again. Stronger and tougher than it was under the Ogre's hand. Teren Hark, that guy, you wouldn't want to mess with. Especially when the Handwing Gang still needs him."

"Really?"

"Remember when I mentioned we have a rivaling gang? They only knew recently that the Ogre died. They thought the Handwing Gang is weakened. However, there's still no incursion happening. We are just noticing their movement at the border between Heren and Pinha Cities. While they thought we're weak, we're preparing ourselves. We will take them by surprise and expand our territory. But to get there, we need Boss Hark, the Devil himself, back."

Nathan then looked at Nick with meaningful eyes.

"Nick..."

"Yes...?"

"You're going to retract your case, apologize to Boss Hark, and gain his trust."

"..." Nick's jaw dropped.

"If you do this, you are jumping from just a member's brother to the boss's right hand, don't you want that?"

"But... he's a psychopath?"

"And also, your classmate. Boss Hark may look overpowerful but don't feel threatened." Nathan smiled, "Just don't provoke him and he will not fight back. Because if he fights back, you're going to die. Wait... you already experienced it."

"Seriously? You're going to give me this job?"

"You're the only one who can do it. Who else has this opportunity? Boss Hark only left because of school.. In other words, with just a slight push, he will help us again."