"What did you just say?"
A man was seated on an expensive and luxurious chair while his attendant bowed before him
"The Helpers that we have hired in the backlogs of City J have all been wiped"
"Huh... Interesting, he finally wiped them out as well"
"What do we do about this, President Huang?"
The man seated on the chair did not answer the question, instead, he poured himself a glass of wine as he stared at a couple of pictures scattered along his desk, one of which was someone wearing a red bandana
"So... These were the ones who are gone now? Just replace them with someone new"
"But President! How about the-"
"Don't worry, Owen, all our proxies in City J have been wiped in less than 3 months, along with that, all our other branches have incurred losses. Do you know why?"
"N-no I don't"
"Haha, he's coming, the next time he ventures, whoever that guy is, they'll be coming here, very soon"
In just 3 months, someone managed to wipe out all the men he had scattered around the City
Those proxies were the ones handling his human trafficking business, as well as his other 'work' that generates tons of money
After they gathered enough people, those lucky enough would be brought to a slave auction, and maybe, just maybe, a kind buyer would treat them well, but mostly, it's the opposite
But those who would be truly unlucky will be smuggled into different Cities, most likely, they would be sent to City E, a lawless place where all the worst have gathered
The fate of anyone who entered there has already been set in stone
They will suffer, get tortured, and worse, they will never have an easy death
"Hmm, I wonder... who are you truly?"
Huang stood up and stared at the massive window that presented him with the whole view of City J
"Haha, it won't matter, Soon, Everything will be mine"
///
***
"Ho, Lenn? hasn't this knife gone a bit dull?"
Granny Noma asked me while she was washing the dishes
"Did you... do it again?"
"..."
I couldn't look at her face
It may just be due to embarrassment or guilt towards her
"Hm... Next time, don't use this, I use this to cut small ingredients, If you want, I can give you a bigger knife next time, hoho"
"Sorry, Granny"
I said as I started to peel off the skin of the onions and garlic
"Oh dear, how could life be this twisted? A kid like you has lived harder than an old hag like me! If only I could take all your bad luck away"
"Gran, stop"
"Who could've thought that the once famous, White Shade, would be working for an old woman like me? Hohoo!"
Immediately, I regretted face palming as the smell of onion in my hands assaulted my face
"Hohohoo, If only life were a bit giving"
"Yeah..."
"Elaina would have been happy having tasted your cooking"
"..."
