A secret underground interrogation room outside Yuexi Peninsula City.
In a dimly lit office, Aotu Tailuo was intently shelling peanuts, popping one after another into his mouth. He chewed with the satisfaction of someone savoring a gourmet feast.
"Clang!"
The heavy iron door creaked open.
A middle-aged man walked in, shirtless, wearing a tilted Sunagakure forehead protector. His demeanor was rough and unruly, and his body was stained with splotches of blood.
"Boss, we've plucked every feather off him, but this guy still won't spill. Damn it, he probably really doesn't have any money left," the man grumbled.
Aotu Tailuo dusted off his hands, brushing away the peanut shells, and replied without even looking up, "Impossible. This Hattori Yō is the younger half-brother of Hattori Gō, the wealthy merchant from the Land of Lightning. Even though he's from a branch family, his net worth is definitely more than five hundred million ryō. He's just playing you. He can cough up at least another two hundred million."
"Alright! This guy's been acting like a saint. Boss, watch me—I'll pull out his fingernails one by one!" The man turned to re-enter the interrogation room.
"Hold it right there," Aotu Tailuo called out, rising slowly. He scrutinized the man with a look of disdain.
"Adō, how many times do I have to tell you? Use your brain when you work. Stop thinking about pulling feathers and yanking nails all day. We're here for money, not feathers or fingernails or teeth. Can you eat those? Can you sell them? What if you kill him? Then you'll get nothing."
Adō scratched his head, looking puzzled. "Then what should I do?"
"Even pigs are smarter than you. Go get me a clean set of clothes and watch how it's done."
Before long, Aotu Tailuo entered the interrogation room with a set of clothes in hand.
The room was dark, stifling, and reeked of blood and sweat. Various torture devices hung on the walls, giving the place an eerie, hellish atmosphere.
In the center of the room stood a wooden cross, where a man was bound like a crucified figure. The man was completely naked, his body resembling a plucked chicken. Blood oozed from his scalp, armpits, and groin. He trembled uncontrollably, a pitiful sight.
"This is outrageous! Absolutely outrageous!" Aotu Tailuo bellowed. "Is this how you collect debts?! You're worse than animals. Release him immediately!"
Startled, Adō rushed to untie the man.
The moment Hattori Yō was freed, he stumbled and fell to the ground. Aotu Tailuo quickly helped him up and draped a bathrobe over his shoulders.
"It's just a debt, for crying out loud. Was it necessary to treat him like this? The Hattori family is a prestigious clan from the Land of Lightning. They don't lack this kind of pocket change! You ungrateful fools—go get Hattori-sama something to eat!"
Aotu Tailuo led Hattori Yō out of the interrogation room and seated him on a chair in the brighter outer office. The sudden brightness made Hattori Yō feel dizzy. Just then, Adō brought over a bowl of instant ramen. Hattori Yō snatched it greedily, devouring it as if he hadn't eaten in years, ignoring the heat as he slurped it down.
For a man like Hattori Yō, a scion of a wealthy family, instant ramen was the kind of food he wouldn't even glance at under normal circumstances. Yet now, it tasted like the finest delicacy.
After finishing the bowl, he let out a satisfied belch. Only then did Aotu Tailuo begin to speak.
"Hattori-sama, I must apologize for the rough treatment by my subordinates. But let's be honest here—we run a casino, not a charity. Debts must be repaid."
"I... I really don't have any money left," Hattori Yō stammered, still trembling.
"Come on, Hattori-sama, I've treated you with respect. Don't embarrass me. You owe our Jinhang Casino a total of 800 million ryō. You can't walk away without paying at least a portion of it," Aotu Tailuo said earnestly.
Perhaps it was the warmth of the office compared to the torture chamber, or perhaps it was Aotu Tailuo's mild demeanor, but Hattori Yō stopped trembling as much.
"Boss, I may bear the Hattori name, but I'm just from a branch family. Five hundred million ryō was my absolute limit. I swear, even if you kill me, I can't come up with more. Please, let me go. I'll find a way to gather the remaining 300 million ryō. Just give me some time."
"Oh, I see. Alright, you can go," Aotu Tailuo said casually.
Hattori Yō could hardly believe his ears. "Really? I can leave now?"
"Of course. But you can't leave dressed like this. You're a scion of the Hattori family. Walking out in a bathrobe would be disgraceful. Don't worry—I've already sent someone to fetch proper clothes for you. You'll leave here looking presentable."
"Thank you, thank you," Hattori Yō said, bowing repeatedly.
"We've got some time to kill. Shall we chat?" Aotu Tailuo suggested.
"Of course, of course," Hattori Yō replied eagerly.
"How old are you, Hattori-sama?"
"I'm thirty-five."
"Ah, then you must have a family. Any children?"
"Not yet..."
"Really? I heard that while your wife can't have children, your mistress in Kabukichō bore you a son, didn't she?"
"You! What do you want?!" Hattori Yō's face darkened.
"Relax, Hattori-sama. Just making conversation. A man of your stature must have a fine-looking son. Did you know that the price of child trafficking on the black market has been skyrocketing lately?" Aotu Tailuo said with a sinister grin.
"Don't you dare touch him! If you have any guts, come after me instead!" Hattori Yō roared, leaping to his feet, unmindful of his disheveled state.
"You ungrateful wretch!" Aotu Tailuo's expression turned cold as he delivered a powerful kick to Hattori Yō's abdomen. The man doubled over like a shrimp, coughing up blood.
Regaining his calm demeanor, Aotu Tailuo crouched beside him. "Hattori-sama, don't force my hand. Hurting children is inhumane. Give me a way out, will you? Pay up, and I won't have to resort to such measures."
"I'll pay! I'll pay! I have a secret account at Qiqiang Bank with 280 million ryō! As for the remaining 20 million..." Hattori Yō hesitated.
"I'll waive the remaining 20 million," Aotu Tailuo declared magnanimously. "Adō, have a few men accompany Hattori-sama to withdraw the money. Give him 1 million ryō for travel expenses. And where are his clothes? Hurry up and bring them! Do you want him to catch a cold?! You useless fools!"
After Adō escorted Hattori Yō away, Aotu Tailuo shook his head, as if exasperated by his subordinates' incompetence. Just then, applause echoed through the office. A figure emerged from the shadows. Recognizing the newcomer, Aotu Tailuo immediately straightened up, standing at attention.
"Commander!"
"Relax, we're all brothers here. No need to be so stiff," the man said, stepping fully into the light.
He wore the standard uniform of Sunagakure's standing army, distinguished by a golden star on his shoulder pad.
In his forties, with a gaunt, hawkish face, narrow eyes, and sharp brows, he was clean-shaven and exuded an air of menace. His lips curled into a playful smile.
This was none other than Rifeng Tian, commander of the Fourth Division of Sunagakure's standing army.
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
Discover 10 Amazing Fanfics on My Patreon!Unlock 400+ Advance Chapters and Dive into the Story Early! 👉 [patreon.com/DarkGolds]