[Gigante]
The townsfolk were gathered in the town’s small square. It was sothing unusual, a sharp contrast to the chaos that normally unfolded here.
"Down!"
A man’s shout echoed through the area as he shoved an elderly man to the ground. Those already crouched in the square rushed toward him, helping him up and checking on his condition.
"Tsk." The man who had pushed him clicked his tongue at the pitiful sight. "You... you are so fucking dead."
His gaze swept over the haggard faces around him. They stared back quietly. None of them showed fear, nor anger, nor defiance. Just blank, hollow eyes.
That only irritated him further.
"Motherfuckers," he hissed, then snapped his head toward his colleagues. "Move fast!" he barked. "Get all these pathetic traitors in here!"
He smirked, cocking his head back as he looked down at them. "Want to know why you’re here?"
No one answered. But this ti, curiosity flickered in their eyes.
Before the man could continue, the elderly man he had shoved earlier lifted his head weakly.
"Good sir," the old man’s voice trembled. "Why are you doing this to us? We’ve already paid this month’s contribution to the governor."
The words hung heavily in the air.
Their brows knitted while a few frowns appeared. Still, none of them believed this would turn deadly. Perhaps just another beating, another spectacle they were forced to endure.
After all, Gigante had never failed to pay on ti.
Even so, the money they gave each month for "protection" only spared them from unnecessary deaths. It never guaranteed safety if one of them crosses a line.
The man chuckled, licking his lips as he slowly crouched in front of the elderly man.
"Because the governor said..." he paused, leaning closer so the old man could hear every word, "...that he doesn’t need a town like Gigante anymore."
That finally broke them.
Everyone’s eyes widened, their faces drained of color, and their minds struggled to process what they had just heard.
"What...?" a young woman whispered. "Gigante... is—"
"That’s right!" The man rose to his feet, eyes gleaming with malice. "The governor has been lenient. rciful towards all of you. And because of that, people like you think you can take advantage of it."
No one spoke, but their hearts swelled with bitterness. rciful? Lenient? Take advantage of the governor? How were they taking advantage of the man who has everyone here in his rcy?
Yet, all they could do was stare at him.
"What that old lady did," the man continued, shaking his head as his hand rested on the rifle strapped to his body, "is sothing the governor can no longer overlook. So don’t bla him—or —for being unrciful. If anything, bla that hag for your deaths."
As he said that, the townspeople’s gazes shifted.
At the edge of the square, a man carried an unconscious elderly woman over his shoulder. Without hesitation, he tossed her into the back of a truck like a sack of grain. There was no gentleness—none at all.
That was the sa man who had punched her earlier, knocking her out in a single blow.
"Granny Himari..." one resident whispered, covering her mouth. Tears welled in her eyes—unsure whether she should fear her own fate or worry for the old woman from the brothel.
The n clenched their teeth, fists tightening until they trembled.
Finally, emotions surfaced on their faces, sothing the man gathering them here found amusing.
"That’s right," he mocked. "You should’ve reported what that hag was doing. If only soone here had spoken up, none of this would’ve happened. But alas—"
"We don’t even know what’s happening!" soone cried out. "How could we report sothing we didn’t know?!"
The man scowled. "Then that’s your fault for being ignorant."
A suffocating silence followed his roar.
"What?" he scoffed, raising his rifle and pressing its muzzle into a man’s shoulder. "You glaring at ? Got a death wish?"
The man in the square didn’t look away. His eyes burned with rage, unflinching despite the threat.
"Heh."
A short laugh ca out of the person under the governor, and then—
BANG!
"Ugh—!"
The resident collapsed backward, blood spilling down his arm. His hand clutched his shoulder instinctively as pain tore through him.
Gasps and screams erupted across the square. Even panic filled their hearts, but even then, none of them dared leave.
"Haha!" the man laughed, watching people rush to the injured resident. "Go on! Help him! Scold him for using those eyes so recklessly!"
"Ughh..."
The townspeople ground their teeth, helpless fury tightening their chests.
"Please..." one woman begged. "We didn’t know what was happening."
"We’ve obeyed the governor!" another shouted. "We’ve paid our dues—even with the yearly increases! Please, spare us!"
"Please investigate!" soone else cried. "Old Himari is too old! She could’ve been forced into it!"
"rcy, sir!"
One after another, they pleaded.
This was how Gigante had survived.
Heads lowered. Voices quiet. No complaints. Even when the monthly collection increased to crippling levels, they never protested. They had long understood that they were never in a position to negotiate.
So when n like these ransacked their town, broke what little they had, and stripped their hos bare, they watched in silence.
"Please!" they wept in unison.
But again...
BANG!
The sound of gunfire erased their pleas.
Everyone flinched, their breaths hitched, and their eyes locked onto the man standing before them.
Unlike before, he looked pleased, holding his rifle up as he shot the air.
"I’ll think about it," he said, smirking as his gaze slid toward a little girl in her mother’s arms.
The mother stiffened and instinctively moved, trying to shield her daughter.
"Please... not her," the woman whispered, shaking her head. "I—I can—" Her voice broke as she stepped forward, placing herself in front of her child. "Do whatever you want to . Just... spare my daughter."
"And what makes you think anyone wants anything to do with soone like you?" the man sneered, clearly recognizing her.
His answer made her face go pale. All she could do was tremble and hold her daughter, her heart hamring against her chest.
"Well." He humd, scanning the square as so n stepped protectively in front of the won. Children were pushed farther back. Everyone knew n like these were nothing but animals wearing human skin.
"Maybe I can talk to the governor," he mused, rubbing his chin. "See if he’s willing to reconsider."
But before he could continue...
"Boss! We found so people hiding!"
"Huh?" He turned and saw his n dragging three captives forward.
He was about to dismiss them when his gaze landed on the woman among the three.
His eyes narrowed.
With a crook of his finger, he ordered them closer. Once his subordinates arrived, holding three captives with the woman among them, a shallow scoff escaped him.
"You..." He pinched her chin, tilting her face. "Well, well. What do we have here?"
He smirked at the townsfolk. "Who would’ve thought Gigante was hiding such a beauty?"
Despite her dirt-streaked face and worn clothes, his eyes glead with interest.
"And you look fierce too," he added. "Seems Gigante hasn’t lost all its appeal."
But unlike him, whose desire was plain, confusion filled the townspeople’s eyes.
They stared at the three captives. Those three wore the sa type of clothing, but these three... were strangers.
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