[First Mission]: Part Two

A black, muscle car drove into a parking lot and parked inconspicuously amongst the cars. Batu and his crew were located in a small, crowded plaza near a grocery market. A small robot greeted several customers as they entered the market with shopping carts.

Across the street was a grey, two-story building. No one would even bat an eye at it due to its dull and plain appearance. However, that was the location of their target: Sunbelt Loan Agency.

"So, how do we go about this? Do we go bust in there and act like APD?" Batu asked with a hint of anxiousness.

It wasn't his fault for acting so fidgety; they were going to kill someone. Sure, Batu had beaten up dudes before, but he'd never killed anyone.

"That's the last thing we want to do," Yu Mei answered. "For now, we're going to scout things out; see what we're dealing with here. We know Zhou Yu's working with the Blood Eagles, so he could have some of them disguised as employees."

"There are cameras around the building. Looks like Sentinel cams," Emiko pulled out a bulky laptop from the dashboard and turned it on. "If I can find a way to hack into them, I'll be able to gain access and see what's inside."

"Good thinking," Yu Mei nodded.

Batu didn't quite understand what Emiko was doing; he felt his brain hurting as she worked her computer magic. This was like some secret government agent-type shit he'd seen in movies.

Personally, he would rather go for the Bruce Lee route: bust in there and start whooping some ass. Unfortunately, with illegal guns being common place in the underground world, he'd have to think twice about it.

"What do you know? Dumbass didn't bother to change his default user and pass," Emiko couldn't help but laugh. "Let's see what kind of dirt he's hiding."

On the screen, there were videos depicting several offices with a handful of employees monitoring their holographic displays. Batu skimmed through the surveillance footage until he noticed a man that matched the target picture.

"Look, that's the guy," Batu pointed at the screen that showed an overweight man.

Emiko dragged the mouse over and double-clicked, enlarging the footage to fullscreen. They could see and hear Zhou Yu's conversation with a woman.

* * * * *

Zhou Yu relaxed in his chair with a crooked smile on his face. A woman with pale skin sat down before him, nervously fidgeting in place. Besides Zhou Yu were two Blood Eagles disguised as bodyguards.

"Ms.Tanaka, I understand that you have some rather... unfortunate complications that may have occurred in your life, but the agreement states that your debt is due by tomorrow along with the accumulated interest."

"Sir, is there any way you can extend the date?" Ms.Tanaka nervously asked, gripping tightly onto her dress. "Please, I-I don't have the money to pay it off tomorrow. I-If you give me some more time, then I'll-"

"Ms.Tanaka," Zhou Yu interrupted as his crooked smile turned into a frown. "The agreement specifically states that the loan of fifty thousand must be paid within sixty days, not anymore than that. If the payment is not made within the next day; well, I'm sure you understand the consequences."

Ms.Tanaka nervously gulped at Zhou Yu's threatening remark. She glanced over at the two bodyguards as they slowly cracked their knuckles.

"I'm begging you, sir; all I ask is for one more month. I promise that I'll pay you the money back," Ms.Tanaka pleaded him.

"That, I cannot do. Either you pay up, or I'll have to resort to other means to collect payment. I don't care where you get the money; I only require you to pay by tomorrow."

"Is there really no other way to pay you back?" Ms.Tanaka asked with a shred of hope. She didn't want to believe that there weren't any other options left.

A malicious grin slowly grew on Zhou Yu's face as he calmly stood up. Ms.Tanaka's fearful eyes followed his movements until he stood right behind her. She suddenly flinched when she felt his large hands grabbed her shoulders.

"Perhaps, there is one way you can pay me back," Zhou Yu softly rubbed Ms.Tanaka's shoulders.

Realizing what he was after, Ms.Tanaka quickly blurted out, "I-I can't!"

"Now, don't be like that, Ms.Tanaka. You see, I've been quite interested in you for a while," Zhou Yu licked his lips in desire. "If I remember correctly, you have a paralyzed daughter at home. I heard the medical treatment is quite high, especially for a bionic transplant."

Ms.Tanaka turned her head away as Zhou Yu gently caressed her cheeks. She felt disgusted by his greasy hands and wanted to smack them away, but she needed to hold back.

"However, if you agree to spend some time with me, not only will I cancel the debt, but I can get your daughter a bionic transplant. What do you say?"

Ms.Tanaka clenched her fists as tears threatened to spill from her eyes. She wanted to deny him, but this was for her daughter. If what Zhou Yu said was true, then she can't deny his offer.

"I'll... I'll do it," She finally said.

"Wonderful! Then, let us meet up at Queen's Karaoke Bar tonight," Zhou Yu sat back in his chair and crossed his legs. "I hope you do your best to entertain me, Ms.Tanaka."

* * * * *

"Dammit, why don't we just kill this fuckin' guy already!" Batu yelled out in anger. All signs of anxiousness that he had before now disappeared into thin air when he saw what kind of man Zhou Yu was.

This guy an absolute scumbag to the core. Batu couldn't believe how easy Zhou Yu was able to get away with this type of shit. It really spoke wonders just how bad Altai City is.

"Easy there, Batu," Yu Mei tried to calm him down. "I'm pissed off, too, but we can't just go in there and smash his fat head in. We'll get our chance with him soon enough."

"I sure hope so; I'm dying to get a piece of that bastard."

Emiko closed the laptop and placed it back into the dashboard, "At least we know where the bastard's going to be tonight."

"Then, Queen's Karaoke Bar will be our next stop," Yu Mei nodded.

* * * * *

Time passed, and Ms.Tanaka arrived at her apartment located in a bleak and shady neighborhood. Like Yu Mei, Ms.Tanaka lived in the outer edges of the city near the port where the poor were usually cramped together.

Despite the poor conditions, she tried her best to live as comfortably as possible and pretend that all is well. It was for the sake of her daughter.

"I'm home," Ms.Tanaka took off her shoes and walked inside. She headed towards the end of the hall and knocked on the door. "Yui, are you awake?"

"Yeah," A voice muffled through the door. Ms.Tanaka opened the door and walked inside.

Yui laid motionlessly on a home care bed as she focused watching television in pure boredom. She was paralyzed from the chest down.

The curtains fluttered as wind blew into the room. The room resembled more like a hospital care unit rather than a normal girl's room.

Ms.Tanaka knelt down besides Yui and brushed the bangs from her daughter's face, "Are you feeling well, Yui?"

"I don't know about 'feeling', but other than that, it's same old, same old," Yui answered, averting her eyes away from the TV.

"Are you hungry, Yui? How about I cook some of your favorite ramen?"

"I'm not that hungry, mom," Yui said.

"Are you sure? If you need anything, just ask me," Ms.Tanaka held Yui's cold hands. She didn't want her daughter to feel uncomfortable.

"I'm fine, mom. I really don't need anything else," Yui sighed out, looking back at the TV.

"You know," Ms.Tanaka played with her daughter's fingers. "I was thinking of getting you a bionic transplant soon."

Yui's eyes suddenly lit up with glee, "Really?But how are you able to get the money to afford it?"

"I...I borrowed some money," She lied.

"Again?" Yui's smile suddenly disappeared. "How are you supposed to pay it back? A bionic transplant is not cheap, mom!"

"You don't have to worry about that; I can handle it, sweetie," Ms.Tanaka smiled.

"Mom, take a look around us; we're not exactly well off, you know? Why do you keep piling debts from these shady companies just for my sake?" Yui argued.

"Because you're my daughter," She responded.

Then, silence. Only the cheerful echoes from the TV filled the room. Yui watched as the family inside the TV enjoyed their time together, laughing and smiling.

"If only dad was here," Yui muttered out.

"Yui..."

"If I didn't annoy him to take me to see the fireworks, then he would still be alive."

"Yui, it wasn't your fault; it was never your fault. There was no way you could have ever known."

"Yes it was!" Yui shouted in anger. "If I wasn't such a stupid, fucking brat, none of this shit would have happen! I wouldn't be stuck here like some fucking vegetable for the rest of my life, and dad would still be here!"

Ms.Tanaka stayed silent. However, she couldn't stop her hands from shaking. She can't cry; she needed to be strong.

"I wish it could have been me instead of dad."

"Don't you ever say that again!" Ms.Tanaka suddenly stood up and screamed at her.

"Do you understand me! Your father would never want you to say something like that!"

Yui ignored her, turning her head away to look at the wall instead. She didn't want to talk to her mother anymore.

"Takana Yui, look at me," Ms.Tanaka angrily commanded.

However, she was only met with silence.

"Yui, answer me!" She yelled out one more time.

Her daughter wouldn't comply to her one bit. Ms.Tanaka suddenly had enough of this and stormed out of Yui's room. She took one final glance at her daughter before she slammed the door shut.