Operation Retribution

Jack laughed maniacally as he drew the pistol and pointed it at Wade with confidence burning in his eyes.

"Are you sure, you want to point a pistol at me like that? I still have your beautiful friend here."

Wade poked Annie with his knife as he moved toward Jack with equal confidence.

"I'm a great aim, but even if I don't hit you and I hit her, the bullet will pierce through her body and hit you regardless. I'm willing to sacrifice a potential assistant in order to gain a piece of evidence that can paint the bigger picture."

"Wait! Doctor Blant, please reconsider! I'll do anything! Anything! Just don't fire!"

When Annie heard Jack's rant, she immediately lost her cool and started screaming at the top of her lungs as if her life depended on it. And as ironic as it was, it did.

"Well, Jack? I think we both know what you need to do. I know Annie knows the combinations to all the doors in this place so you're practically worthless to me. Even if you shoot, that pistol only has 6 bullets in its chamber. Do you really think that you can escape with this small of a distance between us? I think not. So if you don't hand over that gun to me, I'll kill you right here and now with a throw of this knife. And as much as you think you're a better aim than me, who has more experience? A scientist or an assassin?"

"Even so, you need me. Even though Annie knows the access codes to a lot of various places within the castle, there are some that even she doesn't know. Also, from the greedy look in your eyes, I can tell you're planning to monopolize our healing drug by taking the recipe from me or her to boost your own company's business. You probably own or are going to own a small company and you need something this popular to jumpstart your business. From all this, do you think you would throw the knife to kill me?"

Jack motioned with both his hands as he spoke, leaving a wide opening in his defenses for him to strike. Since Jack believed that Wade wouldn't attack him, he had illustrated with his hands when he spoke like a businessman but unlike any trained warrior would. A trained warrior would keep his eyes and his weapon aimed at the target at all times while checking for any small movements on his opponent. This had proven to Wade that Jack was not trained in any combat skills and his aim probably was subpar at best.

"You need not worry. I won't kill you. After all, you have proven your worth with your words just now. But there are consequences for threatening me after all. When have consequences not been in anyone's actions."

After speaking, Wade knocked out Annie with a chop before letting her fall to the ground. He then dashed toward Jack while pulling out his disfigured sword with a 'shing'.

Frightened by his assault, Jack aimed his gun with trembling hands as he fired off shot after shot. To his disbelief, each one of the bullets either deflected off the sword or dagger that Wade held or missed him entirely.

Jack had taken shooting lessons with his father when he was in the countryside. He had learned to fire rifles, pistols, and even many other useful skills that protected him in the city. His eyesight was impeccable, his hands usually steady, and his experience was enough for him to be able to enroll in the military for a few years. Yet, this man before him who hadn't even seen daylight in 3 months was able to dodge and deflect bullets moving at least 5 times faster than him. It fascinated him, shocked him, and scared him to the extent where he didn't even know what to think.

As his chaotic thoughts roamed around in his mind, his finger continued pressing the trigger repeatedly as if hoping there was a spare bullet lying around inside. But how could a miracle like that even happen? And before he knew what had happened, a metallic glint reflected in his eye, and a blade suddenly appeared in front of his throat.

"What. What are you? The human body cannot endure such stress under its muscles to be able to contain that sort of reaction speed. You're a monster."

Jack shuddered as he felt the cold metal move up his throat.

"Even if I am a monster, I am a monster with sentience. Sentience is intelligence. Intelligence is what makes us different from those beasts outside these walls. And yet you call me a monster. Shouldn't you reserve those words for those torturers wrongly abusing others outside these castle walls?"

Wade retorted with a rhetorical question as his dagger slid back into his sheath.

"You want to tell me everything you've been hiding a secret from me now? Every time you don't, I'll cut off each nail and then each finger and then each knuckle. You get the point. Don't talk, you'll feel the consequences."

Wade made Jack sit on a rock as he grabbed a nearby stone to sharpen his sword. The 'shings' that sounded made menacing noises in Jack's ears as he stressed about what to do inwardly.

'How do I escape? Can I even escape from this madman? Didn't we create this madman in the first place? Argh, how come you aren't here when I need you, Rose?'

His heart pounded as the sharpening of the sword resounded in his ears. He struggled about what to do. If he revealed the information secret to only him and Rose, it would put Rose in a bad position and they'd probably kill him because all they needed to do was synthesize the healing drug that he had made. However, if he didn't speak at all, he would have to endure excruciating pain that he didn't even want to experience in the first place. He was between a rock and a hard place.

"I've given you 5 minutes. I can see the gears in your head-turning. You're thinking about how to escape me, aren't you? I'll give you a spoiler. You can't. Rose is already long gone, Annie's unconscious and the only advantage you have is that you're not tied up yet. You could try to run, but that would be useless because you don't have your shoes anymore. Your speed would be significantly slowed and I would be able to catch up even if you had a 10-minute head start. Don't you see? This is checkmate. You only have two choices. Tell me or see the consequences you'd inflict onto yourself."

Wade smirked evilly as he switched to the other side of the sword to sharpen it.

'He's right. This is a checkmate. What the hell am I supposed to do! I always thought my plans succeeded but they were all a means to lead me here! Wait! There's still one more option I could use. If I find a way to die, he can't get the information, I don't feel the pain, and Rose wouldn't pursue my family and friends.'

Jack's dilemma had been solved in his head but the real question was. How would he die? There was barely anything in this desert to kill him quickly, to begin with. Starvation was not an option, dying to poison wasn't an option, and using a weapon also wouldn't work because all his weapons were taken away when Wade beat him in the small duel that they had.

He didn't have a plan in mind until he thought of what Wade had said. He couldn't kill him. He held the information that Wade needed. All he needed to do was stall for time until Rose came back and saved him from this madman.

"Fine. It's pointless to argue or fight with you. Since you can't kill me, I'll soon run out of body parts and places you can torture without taking my life in return."

Jack smiled cruelly as he spoke with a small glint in his eye.

"I don't have to. I remember you said you made healing drugs right? Annie is your assistant so she probably knows how to make the drug and where the formula is in the first place. This means if I get her to make more of it, I can constantly torture you to the limit, heal you again, and repeat the process infinitely until you start talking. I hope you look forward to it as I do."

Wade had already set up a plan for this new healing drug that he could monopolize. Since Hal was in charge of the company in general and Wade needed the steady income that came out of it, he would hand over the drug to Hal for reproduction and profit. Then the profit that came out of it would be given to Hal and Wade with another portion being used as funds for the future of the new company. Before he was captured, they had also already decided the name for the company. Razepoint.

It was based on his last name and although he had offered to put Hal's last name, Berst in, Hal had refused and said that Wade was the one that had even given him hope to create a company and own it in the first place.

And so, all the pieces were moving into place. The products were here, the motivation was here, and the land was bought. The only three major pieces left were workers, the factory to reproduce the goods, and the money needed to jumpstart their company. The workers and factory were under Hal's control but Wade had to first supply him with a decent amount of money so he could begin the operation.

However, Wade's thoughts were interrupted quickly and loudly. One could hear the noises of cars arriving near the castle. Rose was that fast in getting back? He quickly knocked out Jack before moving toward the prison that held the important prisoners. As he arrived at the wooden door, he forcefully kicked it down before seeing a pathetic sight.

The prisoners all wore suits and ties and it could be seen that they used to be quite refined but now, they looked ragged as if they were homeless. Many of them stared at him with hope in their eyes but Wade neither looked at them nor helped them. Instead, he asked them a question.

"Are any of you even worth saving! None of you are tough enough to endure this much torture? I have endured what you have by threefold and yet I did not break! I escaped that dreadful prison and became stronger because of it! What about you? Show me that you are worth my effort of saving you. Who are you? What do you do? And why should I save you? Do it quickly because I have no time to spare for useless wastrels like you."

Many of the prisoners looked up in hope and finally, after a few seconds, one man stood up with pride in his eyes. He was quite young, maybe about 20-30 years old with contact lenses in his eyes.

"I'm Joseph Brond and I'm the heir of one of the largest companies in North America. You've heard of Fairware, right? The largest company in North America that participates in all kinds of trades like produce, technology, weaponry, and even healthcare. Save me and I'll help you with whatever you need."

After Joseph announced who he was and what he did, many others started speaking with loud voices heard over the others.

"I'm Jat Steph and I own a pretty small company that offended Rose. Please save me! I'll do anything for you afterward!"

"Help me! I had a small company that got a patent for something that we invented first and Rose captured me because of it!"

"Argh! Shut up, you dumbasses. You think he's gonna save you just because you own companies. Well, I also own a company and it's the largest company that produces food! Even that Joseph Brond guy said he was the largest company in those general trades but I'm the largest in produce! Produce! Do you know what that does? It feeds you, damn it! My name's Hank Poe and if you save me, which I know you will, I'll offer double what that Brond guy offered."

A bearded man in his 40's yelled out loud and when the other prisoners heard him, they immediately quieted down while fear could be seen in their eyes.

"I'll save all of you. I just need all of your cooperation when my company comes to power. Also, wait for my command and don't leave when I open these doors. Deal?"

When the offer came up, many of them yelled in agreement. As he unlocked the prison doors, many of them stayed inside while waiting for his orders.

"All of you, listen here. I have a plan for all of us to escape. Now here's the plan."

When Wade finished explaining the plan, many of them started becoming energetic as they were ready to have their revenge on Rose and whoever she brought with her. When Wade reached the prison's entrance with about 30 men of vengeance behind him, three words could be heard.

"Start Operation Retribution!"