a city of hell

Chapter 1

The alley was suffocating—drenched in shadows, tainted by the metallic stench of blood. Rain poured relentlessly, washing crimson streams into the gutter, yet the filth of this place could never be cleansed.

Yuuji stood amidst it all, untouched. His polished black shoes gleamed despite the grime beneath them, his tailored suit pristine, a stark contrast to the battered man lying before him.

The man was barely conscious—his face swollen beyond recognition, one eye completely shut, his nose shattered, his lips split and bleeding. Yet, despite his ruined state, he still clung to hope.

"P—Please…" His voice cracked, rasping through bloodied teeth. "I—I just need more time… I swear…!"

SLAM.

The sickening crunch of bone echoed through the alley as Yuuji drove the man's skull into the pavement. A wet splatter followed—blood pooling, mixing with rainwater, soaking into the cracks of the concrete.

The body beneath him twitched violently, then went limp. A shuddering breath escaped the man's lips—ragged, barely there.

From the side, Kaito let out a low whistle, his voice dripping with amusement. "Damn, bro. You really did him in."

Yuuji straightened, adjusting the cuffs of his suit with methodical precision, his expression unchanging.

"He's still breathing."

Kaito smirked, flicking the ash from his cigarette. "Not for long at this rate."

Then, with a lazy wave of his hand, he gestured to his men.

"Bring out the gift."

Two enforcers emerged from the shadows, dragging someone with them.

A girl.

She screamed, thrashing against their grip. "Father!"

The moment Yuuji's gaze landed on her, she froze.

Something in the air shifted—an invisible weight pressing down on her chest. Her breath hitched, her pulse hammering wildly against her ribs.

And then… she saw him.

His posture was relaxed, effortless, yet there was something wrong about him. His presence devoured the space around him, like a void that refused to be ignored.

His suit remained untouched by the blood staining the ground. His black hair fell messily over sharp, chiseled features—a face too perfect, too terrifying.

And then… he smiled.

Her stomach twisted.

It wasn't a sneer. It wasn't kind. It wasn't anything she could understand. It was just… there.

And yet, her traitorous body reacted.

A flush crawled up her neck.

No. No. No.

Not now. Not in front of the man who just tried to kill her father.

From beside him, Kaito chuckled. "Oh? Looks like she's into you."

Yuuji remained silent. Instead, he stepped closer, tilting his head slightly. Studying her. Dissecting her.

The girl's lips parted, a question forming—

But before she could speak, everything shattered.

Yuuji's fingers shot forward, gripping her chin.

His touch was deceptively light—almost gentle—but there was no mistaking the power behind it. His fingers pressed just enough to remind her who held control.

"You don't care about your father, do you?" His voice was soft. Almost amused.

The blood drained from her face.

"What—?"

"You're looking at me like you're expecting something." His grip tightened slightly, forcing her gaze up to meet his. His next words came cold and absolute.

"Tell me… were you hoping I'd take you instead?"

Her body went cold.

She wanted to deny it. To scream that it wasn't true.

But she couldn't.

Because he had already seen through her.

"You're disgusting."

The words cut deeper than any blade.

Yuuji released her chin, wiping his fingers on his suit, as if touching her had tainted him.

Her knees buckled. Her vision blurred.

"Shut the fuck up unless you wanna be passed around."

Kaito's words sent an icy dagger of dread through her chest.

Her breath hitched.

Kaito barely spared her another glance, nudging the unconscious man with his foot.

"Tch. What a waste. You should've signed when you had the chance."

Yuuji stepped over the man's limp body, looking down at him as if he were nothing more than an insect.

"You have one day." His voice was flat. Absolute.

The casual way he said it made it worse—like he was merely postponing a mild inconvenience.

"If you don't pay…" His voice dropped to a whisper.

"I'll send you to hell myself."

The words should have been a simple threat. But coming from him, they felt like an inescapable fate.

He crouched down beside the unconscious man, his tone darkening further.

"But not quickly. Not painlessly."

His next words made the girl's stomach drop.

"I'll start with her."

A sharp gasp tore from her throat.

But Yuuji still didn't look at her.

"Your men. Your business. Your entire world—I will erase it all, piece by piece. And when there's nothing left… when you're drowning in the ruins of everything you built—"

His cold eyes lifted, pinning the barely-conscious man with a stare devoid of mercy.

"You'll still be alive to watch it burn."

And then, without another glance, he straightened his jacket and turned away.

Kaito clapped a hand on the girl's trembling shoulder, making her flinch.

"Hope your old man makes the right choice. If not…" He grinned. "Well, let's just say we'll be seeing a lot more of you."

With that, he flicked his cigarette to the ground, grinding it under his boot, and followed after Yuuji.

Their figures disappeared into the night.

The girl collapsed to the ground, gasping for air.

Her father lay beside her, motionless.

The rain poured down, washing away the blood.

But the fear—that would never leave.