Chapter 150: Houser’s New Friends
"Why don’t you take us in?" Taran asked, showing his disgusting yellow teeth. "To that house you’ve been bragging about?"
Houser paled, both from fear and disgust.
Taran’s breath was worse than rotting meat! He felt faint, but he dared not say it.
"Why aren’t you answering?" Taran asked again, his stinky, hot breath blanketing Houser’s face.
Bleurgh
He couldn’t hold back his vomit.
"YOU!!!"
BAM!
And he received a punch straight at his face.
Taran was so disgusted that he kept kicking Houser, causing the middle-aged man to gasp for air each time!
"I...I! Please stop! AHH! I’ll take you! I’ll take you!"
Taran gave one more kick before stopping. "You should’ve told me sooner!" he said, his tone of voice made it sound like he was the one wronged.
One of his fists was still raised though, as if it was ready to pummel him the moment he said the wrong thing.
But what could Houser do? He could only nod his head. "Y-Yes, yes. It is...my fault. I’ll take you to m...y house and s-serve you as an ancestor."
Internally, he was gritting his teeth in anger. At this time, everyone was unaware of the disaster’s scale. They just thought it was an earthquake, and the police were just stupid enough to leave them unguarded in the station.
He thought that the house and the community were the same as when he left it.
So he thought about how the guards in that villa community were all veterans! He was already thinking of ordering them to pummel this bastard!
...
Taran and his group left the holding cell, followed by a few others who swore allegiance. They did not bother with those who didn’t want to come because they were afraid of delays.
Pulling someone unwilling could mean they would struggle. Not only would that delay their escape, but it could also reveal their positions!
Those policemen could be right outside!
So, other than punching here and there to vent their indignance, everyone leaving with Taran just left everyone else behind.
Gritting their teeth, most of those inside really did come with the gangsters, while there were a few who chose to stay inside. Some of them were afraid of the threatening punch that the others silently accepted, while others genuinely believed they’d be better off with this group.
Those who remained, still reeling from pain, stayed silent in the cell, not making any more sounds.
For example, there was Igor, a young man in his 20s characterized by long unruly bangs and a thin frame. People’s impression of him was either depressed or an otaku, and definitely not someone you’d expect to see in prison.
He was caught for hacking a company system and causing havoc there.
It was very recent, so he was more or less untouched by the prison bullies. Before they could target him, the disaster began, so he thought it wasn’t entirely a bad thing.
Of course, he could only say this because he has no idea about the true scale.
He didn’t regret not coming with those guys, though. He’d rather struggle while free than be under those perverts’ thumbs.
Did they really think they’d live a good life under gangsters?
Idiots.
...
At this time, the escaped group was running elsewhere. They were traversing streets and alleys like it was the back of their hands.
Houser was cursing internally. The past few months had been torture to him; now that he was free, were things going to get worse?
This disaster was really big, wasn’t it? He heard on the radio that it was even worse in many other places!
Pack!
A sharp pain at the back of his head brought Houser back to reality.
"Hurry up!" Taran yelled after hitting the back of Houser’s head.
"Y-Yes!" he said, limping as he led the group to his home. He looked subservient, but he was already internally planning someone’s downfall.
A few months ago, he never would’ve imagined he’d become a lackey of random street rats he never bothered with.
Rather, this bastard would be lesser than the mud between his shoes!!
Not long ago, he was a rich man! Very rich! This trash would not even dare enter his path!
He also got connected with powerful people from the underworld! He was already prepared to get the pie of a major casino on the premier gambling island!
It was supposed to bring him to the skies and make him one of the truly rich! Beyond what those people derogatorily called nouveau riche!
Where had it started to go wrong?
Soon, evidence against him started popping up, those people didn’t help him. Instead, they tried to silence him!
He did not dare say anything, even when that Police officer Luke name-dropped Mr. Smith and the Red Gang!
"You promise your villa is good?" Taran’s tone was laced with threat, making the man shiver in fear.
Houser, wearing a prisoner uniform, nodded enthusiastically. "As long as you spare me, feed me, and protect me—what’s mine is yours!"
Taran grinned. He might be a minor gang leader in most people’s eyes, but he had brought his gang to such heights in the span of a few years. This development speed was faster than many big gangs. Had he been given time, he believed he wouldn’t be inferior to them.
Now they were out, they needed a place to stay in—and to stay in style. Houser, who had bragged about his money in an attempt to gather allies, could not escape his fate of being the host!
He had several properties, but most were far away. To get to some, they even had to go by plane. The closest one here was ironically his own villa!
Well, no matter. He could get the guards to deal with them before they could enter!!
.
.
Except there were no guards at all!
He found this out about an hour or two of running later.
The villa complex was only a couple of kilometers away, in the suburban area of Amber City. It was not too far, but the path in between had a lot of obstacles. They had to go on foot.
Considering Houser was injured after getting beat up earlier, every step was torture to him.
When they arrived at the community’s gates, the usual armed guards were not there at all! Even the boom barrier was destroyed!
"This..."
By this time, Houser had lost all blood on his face. This caught Taran’s eye, and he gave the man a suspicious look.
"What is it?"
"N-Nothing..." Houser stuttered and then slowly headed inside. They passed by a few villas, a few panicked people running around, and he awkwardly led the others to his villa.
He seriously considered ringing other places, but he had a feeling he wouldn’t have his life if he dared fool them.
There was no electricity anymore, though, so the doorbell did not work. He ended up yelling, calling the names of his wife, daughter, and the maid.
The door burst open, revealing his very haggard wife.
"Husband? HUSBAND! YOU’RE HERE! WUUUU— You’re finally out! WUUUUUUU—"
"Please! Please tell me you have money kept away!!!"
"What? What is it?"
"Our house! Our house has been emptied!!!" she gasped. "EVERYTHING IS GONE!!"