Criminal X : Epitome Of Evil

Pablo stood before his soldiers, and their eyes locked onto him as if he were the only star in their sky.

Once he confirmed no man among them would abandon the mission, he took the next step.

"I assume all of you know how to fight?" He asked.

"Yes, sir!" they roared, voices firm with conviction.

Pablo nodded. "Good. Now, before we move forward..."

He plunged his hand into his bracelet and pulled out a sleek, red rectangular box. He placed it on the ground, and every gaze snapped to it.

Only Cupid recognized it. She had been there when Pablo instructed Nike to build this exact container.

Reading the curiosity in their faces, Pablo didn't drag it out. He flipped open the lid. The red plastic creaked.

The soldiers instinctively leaned in—but they hadn't been given permission to approach.

Nevertheless, Pablo shared the details himself.

"Come forward one by one and pick one piece only. Keep it safe, don't lose it and make sure it doesn't break."

The soldiers nodded and as per Pablo's order, one by one each soldier came and took one piece from the red box.

Each soldier was curious but when they saw the item, their curiosity died. Whatever these things were, they couldn't guess their purpose.

Hena walked forward next. She nearly tripped—distracted, ashamed. Yesterday's events replayed in her mind like a broken record. She avoided eye contact with Pablo, snatched a piece, and retreated.

Nike followed. No nonsense. No drama. Took one piece. Stepped back.

The same thing was repeated for the other soldiers and Flashy's turn finally came.

But the smart lad remained standing in his position and from behind him a thick black hand came out, moving towards the box.

The soldiers gasped and they all nodded in appreciation.

Flashy smirked. "Hehe. This is called smart work, people. That's why I am the left hand man of my boss."

The young man was proud of his brilliant idea until…

"If that thing even touches the box, I will kill your mother after finding her."

"What?! Why, boss? I thought you would praise me for this."

"If you hold the item with this it will break. So fuck your idea and come here like a decent human. And you are not my left hand. At most, you are the little finger of my left foot."

The soldiers gasped again but this time there were some snickers and laughs mixed in that.

Flashy summoned his symbiote back and his smirk was replaced by an embarrassed smile as his head went down.

Pablo shouldn't have said all that. Flashy also had respect among the soldiers. Pablo shouldn't have made fun of him in front of them like that.

The soldiers were laughing at him and Flashy might be smiling but the laughs were eating his heart.

Pablo shouldn't have done that.

Pablo shouldn't have ma—

"You all find this funny, right?" Pablo's voice dropped like thunder.

Flashy raised his head.

Pablo roamed his eyes among the soldiers.

"Tell me. Why are all of you laughing?"

"He was being oversmart and you humiliated him. That was funny, sir." One soldier answered and the other soldiers nodded.

More laughing took place.

Only Draxus, Nike, Hena, Gerald and the eight slaves standing behind Pablo were silent.

Flashy stared at Pablo as he had no idea what his Boss was doing.

"So that was funny to you?" Pablo asked.

"Yes?" The soldiers answered, not sure what Pablo was implying.

"Alright, then listen to this once and for all."

Each soldier straightened up.

Pablo had no amusement on his face and when he saw the soldiers were ready to listen…

"No one laughs at Flashy and don't you all ever dare to look down on him."

Flashy brows shot up.

The soldiers tensed. The few faces that still had a smile on their faces, went away.

Pablo carried on.

"He has been with me since the time I stepped into this damned city. I can make fun of him, I can hit him, I can curse him, I can even kill him, but only I can do all that. Draxus, if needed. I am fine with you all being all friendly with Flashy and joking around, but if I detect even a little bit of mockery in your laughs for him…"

Pablo peered inside the eyes of each soldier present on the ground.

"...I'll hang each of you in the city square. Alive."

The ground went silent.

The soldiers gulped and averted their eyes from Pablo. They couldn't look at him without imagining themselves hanged in the center of the city.

Pablo remained on the stage and he stayed silent too. As if he was waiting for something.

And surely, what he was waiting for… happened.

"I am sorry, sir Flashy."

"No. We are sorry, sir Flashy."

"Yes. We shouldn't have laughed at you."

"Yes. Sorry."

"Sorry."

"Sorry."

"Sorry."

Pablo smiled.

One by one soldiers apologised to Flashy and Flashy could only look around with a surprised face.

All this went beyond his expectations as he looked at his father—Gerald, standing beside him.

Gerald placed his hand on Flashy's shoulder and flashed a fatherly smile.

"Have a big heart and forgive them. They are not your enemies. Your boss only scolded them because he cares for you. Just be glad that there is someone who fights for you."

Gerald explained like the father he was and Flashy turned his gaze at Pablo on the stage.

His boss had a smile and Flashy could only smile back. But in that smile of his, there was shame mixed in.

He almost thought Pablo did wrong by making fun of him, he almost rebelled against him and that was the worst thing he could have done. Even the thought of that was a crime.

Flashy clenched his fist, his heart felt the burden of a thousand bricks and he had to remove this burden. This pain shall die. It should die!

That's why, right there and then…

A silent vow was made by the loudmouth fool… Flashy Rail.