The next day Benjamin dragged his heavy body to the company. His mood was even worse than usual. During meetings he barely participated. Some people glanced at him strangely, feeling as if the iron CEO had given up. However, they couldn't be further from the truth. Benjamin was determined to get his will no matter the cost!
As night fell Benjamin didn't return home. He messaged his two loyal bodyguards - tall, genetically enhanced humans born to fight. Ex-soldiers. Benjamin had often enjoyed their protection. For a hefty fee of course.
Two tall men wearing black suits and sunglasses silently entered the office. Their heads moved subtly, habitually checking their surroundings for any threats.
"Gentlemen. Let's go."
Benjamin signalled to the bodyguards who quickly understood. The trio went outside and boarded the flying car. Benjamin mentioned the address and the vehicle instantly sped away.
After about an hour of travel the car reached the outskirts of the city. Although there were no tall buildings here, the flickering neon lights accompanied the citizens even to the most remote corners. However, their light was blocked as thick, dark clouds slowly drifted through the air.
These clouds came from the nearby industrial district which spewed dark plumes all year round. One might ask if Umbran didn't have the technology to avoid producing such harmful pollution, but this couldn't be further from the truth. Yet producing pollution was simply cheaper than implementing delicate technology to avoid doing so.
Benjamin only spared the thick clouds a short glance. He knew that as long as the pollution didn't reach the core of the city, no one would care about it. Luckily Umbran was in a favourable location and the wind kept the pollution away from the high-rise buildings.
The flying car gradually slowed down. It descended, landing on a parking spot close to Posmatra Road. Benjamin's bodyguards jumped off, securing the surroundings before waving at him. Benjamin put on a pair of black leather gloves and wound a cloth around his mouth before stepping out of the car.
Yet as soon as he touched the ground, the dirty air immediately hit his face. Benjamin squinted his eyes. He was able see the dirt in the air. How someone could be willing to live in such a place was beyond him.
A low rattling sound reached Benjamin's ears. He turned his head, glancing at a mushroom-shaped, metallic tower. This was an air purifier some charity organization must have installed. A few of these were spread throughout the exhaust district. However, looking at its base one could see that a few plates had been removed. The machine's interior was openly displayed. It was obvious that some important parts were missing.
"Like reading poems to a pig!", scoffed Benjamin.
The street was lined with small houses. No, perhaps it would be better to call them shacks. They were dilapidated, built from old metal plates, sometimes mixed with some cracking wood. With Benjamin's arrival the shadows seemingly came to life. Pale faces peeked out of the sometimes-glassless windows. People scurried away, informing others of the outsiders' appearance.
"So many rats in this place."
Benjamin looked back at the people peeking at him with his stern eyes, causing them to hide immediately.
"Sir, you must be careful. The exhaust district is not safe. Stick close to me."
"Got it. What a tragedy that this garbage dump is part of our city."
The bodyguards didn't comment on Benjamin's words. One of them remained close to their client while the other scanned the surroundings as they began walking. They passed through a security gate, leaving the fenced parking lot, and followed the street.
Benjamin couldn't hide his distaste as he surveyed his surroundings. Junkies and impoverished people lived in the exhaust district. They had sickly faces and clothes with holes, living in dirt. Ironically there weren't many homeless on the streets as people would just sleep in one of the houses. They couldn't care less whom those belonged to.
Perhaps the inhabitants didn't even know that the shacks were initially built by the government to get the increasing poor population out of the core city. Now they were constantly occupied with building new houses, so much so that they couldn't care less for what happened to the older ones.
These thoughts were going through Benjamin's brain as they were approaching the address. But suddenly he found a tall body in front of him as a stern warning rang in his ears:
"Careful, Sir!"
Right at that moment, a bunch of people came out of the surrounding houses. They wore black clothes with metal spikes sticking to the clothes. Their heavy, black boots caused quite a commotion on the dusty road.
"Boys! Surround the fat sheep!"
"Hahaha of course boss!"
"Damn, we're eating good tonight!"
"Let's visit Red Ruby's later!"
"Tell Charlotte to go and warm the bed!"
"Hehehe…"
Those gangsters swarmed the street and quickly surrounded Benjamin and his two bodyguards. They were about a dozen men and two women, all showing deranged expressions. They laughed uglily or let their tongues hang out of their mouths. All of the gangsters carried weapons like wooden planks with nails or thin pipes.
Benjamin frowned upon their audacity. His eyes narrowed dangerously as they fell on the tall man who seemed to be the boss of the gangsters. Surprisingly he held a laser rifle in his hands. Benjamin couldn't understand how a common gangster got his hands on such a weapon.
Laser weapons were not widely spread. They were heavily regulated and only with the right certificates was one allowed to wield them. They were mostly seen in the hands of high-end security personal like Benjamin's bodyguards…
"You there! If you're smart you hand over all your valuables and perhaps… AHH!"
The gangster boss couldn't even finfish his speech when Benjamin's bodyguard moved. The man's hand flashed in a speed almost too fast for the naked eye to see. He drew a laser pistol out of his clothes and a shot was fired followed by the characteristics whistling noise.
The gangster boss screamed, his voice extremely painful. The laser rifle fell to the ground as half of his hand went missing. The wound looked gruesome, seared from the high heat of the laser.
"Bastard! F*ck!"
"What happened?!"
"The boss is injured!"
Seeing his subordinates fall into a panic the gangster boss instantly lashed out at them:
"Idiots! There are so many of us! Beat them up and take their sh*t!"
"Right!"
"Together!"
"Beat them until their mothers won't recognized them anymore!"
Immediately the gangsters rushed towards Benjamin's group. Benjamin cursed inwardly but his movements were not slow. He pulled out a syringe from his pocket and instantly pierced it through his trousers into his leg.
Suddenly his body began to heat up. His heart beat violently, echoing in his own ears. The world appeared slower in his perception as Benjamin entered a highly energized state.
Simultaneously the gangster boss also retrieved a similar looking syringe, piecing it into his hand. A second later the ugly wound began to heal. With modern technology there was hope of regrowing the hand over next year if he found a good doctor.
However, the healing process was unbearable itchy. The gangster boss grimaced as he shouted loudly:
"F*ck them up for me!"
However, before the gangsters could reach Benjamin's group another four laser bullets flashed. Both bodyguards shot at their assailants, cleanly shooting holes into three legs. Painful shouts came from the gangsters as they faltered in their steps.
Benjamin saw everything clearly. He knew his bodyguards showed mercy. Even here in the exhaust district killing people was quite a hassle. It would be for the best if the gangsters could be convinced to escape.
However, looking at the gangster boss's raging expression, he wouldn't call for a retreat anytime soon.
"Well then. I haven't fought in a while…"
Benjamin loosened his muscles lightly. He turned around, standing back-to-back with his bodyguard. Just then the gangsters reached the group. Two blunt weapons aimed directly for Benjamin's head.
At this moment Benjamin remembered the stern face of his father. The old man had been an army veteran. It was always important to him that his sons had a fit body. Thanks to him Benjamin trained in various martial arts since young. Although he never became a master, his skills were more than enough to deal with some weak gangsters.
Under the influence of performance-boosting drugs even Benjamin's thoughts were running faster. All of this went through his mind before the gangsters' weapons even reached him. His reaction was nearly inhuman. He ducked his head and dodged below the attacks.
"Damn! That guy is quick!"
The gangsters were shocked to see someone running around in a fine suit move like that. Before they could perform another attack, Benjamin made a step forward slamming his shoulder into the man to his right. The gangster felt a heavy blow crash into his chest, stumbling multiple steps back.
Instantly Benjamin did a half-turn, made use of the momentum, and punched towards the other gangster's face.