The members of the Royal Skull gang moved inside, following Greid. The interior of the building was brightly lit by glowing yellow crystals hanging from the ceiling, illuminating every inch of the structure.
The building was nearly ruined inside; the walls were cracked, the floors were filthy, and small spiders had claimed the scattered corners. Greid continued his way toward the building's cellar, which lacked the illumination of those radiant yellow crystals, having only burning candles mounted on the decaying walls.
The rest followed Greid's footsteps into the pitch-black darkness of the cellar, relying on the faint light of the candles burning on the wall. With every step they took, a faint light gradually increased from below. After a few moments, everyone could see that light; it was emanating from the massive gate at the end of the cellar, which served as the entrance to the gang's hall.
The massive hall shimmered with golden lighting that reflected off the floor and the Greek-style walls. However, the smell of blood and carrion, combined with the immense pressure, made breathing in this vast place difficult. No one would have expected a gang to possess such a grand space, and astonishment was etched on the faces of everyone who entered the hall for the first time, including the newcomers who had come with the gang veterans on this night.
In front of them, at the end of the immense hall, was a massive red throne embroidered with pure gold and a few rare diamonds. On it sat the gang leader, Rastan, staring at his gang members with profound disdain.
Soon, the gang members lined up in three groups. The first and largest group included the lower-tier gang members who had come to pay their dues. The second group consisted of only two people: Greid and Shader, both of whom were of the higher tier, which was evident from their white robes that distinguished them from other gangs and the general public. As for the third and final group, it contained only three people—newcomers being seen inside this hall for the first time.
Greid shifted his gaze toward this new group and said with a wicked smile:
"Step forward, newcomers."
The three heard his words and stepped directly forward toward Rastan, who sat on the high throne. Once they were close enough, one of them knelt immediately to Rastan, and without thinking, the others with him knelt as well. Rastan stood from his throne without moving his gaze from the three before him, raising his hand toward them and saying:
"Lift your heads."
The newcomers obeyed their new leader's command and looked directly at him, only to see his sharp eyes from beneath the solid mask he wore. His eyes carried clear killing intent and emitted an immense pressure that made them want to kneel again from its intensity. Rastan continued his speech with a direct question.
"Why do you want to join the Royal Skull gang?"
None of them wanted to be the first to answer, but one summoned his courage and stepped forward, saying:
"For the sake of my reputation… I want everyone to fear me and know that I am from the Royal Skull gang that has taken control of Galleon City."
As soon as he finished speaking, Rastan moved his gaze toward the second man, a young man in his twenties whose small face had been marred by a large, recent burn covering half of it. He also stepped forward, saying:
"I want to support my family. My father was killed a month ago, and all his debts have been transferred to us. I want to pay them in full, and then I will leave the gang—"
Before he could even finish his words, the last man stepped forward, shouting in a loud voice:
"I want to gain your approval first! I will carry out all the missions you want, and in the end, the reward will certainly be financial."
And so the three answered the leader's question. They wished they hadn't answered it—or rather, that they hadn't come to this cursed place in the first place.
Rastan extended his hand further toward the new members, and a faint grey aura hovered around him, suddenly concentrating on his hand. The throne behind him shook as a warning of something, and suddenly, two metal pieces shot directly from the throne with great speed toward the new members.
Before they could even perceive what had happened, the solid metal pieces pierced the heads of the first and third men, whose goals were fame and money. The iron pieces continued their path, piercing through the other side of their heads, leaving the young man with the burnt face in a state of shock.
"What the…"
Words failed him to describe the horror of the scene that had occurred before him in an instant. What increased the weight of his tongue was the weight of the footsteps heading toward him; the gang leader, Rastan, was descending from his throne very slowly, carrying a terrifying pressure behind him.
Rastan advanced toward the helpless young man without casting him the slightest glance, saying as he addressed everyone in the hall:
"I don't want people who want money and fame without a valid reason. I only want the desperate who need help in exchange for their simple services, not those who think they are coming to play a gangster game they played in their childhood!"
Rastan stood before the helpless youth, who could not even cast a quick glance at the monster standing beside him. Everyone in the hall was accustomed to such scenes, as they occurred almost periodically with every new Delivery Day, which was always repeated every ten days. Nevertheless, the leader's presence struck terror into the hearts of everyone in the lower tier.
After stopping for moments, Rastan continued his way out with footsteps that trampled the prevailing silence. No one knew his destination except for one person, Greid. As soon as Rastan left the hall, leaving fear in the hearts of everyone inside, Greid spoke:
"Unfortunately, the price for our service toward those you love will be somewhat costly. It will only cost you what remains of your life. You will spend all the remaining years of your life working to pay off our debt. You all know this, but the newcomer must realize what awaits him in the Royal Skull gang."
Greid directed his gaze toward the young man who was unable to move, trying to process what had just happened, and asked with his usual smile:
"What is your name, newcomer?"
The new youth moved his trembling eyes toward Greid and moved his lips hesitantly, saying:
"My name is Shinya…"
Yamikage clapped his hands together, closing his eyes.
"Shinya, then! That is a truly beautiful name. So, Shinya, I hope you have understood my previous words regarding the price of the service. I also want to tell you that the penalty for any negligence is death for you and your beloved family."
Despite the difference in the tone of voice and the direction, Shinya felt the same amount of pressure he had felt while speaking to Rastan. This time, however, he felt as if his joints were freezing to the point where he could not even stand up.
Shinya had decided to join this gang because he had heard some rumors that it directly funds families and supports them. Although they were rumors that everyone dismissed as lies, Shinya decided to take the risk and join the gang, and here he was, regretting his action after this swift night.
Nevertheless, a question haunted him and haunted everyone here in the hall: what would the leader gain from this? Given that most costs, whether for care or healing, are much larger than the financial sums the gang members bring in, it was a losing investment. From the same question, several other questions arose.
Where does he get all this money? Why did he establish a gang if he had money from the start? And why is he doing all this, and what are his true goals? Questions that not many knew the answers to.
Shinya rose from his spot and turned toward the hall's gate. He summoned his courage after focusing on the exit and ran with everything his trembling legs had. But while he was attempting to flee, Greid spoke once more.
"Don't forget, after ten days you must bring the sum of 70 silver pieces, and I want to warn you that any small mistake that might lead to exposing the gang will be punished by death for you and your family."
Shinya did not respond; instead, he continued his way out, leaving everyone in the gang ready for what was to come. Suddenly and without warning, several hysterical laughs erupted from behind the throne. They were the laughs of an arrogant man in his thirties who looked upon others with extreme disdain.
A faint light appeared from behind the throne, and in a single moment, the intensity of the light increased along with the sound of footsteps that grew louder gradually. A man emerged from behind the throne wearing a black glove set with glowing crystals emitting golden-yellow rays. In it, he carried a sword stained with dark, viscous blood, its clean parts shimmering thanks to the hall's pervasive lighting.
It was Yamikage, the person who had stolen Takeshi's last possession—the sword he was carrying now. Yamikage raised the blade of the sword toward everyone in the massive hall and said with an arrogant smile and gaze:
"Step forward now, you fools, and I want to warn you that anyone who has not brought the full amount, the last thing they will see is the bright light on my beautiful glove."