Chapter 232 - 2nd Combat Unit Quality
The clash between the brutish Bloody Skull gang and the group that attacked them seems to have ended in a one-sided victory.
The common trait of the bodies strewn about is their yellow shirts. The once-yellow clothes are now stained black, and their owners lie motionless. Clearly, they are the ones who stormed the Bloody Skull. If a group unified by yellow shirts was the one to attack the Bloody Skull, such an obvious characteristic should have been reported by the Intelligence Bureau.
Judging by the number of yellow-shirted bodies, it’s clear the battle ended in a lopsided victory. A quick scan with magic reveals that nearly half of the fallen are already dead, while the others are in a near-death state. At a glance, they seem to be a group of young people, much like the Bloody Skull.
Even in a slum-like area, it’s quite an event to have around thirty dead bodies. In the underworld, such a high death toll is rare unless there’s a significant feud between organizations.
During the last major shift in the power structure of the Five Great Families, the number of casualties was in a different league. Although things are relatively peaceful now, the recent violence between these lowlifes is quite spectacular.
There are about thirty dead and an equal number in a half-dead state. The rest of the yellow-shirted individuals are also in no condition to be called unharmed.
Through the windows, their cries can be heard—screams, pleas, sobs, and wails. Just now, a desperate scream filled with despair echoed through the air.
One of them is tied to a chair and is being tortured. It looks like his kneecaps are being crushed with metal rods. That must be excruciating.
Even from a distance, my keen ears can’t make out what they’re saying, but it doesn’t seem like they’re trying to extract information. It feels more like they’re just playing with their victims.
In another area, a man who had been tied up and left lying on the ground is set on fire. Bound and struggling, he slowly meets his tragic end.
The grotesque sight of children playing with the flames evokes images of demons in hell, toying with their victims in a fiery inferno. Observing this calmly is becoming increasingly difficult.
Elsewhere, about five women are being toyed with. They are all wearing yellow shirts, indicating they are part of the defeated group. Each one is being violated by multiple men, occasionally slapped or punched in the face or stomach.
There are also those being beaten or kicked for no apparent reason, as if it’s just a game. Some are screaming at the walls, while others are running around the room in a state of madness. Violence mixed with chaos.
Hmm, the unusual behavior of some is probably due to the effects of drugs. Setting that aside, I had hoped for a bit of excitement from this fight between lowlifes, but this is just too much.
Unless there’s a deep-seated grudge or a desperate need for information, such extreme violence has no meaning. From what I can see, it seems to be nothing but senseless brutality.
Frankly, it’s as bad as, if not worse than, the actions of common thieves. At the very least, this goes beyond the realm of typical youth brawls. The influence of drugs might be a significant factor, but there are limits to everything.
We engage in cruel acts when necessary, but never for entertainment. A sane person wouldn’t find such acts enjoyable. This is abnormal. Even a gang like the Bloody Skull, which might think it’s the end of the world if they’re disrespected, wouldn’t go this far.
These young, brash fools. Perhaps it’s their willingness to go to such extremes that has allowed them to grow. A group that doesn’t flinch at such brutality is, in a way, strong. It’s unlikely that anyone would dare to oppose such ruthless individuals, and it’s natural that perverted psychopaths would gravitate towards them.
Engaging in prolonged conflict with such people would be detrimental to our mental well-being. If any of our members were kidnapped, they might end up in a similar situation.
Our members won’t lose to scum like these in a fair fight. But there’s no guarantee that they won’t be ambushed or attacked in their drunken state. There’s even the possibility of a friend being taken hostage to lure them out.
The Kikyo Society always emphasizes to new members, even in the absence of personal grudges, that they could still suffer terrible fates due to conflicts of interest. It’s best to avoid being caught off guard by scum like these. For that reason, it would be best to eliminate such threats as soon as they are discovered.
While it’s easier to deal with established families like the Clad Family and the Anastasia Union, we need to be more cautious of reckless newcomers.
Indeed, these young, brash fools. They must be crushed completely. They are not suitable opponents for a fight, but rather an incompatible existence.
Unable to bear the sight any longer, Mary and the other members of the Second Combat Unit descended, and Siegrune and I followed. The Intelligence Bureau members, including Josephine, stayed behind, but their nods indicated they would handle things as they saw fit.
"Mary, it’s your turn."
"Yes, I’ll take care of them all."
Mary’s cold demeanor is fitting for the task. She’s particularly harsh on thieves, and this time, she seems to share my sentiments.
"Mary, wait. A massacre might not be the best idea."
"Should we show mercy to such heretics?"
Deputy Leader Violante’s attempt to stop her doesn’t seem to be making much headway with Mary’s icy expression.
"I agree that there’s no reason to spare them, but what do you think is the problem, Violante?"
"Emotionally, I feel the same, but they are still young. A massacre could tarnish the Kikyo Society’s reputation. I can’t accept the Kikyo Society suffering damage because of such individuals."
That’s a valid point.
I don’t want to eliminate all the yellow-shirted individuals. If we did, we couldn’t pretend this never happened.
They are, indeed, young. Killing a large number of potentially redeemable youths would make it difficult to suppress media that might turn against the Kikyo Society, even with the Public Relations Bureau’s efforts. We can’t control everything.
While we are a young organization, and Violante is about the same age as those scum, the Kikyo Society’s strength and achievements set us apart from the rest.
"...So, what should we do? Should we leave them in a half-dead state?"
When it comes to the Kikyo Society’s interests, even Mary can’t be too forceful. As a leader, she must prioritize the organization over her feelings, though it’s not a pleasant decision.
"Hmm, a half-dead state... Ah, I have an idea."
Siegrune seems to have a plan.
"After torturing them, we could hand them over to one of the Clad Family’s affiliated organizations. They claim to have lost their drugs, so they might be happy to clean up the mess themselves."
That’s a good idea. It’s a win-win situation.
"Yes, that’s a good plan. We can dispose of the troublemakers, and the affiliated organization can take responsibility. They might even gain some favor. It’s a good idea, especially since they seem to have used most of the stolen drugs themselves, so there’s no risk of them suspecting foul play. Let’s get it over with. I want to create more living witnesses, so I’ll heal the unconscious ones with intermediate healing potions and wake them up. Mary and the others, take care of the rest."
To prevent any unnecessary trouble, we’ll also need to coordinate with the Clad Family’s main branch.
"Then, I’ll leave them half-dead. There might be a few accidents, but—"
"Accidents happen. But make sure the leaders survive. We need them as trophies. Violante, prioritize identifying and securing the leaders. You might want to check with Josephine."
Given her thoroughness, Josephine must have noted the leader’s location during the violence.
"Understood. Once we secure the target, the rest can be left to Mary and the team. What about you, Siegrune?"
"I’ll assist Yukari-dono. You, show these living witnesses the true fear of the Kikyo Society."
Violante uses the Wind Transmission spell to confirm with Josephine, who identifies the leader on the fourth floor. With the target location known, the combat team splits into groups to surround and storm the building. The third and fourth floors will be targeted separately.
From the window, we can see about forty to fifty members of the Bloody Skull. Using magic, we know the rest are on the upper floors.
The Second Combat Unit has about ten members outside, watching the perimeter, while five each storm the third and fourth floors. Mary leads the third-floor team, and Violante leads the fourth. Siegrune and I will observe from the third floor.
Although it’s a bit unfair to Mary, Siegrune and I will go in first.
We walk normally into the building and ascend to the third floor. The door isn’t locked, and we enter as if it’s our own room.
The scene inside is the same as what we saw from outside—many playing and many lying unconscious. Our target is the unconscious ones.
Ignoring the stares, I approach the nearest yellow-shirted individual and pour an intermediate healing potion over them, followed by a wake-up potion. This combination partially heals the injuries and forces them to wake up, creating a living witness.
Siegrune does the same, though her method is more precise. I, on the other hand, use the potions more liberally, creating a rapid recovery.
By the time the brutes regain their senses, nearly half of the unconscious ones have been revived.
"Hey, you, you—"
"Mary! It’s time."
We will not tolerate the distribution of drugs in our territory. To send a clear message, we need to make an example of them.
As the team storms in, the violence begins without hesitation.
The four members split into pairs, each using their weapons to inflict severe injuries. With precise and efficient strikes, they break limbs and follow up with additional attacks. The victims scream in agony before they even understand what’s happening.
Each member takes no more than three seconds per target, moving methodically as if they are simply pruning unwanted branches.
Mary, leading from the center, is even more brutal.
Skilled in unarmed combat, Mary grabs and twists the limbs of her victims with graceful, fluid movements. Known as Bloody Mary, her attacks don’t stop there.
Blood spurts from the wounds she inflicts, a result of her water magic. By mixing sand with high-pressure water, she slices through flesh with minimal, yet highly effective, magic use. It’s a terrifying technique that fractures bones and cuts flesh simultaneously, often causing arterial damage.
The rain of blood that follows is a hallmark of her battlefield.
Showing no interest in the screams of her victims, she moves on to the next target, a terrifying sight.
Under Mary’s leadership, the Second Combat Unit will surely become even more renowned as a stoic and formidable fighting force.
Witness this, living witnesses. This is the Kikyo Society’s way of war.
Mercy is given only after careful consideration of our benefits and drawbacks.
We will always accept challenges and pursue our enemies to the depths of hell to hold them accountable.
A few dozen to a hundred lowlifes are no match for us. Even a thousand would make no difference.
No matter how many gather, it’s meaningless.
Would a hungry whale in the vast ocean care about the number of sardines it’s about to consume?
It wouldn’t even bother with the exact number.
The outcome is always the same.
It just eats and ends it.
"Yukari-san, it’s done."
Mary, with her usual delicate smile, stands in her moon-white coat, stained red as always.
I wonder why she doesn’t wear a black coat. Probably because it adds to the fun.
If that’s the case, I can’t argue.