“………”
Roxanne, Chul, and the others looked at Gustav dumbfounded. While they were doing that a ship could be seen approaching the pier.
“The rest of the crew is here. Let’s talk more on the ship.”
After 15 minutes, they were on the cruise ship in a broad room. The soldiers sat around a table while Gustav stood in front of them.
“Alright, story time kids.”
He snapped his finger and the table turned into a monitor. It showed a picture of Gustav holding a container while dressed in a Hawaiian shirt and shorts.
“So one day your father was shopping in the german black market, a normal Wednesday. While shopping I discovered an auction where they displayed rare goods. Being the collector I am, I had to check it out.”
“Basically, he found an auction selling the fish they got by chance. He bid 20 million to win the fish.”
Raphael cut him off. He tapped the monitor ignoring the shocked Gustav. The screen displayed a strange fish that was black with purple dots and red horns.
“Eww…You actually ate that?”
A female soldier voiced her disgust. Her light brown skin became pale and her pretty face was twisted from the sight of the creature.
“You’re the last person to judge me, Damini. You eat anything that walks, crawls, flies, or swims. Also, didn’t you eat human flesh once?”
“That was an accident and you know it!”
“Enough, both of you.”
Roxanne held her head.
“So you’re telling me you just randomly ate a creature from hell and obtained superpowers?”
Gustav grinned.
“Pretty badass right?”
“Chul shoot him again.”
“Alright.”
Chul pulled out his gun.
“Wait, wait, wait! There’s a limit to how much I can regenerate in a short amount of time!”
Gustav hid behind Raphael.
“Gustav, you’re the biggest idiot I’ve ever met. Why would you do such a thing? You could’ve died instantly.”
“Yolo?”
“Chul.”
Chul took out a bigger gun.
“I was joking! Can’t you take a joke?!”
“More importantly.”
Raphael flung Gustav from behind him.
“It’s the powers that he gained from the fish that made him live this long. However, the effects it had on his body are wearing off. According to his doctors, his cells are dying faster than they’re regenerating. That’s why they believe he only has a few months left.”
“If I may.”
Another female soldier lifted her hand. She was fair-skinned, had red hair with freckles, and a round face.
“Go ahead, Gina.”
“I think we already know where this is going.”
She tapped on the demon fish on the monitor.
“In order to cure Melissa and Father, we need to go to Gehenna, capture the creatures there, and have them eat them.”
“Full marks. That’s my girl.”
Gustav was all smiles again. He clapped and the door opened up. Servants entered the room carrying dishes in their hands. They placed these dishes in front of the soldiers and left.
“………”
The soldiers looked at the purple meat in front of them in silence.
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
“Alright, guys. Eat up so we can get going.”
“Hold up.”
One of the soldiers raised his hand.
“Yes, Ryder.”
“This isn’t what I think it is right?”
The purple meat reflected in Ryder’s blue eyes as he lift it with a fork.
“I got my hands on another demon fish using some drones my company developed. You guys are going to eat it with me and gain superpowers so we can take on whatever is waiting for us on that island.”
Gustav’s started eating the fish without care.
“…I know the answer but I’m still gonna ask.”
Roxanne lifted a piece of the fish with her fingers.
“We’re gonna be pushed on the brink of death after eating this aren’t we?”
“When I ate it I thought my body was going to explode. Every nerve in my body screamed out in agony and I was bleeding from every pore in my body.”
Gustav ate another bite.
“But it’s fine now that my body has gotten used to it.”
“Well, good for you but the rest of us could die!”
Damini slammed the table. Gustav chewed his food unbothered.
“Either that or become fodder when we step on the island.”
Damini turned to her side to see Chul eating the meat without hesitation.
“Chul?”
She watched as tears flowed down his cheek despite no change in expression on his face.
“Damini, I quit my job to come here. I was a lawyer who just got promoted to Partner….”
The tears flowed harder.
“I have nothing left to lose.”
The sounds of plate clacking came from her side. Ryder and Gina were also eating with tears flowing down their faces.
“I left my girlfriend….”
“I dropped out of my dream university.”
They started choking up. Whether it was because of the food or the tears, it was unknown.
“Roxanne, Raphael!”
Damini turned to her eldest siblings.
“Just give in, Damini.”
Roxanne was just like the others while Raphael was praying while holding a rosary.
“…Raphael, weren’t you an atheist?”
“It’s in just case.”
Damini gritted her teeth.
“Fine! I’ll eat it!”
She started devouring the meat with care.
“If we all die, I’m cursing you guys for eternity in hell!”
“Whether we die now or not we’re still going to hell.”
Gustav laughed while everyone else sobbed.
Around 20 minutes later, everyone was withering on the ground in pain except Gustav. Their screams assaulted his eardrums. Their bodies flung about violently as their blood stained the carpet. Some of them even tried forcing themselves to vomit out the meat to stop the pain, but it was no use.
“…….”
Gustav silently clapped and servants entered the room again.
“Carry them to the medical wards and monitor them. Don’t try to give them anything it will backfire. They need to endure their body breaking down and repairing itself over and over again.”
“Yes, Mr.Fernandez.”
The servants started picking up Roxanne and others. Some of them were immediately injured from their scratching and limbs flinging about. Even so, they successfully took them out of the room. Once he was alone, Gustav showed a serious expression and brought his watch up to his mouth.
“Samantha, send them in.”
He took a seat at the edge of the table that was covered with the blood of his children. Soon after a group of people walked into the room.
“Mr.Fernandez, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”
The one heading the group was a bespectacled man dressed in a suit with his brown hair slicked back.
“My name is…”
“Sit down, Ashton Myers. I have no time for your formalities.”
Gustav’s eyes shone a cold light.
“My apologies.”
Ashton sat down and the rest with him.
“I understand that you’re interested in buying some of our powersuits and droids.”
“Not some, all. I’m going to fight a war where survival would be a miraculous feat. So I’m not just buying some of your droids, I’m buying all of your stock. I know of their feats and resourcefulness, so I’m certain they will come in handy.”
Ashton smiled.
“I’m stunned. To think the man hailed as the Demon General would praise us. You’re feared by even heads of state, so we’re honored.”
“Cut the bullshit and tell me your price. Like I said earlier, I don’t have time. People important to me need my attention. So don’t even think of taking advantage of my desperation and hackle a price. It will only waste time.”
Gustav’s eyes narrowed.
“If you insist on doing so after my warning, I will personally kill every single one of you in this room and take your technology for myself like I’ve done many times before.”
Ashton frantically waved his hand in front of him.
“We had no such intention.”
(Tsk. This old monster is still this terrifying after all these years. This ship is his domain so there’s nothing we can do.)
Ashton cursed inwardly.
“Alright, Mr.Fernandez.”
His eyes narrowed and his lips curled.
“Let’s talk business.”
Half an hour later, Ashton exited the cruise and watched the ship leave the pier with his people beside him.
“Sir, was it alright selling him everything?”
One of his men spoke to him.
“We didn’t have a choice. General Gustav isn’t a man one can deny.”
“I heard some stories about him being a monster but surely that’s—”
“It’s the truth.”
Ashton looked at his subordinate.
“That man made a name for himself during the Great Cartel War in 2025. He was a nightmare to the Mexican Carrel who had officially taken over the country. Even though it was a joint operation with the US military, that man almost single-handedly murdered all the Cartel and their families. He didn’t care how he did it, he didn’t care how many innocent people or comrades died, that man slaughtered everything in his path. In the end, he was arrested because of all of his war crimes.”
“So how did he become the founder of a billionaire cooperation like Fleurie?”
“He was pardoned by the US government in 2027 and recruited to work for them. From there he gained connections to some important people and they helped him build his businesses, like opening hotels and restaurants, to entering the pharmaceutical field. Although, he only used them to launder money for the rich and corrupt including himself. His main source of income was weapons trade, his private militia, and robbing other criminals.”
Ashton smiled.
“That’s why if he really wanted, he could’ve killed us and then try to take our businesses.”
Ashton turned away.
“Anyway, I don’t want to do business with that maniac ever again. I don’t know why he suddenly wants 7 Powersuits along with the droids, even though they destroy the user if used too much. Not my problem though.”
He left the pier with his subordinates. Meanwhile, Gustav was standing being a glass. He was looking into a room where Raphael and the others were a bloody mess and wailing in pain while strapped to tables.
“Come on, you brats. You can survive this. Survive and follow me into hell one last time.”