The store was pleasantly cool. Compared to the slowly rising temperature outside it was a more relaxing atmosphere. The floor was smothered by a red carpet and all the tables and chairs were neatly arranged. A glowing chandelier brought a crimson red that washed over everything In the room. It wasn't overwhelming and it did add to the atmosphere Inside the building.

The store was packed, not as much as the potion store but there were quite a few customers. They mostly consisted of elderly man oddly enough. They all sat on these beautifully decorated tables, covered in white cloths. Each table had a vase filled with plants placed at the center. The chairs had the same treatment as the tables, the only the difference being that their cloth was red.

Joe and Shelly were welcomed by a young girl who looked to be around Joe's age. She wore a raggered skirt and shirt and had a weird collar around her kneck. It had the number 3 displayed at its center. The girl's right eye was swollen shut, which immediately rang alarm bells in Joe's head. Her lips were dry and cracked.

“Welcome to Meat is Money. Let me take you to your seats.” She managed to say. Her teeth a jarring yellow color.

She led them in between crowded tables. The customers were lively and chatting among themselves. All the waiters wore similar clothing to the girl leading Joe and Shelly. They moved around serving meals and drinks. They all had this collar each with different set of numbers and they all had these bruises. Some of them were on their knees while a few customers rested their legs on their spines. It was honestly starting to become uncomfortable for Joe.

They reached an open table at the corner of the room and the waiter gestured for them to sit. They did as she said as they both sat down. “I'll leave these here,” she placed two menus on the table. “I'll come back in a minute to consult you on your order.” With that, she left Joe and Shelly by themselves. As she walked to serve other customers she seemed to be limping.

Joe didn't spare the menu even a glance. His intention wasn't even to buy food in this establishment, so he didn't entertain it. His eyes kept wondering around. “Does this place seem odd fo you Shelly?” he leaned closer to Shelly as he whispered.

Shelly's eyes also darted around. ”Yeah... It's a little strange but we are here for information right? Let's just pretend to order something and we'll look for a person we can talk to.”

Joe nodded, although it took a while for him to do so.

The girl from earlier returned. “Have you found what you will be ordering today? If you have I'd be happy to take your order.” She smiled, but to Joe it was very forced.

When Joe took a closer look at her. He just froze. She reminded him too much of how his mother used to look. Beaten and broken.

Shelly was just about to say something in his place, when the sound of shattered glass echoed the entire room. It was swiftly followed by a booming shout.

“You bitch!” A man wearing a white shirt shot up from his seat. His shirt was smeared in red sauce and pieces of meat attached themselves to his clothing. A glass plate was littered over his black boots in broken shards. His face was boiling red contrasting his blue hair. “Do you have any idea what you've just done?” He shouted, his voice reverberating throughout the room once more.

A short and thin girl, maybe 16 or 17 seemed to be the one responsible. She groveled before the man instantly, begging for mercy. "Forgive me master! Forgive me me." Her lips trembled as tears fell down her swollen cheeks.

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“You clumsy fool! Do you have any idea how much money you've just wasted? How are you going to pay for this? Huh!"

His voice made her shiver as she struggled to form a coherent response.

"Maybe it's time we separated you from that brother of yours. How would you like that number 3"

The girl's eyes widened as she bowed even lower than she already was. "Anything but that master! I beg of you master!" She had found her voice and it rang loudly to everyone In the room.

No one dared to say a word, and no one moved from their tables. They were glued to their seats as they watched this take place.

"If you don't want that to happen, I suggest you get your act together." The man spat a large volume or saliva on her head.

The girl nodded vigorously. She raised her head slowly, "I'll take—" she couldn't finish her sentence because almost instantly, a fit of cough ovwhelmed her. She coughed painfully, her chest was wheezing and caving in on itself with each cough. She heaved heavily as blood tricked down her mouth.

She tried to cover it with one of her hands but it seeped in between her fingers.

"What's wrong number 3, I thought we found a solution for this problem of yours. Did Claudia not administer the potions we got for her."

She wiped the blood with her already bloody hand smearing her cheeks and lips with even more blood. Realizing this was counter intuitive she gave up on it all together and instead chose to respond to the question posed to her. "She did... but it doesn't seem to be working." She said In a shaky tone.

"What are you trying to say number 3? Are you saying our healer can't do her job? Are you calling our healer useless?"

She flinched before cowering once more. "Of course not master. I'm sorry if I offended you. It wasn't my intention."

"Well whatever, just clean this mess up before I lose my patience with you."

“I'll fix it right away master, forgive me.” Tears streaked down her face as she reached for a white cloth. She made sure to hold it with her clean hand, before she started removing the broken pieces of glass over the man's boots. She then moved in with the cloth, ready to wipe the sauce and meat stains.

The man mmediately stopped her. “That won't do number 3, if you're going to clean it. Make sure you do it properly. I want you to use your tongue.” The man's lips formed a twisted smirk after his words.

The girl hesitated before she placed the cloth aside and went in with her toungue.

Crunch!

The girl's teeth were immediately shattered. As the man's boot struck her mouth in full force. Her teeth fell out and even more blood pooled from her mouth.

The man didn't seem to care because he kicked her again, this time harder. The girl's head shot back and it landed forcefully against the floor. She was forced to lay on her back as blood tricked down her forehand.

“No number 3. I can't allow mistakes llike yours in my establishment. I need to teach you about the value of the money you just waisted today.” the man loomed over her before he drove his boot deep into her gut. Her body doubled over as she shot up momentarily. She let our a painful scream as her head fell to the ground seconds later.

Joe's eyes were widened. His face boiling with rage. He shot up from his sit but the girl serving them held his arm. “Please sit down. It's best you don't get involved. Master won't kill her.”

Her hand was trembling and her eyes watery. In that moment Joe got the full idea of what was happening in this establishment.

“Master is one of the Mikey's Big 3. They call him Wild Tamer Red. If you care about your life you will sit down. Master doesn't hesitate to kill customers who cross him."

Red continued to kick the girl around. Her ribs audibly breaking in the process. He was just about to strike her again when something tapped his shoulder.

Red swung around in frustration, "Wha—"

A sickening crack echoed the establishment as Joe's fist smushed Red's face. Red was then launched across the room bulldozing his way through tables and chairs before eventually smashing through a brick wall.

Some customers were visibly injured in the process, but Joe didn't give a shit about that.

Murmurs erupted from the room. Those watching visibly stunned. “Shelly, take care of the girl. I think we just found our information source."

Joe trudged across the room following the trail of blood and wreckage Red left behind. He peered through the broken wall and made his way towards Red. “What the hell, do you think you're doing you bastard.” Joe's face was consumed by anger. He stood 5m away from Red his Black Blade already unsheathed.

Red slowly rose to his feet. Coughing blood saliva as he did.

“Do you know who you're messing with kid? I'll make you pay for that!”