Third Person's POV
Quivering with fear and sobbing in agony, the two men knelt on the white sand. Blood continued to trickle from their severed fingers and wounded legs, struck by bullets.
"B-Boss... please, show mercy... spare our lives... we won't... repeat... our actions..." one of them weakly begged.
The other man was hunched over, seemingly incapable of enduring the pain any longer, nearly collapsing.
Larco grinned at their words, his bloodied fingers tracing the small knife he held, still stained with their blood from cutting off their fingers.
"Release? Spare lives? Ah..." Larco nodded as he paced back and forth in front of the two kneeling men. "But I'm not actually acquainted with the genuine meaning of those terms." He halted in front of one of the men and ran the blade of the knife across his face. "The word 'mercy' you're mentioning has no place here on this island!"
"Aahh!" The man screamed in agony as Larco sliced through the other side of his face, causing blood to trickle down his neck.
"Let me ask you again, after you restrained that woman earlier, what did you proceed to do? Answer!" Larco harshly seized the short hair of the man and pulled his head back
"N-Nothing, boss..." the man replied through tears.
Larco grinned. "You truly have the audacity to lie, huh?" He forcefully shoved the small knife into the man's mouth and slashed his lips toward his ear.
The man let out a loud scream, his voice becoming hoarse from the pain. His body trembled uncontrollably, a sign that he was reaching his breaking point.
Larco smirked and stood upright, signaling Henry, who had been standing to the side, observing the entire scene.
Swiftly, Henry moved and lifted a small bucket brimming with seawater before drenching the face of one of the men. The shock of the frigid water startled the man awake, causing him to gasp in astonishment and regain consciousness.
"Please have mercy... as if you have mercy..." the man whispered in a weak voice, barely able to articulate his words due to his weakened state.
"I can't hear you!" Larco yelled at the man, rapidly approaching and clutching his neck with one hand. As the man's tongue slightly protruded, Larco swiftly glided a small knife over it, slicing it. "You son of a bitch!"
The man's eyes nearly bulged from the pain, attempting to scream but appearing to have lost his voice.
Several henchmen stood silently on the side, watching as their boss punished their two companions.
"Strip them both!" Larco's command echoed loudly.
Henry swiftly gestured to a group of henchmen. They hurried over and undressed the two men who could hardly move. Their bodies were drenched in their own blood.
"After you strip them, cut off their genitals and send their bodies to the other island to sell their organs on the black market, or maybe just donate them to a hospital so they can be of some use!" After uttering these words, Larco dropped the knife he held and departed, leaving his men behind.
Larco entered his room and headed directly for the bathroom, intending to take a shower and regain composure. His body quivered with rage due to the heinous actions of the two men.
After finishing his shower, he paced around the room, unable to sit still, not knowing what to do. His fury remained unyielding, and his hands were still sweaty, as if unsatisfied with the extent of the punishment inflicted on the two men.
Larco, in frustration, roughly ruffled his own hair. He felt drained and struggled to catch his breath. Using his trembling hands, he swiftly opened a drawer, and took out a small white bottle. Extracting two pills, he placed them in his mouth, subsequently grabbing a bottle of mineral water and taking a sip.
Larco massaged the bridge of his nose and reclined against the headboard of his bed, emitting a profound sigh. Somehow, he felt a bit calmer after taking the pills.
After a few minutes, Larco decided to leave his room and directly entered another room where various kinds of expensive alcohol were stored.
"Boss," Henry said as he saw him. Henry was seated at a table, drinking.
Approaching a nearby bottle of alcohol, Larco seized one, uncorked it, and settled beside Henry.
"Are you alright, boss?" Henry inquired, extending a glass to him.
Ignoring the question, Larco asked, "What's the update on Darius?"
"It's positive, boss. Mr. Yamamoto consented to dispatch his men to Hungary," Henry responded before sipping his drink.
Larco nodded in acknowledgment. "That's good." He also took a sip and refilled his glass. "What about Kierra? How is she?"
Henry hesitated briefly, as if uncertain about his response, but eventually answered, "I don't know, boss. She might be resting in Darius' room."
Larco sighed. "What about her family? Any news?"
"They're still looking for Kierra, boss. They've announced a ten-million reward for anyone who finds their child. Kierra's images are circulating throughout the internet and newspapers, and her name is highlighted in every TV bulletin."
Larco's grip on the glass tightened as he heard this. He briefly shut his eyes and released a deep breath, seeking to compose himself.
"In that case, send them evidence that proves their child is dead. Make sure they believe what you send."
Henry knitted his brow. "But boss, I thought—"
"I've changed my mind, Henry. Just follow my orders."
Henry could only nod and continue drinking.
Several minutes passed.
"Tomorrow, find out Darius' situation and ask when he's returning to the island and if he'll make it to the upcoming auction."
"Understood, boss," Henry nodded and excused himself to return to his room.
Larco was now alone.
He poured another glass of alcohol and took a sip. He repeatedly exhaled deeply. Despite his prior attempts to compose himself through medication and now by drinking alcohol, but no matter what he did, he couldn't shake the image of Kierra's tear-streaked face due to the actions of his two men.
"Damn it!" he burst out, hurling the full glass of alcohol, causing it to shatter and its contents to splatter across the room.
He quickly left and entered Darius' room. Yet, as he stepped in, his astonishment was immediate upon sighting the young woman serenely asleep on the plush bed.
Larco drew nearer, his gaze fixed on Kierra's face. He felt a sudden calm wash over him as he beheld her gentle expression.
Larco couldn't restrain himself any longer and gently caressed the sleeping girl's face.
"Why, hmm? Why do I calm down so easily every time I see your innocent face, huh?" he whispered to her as he continued to gently stroke her smooth face.
"You're so fragile... but too dangerous. I'm certain I'd wound myself the instant I break you.