517: [Bonus chapter] just a life update

[Bonus chapter] just a life update

Meanwhile, somewhere in the world…2

"Ugh…" 

Elmo, Primo's righthand man, stood several steps from the door. His eyes were on the man sitting on the edge of the bed, grunting in pain.

"Don't force yourself," said Elmo to his boss. "It'll take some time for that to completely heal."

Primo arched a brow, hand on his severed shoulder. "I'm not forcing myself, dear. It just ached in every position I do."

Elmo pressed his lips into a thin line. His eyes fell on Primo's sleeve, only to see nothing in it. Primo's other hand was resting on top of it, teeth clenched, in pain from his injury. It had been almost a year since Primo's arm exploded, incapacitating him for months. 

"Any news about that clown?" Primo hissed, eyes glinting at the thought of the person who took his arm. "Don't tell me you still haven't gotten a hold of that motherfucker?"

"He is evasive —"

"Bullshit!" 

"Boss, if Joker doesn't want to get found out, even the biggest funded government agency wouldn't track him down." Elmo remained stoic, unfazed by his boss's aggression. "The only reason we got a hold of him is that he was purposely leaving traces of him. But that had stopped after that night."

Primo let out a ridiculing laugh, grinding his teeth in irritation. For months since he regained consciousness, all he could think of was Joker. That man truly got him. If Primo hadn't reacted quickly upon seeing that modified spider on his shoulder, he wouldn't have just lost an arm. 

Primo would have died that night. 

"Once I get a hold of him, I'll skin him alive and debone him while he's still conscious." Another hiss escaped his gritted teeth, gazing at his severed shoulder. "Just wait until I get the fuck out of here. I'll haunt him down myself."

All other thoughts in his mind disappeared as he could only think of countless ways to torture Joker. That man… had done it. Therefore, Primo wouldn't allow that he wouldn't settle scores. 

Even so, at the back of Elmo's head, Primo had his faults too. The man became complacent and underestimated that psychotic Joker. They disregarded what Joker could do and now, Primo paid a huge price. 

"Joker was once a member of the Reapers," Elmo stressed, reminding Primo of an important detail. "Although rumors have it that they disbanded, the reappearance of their boss proved that the rumor might be wrong. Although we cannot rule out that some member was simply using their boss's name, one fact remained. Joker is one of the Reapers. If he reunited with his colleagues, it would be a problem for us."

Primo frowned at the unsolicited statement from his henchman.

"Boss, even when their organization was active, we stayed away from their business and territory," Elmo added solemnly. "I'm saying… you cannot be rash."

"I cannot be rash? Or do you mean, I should just let it go?" Primo lowered his head, and he tilted it, blinking languidly. "Elmo, don't tell me Joker scares you?"

"No." Elmo gazed down. "I'm just saying the Reapers weren't feared for nothing. Joker got your arm, and if I wasn't there, that old fellow would've gotten a hold of you."

Primo's brows rose. "That… old man?"

"Yes." Elmo took a deep breath as he lifted his chin. "That person who used to be a part of the Reapers, but now, became Heaven Liu's bodyguard. Bernard Gambone."

"Hah… right. There's still that woman." Primo closed his eyes, almost forgetting about Heaven and Dominic due to his overwhelming anger toward Joker. He lifted his feet as he carefully laid on his back. His face scrunched up as he felt another striking pain on his shoulder, but at this point, the pain was bearable. 

"Joker, Heaven Liu, Bernard Gambone, and Dominic Zhu…" Primo breathed out as he snapped his eyes, gazing at the white ceiling. "There are still those people who exist. Damn. They survived that night, huh?"

"All thanks to Dominic's team."

"Even when the General delayed their backup, and we caused a road accident to delay the police, they still survived. As expected of Dominic Zhu." The irritation filling his chest slowly disappeared, replaced by nothing but amusement. "Well, I would be very disappointed if he died alongside the Red Scorpion. That would be too easy."

"By the way, how is that little soldier in there?" Primo turned his head in Elmo's direction. "What is that fool doing while I am recovering?"

Elmo didn't answer immediately, causing lines to resurface on Primo's forehead.

"Hah… did he switch sides now?" Primo followed up, guessing what Elmo's silence meant.

"No." Elmo shook his head. "However, he said he doesn't need you anymore."

"Huh?"

"To summarize his long insults, he said he couldn't trust us any longer. And that he was disappointed that despite all the help we received to bury Dominic Zhu, he was still alive and returned in one piece. While you… became a handicap."

"A handicap?" Primo repeated before a burst of laughter escaped his mouth. "Ah — oh, that hurts."

Primo shook his head as his laughter faded, holding his shoulder to quench the pain. He didn't feel annoyed or insulted upon hearing Silas's words from Elmo's mouth. If anything, he found them silly. 

"Oh, boy. I knew that was something he would say." Primo clicked his tongue continuously. "But well, it's not like I need him anymore. His only asset was his face, after all, but that damn good-for-nothing can't do anything all by himself. How pitiful."

"Boss, are we still going after the Zhu?" This time, Elmo's stoic tone was laced with a bit of exasperation. "Can't we just let them go and find a new target who is more interesting?"

"Huh?" Primo looked at his henchman with dismay. "Elmo, I'm starting to have second thoughts about you. Since when did you become a coward?"

Elmo pressed his lips, unable to hide the bitterness on his face. "I'm just worried about you." — after all, Primo didn't have any personal grudge against Dominic Zhu. Primo's obsession didn't stem from anything personal or anything deep that would redeem his actions, but rather, the reason behind it was more twisted and alarmingly shallow. 

"Heh," Primo smirked, peeling his eyes from his henchman. "I already lost my arm in this pursuit. It would be a shame to stop now. You get what I mean?"

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