Ficool

Chapter 6 - Chapter 6: What a friendship?!

In the underworld of New York City, chaos had taken root.

After the brutal assault on their operations, both the Kingpin's syndicate and the Russian mob placed a staggering bounty, half a million dollars, for any information about the mysterious assailants.

The streets erupted.

Dealers, junkies, hired guns, gangsters, and opportunists all sprang into action, eyes wide and hands twitching, desperate to cash in. The criminal underbelly was in full motion. Violence and panic surged like a tide. Turf wars broke out without warning. Cops, the DEA, the FBI, and even the fire department were on high alert, whispering inquiries to their "confidential sources." Something big had gone down, and no one had answers.

Two days later, inside a dusty little shop in Queens, Ash lounged in his chair, a cigarette lazily hanging from his lips. Legs crossed, posture relaxed, he dialed Vladimir's number.

"Jimmy," Ash said with a sly grin. "I've got some great news. You're gonna want to be generous for this one."

The moment Vladimir answered, his deep voice erupted through the speaker like a bear on steroids. "Ash! You found those bastards?! Satan's balls! you really found them?!"

Ash chuckled, lifting the phone away from his ear. "Let's just say... I came across a few promising leads. If you're interested, come to my shop. And hey, if you happen to bring some of those shiny little golden darlings with you… I might just remember a few more details."

"I'm on my way!" Click. The line went dead before Ash finished his sentence.

He sighed and hung up, flashing a crooked smile. Of course, the deal had to take place in his shop. The upstairs looked like any normal general store. But below it? A fortified underground vault built with enough security to deter even the Hulk.

In business, friendship was negotiable. Gold, however, was eternal. And if Vladimir's offer stopped making sense, Ash wouldn't hesitate to sell him out. Likewise, if Vladimir sniffed out betrayal, Ash knew he'd be swiss cheese before sundown.

Ten minutes later, a convoy of rumbling engines screeched to a halt outside.

Vladimir stormed in like a starving bear. His shirt was unbuttoned halfway, revealing a rug of tawny chest hair beneath a tailored black jacket. The ancient brass bell on the door screeched as it bounced wildly against the frame.

Behind him, a dozen hulking men stormed inside, armed and stone-faced, stuffing the small shop like sardines in a tin.

Ash shot up from his chair, eyes narrowing to slits. His voice went cold. "What the hell is this, Vladimir? I invited you, not an armed circus. This is my place. You disrespect me like this, you disrespect the deal."

Vladimir froze. A shiver shot through him like ice water down his spine.

"GET OUT, ALL OF YOU!" he roared, wheeling around. His fist landed square on the jaw of a thug beside him. The poor bastard dropped, face swelling like a balloon before he even hit the ground.

The soldiers scrambled out, leaving only Vladimir and one man behind, Anatoly, the one carrying the metal case.

"My bad, Ash! The call had me hyped, I wasn't thinking clearly." Vladimir gave a forced laugh, wiping sweat from his brow. "Now, tell me—did you really find them?"

Ash didn't answer. He just smiled, stepping forward to give Vladimir a warm, theatrical hug.

"Of course, I did," Ash said smoothly. "But everything's got a price."

Vladimir returned the embrace with a laugh, signaling Anatoly.

The metal case hit the counter with a satisfying thud, sending a puff of dust into the air. Vladimir popped it open and grinned.

"Three thousand coins," he said proudly. "Ancient gold—Byzantine and Roman. Half are Hammer Industries' down payment. A thousand are for the intel. And five hundred… from me, to you. A token of our friendship."

Ash's eyes lit up like a slot machine jackpot. He picked up a coin, whispered mentally:

System, apprise their value.

[Byzantine Gold Coin – Validated. Value: 1 gold.]

Grinning, Ash closed the case with a decisive snap.

"Deal," he said, stuffing the case into a drawer. Internally, the coins vanished into the system's vault. In return, five vials of Smoke of Deceit appeared in the drawer, gray, swirling fog sealed in ornate flasks.

"Tell Justin that the rest will be delivered in four days," Ash said casually. "And as for those who hit your shipment? Try the old factory on Catherine Street in Red Hook. Word is there's a 'Hero for Hire' group operating there. The guy running it? Big on justice. Strong, too. You'll want to bring backup."

Vladimir's eyes gleamed with violence. He nodded to Anatoly, who grabbed the vials and exited.

"You're a damn treasure, Ash!" Vladimir bellowed, pulling him into another bone-crushing hug. "My home is yours, always! You and me, we could rule the streets together!"

Ash laughed. "I'm just a businessman, my friend. Blood and bullets ain't my thing. Gold, women, that's the life. But if you ever need help… well, friends can work out friendly prices."

Both men erupted into laughter.

"I've got things to settle tonight," Vladimir said. "But I'll return soon, with vodka. Real vodka."

He stormed out, radiating bloodlust like a grizzly on the hunt.

***

Out front, inside a reinforced Humvee, Anatoly glanced at Vladimir. "You trust him?"

"He's a greedy bastard. But a smart one," Vladimir muttered. "Send in our best tonight. I want the bastards that took my cargo to pay."

The Humvee roared away.

Back in the shop, Ash lit a cigarette and sighed. "Damn… sold too cheap. Could've milked more."

But deadlines loomed. He'd promised Elektra, the beauty with ice-cold eyes, that her next shipment would arrive on time. And Ash was a man of his word.

From the corner perch, a sleek black hawk stirred. With a mental nudge, Ash sent it soaring through a ceiling vent. In moments, it vanished into the sky, wings slicing through the air.

Ash packed up, grabbed his wrapped katana, and headed out, mumbling with a grin:

"Vladimir… truly a generous man."

Of course, Ash had no intention of letting that gold supply dry up anytime soon.

 

More Chapters