INFINITE MONEY - I Will Buy Everything

Gary looked into Pedro's eyes but the only thing he saw was madness, he realized right at that moment, that talking his way out of this situation was impossible. Not with this guy being here.

Pedro, still tied to the chair, suddenly heard a gunshot. The ropes binding his hands fell away. He slowly brought his hands forward, noticing that the rope had been expertly severed by the bullet. With a smirk, he gave a thumbs-up toward the direction from which the shot had come. He then rubbed his sore wrists, remarking, "Me? I'm just a humble negotiator."

Gary, who was crouched on the floor, began to inch backward. "N-No… nonsense. If you were really just a negotiator, why would they send such powerful people to rescue you?"

For a ruffian like him who knew the streets, he knew that no matter what this guy in front of him says, it would be bullsh*t. Nobody sends a death squad for a normal 'Employee'.

To Gary, Pedro wasn't an employee and rather a crazy dog they have been keeping on a leash. A dog that didn't seem to be loyal to anyone and also keeping to his word no matter the cost.

Pedro didn't move, the smile still plastered on his face. "Isn't it customary for a boss to be concerned about his employee's well-being? I see this as nothing more than a boss worrying about why his employee hasn't shown up to work for a few days."

Gary wanted to accuse Pedro of lying, to say that he didn't believe a word of it… but he couldn't. Pedro's words were delivered with such conviction that Gary found himself questioning his own doubts.

'Just what kind of psychopath did the boss send me to extract information from? This isn't someone you interrogate; this is someone you send in to do the interrogating.' Gary thought, as he continued to retreat, desperately contemplating escape.

But just as he was about to make a break for it, something blocked his path. Gary's heart froze as he felt a cold, metallic object press against his back. He swallowed hard, fear constricting his throat.

Slowly, he turned to face a figure clad in a sleek, black metallic suit, its face obscured by a network of tubes and a glowing red visor that seemed to bore into his soul. The sight was so terrifying that Gary momentarily lost the ability to think.

Regaining a sliver of composure, he tried to plead, "Please, don't—" but before he could finish, the figure raised a massive gun and slammed it into Gary's face, knocking him unconscious.

With Gary sprawled on the ground, the figure in the black suit touched his earpiece. "Check for hostiles and eliminate anyone not aligned with our objective." His voice was cold, devoid of any trace of humanity.

Moments later, a squad of similarly dressed figures descended from all directions into the half-ruined shopping complex. These operatives, identical in appearance to the first, spread out across every floor, methodically searching each corner and neutralizing any remaining threats.

The initial shot that freed Pedro had been nearly silent, but now the complex echoed with the sound of gunfire, a symphony of chaos and violence.

Pedro listened to the gunshots from above and below but said nothing. He merely examined his bruises, a detached expression on his face. The leader of the group approached Pedro, inspecting his injuries while the others formed a tight defensive perimeter around them.

A few moments later, the leader's earpiece crackled to life. "All rooms and areas have been cleared. No more hostile parties remain."

The leader responded, "Roger that. We've secured the objective, but he's in critical condition."

Pedro attempted to downplay his injuries. "No, no, it's fine. This is much better than I anticipated."

But the leader was unyielding. "He needs immediate medical attention. We require a medic, stat." Another voice responded through the earpiece, "Understood. Transport the package to the extraction vehicle. We'll handle his injuries."

"Copy that," the leader replied. He then took Pedro by the arm and led him toward the shattered window at the end of the 15th floor.

Pedro tried to resist. "I already told you, I'm fine. I don't need any help right now."

The leader finally addressed him directly, "You're in serious condition. We can't let you die."

"I understand, but I need to call my boss first. I have something urgent to report."

The leader ignored him and secured a set of cables around Pedro, checking them for strength. Pedro persisted, "It's very urgent. I need to speak to him now."

"Talk to him on the plane."

"What plane—" Pedro's words were cut short as the cables tightened, yanking him off the floor. In the blink of an eye, he was hoisted upward by a waiting aircraft that whisked him away at high speed.

A few moments later, the leader's earpiece buzzed again. "Package has been secured. Good work."

The leader said nothing, his expression unreadable as the line went dead. He turned his attention to Gary, who remained unconscious, and checked his vitals. Speaking into his earpiece, he reported, "Mission complete. We also have an unexpected asset."

The earpiece crackled back. "Is the asset of value?"

"Potentially. He appears to be a higher-ranking member among these ruffians. Requesting permission to bring him in for interrogation."

There was a brief silence before the earpiece responded, "Request denied. The objective was to retrieve the package and eliminate all other threats. We cannot accommodate an unverified asset. Proceed accordingly."

"Understood," the leader replied without hesitation.

"Central out."

The line went dead as the leader rose to his feet, aiming his gun at the unconscious Gary. Just as he was about to pull the trigger, Gary stirred, his eyes slowly opening to a blurry vision of the black-suited figure.

"Fortunately for you, this is the easy way out," the leader said, his voice emotionless, before firing multiple rounds into Gary's head and chest, ensuring a swift end.

Back at Halborough Villa, William spoke, reclining on a plush sofa. "Asking for my permission when you've already released your dogs."

Delmar offered a dark smile. "I thought it best to act swiftly before they could inflict any real damage."

"So you sent an assassination squad to 'handle the situation'?" William said, emphasizing the words with air quotes. "Didn't you say we should lie low for a while? How exactly does this fit into that strategy?"

Delmar's smile broadened slightly. "It… falls into the category of 'What Absolutely Must Be Done.' Even if it stirs up some noise, it's still the best course of action for us."

"As long as you know what's best for us, I don't really care," William replied, leaning back. "Just make sure it doesn't escalate into something bigger… right?"

"Of course, boss. Anything but that," Delmar assured him. He was about to continue when his phone rang. After a brief conversation, he hung up, a dark smile spreading across his face.

"It's done."