Chapter 25: Bread and Candy (2)

ST pointed at a boy loitering nervously at the street corner.

A young face, probably a high school student.

But since she had seen him directly selling drugs to people, ST approached without hesitation and grabbed the boy by the collar in an instant.

Then, she asked what she wanted to know.

The boy struggled in her grip, coughing and wriggling.

With terrified eyes and a choked voice, he stammered out a response.

“Keck… The, the boss is at the club! C-Club El Dorado in the city center!”

As the pressure on him released, the boy staggered up, coughing, and hurriedly ran deeper into the alley without looking back.

I couldn’t hide my complicated feelings as I watched the boy’s retreating figure.

‘They’re even using kids like him as dealers…’

She looked solely at me, her eyes still serious, and asked cautiously.

“It could be dangerous. Are you sure you don’t want to change your mind?”

“Please… I just have a question I need to ask directly.”

“…Understood.”

After confirming my determination, ST didn’t try to dissuade me anymore.

“From now on, do not leave my side, no matter what.”

That was all she said.

===========

The essence of philosophy and humanities, built upon the long history of humankind—let’s think about the modern legal procedures.

No matter how clear the circumstantial evidence or how undeniable the physical evidence, even if a criminal is caught red-handed at the scene of the crime, the accused is given the last right to plead their case if they believe the judgment is unjust.

Though it may seem frustrating and unreasonable at times, it is a safeguard to treat humans as humans, ensuring that those in power cannot arbitrarily judge another person’s life.

But I was neither a police officer nor a judge in this world.

I had no right to put anyone on trial or judge their sins.

Nowhere, and by no one, had I been granted such authority.

Therefore, whatever action I took here would not be a realization of public justice, but rather a private punishment driven by personal satisfaction.

Even if the being that sent me to this city truly was a god.

I believed that such authority to judge someone’s life did not belong to me, even under the pretext of divine power.

Therefore, the responsibility and consequences of every choice from now on would ultimately be mine to bear.

To protect myself,

I had an obligation to thoroughly confirm everything before moving forward.

That was why I wanted to hear at least one word of his defense directly.

==========

The club “El Dorado,” mentioned by the boy dealer, was located in the center of 12th Street.

Blazing neon signs and hologram billboards lit up the night as if it were broad daylight.

Deafening EDM and the laughter of people spilled out from all directions, creating the signature dazzling atmosphere of an entertainment district.

Among the various establishments, “El Dorado” was by far the largest and most luxurious club.

Its grand entrance adorned in gold and the flamboyant lighting wrapping around the entire building evoked an image of a golden paradise, just as the name suggested.

Young men and women in provocative outfits swarmed in and out, stirring up a unique heat in the air.

But right now, I couldn’t help but recall the scene I had just witnessed in the alley.

The sight of people dying miserably from drug abuse, just a few blocks away from this place…

The glaring lights were almost painful to my eyes, and I couldn’t help but frown.

But I did not hesitate.

As we approached the entrance, large men in black suits blocked our way.

“Hold it.”

I could feel their sharp eyes scanning us from head to toe.

Before they could say anything, ST spoke without a hint of expression.

“We’re here to see Ricardo.”

Her blunt words made the guards exchange blank glances.

One of them scoffed, almost amused.

“What, did he call for more girls? Wasn’t the batch earlier enough?”

“Boss must be planning to go all out tonight.”

They openly eyed our bodies, smacking their lips in satisfaction.

“Well, I guess it makes sense. The girls who came earlier weren’t bad, but this level? Yeah, worth spending on.”

One of the guards jerked his chin toward the inside.

“Go ahead. Boss is on the second floor.”

“………”

It seemed like a rather unpleasant misunderstanding, but I didn’t show any reaction.

Considering the objective, it was actually fortunate.

There was no reason to feel bad about it.

I adjusted my expression and entered the club naturally, following ST.

Thump, thump, thump—

As soon as we stepped inside, a completely different level of noise and heat engulfed my entire body.

The booming EDM beat threatened to rupture my eardrums, and the flashy lights stung my eyes.

People were dancing wildly to the music, and the air was thick with a mix of perfume and sweat, making me momentarily feel lightheaded.

ST quickly brought me back to my senses.

“Eve, this way.”

Following her lead, we made our way through the first-floor floor, which was already packed to the brim with people.

The central dance floor was a chaotic scene of half-naked men and women grinding to the beat.

Bars, tables, and partially concealed VIP booths around the floor revealed glimpses of obscene acts.

The tables were piled high with expensive liquor and food, exuding a sense of extravagant indulgence.

It was just one building, but it felt like an entirely different world from the streets outside—a hedonistic chaos fueled by money and pleasure.

Just watching it was enough to make me dizzy.

To make matters worse, we had to push through the crowd to reach the stairs leading to the second floor.

ST cleared the way ahead, but there was no avoiding the invasive gazes and occasional lewd touches.

“Oh, these chicks are pretty hot. New arrivals?”

“Damn, look at that face. Hey, want to party with me later? How much?”

Drunken men ogled us, throwing crude jokes and even sneakily touching our waists or backsides.

I gritted my teeth and endured. I knew that if I said a word, ST would break their wrists, but now was not the time.

If we caused a commotion, the target might get alerted and escape.

So I kept my face neutral and focused on moving forward.

After pushing through the horde of lecherous drunks, we finally arrived at the stairs to the second-floor VIP area.

More guards stood at the entrance, but they must have been notified beforehand, as they just glanced at us and let us through without issue.

The further we climbed the stairs, the more the chaotic noise from the first floor faded, replaced by low, sultry music.

The scent of expensive perfume and cigars hung in the air, creating a heavy, decadent atmosphere.

The hallway was lined with closed VIP rooms, and at the end, a spacious lounge area awaited.

The lounge had a glass window overlooking the entire first floor, yet no sound leaked in.

The luxurious interior and elegant furniture were a stark contrast to the chaotic splendor below.

At the heart of the opulent lounge sat a massive velvet sofa, where the man we were looking for was lounging.

Ricardo Rodriguez, the boss of the Ricardo family.

He looked to be in his mid-to-late forties, with a flamboyant but sleazy aura.

His expensive silk shirt was loosely unbuttoned, revealing a golden necklace around his neck, and his fingers were adorned with gaudy gold rings.

Surrounding him were several scantily-clad young women, one leaning on his shoulder flirtatiously while another poured him a drink.

One girl even fed him grapes directly, and he casually groped her backside without a care.

The table next to the sofa was cluttered with expensive bottles and small packets containing suspicious substances and inhalers.

Suppressing my disgust, I fixed my gaze on him.

Noticing my presence, one of the girls whispered in his ear, making Ricardo finally turn his head to look at us.

His eyes, clouded with alcohol and drugs, gleamed with interest.

He scanned me from head to toe, clearly intrigued.

“Oh… Fresh faces? Not bad. Wait a minute…”

He squinted at me, examining my appearance once more.

“Way better than I expected. Why send an ace like this so late? Ha!”

He chuckled, satisfied, and gestured for the women to leave.

“Alright, girls, that’s enough. I’m going to have some real fun tonight.”

The women reluctantly moved away as he patted the sofa beside him.

“Come on, sit down.”

We approached but chose the opposite sofa across the table rather than sitting right next to him.

I kept my gaze locked on his.

Unfazed by my defiant attitude, Ricardo reached out, trying to touch me.

Before his hand could reach, ST slapped it away, leaving his hand red and swollen.

He frowned, displeased.

“What the hell? Who do you think you are…?”

But his voice trailed off when he noticed ST’s cold, unyielding eyes.

Amid the silence, I spoke first.

“There’s one thing I want to ask. That’s why I came to see you directly. Please answer me.”

I leaned forward slightly, meeting his eyes.

“Why are you doing this?”

Realizing something was off, Ricardo’s gaze sharpened.

“You’re not the girls the club sent… are you?”

“Answer me.”

The room grew colder as I demanded again.

The women at his side shuffled backward, uneasy.

He smirked, pulling out a small blue candy-like pill from a packet on the table.

“Ah, this? It’s our new product—Heaven Candy. A fentanyl-based designer drug. Just one hit, and anyone becomes a loyal customer. Amazing, right?”

He tossed the pill into the air, catching it.

“The key is, it’s cheap and can be distributed in huge quantities. Perfect for the local residents.”

He smiled as if proud of his creation.

“Money. That’s the whole point. Money can make you a god in this city.”