Chapter Nineteen: Asserting Authority Once More

And so, a week slipped by in that half-hearted, reluctant manner. The cash in my pocket grew day by day, and by the end of the month, I estimated I had nearly twenty thousand, all earned as commission rewards for exceeding performance targets.

“Knock, knock, knock!”

Out of nowhere, Brother Can suddenly called out our employee numbers.

“2044, 2048, 2050—you three don’t have to work today. Come with me!”

We exchanged uneasy glances, but the team leader, Sixth Brother, assured us with a smile, “Relax! It’s nothing bad! Brother Can’s impressed with your performance and wants to take you out for some fun!”

Fun?

A strange feeling stirred in my chest, and Brother Can’s face wore a meaningful, enigmatic smile.

Just like that, the three of us were led by Brother Can to the plaza in front of the office building—the same place we’d lingered on our first day here.

In the center of the plaza, the henchmen, wielding electric batons, herded two or three dozen people together like pigs. These newcomers weren’t wearing uniforms—they must be freshly arrived “piglets.”

It turned out that just yesterday afternoon, three piglets had been caught trying to escape. It was rumored that Brother Can was about to hold another “show of force,” but this time the targets weren’t us, but the new batch of piglets, though a few old ones with poor performance were mixed in as well.

Despite that, I, 2044, and 2050 were summoned by Brother Can to attend the assembly, but instead of standing below the command platform, we stood flanking Brother Can, alongside the henchmen.

Now, we’d become the old piglets ourselves. The gazes from below were just like ours had been toward Brother Can; perhaps they thought we were his henchmen too.

Among this batch, I’d supposedly reeled in two big fish: the gambler and the food delivery guy. Though I’d seen their photos, in this crowd of dirty, bedraggled faces, I searched several times but couldn’t spot them.

Just as on our first day, electric batons, water cells, and lectures were all delivered to these newcomers.

Then, Brother Can ordered the three escapees to be brought up onto the command platform.

I shuddered, remembering Brother Can’s last performance for us—forcing escapees to eat durian without peeling, without using their mouths, and making them swallow it whole.

While I was lost in thought, Brother Can began his speech through the loudspeaker, repeating the familiar threats and intimidations.

“Watch closely! This is what happens to traitors of the company!”

With that, he gestured, and the henchmen forced the first piglet to kneel.

“This one’s yours, 2044!”

At his words, the three of us were stunned. Was he asking us to kill someone?

So much for “fun”—Brother Can was truly a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

Beside Brother Can, one henchman was already filming us with a phone.

It was clear we’d become key figures in the compound. Brother Can wanted us to execute these piglets to ensure we bore the guilt of murder, severing any hope of escape.

Seeing 2044’s hesitation, Brother Can grinned menacingly. “What’s wrong? Don’t want to have some fun? Won’t you give me some face?”

2044, cunning as ever, quickly plastered a smile on his face. “Brother Can! No, no! I just—don’t quite understand. Do you want him dead, or...?”

“As you like! Just make sure they’re scared.” Brother Can jerked his chin toward the piglets below. “But let me warn you—if they’re not scared, you’ll be the one who’s scared.”

At his words, 2044 shivered, then rummaged through the toolbox and finally pulled out a pair of pliers, flashing a sinister smile that chilled me to the bone. The ferocity wasn’t an act; it came from deep within him.

“Ah…”

A scream shattered my thoughts. I watched as a bloody fingernail was held aloft by 2044, then another, then another…

“Watch closely! This is what happens to traitors!” The blond henchman shouted, and the piglets below shrank in terror, murmuring among themselves.

“Damn it! Shut up, you filthy piglets!” The blond barked again, silencing the crowd, though their faces were etched with fear.

After several more screams, the unlucky piglet had been dismantled almost entirely, every removable part taken away.

Brother Can frowned at the battered corpse, then smiled and nodded, evidently satisfied with 2044’s handiwork.

“Your turn, 2050! This one’s yours!”

At Brother Can’s command, another piglet was shoved in front of 2050. I watched her covertly; she was clearly conflicted, torn.

Having witnessed the brutal disassembly of the first piglet, this one was already so terrified he soiled himself, filthy liquids streaming down his legs.

Yet he still dropped to his knees before 2050, desperately nudging her hand with his chin. “Sister, I beg you! Spare me! I’ll close a deal today, a big deal! I’ll make the company lots of money!”

In the process, foul filth splattered onto our shoes. 2050 recoiled, shaking her leg, and when she realized it wouldn’t come off, she viciously kicked him. “Get out of my sight! Disgusting! Clean it off with your tongue!”

“Sister! I’ll do it! I’ll do it!” He immediately raised his rear and, like a caterpillar, licked 2050’s shoe clean.

“And the ground! Lick it all clean!” 2050 seemed to get an idea, shoving the piglet’s face to the floor.

“Don’t just hold it in your mouth! Swallow it!”

Not long after, 2050 bellowed again.

But such filth isn’t something a person can swallow. Soon, he retched violently.

Finally, 2050 shook her head, then pressed her foot on the back of his head, suffocating him in the pile of excrement until he died.

Who would have thought this woman could be so ruthless when provoked?

Brother Can glanced at the piglets’ reactions below, then nodded in satisfaction toward 2050.

“2048! The last one’s yours!”

The final piglet assigned to me was a boy of seventeen or eighteen, his hair dyed blond, rose-shaped earrings in his ears—a kid gone astray early in life, with no chance of turning back now.

“You bastard! Let me go if you dare! Or I’ll find a way to kill you!”

“Let you go? Fine! As you wish.”

To the astonishment of Brother Can and 2050, I untied the ropes binding this spirited youth.