Captive: "HAHAHA...!"

  His maniacal laughter echoed through the dimly lit basement, filling the cramped space. A flickering chandelier swayed above, casting jagged shadows on the stone walls of the makeshift prison. Bound tightly to a chair, Syl, one of the last surviving henchman of the orphanage bloodbath, grinned wildly. Blood smeared his teeth, and his eyes gleamed with defiance.

  Captive: "That's all you've got, Jargen? You've sure gone soft since Cabdan let you go..."

  The taunt rolled off Jargen like water off stone. His expression remained cold as his bloody knuckles tightened for another blow.

  Captive: "What'd the younger you think, huh? Watching yourself beat the shit out of a tied-up, helpless man? You're pathetic -- "

  Jargen's fist crashed into Syl's ribs, cutting the words off with a sickening crack. Syl wheezed, hacking up fresh blood.

  Captive: "AGH...! Bastard!"

  Defiant, Syl spat blood into Jargen's face. Jargen didn't flinch, didn't even blink. He wiped the crimson trail from his cheek, his knuckles already rising again.

  Jargen: "The only reason I still haven't knocked your teeth out is because I need you to talk, Syl."

  This time, his fist connected with Syl's nose, a sharp crunch breaking the tense silence. Syl groaned, dazed, as Jargen stepped back, shaking out his throbbing hand.

  Syl (Captive):"Ha... ha... Weak, Jargen. Too weak..."

  Leaning against the doorframe, Punjo sighed, his massive arms crossed.

  Punjo: "He ain't talkin', Jargen... Might be time to cut our losses."

  Jargen shot Punjo a sharp glare, his determination unshaken.

  Jargen: "Oh, he'll talk... He's just playing tough guy, as usual."

  Syl chuckled weakly, blood dribbling from his mouth.

  Syl: "Heh! Fuck you, Jargen. Piggy over there's right -- I'm no snitch! You won't get shit from me."

  Jargen leaned in closer, his patience thinning.

  Jargen: "Cabdan's dead, Syl. You really willing to take a dead man's secrets to the grave...?"

  Syl's head lolled forward, his grin widening as the ropes bit into his bloodied wrists.

  Syl: "Dead or not, you sewer rats aren't getting anything. Word gets out he's gone, and those of us still standing'll strip whatever's left for ourselves. Better us than your lot."

  Jargen: "You'd sacrifice yourself so your 'comrades' can hoard Cabdan's riches while you rot in the dirt? That's your plan?"

  Syl's grin faltered for a split second, but he raised his head defiantly.

  Syl: "Better than handing it over to you mongrels..."

  Jargen smirked.

  Jargen: "Think they'd do the same for you?"

  Syl's expression hardened.

  Syl: "What the hell does that matter?"

  Jargen: "Just wondering if your buddies would take a beating like this for you. You think they're as tough to crack as you are?"

  Syl growled, his face contorting in anger.

  Syl: "Fuck no! Those spineless cowards would've pissed themselves by now!"

  Jargen: "Then it's even more noble of you, taking the beating for them. Looking out for a bunch of cowards -- real honorable."

  Syl's teeth clenched, his anger boiling over.

  Syl: "Fuck . You. You're worse than them, Jargen -- at least they didn't bite the hand that fed them. Cabdan gave you coin, women, a name... He made you one of his prized fighters, and what do you do? You kill him!"

  Jargen took a measured step forward, his voice low and steady.

  Jargen: "It wasn't me who killed Cabdan. Tyssa delivered the killing blow -- and deservedly so. If she hadn't done it, someone else would've. The entire slums wanted his head."

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  Syl sneered.

  Syl: "The slums can eat shit and rot -- you ignorant little roaches ruined everything! Cabdan was gonna make us filthy rich, and now it's all fucked. Hope it is worth rolling in the mud, leash-free, until you fuckin' starve."

  Jargen surged forward, his face mere inches from Syl's.

  Jargen: "LIKE YOU WOULDN'T DO THE SAME *FUCKING* THING IF YOU WERE IN THEIR SHOES...!"

  Syl flinched, startled by the sheer force of Jargen's roar. Even Punjo stiffened in surprise.

  Jargen: "If you were in the gutter like them, with no other way out -- would you sit there and take it?!"

  Syl: "FUCK OFF, OF COURSE NOT!"

  Jargen: "THEN HELP THEM, YOU STUPID SON OF A BITCH!"

  Syl: "EAT SHIT, JARGEN! I'M NOT HELPING A BACK-STABBING TRAITOR LIKE YOU!"

  Jargen back hands Syl across the face. Syl, grinning through the pain, spat in his eye.

  Syl: "Just kill me already.... YOU HEAR ME?! I'm done with this!"

  Punjo stepped forward, placing a hand on Jargen's shoulder to signal him to step back. He moved closer to Syl, ignoring the barrage of insults hurled his way.

  Syl: "Oh, great... Fatty's gonna give me a pep talk now! What're you gonna do, big guy? Roast me first, or straight up bite into me raw? Better run, or the slum rats will eat you before you manage. A walking buffet like you needs all the headstart he can get...!"

  Punjo let out a deep, hearty laugh, his belly shaking.

  Punjo: "Yer funny, I'll give ya that! But the point ain't ta talk about what was or what could've been... Cabdan's gone, but his stash is still out there, ripe for the takin'. You hate Jargen? Fine. But are you really gonna let that stop you from getting a cut...? We ain't greedy like Cabdan was, ya know. There's plenty to go 'round."

  Syl's defiant expression faltered.

  Syl: "... You're full of it."

  Punjo smirked.

  Punjo: "Am I? Cabdan's dead, and what's done is done. Nobody's judging you for doing what ya gotta do to survive. Help us find his stash, and we'll make sure you get a slice... A real slice. We're dead serious."

  Syl's eyes darted toward Jargen, trying to gauge his reaction.

  Syl: "You hear this, Jargen?! You'd split it with ME! How's that sit with you...?!"

  Jargen, sitting on a chair by the door, barely looked up.

  Jargen: "... You're a pain in the ass, Syl. But, Punjo's right. Cabdan's gone, the past's water under the bridge. If you help us find his fortune, you get your cut -- simple as that."

  Syl’s jaw dropped. His bloodied face twisted in disbelief as his eyes darted between Jargen and Punjo.

  Syl: “Y-you serious...?”

  Punjo: “Wanted ta get rich? Ya still can. Tell us where Cabdan’s fortune is -- the slums take ninety-five percent, you take five.”

  Syl scoffed, shaking his head in disgust.

  Syl: “Five?! T-that’s an insult...! Fifty-fifty.”

  Jargen’s eyes blazed as he shot out of his chair.

  Jargen: “*Don’t* push it.”

  Syl jerked against his bindings, his tone sharp and defiant.

  Syl: “Shut the hell up! Without me, you don’t get shit!”

  Punjo raised a hand, trying to diffuse the rising tension.

  Punjo: “Now now, let’s not get carried away... How about ninety-two to eight?”

  Syl sneered, his grin more nervous than smug.

  Syl: “You’re STILL insulting me! You want the vault? You give me a *real* cut... Otherwise, forget it.”

  Jargen: “And you’ll forget what daylight looks like if you keep bargaining instead of taking the damn offer.”

  Punjo: “Come on, now... Give us somethin’ reasonable.”

  Syl let out a long, dramatic sigh before finally relenting.

  Syl: “Eighty-twenty...! That’s my *final* offer.”

  Punjo glanced at Jargen, waiting for a response. After a reluctant pause, Jargen gave a stiff nod.

  Punjo: “Alright. Eighty-twenty! You’ve got yourself a deal.”

  Syl’s grin widened triumphantly.

  Syl: “Good. Now untie me...”

  Punjo blinked, startled.

  Punjo: “Oy...?”

  Syl: “What? Untie me. How else am I supposed to take you there?”

  Jargen stepped forward, his voice firm and resolute.

  Jargen: “That’s not happening. You’ll tell us where the stash is, and we’ll go ourselves.”

  Syl let out a mocking laugh.

  Syl: “HA! Like I’d trust you. You untie me, or you get nothing.”

  Jargen: “Trust? Why the hell would we trust you not to turn on us the second we get there?”

  Syl: "OHH! Funny *you*'d be the one concerned about any traitorous dealings taking place, eh...?! How do I know *you* won't kill me once we get to his vault?! *I* don't fucking know, *you* don't fucking know, it is what it fuckin' is! This is a gamble for ALL of us... If you're not willing to accept that, then fucking put me out of my misery already."

  Punjo turned to Jargen, his expression uneasy.

  Punjo: “Jargen, I dunno about this...”

  Jargen: “This is a terrible idea.”

  Punjo shifted his gaze back to Syl, studying him carefully.

  Punjo: “Say we do take you with us... How many men should we bring?”

  Syl tilted his head, thinking.

  Syl: “You two coming along?”

  Jargen: “Of course we are!”

  Syl: “... Fine. Then, five total. Small, quiet -- that’s how we keep it clean.”

  Jargen squinted, his distrust plain on his face.

  Jargen: “Five? There’s no way Cabdan’s stash is unguarded enough for five men to handle.”

  Syl shrugged.

  Syl: “Maybe it is, maybe it isn’t. Guess you’ll just have to take my word for it.”

  Jargen: “No. We’re bringing fifteen -- minimum.”

  Syl snorted.

  Syl: “You might as well carry a banner that says ‘We’re here to rob you!’ Small and quiet, Jargen. Quiet. Unless you want the whole city to know what we’re up to.”

  Jargen clenched his fists, clearly unconvinced. Sensing his hesitation, Punjo stepped in with a calculated move.

  Punjo: “Alright, then... Guess we’ll come back later.”

  Jargen: “Yeah... Best if we do.”

  The two turned toward the door.

  Syl: “W-wait...! Later? Where the hell are you going?!”

  Jargen opened the door and glanced back over his shoulder.

  Jargen: “We’re gonna do something you’ve probably never tried, Syl -- think. Ever heard of that?”

  Syl: “Sure have! I’m just surprised you did, too...”

  Jargen gritted his teeth, muttering under his breath.

  Jargen (hushed): “... Punjo, it’s not too late to kill him.”

  Syl: “Oh, come on, Jargen! Don’t be like that. Just a bit of banter between old comrades -- future business partners, even!”

  Jargen: “Pipe down, Syl, before I give you a definitive answer right this second -- one you won't like.”

  Punjo stepped out of the room, and Jargen followed.

  Syl: “We both know you’re coming back to untie me! Just don’t take too long -- these ropes are really starting to itch!”

  Jargen slammed the door behind him, muttering as they walked away.

  Jargen: “I fucking hate that guy...”