Capítulo 55: CH53: COST OF REPUTATION; PRIDE
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CH53: COST OF REPUTATION; PRIDE
"Reputation is a very important currency in our line of work. In any line of work for that matter. It takes a long time to build but can easily be destroyed in a short amount of time. In our line of work, in the eyes of an arrogant and domineering man like Jonathan Duke, Reputation is a very good reason to kill for." Oziomo Okoh said.
"With the Duke's character, he would definitely place his reputation above the worth of our lives. He knew we couldn't tell anyone about the deal. If we did, we would only be putting a big target on our back when returning home with the goods. No one, not even the Mob, is crazy enough to steal something from the NDz in Onitsha. So, we'll be the one's in trouble if we told anyone else. He knew that if he could finish us off, no one would be the wiser.
Chidozie might be good at moving things discretely, he isn't the type to get his hands dirty. So, Duke must have asked his 'Disposer' to take Chidozie's place. This was to make sure he could get rid of all the witnesses if someone found out about the contaminated product.
I don't know how that guy was trained but I don't doubt that the guy would kill millions if he was asked to. The disregard he showed for life was so vivid that I don't think I've seen anyone come close, even with all the shitty things we've done or seen. It was like killing us was no different from killing a fowl… No! An ant. Totally insignificant."
Oziomo continued to rant on about how dangerous Korede was for a while. He must have been affected when Korede unconsciously released his killing intent.
Like Aon said, after Korede mastered 'intents' from {Life Communication}, Korede became able to transfer his intents to other beings, consciously or unconsciously. Oziomo Okoh had been the target of Korede's plan. Hence, he must have been unknowingly subjected to Korede's killing intentions.
Aside from the part about his disregard for life, Korede would have been very happy to hear Oziomo's deductions. It showed his plan worked perfectly.
It was only after a good while that he was able to collect himself. However, his hands were still shaking.
Azuka and the others didn't seem to notice this abnormality as Azuka asked. "What are we going to do now?"
"First, we have to let the A4s know what happened. Both our gangs have to leave our current locations before finding somewhere safe to meet up. We need to decide what we're going to do together. If we are to go to war with a large gang like the NDz on their turf, the two gangs have to work together.
Also, since the NDz did this to protect their reputation, we are going to shatter it to pieces. Contact every gang we know, friendly or not, let them know everything the NDz has done."
Oziomo replied decisively even though he was still struggling to push down the fear he felt towards Korede.
Unbeknownst to Korede, it seems he has a very good psych-weapon.
"Let's leave this place immediately." Oziomo ordered with urgency.
It didn't take long for the Saints to find another residence. Compared to the last one, this was more secluded and easy to defend.
Oziomo Okoh released a sigh as he watched everyone leave to prepare in case the NDz attacks. He gritted his teeth for a good while until he felt like blood was about to flow out.
Eventually, his expression eased as he released another breath. Feeling dirty and sticky, he decided to take a bath. He spent most of the time under the shower allowing cold water to pour down his head. He did this in a bid to calm down as he believed trying times were coming and he needed to be in his best state to lead his gang through it.
While the Saints were scurrying around preparing for an enemy that won't come, the real culprit behind their troubles was waking up from what could only be called a short nap.
Korede got to the safehouse and slept almost immediately around 4 am. Now, by 5:30 am, he was already awake. He was preparing for his usual daily routine. Stretches, Solat, exercise, bath and prep work for the day in the armoury.
By 7:45 am, he was done and ready to leave the apartment. This time, he was wearing one of his own clothes. A white tank top on black trousers and black sneakers. He also wore an unbuttoned red shirt.
He left the apartment carrying the same duffel bag he prepared previously, meaning at least the ACR was with him.
As he got to the ground floor, he met the building manager.
"Good morning." He greeted.
"Good morning. Leaving already?" The manager asked.
He had seen Korede return around 4 am in his suit. He had assumed Korede was coming from work. So, he was surprised the youth was already leaving again.
Well, he wasn't wrong about Korede coming from work.
"Yeah. My job is in the field today. So, the earlier I finish, the earlier I can come back home to get a good rest." Korede responded.
The manager nodded. "No rest for the weary. Anyway, I wish a TGIF." The man said quickly to allow the youth to be on his way.
"Same to you." Korede said with a short laugh before making it to his car.
'Interesting guy.' He thought as he looked at the manager in his rearview mirror.
He started the car before driving off. He had a meeting to get to.
Jonathan Duke didn't get much sleep the previous night. When he came out of the study the next morning, his eyes were bloodshot from lack of sleep and overthinking.
He ordered for his car to be prepared as he wanted to get to the restaurant as soon as possible. He wanted to find out what important information the 'DSS agent' had that he was asking for 5 million naira. He didn't even take a bath. He just washed his face with water and rubbed it off with a towel before making his way to the car.
He saw his wife enter the living room just as he was about to leave the house. She called out to him but he ignored her.
He was afraid of what he might do if he stayed in the same room with her. He wanted to get all the facts before he acted.
Esther was stunned as Jonathan blatantly ignored her. Although their marriage wasn't based on love but fear, there were rarely a few times he ignored her like today. She, however, didn't take it to heart as she thought someone must have pissed him off.
She didn't know how right she was. She also didn't know she was that someone.
Jonathan got into the usual middle car and the three-car convoy zoomed off, headed for the restaurant. He watched as the scenery changed through the mirror. He was in no mood to admire the view, however, as he was lost in thought. It was then he recalled something.
"Chike, what about the assignment I gave you yesterday?" Jonathan asked his head bodyguard.
"I'm almost done getting everything, sir. Just having our contacts verify some pieces. Everything should be ready soon after we return home." Chike replied.
"They better be."
The guards couldn't help but wonder what the Duke wanted to know.
At about 8:45 am, Jonathan and his men arrived at the restaurant. Being Friday, a day the Duke ate at the restaurant in the morning, the restaurant was deserted. The restaurant owner was waiting for the Duke by the door. She was a woman in her fifties
"Welcome, my most loyal customer." The woman said flatteringly as she always did. However, the Duke didn't reply with a smile or chuckle as he always did. This time there was a scowl on his face. He didn't come here today to enjoy the food.
"Leave. I'm not here today for food. Just have everybody leave the restaurant." The Duke said in visible annoyance.
The woman didn't dare tarry, she quickly replied as she went into the restaurant, "Right away. I will send everybody out."
The Duke went to his usual seat at the back and sat apathetically. The bodyguards spread themselves around the restaurant in key areas to protect him. Only Chike stood behind him. Soon, the staff of the restaurant came rushing out.
The owner moved to the Duke, "That's everyone."
"Ok." The Duke replied. The woman also took her leave immediately.
The Duke and his men watched as they all scattered out of the restaurant.
"You also should leave." Jonathan said to Chike.
"Pardon?" Chike asked. He was taken aback.
He was one of the few people that knew all of the Duke's matters. There was hardly anything he didn't know. He couldn't understand why he wanted him to leave.
"Leave!" Jonathan said again. This time, in a somewhat raised voice. "Leave behind the phones."
Though Chike didn't understand what was going on, he complied with his employer's request. He motioned to the other guards to move out of the restaurant. They didn't go far though as each blocked off all access points into the restaurant. They were close enough that they could answer the Duke's call within moments.
At exactly 9 am, the restaurant land-line rang. Jonathan stood up and picked the phone.
"Hello. Who is this?" He asked.
"The person you are waiting for, of course." This was the reply he got.
The person on the other side was using a voice modulator, so all Jonathan heard was an electronic voice.
"Where are you? You don't dare meet me in person?" Jonathan said angrily.
"Of course, I don't. When you find out what I have to sell, you might be so angry that you might attack me. I'd rather not risk it, thank you very much." Replied the voice.
Calming down, Jonathan asked, "So how are we going to do this?"
"I just sent a link to you. Open it" The voice said.
Almost immediately, Jonathan's phone vibrated. He picked it up and noticed a message from a hidden number. He opened the message.
As the person said, it was a link to a website. He opened the website and all he saw was a video. He tried to open the video but it wouldn't play. All he saw were different preview scenes.
His brother and wife hugging; The two discussing something as Esther wept; Esther holding back Peter as he was visibly angry; And finally, the two heading to a bed.
Jonathan was so angry he wanted to crush the phone.
"It's not playing." He roared.
"Of course it's not. Wouldn't you be getting the information for free like that?" The voice chuckled. "I just sent you another link. Pay five million naira into the account and you will have access to the full video."
"Why should I pay you a dime? I can already tell what happened." Jonathan said in anger and disdain.
"Ooh, is that so? You think I'll come to you for five million naira just to tell you your brother was f*cking your wife? I'm not that jobless. There's something in the video you'll want to hear. However, if you don't want to pay, that's fine with me too. Pay and watch the video. Don't pay and be forever clueless about what's happening under your nose. It's up to you." The voice replied in a thicker disdain before cutting the call.
Jonathan was so angry.
Angry at the adulterous couple.
Angry at the person who dared extort him.
Angry at himself for not realising he was being played a fool.
He struggled to come to a decision. Even though five million was expensive to most, it was nothing to him. It's just that he didn't want to be extorted by someone he didn't even know. His hesitation was a matter of pride.
Eventually, he caved in and click the link in the second message. The link was to a dark-web third party payment site. He knew that if he paid, he wouldn't be able to trace where the money went. Since he had decided to pay anyway, he gritted his teeth and proceeded with the transaction.
After the funds where transferred, the page automatically redirected to the previous site where he saw the video. This time, the video was available for streaming and downloading.
He chose to download the video. Once the video downloaded, he didn't watch it. Instead, he left the restaurant and got into the car. His bodyguards noticed and quickly joined him.
They were tactful enough not to ask him anything even though they saw his dark expression.
"Take me back home." He ordered.
The convoy left the restaurant and returned to the 'Duke Mansion'
Elsewhere, Korede received an alert of a completed transaction. He smiled.
"After all that bravado, he still bit the bait."
As expected, Korede was the voice on the other side of the call. The voice modulator he used was something he found in the well-stocked 'armoury' as he called it. He planned this in conjunction with Special Agent Ndike.
It was the NDI that helped him prepare the video site and third-party payment site. Both of which were on the Dark-web. Even the account was prepared by them. It was an account in the Cayman Islands in the name of a shell company.
It wasn't like Korede cared about the money anyway. He had achieved his aim.
As he told the Duke, he was nowhere near the restaurant. He had come elsewhere.
He had come to a gym frequented by Peter Duke every weekend.
He had come to meet Peter Duke, the Knight of the NDz.
Well, he had come to warn him.
[A.N: Please, don't forget to leave a review of the work to encourage me. Your opinion matters to me.]
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