Nutcracker

Lucien navigated the narrow, dimly lit corridors of the black market with a practiced ease. The air was thick with the stench of sweat and desperation, and the occasional flicker of torchlight cast eerie shadows on the walls. He was here for one reason: to find Yuno, their ingredient supplier, and get to the bottom of the recent breach in their operations.

The dwarf in question was notorious for his underhanded dealings and loose lips. Lucien had a feeling that if anyone had leaked information about Hell's Kitchen, it was Yuno. As he approached the dingy little alcove where Yuno did his business, he took a moment to compose himself. He needed to extract the truth, and for that, he would need to use his abilities carefully.

Pushing aside the tattered curtain that served as a door, Lucien stepped into the cluttered space. Yuno looked up from his makeshift desk, surprise and apprehension flashing in his eyes.

"Lucien," Yuno greeted, trying to muster a casual tone. "What brings you here?"

Lucien's eyes glinted with cold intensity. "We need to talk, Yuno. Now."

Yuno's bravado faltered. "Sure, sure. What's the problem?"

Lucien didn't waste time with pleasantries. He focused his gaze on Yuno, his voice dropping to a hypnotic whisper. "Who have you been talking to about our business?"

Yuno's eyes glazed over as the hypnotic suggestion took hold. "A man named Harold paid me for information," he confessed, his voice monotone. "But I didn't tell him much. Just a few details about deliveries."

Lucien's anger simmered beneath his calm exterior. "What exactly did you tell him?"

"The times and locations of the last few deliveries," Yuno replied, still under the hypnotic influence. "Also the spots where demihumans have been disappearing in the slums. He didn't ask for much more than that."

Lucien's hand twitched. This betrayal couldn't go unpunished. In all his years - no, centuries - there was one thing he would never tolerate, and that was a rat. With a swift motion, he released Yuno from the hypnotic trance. He wanted him to be conscious for this. The dwarf blinked, confusion and fear replacing the blankness in his eyes. "Lucien? What did you do to me?"

"You've compromised us, Yuno," Lucien said, his voice icy. "And now you have to pay the price...you should be more worried about what I'm going to do to you."

Yuno's eyes widened with realization. "Wait, Lucien, I can explain—"

Lucien didn't give him the chance. He lunged forward, his fist connecting with Yuno's jaw with a sickening crunch. The dwarf staggered back, blood trickling from his split lip.

Lucien licked the blood that splattered on his face and walked towards him.

"Please, I didn't mean to—" Yuno started, but Lucien silenced him with another brutal punch.

"Shut your mouth! You betrayed us for a few coins," Lucien hissed, his eyes blazing with fury. "And now you'll pay sevenfold."

Ignoring Yuno's feeble attempts to defend himself, Lucien continued the assault, each punch and kick delivered with cold precision. He grabbed Yuno by the hair and slammed his face into the edge of the desk, breaking his nose with a wet snap. Yuno's screams echoed through the small space, but no one came to his aid. This was the black market; screams here were as common as chatter was in the central market. Nobody cared.

"P-p-pleathe. I'll thay anything you want to them. Give falthe info back!" Yuno desperately cried through broken teeth.

Lucien's response was to push him down on his back with manic glee in his eyes. Baring his fangs, he raised his leg and stomped on Yuno's groin with the heel of his boot, crushing his manhood, before he continued the beatdown.

Lucien's fists were relentless, pummeling Yuno's face until it was a bloody mess. The dwarf's eyes were swollen shut, his lips split and oozing blood. Lucien didn't stop there. He lifted Yuno and threw him against the wall, ribs cracking under the force. Yuno tried to crawl away, but Lucien stomped on his back, driving him into the filthy floor.

"You think you can betray us and walk away?" Lucien growled, his voice low and deadly. He grabbed a nearby metal pipe and brought it down on Yuno's legs, shattering bones with each impact. The dwarf's screams turned into weak, pathetic whimpers.

"You're nothing but a rat," Lucien spat, his rage barely contained. "And rats get exterminated."

With one final, brutal swing, Lucien crushed Yuno's skull. The dwarf's body went limp, a pool of blood spreading around him. Breathing calmly, Lucien bent over the motionless corpse, and took a hearty fill of blood to calm himself down.His anger had not abated, but he knew what needed to be done next. He couldn't leave Yuno's body here to be discovered - plus, they were short on ingredients.

With a grim grunt, Lucien hefted Yuno's lifeless body over his shoulder. He made his way back through the disheveled rooftops of the slums where the black market dwelled, avoiding curious eyes. The journey back to Hell's Kitchen was uneventful, the streets of New Albion eerily quiet.

When he finally arrived at the restaurant, he entered through the back door, ensuring no one saw him. He would need to clean up quickly. Dropping Yuno's body on a stainless steel table in the kitchen, he took a moment to catch his breath.

Victor would deal with Yuno's remains later. For now, he needed to wash up and rejoin the others. They had a restaurant to run, and he couldn't afford any more distractions.

Victor was right. Operating Hell's Kitchen was proving to be more complicated than they had ever imagined. But Lucien was determined to keep their secret safe, no matter what it took. They were getting way too sloppy, way too complacent. She could always turn up, and then their lives upside down. As he washed the blood from his hands, he couldn't help but think of the delicate balance they were trying to maintain.

And he would do whatever was necessary to ensure it wouldn't tip.