No Laughing Matter

Confrerie of Cabriere is an organization and a business that, like other big businesses, is double-faced.

At the front, it was just an organization that sells general goods and is even expanding to beauty products.

But beneath this farce of theirs was a far more gruesome truth.

Unbeknownst to the public and the law, some members of this organization have been distributing extremely addictive drugs known as "Sinthe" throughout the nation.

For a decade, this business has been happening and the mastermind hadn't been caught yet.

In addition to this, to further expand their cruelty and greed, they even faked gang fights near small establishments and requested protection fees from the latter to stop the fights.

As for the Gardes? Well, even if they catch a few gangsters, at most, they would only confess that they were instructed by their "boss" to do it— but so far, the so-called boss hasn't been found out.

And right now, they are currently eyeing Isaac's newly opened cafe.

"Did you call Louis?" A sturdy-looking man asked.

"Yes," Another person replied. "They should follow behind 15 minutes after we enter."

"Good," The sturdy-looking man snickered. "Our goal this time is to just break everything inside. After that, the usual. Got it?"

What their plan was to cause trouble in the cafe with another group from their gang, and eventually lose. The other group would then tell the owner that, for the other group to stop harassing his cafe, he should pay them "protection fees."

It was the classic scheme.

"No problem, boss." Several members nodded their heads.

Looking at Isaac's cafe, the boss scoffed. "It's just one guy there anyway, Let's make this quick."

After saying this, the man walked over to the cafe along with four others.

---

Ding~*

The chiming of the doorbell was heard and soon, six people wearing blue overalls entered the cafe.

The gang members looked around and saw the quiet ambiance of the cafe and the languid-looking barista behind a counter.

"Welcome..." The man, who was suspected to be the barista, stopped cleaning some cups with a damp cloth and looked at the gang members.

The gang members looked at the barista and saw his deep languid amber eyes. The moment they saw his eyes, for a split second, they mysteriously felt a sense of danger from the man. However, that feeling soon disappeared.

The leader looked over before nodding to the other members. Soon the latter started scattering in the cafe.

"You're new here, aren't you?" The boss sat down in front of the counter and intimidatingly looked at the barista. "Looks like you don't know the rules in these parts?"

"..." The barista's face didn't change, but he remained silent. After a second, he opened his mouth. "...and what rule would that be gentlemen? If you aren't customers, then please leave. I believe I have no business with any of you."

"Haha..." Hearing the barista's words, the boss laughed for a moment before turning serious. He then spoke to let the others hear him. "Break them."

Shortly after saying this, the men that were behind him started lifting the chairs and tables before breaking them instantly.

Bang!*

The sound of wood crashing to the ground echoed throughout the cafe as destruction was present everywhere.

The barista, however, remained calm and silent. He just watched as his cafe's furniture was destroyed. "..."

'Wuss.' The boss saw his silence and snickered with a smile of confidence. 'This was too easy.'

However, he failed to notice the bulging and throbbing vein beneath the barista's jaw and on his forehead. Soon, his deep amber eyes which were languid a moment ago turned cold and apathetic— as if all emotions had been erased from them.

"Now listen here you—" The leader then stood up and was just about to hold the barista's collar when something happened.

Before the leader's hand reached the barista, the latter calmly turned and walked out of the counter. But not before taking a wooden cane inlaid with silver that was hidden behind the counter.

'What's this little rat thinking?' Looking at the barista's actions, the man felt belittled. He then saw the barista walking to the door and a scoff escaped his lips. He then spoke with ridicule, "Heh, so it was nothing but a coward that runs a—"

However, his words were soon cut off when the man stopped by the double door.

"Manners."

Click*

The lock located in the door's upper part was locked.

"Maketh."

Click*

Once more, another lock in the middle part of the door was locked.

"Man."

Click*

Again, the lock at the bottom part of the door was pushed to close.

The man then turned around and looked at the gang members while holding his cane down with both of his hands. He opened his mouth and spoke with a solemn voice. "Do you understand what that means?"

"...If not, let me teach you a lesson." He added as his eyebrows knitted.

"...do you understand what you're saying, boy?" Looking at the feeble barista's appearance, a throbbing vein appeared on the leader's head. He then stood up, "Who do you think you are? Do you think we won't mess you up?"

He then walked over to the barista and stood in front of him. He then intimidated the barista who was the same height as him. "Sit down. Now. Or do you prefer the usual face-punching—"

Before the leader could finish his word, a thick brown wooden cane came straight to his face from the sides. "Huh—"

Bam!*

The leader didn't even have time to react as the thick cane smacked him right on his head, sending him to fly away.

"Boss!" The other members saw this and quickly shouted in surprise.

Bang—*

"Y-You!" The leader was thrown to the floor and held his head with a face that showed contorted pain. "Sh-Shit... You! All of you! Kill that bastard! I don't care anymore! Just kill hi—"

"Slow."

Before the leader could finish his words, another sight of the thick wooden cane came swooping down to his face, leaving a red trail of blood on the floor.

Bam!*

The leader's body fell to the floor as blood continued to ooze out from his head.

"You! How dare you!" The other membered looked at the barista with eyes filled with hatred. "You're dead meat!"

However, contrary to their expressions, the barista calmly looked at his cane before looking at them.

At this moment, all of them noticed his emotionless and cold deep amber eyes. It was as if what he just did was nothing worth noting.

"Well?" The barista's hoarse and calm voice echoed in the cafe. "Are we just gonna stand here? Or are we going to fight?"

Hearing this, the four members immediately felt enraged and each took out a pocket knife. "That's it! You're gone!"

Three members carrying pocket knives then ran to the barista with the intent to kill.

The barista quickly analyzed the three people running towards him as his eyes darted between them. He then let out a sigh.

He then charged to the left member and raised his cane in quick succession. With a swift motion, he landed a heavy blow to the member's knee. "Sloppy."

"Agh!" The member instantly felt the pain as he dropped his weapon before dropping to the ground.

"Hup!" Suddenly, another member aimed his knife at him on the side.

The barista didn't stop there and quickly went behind the counter to avoid the knife that was about to hit him.

He then looked at the cup that was on the counter that was still steaming hot and placed his cane beside it.

Bang!*

He slid his cane, and along with it, the cup containing the hot coffee was dragged, landing on the other member's face.

Splash!*

"AAAGH!" The member screamed in agony as the hot coffee blended with the wounds caused by the cup.

"Sad." Without waiting for him to recover, the barista raised his hand above his head and struck it down to his head like a hammer.

Tud—*

Blood came out of the man's head as the cane landed down on him, staining the barista's white long-sleeved shirt with blood.

He then looked at the other two remaining.

Seeing the rest of their gang fall instantly, the two remaining members backed away with a cautious face.

"Y-You... You won't get away with this!" One of the members said with a shaky voice. With fear enlaced in his voice, he continued. "The Confrerie won't forgive you!

He intentionally didn't say the full name of their organization to avoid giving away confidential information.

After all, "Confrerie" means "Brotherhood", so there was nothing suspicious about calling a gang a confrerie.

"Th-That's right!" The other member saw how his boss and other two companions got knocked out and yelled. "The Confrerie will hunt you down! Even after beating us up!"

The barista looked at them coldly and didn't speak anything for a few seconds. It was as if he was pondering something.

'I-It's w-working!' One of the members thought with a shaky smile. 'He's getting scared! Good! He's finally aware that we're—'

"You don't need to worry about that."

However, contrary to the member's thoughts, the barista once more opened his mouth with a cold and apathetic tone. "I don't fear the Confrerie."

"Rather, they should fear me." The man looked at them with deep hatred in his manner eyes.

"A-Ah..." Hearing the barista's words, only shaky pleas escaped from the mouths of the two remaining members.

They then saw him approach while carrying his wooden cane which had blood on it. "N-No! Please!"

"AAAGH!"

---

"..."

A few minutes after everything finally settled down, only silence remained in the cafe.

On the floor, five bodies can be seen lying unconscious with blood seeping from their head.

And standing amidst them was a tall man with brown hair that had slight curls.

He stood there silently as he held his bloodied cane.

It was none other than Isaac.

"The Confrerie of Cabriere..." Isaac muttered the name of the organization that targeted him.

After saying that name, his body began to convulse and slowly lowered.

"Haha..." Soon, a sinister laugh escaped Isaac's mouth. He held up his hand to block and try to stop his mouth, but it was futile.

Soon, the laughter started getting more lively.

As for Isaac...

A hideous and wide smile coupled with a frenzied maniacal eye appeared on Isaac's face. "Haha...hahaha..."

'Stop.' Isaac tried his best to resist laughing further, but the laughter kept escaping his mouth. 'Stop it. Control yourself... Haha...'

Oddly enough, his laughter, rather than sounding like a maniac's, sounded more like... Laughs of joy.

"Haha..."

After a few moments of controlling himself, Isaac finally regained control of his body.

"Ha..." Letting out a heavy sigh, Isaac's face turned solemn— completely in contrast to his expression earlier. "Finally calmed down...."

"Still..." Isaac, who now regained his senses, quickly analyzed the situation. "...I can't let them stay there..."

He then picked up the five bodies and took them to the second floor of the cafe.

Placing all of them down, Isaac spoke to the system. "Conceal."

[Concealing...]

Soon, a black veil appeared around the five unconscious bodies. Isaac then locked the door to that room. 'That should do it.'

This was one of the system's functions— as long as Isaac was inside the cafe, he could instruct the system to conceal anything. 'There's no evidence if they can't find any evidence.'

It was just like the other function which hides Isaac's presence, but more on a limited area.

Going back down the cafe, Isaac looked around and saw the broken furniture and the floor covered in blood.

[Reconstruct? 50 System Points required.]

"Do it," Isaac commanded. Shortly afterward, the broken cafe started reconstructing itself from its damaged state.

After everything was fixed, Isaac breathed a heavy sigh before sitting down.

"...you all attacked first," Isaac muttered to himself with a cold tone. "It's only right for me to retaliate..."

Isaac intended to leave the Confrerie of Cabriere for at least a week or two. But now that they attacked first, Isaac needs to revise his plans.

"After I deal with Yae Miko..." Isaac's deep amber eyes carried a glint of anger. "...The Confrerie of Cabriere shall experience hell."

* * *

A/N: Might have made references to two movies while writing this...