"Manager!"

"Don't treat him like that!"

The children fought to hold back their tears. The manager had told them never to cry so easily, and even now they forced themselves not to break down in front of him.

The other diners glanced over, but most just returned to their meals or quietly gathered their things to leave. Nobody wanted to get involved. On the Gran Tesoro, everyone knew Tesoro's men were infamous for their brutality. Unless you had power or status, crossing them was suicide.

"Hey! You're too loud. Quiet down."

Suddenly, Lance's voice cut across the chaos like a blade. The arrogant jeers stopped instantly.

"What did I just hear?"

"Another busybody sticking his nose where it doesn't belong?"

The thugs turned their heads toward him, faces twisting into vicious scowls. The men already in the restaurant stood as well, their eyes sharp, surrounding Lance from all sides.

"This guy's insane! Of all people to provoke, he goes after Tesoro's lackeys!"

"Let's get out of here before we get dragged into this!"

Patrons scrambled out, terrified of being caught in the crossfire.

"Can't even eat in peace here. Tesoro's domain really is a cesspool."

Lance rose to his feet, dabbing his mouth with a napkin before tossing it aside. It landed squarely on another diner's face. The man dared not complain, only lowered his head and slipped away.

"Bring that one to me."

Lance extended a finger, pointing at the thug who had been kicking the manager.

"You think you can point at me like I'm some nobody?!" the thug roared, eyes bulging.

But before he could finish, his body was yanked into the air as though hooked by an invisible string, dragged helplessly to hover before Lance.

"You know what I hate the most?" Lance's voice was low, his gaze icy. "Being interrupted while I'm eating. Especially by disgusting vermin like you. You've ruined my appetite."

He lit a cigarette, inhaling deeply, then blew smoke into the thug's face.

"You… you bastard! Do you know who I am? I'm one of Tesoro's men! If you touch me, Tesoro-sama will never let you live!" The thug's voice cracked with terror.

"You're too noisy. Time to shut you up."

"Little Black, open his mouth."

At his command, the thug's jaws were forced wide. Lance flicked the cigarette butt into his mouth, and Little Black clamped his teeth shut.

"Mmmmphhh!!!"

The man thrashed, eyes bulging as the ember seared his tongue and throat. The muffled cries of agony echoed through the restaurant.

The crowd recoiled, horrified.

"What did you do to him?!"

"Let our boss go!"

The other thugs lunged at Lance—only to freeze mid-charge, their bodies bound by invisible threads.

Lance ignored their screams, his eyes locked on the man choking on heat and ash. He reached for the table knives, slicing them into jagged shards, then forced them into the thug's mouth.

"Since you like shouting so much," Lance said coldly, "let's give that mouth something to do."

He twitched his fingers. The puppet-strings of his Parasite Threads forced the thug's jaw to chew.

Crunch.

Blood gushed instantly, filling his mouth. His eyes turned red with bursting veins, tears streaming down his face as he tried to scream but only choked on his own blood. Each bite shredded his mouth further, the torment escalating until it was pure hell.

"Demon… this man is a demon!"

The customers trembled, pale and shaking. They had never seen cruelty like this.

Who flicks a burning cigarette into someone's throat?

Who stuffs blades into a man's mouth and makes him chew?

And who does it all without a flicker of emotion?

"Little Black. Do the same to the rest."

At his order, the other bound thugs were forced to undergo the same torture. Blood poured from every mouth, their screams dissolving into gurgles of despair. In moments, the restaurant was filled with the stench of iron and the sound of death.

By the end, the patrons had fled in terror. Tesoro's men lay dead in pools of their own blood, mutilated beyond recognition.

"Th-thank you, sir…"

The little girl approached him, her whole body trembling. She bowed deeply, summoning all her courage.

Even looking at him was terrifying. But as she raised her head, she realized he wasn't looking at her at all—only calmly scanning the menu, as though nothing had happened.

Her heart still hammered in fear, but another thought crept in.

This terrifying man… he was also strangely, undeniably handsome.

(End of Chapter)

[Check Out My P@treon For +20 Extra Chapters On All My Fanfics!!][[email protected]/euridome]

[Thank You For Your Support!]