NT Runner 8 - Yeong - Take the girls (And the Job) (Patreon)

Yeong had very little regard for the Imp's influence. He thought that the request to have the girls stay behind seemed quite sketchy, but the job sounded fairly simple. He glanced down at the cash in his hand and the wad still in Tomas's. Anyone else would've refused but Yeong held his ground.
“I think I should take them with me if I go. If I can't, I probably wont take it.”

There was a painful silence as the Imp man stared at Yeong. His expression was flat with a very small smile that could either suggest amusement, or that the man was hiding his annoyance. Tomas nodded subtly, then shrugged. He broke the silence by slapping Yeong's cheek affectionately.
“He knows what he wants. How 'bout that?” The Imp pulled another bill from the wad of cash and stuffed it aggressively into Yeong's hand.
“Little bit extra. Get 'em something nice, alright?”

“Alright.” Yeong answered.

*

As soon as they were outside the two girls confronted him. “The hell was that!?” Janna scolded.

“Not sure. What was that?” Yeong wanted to ask the same thing, roughly.
“He's just a guy. He doesn't look particularly strong, or smart.”

“It's not about being strong or smart. He's a gangster.” Kai added.

“So?”

Janna huffed. “So? In some sections gangsters might as well be the government. They have their hands in most of the things that matter.”

Yeong lifted his head. “Oh. So they're like Murim? Do they have a lot of strong people, too, aside from the leader? I guess the saying goes that the King doesn't need to lift his throne to be able to sit on it.”

The elf stared at him in disbelief. “What do you mean strong people? They're gangsters. The mob. They have guns and soldiers.”

Thinking back to his introduction to Kai with her falling off the building after being shot, it came back into perspective. He was protective of her, but he had forgotten that she, and possibly Janna, too were not like him. They came from different worlds. Yeong lowered his head.
“I am sorry.” The two girls were a bit surprised by the formal apology. Yeong turned around.
“Should I go back and say the deal is off?” Just as he began walking back up towards the door Kai and Janna got out in front and held him back.

“No!” The said in unison.

Kai clarified. “When you make deals with these people you've got to see them through.”

“Aren't they criminals?”

Janna waved her and dismissively. “Criminals, Corps or Gov's. Everyone has their own 'ethics.' The difference between their ethics and ours is that they are just looking for excuses to do bad things. If you go back on a deal they'll use it as justification to take something from you because that's their version of right. If you're benefiting them then at best you're useful enough to ignore.”

“So I'm fine so long as I'm useful?”

“It's hard with you thinking in absolutes. They're the worst types to deal with. If they want to fuck us over, point is they'll just look for a reason. What she's saying is: Don't GIVE them a reason.” Kai explained. Yeong nodded to show that he got it.

“Good.” The two breathed a sigh of relief.

“Still, you fucked up pretty bad taking that job. At least you didn't leave us with that creep.”

“Bet it's good money.” Janna commented.

* *

Kai tracked Caroline's Rover. It remained on ground level, surprisingly. The Imp woman in her little red dress looked quite a bit like someone who was at the very least a mid-rise girl. They all wondered how she even drove the tank of a vehicle with her small body unable to reach the pedal. Kai had to struggle and she was at least as tall as Yeong with her hears standing all the way up. Regardless, the convenience of a hacker meant that they did not need to tail her directly. Kai reached into the Net itself and found her destination through her on-board routing. She had already patched into the Rover's computer while driving so getting back in was just a piece of cake. The moment they knew that Caroline was headed for a club called The Bad End they were able to take a FastVac cab to beat her there.

The Bad End was a club that ironically sat on the better side of the ground level. When inspecting the parking, her huge, flashy black rover with it's silver rims would not be out of place among the sea of nice cars.

“Any info on this place?” Yeong inquired, looking to Kai.

“It's a sex club. Big surprise. Imps are notoriously pretty...”

Janna smirked. “Careful, Fox. Your kind has it's fair share of negative stereotypes.”

Kai's cheeks flushed. “It's different.”

“It's different when I do it.” Janna repeated in a mocking pitch.

“It is!”

“Can you two stop?” Yeong tried to contain his frustration at having to wrangle the two women.
“What's the issue?”

“She's technically right.” Janna admitted with a flippant shrug of her shoulders.

Kai gritted her teeth and growled through them. “Then why're you giving me a hard time?”

“Any more info?” Yeong reiterated.

Janna adopted a little smirk at the Fox's frustration as she continued. “Imps have a religion that worships the Seventh Sun specifically. Mara.”

Without her having to say anything Yeong understood. All eight of the Suns were prescribed fairly consistent personalities. Mara, the Seventh was said to be impulsive. In Aoian Astrology children born under Mara alone are prone to being impulsive, but also decisive and free in acceptance of new ideas. Flexible, but bound heavily towards vices. There was just one issue to Yeong.
“I mean information about the club.”

Kai rolled her golden eyes. “The Bad End is a specialty sex club. Rich people come down to enjoy...” She hesitated.

“What?”

“People with potential, I guess. They are big on 'potential.' It's customers all come her to partake in washed up Jobbers, or anyone else that had something going for them. Fucking sad.” She grimaced.

“That's all of us, I think?” Yeong commented.

“The Fox is flattered you'd think that.” Janna jabbed.

“Ow!” Kai jabbed back physically.

Yeong rested his face in his palm. “Am I going to have to separate you two?”

“What?” Janna questioned indignantly.
“No, I like her.” She did not sound as though she was being ironic. She rubbed her arm and stuck her tongue out at Kai.
“Damn Beastfolk, though. Even a string-bean like you has enough brawn to cause a welt.”

“Back on topic. Is this place going to be a problem for us?”

“I doubt it.” Kai advised.

“But I could look deeper to see if anything suspicious pops up. I've basically just been on their site so far.”

“Do that.” Yeong asked. He heard the tell-tale rumble of a tank engine barreling down the street. It skidded to a stop in front of the club's Valet. The little red woman in the, for her, little skin-tone dress she was wearing took a large leap out of the Rover. Her wings fluttered uselessly at her hips as she dropped and landed like a gymnast on the pavement. Carloline lifted her chin as she skipped the small line and approached the door. The Gnoll bouncer offered a small wave and simply let her through as the Valet struggled with her massive vehicle on the street.

“Think we can just walk in?”

“Maybe if I'm with you. I don't know about the Fox. She may be confused for a boy and charged entry so I hope you have enough to cover the two of you.”

Yeong slapped the wad of bills in one of the pockets of his black puffer jacket. “They probably take cash?”

“Probably.” Janna winked. As Yeong approached the door he turned his head to see Kai frowning and whispering something in Janna's ear. The Ciar stopped and looked to be considering something deeply before nodding. She mouthed something to Kai and patted the girl's shoulder. The two took up the rear with an uncomfortable atmosphere. It was quiet. No bickering. That was what seemed odd about it.

The Gnoll bouncer saw the two girls before acknowledging anything else. Then, as though running down a list in his head his gaze fell on Yeong, but his expression was one that lacked interest.
“Group?” He asked simply.

“Yeah.”

“Not gonna lie. Probably no shot if you aren't on a list.” The Gnoll warned.
“Though... Probably an exception for the girls. You ladies consent to being filmed? Just a formality for the security cameras.” The girls shrugged.

“Tomas sent me here, though. He mentioned it was one of his clubs.”

The bouncer's thick brow lifted. “T? One sec.” The line behind them groaned as the Gnoll ducked into the establishment. After a minute he emerged from the flap with a smile that on anyone else could only be thought of as malicious. On a Gnoll it was simply normal.
“You're all set. Enjoy.”

* *

Yeong did not enjoy the club atmosphere. It simply wasn't his scene. He was more of a 'quiet drink with friends' type. All around him robotic-looking women were serving guests. They were of various Species but their unique features were muted by the Tek that they were loaded up with. When he entered he thought that he would have to search hard for Caroline but instead he was able to see her little pointed tail swishing back and forth excitedly as she walked up a long, spiral set of stairs. He looked to Kai and Janna.
“Stay put.”

The two looked at each other. “I mean...” Janna began.

Kai blushed. “We can have a drink, right?” Kai finished that thought and continued.
“And talk?”

“For sure.” Janna smiled.

It seemed safe so Yeong simply nodded and began to ascend the stairs a ways behind Caroline. As he caught up enough to keep her in sight he noticed that she was walking beside a fairly average-size Minotaur. Which was to say, the Bull was huge and dwarfed the Imp woman to a comical degree. She cum up to around his thigh in height. As they walked she idly reached over and cupped his huge, sloshing balls. They sunk around her small hand as she raised it.
“Damn...” She licked her plump red lips.
“These make me wanna have another kid.”

The dynamic was off. Carloline was what Yeong would have pegged as a victim. Small, married to a thug, a woman. Her aura around the Bull felt dominant, however. The duo slipped into one of the booths. He pushed the table all the way against the other side, which did not matter because the Imp merely hopped on top of the table while the Minotaur used the space he had created to sit back and spread his legs. With his huge body his cock naturally flopped out onto the table. It was almost the same size as Caroline's entire body. She slid forward and lifted it, her tail swiping back and for excitedly. It looked ridiculous to Yeong, like a bench press almost as she used both her arms to pull the flaccid cock up and lean it against her chest. Her eyes rolled back, she spread her legs and pressed her face into the sweaty member, licking and kissing it.
“Maybe todays the day that I'll do it...” She moaned.
“Maybe I'll just fucking do it.” She uttered, reaching up to push two fingers into the Bulls cock-hole.
“You'd do it, too, if I asked. You'd destroy me, wouldn't you? Wouldn't that be something? What'd that make me, a little red fleshlight for this monster here?” She used her entire body to stroke it erotically like she was sliding up and down a really thick pole. The Man looked used to it. He did not respond, he just stared down at her with an unmoving expression. Occasionally he would huff steam from his wide snout. Yeong had no idea what he was going to say to Tomas. As he considered that, Caroline suddenly turned to stare at him, causing Yeong to jump.
“What?” She snapped.

“U-uh.” Yeong stepped back.

She narrowed her eyes at him. Her pupils searched. “Oh.” Caroline clicked her tongue.

“Let me guess; my husband sent you to keep an eye on me?” Yeong nodded.
“Why would he need to do that if I'm at HIS club?” She offered snarkily.
“He's probably playing strip games with your women back at the house.”

“Not this time.” Yeong stated, thinking he was quite clever.

“Mhmm?” Her brows lifted in interest.

“I brought them with me.”

Caroline looked surprised, but barely phased. Throughout the conversation the Bull she was grinding on barely moved, like a prop.
“That's unfortunate. Well...” She paused to look up in thought.
“Maybe they're fine. Who knows. I keep out of Tommy's business.” she motioned up towards the bull with a wink.
“Sorta.” She stared at something over Yeong's shoulder and cringed.
“Oof. Guess he doesn't like you. Good luck!”

Yeong turned quickly and dodged a swipe aimed at his back. He immediately appraised a tall looking woman with pure black eyes and pale skin. Pale like a corpse. She looked somewhat like an elf, but there was something off about her. Even a Ciar could not manage such a foreboding presence. The woman stood still where she attacked Yeong and crossed one arm under her naked, perky breasts. The other lifted; thumb and forefinger pulled hard on her lip in frustration. The pulling bared sharp fangs. She was naked aside from a dark thong and an incredibly thick, bulky, padded metal collar around her neck. Yeong breathed evenly, but he was nervous. His jacket had a clean cut along it that almost reached skin. Based on her speed she was at least a Master.

She took a single aggressive step forward. Yeong felt a pulse of intent and immediately circled around her in an instant, giving her a wide berth. Tables in his path tumbled off to the side as though being caught in a gust of wind. His heart beat wildly.

The woman glanced over her shoulder. Splayed across her back was a stylize spider done in black ink. “Nervous?” Her tone was not playful or calm. What she exuded was pure anger and malice. She was mad that he was still standing, but the reality was, Yeong felt her anger leveled at just his existence as well. She turned and stepped forward again in one motion. To Yeong's heightened senses the move cracked in his ears like thunder. She began swiping at him with sharp claws. Each swipe took a new chunk out of his jacket.

Her movements were not trained. Far from it. Yeong would go so far as to say that her movements were like that of a baby compared to his trained strides and strikes. Unfortunately, even a baby moving at mach speed could go through a cement wall. Each move she made threatened him and he felt it. There was no hit that he could afford to not dodge. There was no slight alteration that he could avoid taking into consideration. The biggest problem he began to face? Yeong was getting tired. He was exhausted by the continuous assault. It was only a matter of time before one got through. Her black eyes widened and lit up as she found an opening and thrust her hand towards the center of his chest. His ears were filled with a chorus of.
“Die die die die die!” rolling in his ears like chittering. Her hand struck the center of his chest but bent as it hit his scarf. He breathed heavily. It was the only sound as the two of them stopped for a reprieve. For a moment, the only sound other than Yeong's breathing that could be heard was Caroline's moaning in the background. The woman's eyes swiveled down. She tilted her head quizzically as she inspected her bent, broken wrist. Oddly, she did not seem angry at that moment, just interested.
“Maybe you have potential?” The voice began in front of him and ended behind him. He barely managed to turn his head before he felt her slender arm around his neck. Before he could find footing she leaned back and lifted him off the ground to seal his fate. His arms went limp and Yeong lost consciousness.

*

“Core beasts? Their strength depends, but I wouldn't fight one. They're unpredictable.” Kara explained. She was sitting in a meditative position that Yeong mirrored loosely.
“Why?”

“What if I need to deal with them?”

“Core Beasts? They're threats but they aren't...” She sighed.
“They're like passengers. The feel is that they shouldn't even be here. So maybe? But more often than not the biggest problems are the ones we make for ourselves.” The Fox explained with a slight smile.

“Halmeoni what do I do if I run into a Core Beast?”

“Probably just run. No point in fighting one. They're parasites that'll usually burn out if they aren't fed. Can't have my favorite grandchild getting eaten by a monster.”

“What if I have something I need to defend?”

She opened her eyes and sighed deeply. “What did I tell you?”

Yeong broke his meditative stance and leaned back onto his palms. “Don't get attached to women or animals.”

“I know you're gonna ignore me.” Kara said with wide, unflinching golden eyes.
“So, if you can't run what you'll have to have done is get strong enough that you wont lose. Get smart enough that you wont be tricked and wise enough to know when it's not enough. Sometimes sacrifices have to be made.” She explained solemnly.

*

Yeong opened his eyes. He restrained in a dark room to the extent that he could not move his hands or legs. In front of him were two screens. There were two cold hands touching him. One on each of his shoulders.
“This scarf is nice... I hope I can keep it.” The woman he fought uttered.

“Where am I?” She bent over his shoulder and leaned on him as he asked that. Her dark hair was sharp to the point that it almost stung his naked skin. Other than that, he could feel she was wearing his scarf around her collar. She pointed at the screens.
“You get to see their ends before you experience yours. It's how all this works. You anguish then 'die' for their entertainment.”

“Why?” Yeong choked out.

“Hmm... Fun? And they call me a monster.” She mused.