恶霸鲁尼 奖学金

~~*****~~

Axel was on his way to catch Joker. He wouldn\'t let him escape this time. He had some score to settle with him. How could he hurt Chantha? Axel was glad since Nathan finally made a move. He was the one who tracked Joker\'s current location.

Through the GPS signal, he could see that he was near Joker. They were heading to the east port. Joker chose to leave the country by sea. He anticipated that the security and surveillance airport was tighter than the seaport.

Joker was wearing a disguise. But little did he know, no matter what disguise he would use, Axel could still pinpoint him through the chip. Joker would use a ship that smuggled weapons as his transport going to Country J.

He arrived at the port, looking for the truck where he would hide himself. Joker was walking around, cautious about his surroundings. When he thought that no one was following him and there was no presence of Syphiruz Mafia, Joker heaved a sigh of relief.

Joker talked to his dealer and paid him cash. The dealer guided him to his truck. He let Joker in and locked the container truck. Joker had complicated emotions when he settled down inside. He won\'t be back for good.

Until now, he was still questioning his decision. Betraying the Syphiruz Mafia felt so wrong. Joker was lost in his own thoughts when suddenly the back door was pulled open. Joker was stunned the moment he saw Axel.

Before he could react, Axel pointed a gun at him, his eyes looking daggers at Joker. "Don\'t move, or else I shoot." He warned him.

Joker could only raise his hands. \'How did he find me?\' He couldn\'t believe it. He thought his escape plan was guaranteed.

"Surrender now," Axel\'s cold voice echoed inside the truck. At that certain moment, Joker knew that he was doomed.

\'Should I fight back? Or should I surrender?\' Joker contemplated for a moment. He had a gun hiding from behind. He wondered how fast Axel was when pulling the trigger. Should he risk his life just to find out?

"Don\'t do something reckless. I won\'t spare you. You hurt our comrade and betrayed our leader. You deserve severe punishment."

"Is Chantha alright?" Joker asked him worriedly.

But Axel didn\'t buy it. His concern was no longer believable. Surprisingly, Joker decided to surrender. He willingly walked toward Axel as he dropped all his weapons.

When he jumped off the truck, Axel punched him right on his cheek.

Thud!

Not yet satisfied, Axel threw two more punches– one on his stomach and one on his right jaw. Joker groaned in pain but he didn\'t fight back. He could feel Axel\'s anger.

"So you truly care about her," Joker mumbled, his eyes lit up. He wiped the blood on the corners of his lips using the back of his palm.

"Shut up! Just come with me!" Axel dragged him to the car.

Their comrades felt relieved since Joker didn\'t fight back. They were expecting them to have a showdown and see Axel\'s wrath. But it didn\'t happen. If Joker decided to retaliate, Axel won\'t hesitate to shoot him. Axel handcuffed Joker inside the car. The two of them sat down in the back passenger seat. 

"Tell me. Is she hurt badly? I just knocked her down," Joker justified his action.

Axel\'s expression darkened further. "You traitor! Her back hit a sharp object when you shoved her to the wall." He clenched his fist. He had the urge to punch Joker again.

"What? I-I didn\'t know that." Joker gazed down, feeling the guilt inside his heart. "How is she?"

But Axel didn\'t respond anymore. He didn\'t want to talk to him. After half an hour, they arrived at Syphiruz Mafia\'s headquarters. Joker was a little bit anxious. What kind of punishment awaits him?

As Axel opened the door, Axel forcefully dragged Joker out of the car. Several pairs of indifferent eyes were looking at Joker sharply. Everyone in the headquarters already knew his betrayal. He let their prisoners escape and he hurt Chantha, one of their branch leaders.

\'Am I going to die today?\'Joker thought to himself. He was brought to their interrogation room.

Axel made him sit on the steel chair as he motioned for others to leave. The two of them were left in the interrogation room. 

"Are you the one who will conduct the interrogation?" Joker asked Axel.

Before Axel could respond, Nathan entered the room with a blank expression on his face. "No. I will be the one to interrogate you."

Axel and Joker shifted their gazes in Nathan\'s direction. Joker bit his lower lip as he realized the crime he committed. Their Supreme Leader wouldn\'t show mercy.

"You have to bear the consequences of your action. You betrayed me and your comrades. This crime is punishable by death. You know that." Nathan spoke about their rules.

Joker couldn\'t look straight into Nathan\'s eyes. He just bowed his head and apologized. "I\'m sorry, Supreme Leader. But I am also a man of my word. I just did what I needed to do to return the favor I owe to someone."

"I know you won\'t forgive me for my betrayal. I will accept any punishment from you." Joker accepted his fate.

Axel and Nathan looked at him with conflicting thoughts. "Tell us why you did it. Who gave you the order to save Marco and Veronica?"

"Several years ago, I was on a mission in Country R. I fell in love with a woman. But that woman\'s life was put in danger because of me. That\'s when the King Stallion Mafia intervened. He helped me and my woman. That\'s why I survived. He also took care of her after I left Country R."

"I promised him that I would do something for him in return. A few days ago, he contacted me, asking me to rescue one of his men. That is Marco." Joker decided to reveal everything he knew. This was the least he could do to erase the guilt in his heart for betraying his comrades.

Nathan and Axel exchanged glances with one another. "So Marco is a member of the King Stallion Mafia."

Nathan\'s expression turned dark at the mention of King Stallion Mafia. Jane was looking for their leader.

"Do you know him? The leader of King Stallion?" Nathan asked him with so much intrigue. He felt the need to find the King since Jane was so desperate to see him. 

Joker shook his head. "I only talked to him on the phone. But I haven\'t met him yet in person. Just like you, Supreme Leader, he is very mysterious. He won\'t show his real face in public."

Nathan and Axel fell silent. They didn\'t have much information about the King Stallion and its operation.

"Is Veronica related to King Stallion as well?" Nathan asked him.

"I don\'t think so, Supreme Leader. He just asked me to get Marco out. Marco is the one who requested me to bring Veronica with us. I have the address of his hideout where I brought Marco and Veronica."

"Supreme Leader, don\'t believe him. This might be a trap. He is a traitor!" Axel reminded Nathan.

Nathan glanced at Joker for a long moment, not saying a word. "Do you want to redeem yourself?"

Both Joker and Axel were surprised when they heard that. It was so unusual for Nathan to give a traitor a second chance. Axel wanted to object but Nathan motioned for him to leave.

"Supreme Leader! You must not listen to him. A traitor will always be a traitor."

Nathan smirked at Axel meaningfully and said, "I know. That\'s why I\'m giving him this last chance to prove himself."

Both Axel and Joker were looking at him in confusion. "Axel, I know you hate Joker for hurting Chantha. I agree he deserves severe punishment. If you don\'t trust him, then trust me."

Axel could only sigh in defeat. 

"I\'ll do anything for you, Supreme Leader. Please give me this second chance!" Joker butted in. He would grab this opportunity to right how wrong. Yes! He wanted to redeem himself. And he was glad because Nathan, the Supreme Leader, was giving him this rare chance.

"If you want to get more intel about the King Stallion Mafia, I can do that for you, Supreme Leader. He was asking me to join his organization but I refused. But I can take my words back. I will be your spy."

Nathan\'s lips curled up in a satisfied smile. This was what he was thinking– Using Joker to get more information about King Stallion Mafia and its leader.

"Good. Then I\'ll give you this mission. If you fail, you will pay with your life. The moment you think of betraying me again, I will kill not only you but the most important person in your life. You know that I\'m capable of doing that." Nathan threatened him.

"Yes, Supreme Leader. I understand. I won\'t betray you again."