Meanwhile in Astoria, Gustavo shuffled through the bustling city streets, his ears assaulted by ovepping noises.


    A couple bickered as they pushed past him. "You never listen to me!" the woman snapped. "I told you to turn left at the statue of the pigeon!"


    "There is no statue of a pigeon!" the man retorted.


    Gustavo''s eyes narrowed as they drifted over the crowd, dark thoughts swirling in his mind. ''The people here never stay silent,'' he mused, irritation bubbling beneath the surface. ''I wish I could just strangle all of them and enjoy a minute of silence.''


    As he walking, a teenager walked past him with her mom, "Ugh, Mom! You bought me the wrong shade of ck nail polish! My life is literally over!"


    ''Everybody here is just annoying.''


    Gustavo turned the corner, leaving the noise of the city behind.


    As he approached the Brotherhood''s meeting room, an eerie silence fell over him. He knew what this meant - Xr was holding court.


    Careful not to make a sound, Gustavo slipped inside. Xr''s gravelly voice filled the room:


    "Listen up, you mooks. We aren''t in this game for the mour. We''re here to do the dirty work that keeps this city''s gears greased.


    Yeah, it''s hard. Yeah, it''s messy. But let me tell you something - soft money doesn''te from soft work. We''re the calluses on this city''s hands, and don''t you forget it...."


    As if on cue, Gustavo''s foot scuffed the floor. The sound, barely audible, might as well have been a thunderp.


    Every head in the room swiveled towards him. Xr fell silent, his piercing gaze fixed on the neer.


    Gustavo felt the weight of dozens of eyes upon him as he made his way across the room. Xr sat there, draped in ck.


    His cargo jean shirt and trousers seemed to absorb what little light there was in the room. In one hand, he held his signature stick, its ember glowing defiantly in the gloom.


    Approaching Xr, Gustavo bent low in a gesture of respect. "Xr the Soulless," he murmured, his eyes downcast.


    Xr said nothing. He simply stared, smoke curlingzily from his ever-present stick.


    The silence stretched on, thick and oppressive. Gustavo remained bowed, feeling the boss''s eyes boring into him, waiting for whatever came next.


    Xr''s lips curled into a sneer, his voice dripping with contempt. "Well, well, well. Look what the cat dragged in. I was starting to think you''d forgotten about us, Gustavo. Or maybe you just found a better offer elsewhere, hm?"


    Gustavo, still bowing, shook his head. "No, boss. I''ve just been—"


    "Busy?" Xr cut him off, his tone sharp as a de. "Oh, I''m sure. Must be exhausting, licking the nobles shoes. Tell me, what''s been keeping you so upied? Sightseeing? Running errands?"


    Gustavo swallowed hard. "There''s... there''s been a lot to handletely, boss. I—"


    "Spare me the excuses," Xr spat, taking a long drag from his stick. He blew the smoke directly at Gustavo''s bowed head.


    "So, what brings you crawling back? Finally ready to make good on your promises, or are you just here to waste more of my precious time?"


    Gustavo opened his mouth to reply, but instead of words, a violent fit of coughing erupted from his throat. He struggled to regain hisposure, his body shaking with each hack.


    Xr watched impassively, a cruel smirk ying on his lips. "What''s the matter? Cat got your tongue... or just your lungs?"


    Between coughs, Gustavo managed to choke out, "Yes... I''m ready."


    "Oh?" Xr leaned forward, his interest piqued. "Do tell."


    Gustavo took a shuddering breath. "I need... the fifty men. The ones you promised. Ready by evening... at the riverside."


    Xr leaned back, taking another long drag. He let the silence stretch, enjoying Gustavo''s difort.


    Xr''s cruel smile widened as he turned to the assembled group. His eyes scanned the crowd before settling on a particr figure.


    "Mordred!" he barked. "Front and center!"


    A tall, slim man with ck dreadlocks stepped forward from the group. He moved with a predator''s grace,ing to stand beside Gustavo and bowing low before Xr.


    "Xr the Soulless!" Mordred''s voice was soft but carried an undercurrent of steel.


    Xr nodded, his gaze flicking between Mordred and Gustavo. "Our friend here needs some muscle. You''re going to give it to him." He paused to take another drag from his stick.


    "Pick 49 of our finest. I want you to lead them, get them ready and at the riverside by evening. You''ll be joining Gustavo here on a little... manhunt."


    Xr continued, his voice growing harder. "There''s a huge bounty involved. I expect results. Don''t disappoint me."


    "Understood, boss," Mordred replied, straightening up.


    "Good," Xr grunted. "Now get to it. I''m sure Gustavo here is eager to share the details of this... venture."


    Mordred nodded curtly, then turned to face the crowd. He reached up, absently adjusting his dreadlocks as his eyes swept over the assembled men. His voice rang out, clear andmanding:


    "Alright, you heard the boss. We''ve got work to do. I need 49 of you ready for action. If I call your name, step forward."


    As Mordred began his selection process, the room filled with a tense energy. Men shifted nervously, some eager to be chosen, others hoping to avoid whatever dangerous tasky ahead.


    As Mordred''s voice echoed through the room, calling out names, Xr beckoned Gustavo closer with a crooked finger. "Stand up ande here," hemanded, his voice low and gravelly.


    Gustavo hesitated for a moment beforeplying, his legs feeling like lead as he approached the imposing figure.


    Xr''s eyes gleamed with a predatory light. "So, where''s our dear Matilda hiding, hm? I want to know where my men are headed." He tapped his ear with a thin finger. "Whisper it to me. Don''t want to spoil the surprise for everyone else, do we?"


    Gustavo felt his heart rate spike. His mind raced, thoughts tumbling over each other in a frantic internal monologue:


    ''I can''t trust him. This is Xr we''re talking about. What if he just decides to off me once he gets the info? He''s got the numbers, the men. I''d be expendable. But if I don''t tell him...


    look at that face. nk as a te, but I know that mind of his is churning. There''s something evil brewing behind those eyes. I''ve seen that look before.''


    He swallowed hard, continuing his silent debate:


    ''Twenty thousand Thalens. That''s what we''re dealing with here. An amount like that... it''d tempt a saint, let alone someone as greedy as Xr. He could easily decide to cut me out, take it all for himself. Well, let''s see how it goes.''


    Gustavo stared into Xr''s impassive eyes, searching for any hint of the man''s true intentions. Finding nothing but his own reflection in those dark pools, he made his decision.


    Leaning in close, his lips nearly brushing Xr''s ear, Gustavo whispered something. The words were too low for anyone else to hear, lost in the continued roll call of Mordred''s selections.


    As Gustavo''s whispered words reached Xr''s ears, the crime lord''s face transformed. His eyes widened, and for a brief moment, genuine surprise flickered across his features.


    "Are you sure?" Xr asked, his voice uncharacteristically quiet.


    Gustavo nodded firmly. "Yes."


    A slow, wicked grin spread across Xr''s face. "No risk, no reward. I like that." He leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a menacing growl. "Just make it back fast as soon as you get the bounty. No rough ys, understood?"


    Gustavo nodded again, relief washing over him.


    By this time, Mordred had finished calling out names. The selected men stood apart from the rest, a formidable group of 50 hardened individuals.


    Xr gestured towards them. "Take a good look, Gustavo. These are the faces that''ll be watching your back on this mission. Don''t forget them." His tone carried a clear warning. "They''ll be at the riverside by evening, as promised. Now get out of here."


    Gustavo didn''t need to be told twice. He turned and walked away, his mind racing with doubts and second-guesses. The weight of his decision pressed down on him with each step.


    As he emerged from the Brotherhood''s den and back into the noisy city streets, Gustavo muttered to himself, "I need to be careful here."


    He said as he turned to see their hideout once again. "I don''t want any of them catching onto what I have already nned. No mistakes... the hunt has begun."