It was a day like any other within the Beast Federation of Tuya. Though that wasn't to say it was anything like a day was a mere seven years ago - all around beast-kin and humans could be seen studying the screens of their hand held devices. A thing that was completely unimaginable seven years ago,
Not to mention the stone walls of the city occasionally had large screens displaying various advertisements to those who passed by. There were even radios attached to the bottom of every few lamp poles where jovial music burst out. Only occasionally stopping to spew some more advertisements.
"Got a problem with pesky gangster wannabes? Sign up to our protection racket and we will make sure those lowly criminals learn what professionalism truly looks like. Message sponsored and brought to you by the Yakuza."
"Your eyes, our screens, A.Eden."
"If you have money burning a hole in your pocket then come visit our gambling dens!"
And many other such announcements were made; displaying just how much influence these two factions had over the country. If they were ruling over something then one could be sure the other did. The mysterious but advanced A.Eden SOE seemingly being in charge of all and any forms of technology.
Meanwhile the Yakuza brushed up against the more legally ambiguous side of the economy. Keeping peace to the streets in a far more violent fashion than your average police force would. Despite that they were advertising their various services and products just as openly as A.Eden SOE advertised their latest upgraded phone or more recent musician.
They were not the only "companies" that were making use of the massively "modernization" of the beast country but even then they often seemed to have connections with the rest.
Not even mentioning the fact that those devices obviously came from A.Eden SOE.
The only place where the two seemed to meet evenly was in entertainment such as music, modelling, television along with the newly blooming film industry. An industry that got just as much advertisement as any of the various companies. Most have the stamp of either A.Eden SOE or Yakuza on them.
Of course the general population had varying opinions of the two juggernauts of the economy; not every one of them was positive. When it came to the state of things, due to how big they both were, those two groups were always at the tip of one's tongue. A good talking topic for the aunties who were milling about the laundromats, parks, saloons or cafes.
"I don't understand why the authorities haven't done anything about those rambunctious Yakuza."
"They may have many people rough around the edges working for them, however you can't deny that the cute little hammer princess is a beacon of safety around these streets!"
"Beacon of safety? Those crooks are extorting good 'n' honest businesses of their hard earned cash so that they may feel a little safer. How is what they do better than the protection rackets of any other gang that has cut a slice of the streets out for themselves?"
"Absolute nonsense, they don't go around thrashing those that don't accept for a start, plus how can you insult them like that while using that fancy new phone of yours?!"
What has my phone got to do with anything!"
"Well if you don't pay them off they'll not repair it for free despite it being their flawed hardware!"
Such similar debates happening all over even if it would lead to no changes.
One group of young men & women paid little attention to the advertisements as they mostly walked with puffed out chests with only the occasional member looking around suspiciously. Obviously appearing quite nervous about what they were doing. Still they made no moves to stop their fellows as they turned off the main streets to go into the surprisingly well maintained side streets.
The one in the lead happened to be a crimson haired wolf kin who wasn't afraid to show off his rather impressive canine teeth. In fact he rather aggressively showed them in the faces of anyone who got in the way of his gang. Growling to get them scared before openly and mockingly laughing at the reactions.
It was an atmosphere that spread throughout the entirety of the gang (excusing the few skittish ones) even if there were a mix of herbivores, omnivores and predators among them.
"Goal is simple."
The red haired leader twirled on his heel so that he was looking towards his gathered "friends" with his hands in his pockets and his torso leaning forward. Of course that toothy grin was present on his face the entire time. He had seen the leader of Yakuza do that smile so thought it was the best thing to do.
"We go into the business and ask the old man to charitably donate to our fund and rough up the codger if he dares try to make things difficult for us."
Clearly no one was surprised by his announcement as most nodded or laughed at the chosen delivery.
"B-But what if they're already under another gang?"
He wasn't quite sure who asked that but it did little to decrease his smirk.
"Then we get more peeps to play around with before we generously take over as the older generation retires from this business; we easily got a dozen strong and capable fighters here ."
Moving one hand out from his pockets to motion towards all the gathered beast-kin. A big smile on his face as his words clearly got all the other members of his gang excited as well as prideful. He could only thank his research in watching clips of the Yakuza leader in action.
Shaking his head to avoid cluttering his mind as he had a scumbag human to shake down for all the cash they had in their pockets.
Turning around he once more strolled through the streets with all the confidence of a king walking down the halls of his castle. If far less measure than a great king would possess. Still this caused anyone in his way to quickly move out of his way; merely looking on while mumbling to one another.
Soon the group arrived at what seemed like a decently large shop that was well maintained but couldn't hide the age and vast usage it had received over the years. The term "aging with grace" certainly came to mind as even then someone walked out the building with a big sack over their shoulder. Seemingly quite happy until they noticed the approaching thugs.
"Old Man Beck you may want to get out here!"
"I ain't that old yet!"
Still it didn't seem that his loyalty to his grain provider was lost just because some thugs were wandering up even if he didn't get in their way. Soon a human man on the older end, greying hair and wrinkles despite an overall muscular build, walked out. Clearly not intimidated as he turned to Reolf.
Crossing his big arms as he narrowed his eyes at the gathering of beast-kin who were slowly waltzing up towards him. He only took his gaze off them for a moment, turning to nod towards the man who had just bought some grains, before looking at him. No longer paying attention as he scurried into a nearby ally.
"What do you brats want?"
"We merely want to reclaim what rightfully belongs to us instead of a filthy human."
Pinching his nose while waving his other hand as if trying to get rid of some bad odor much to the amusement of his gang. Some people in the crowd also seemed to agree yet most seemed far more displeased with Reolf and his gang. Not that he seemed to care about that.
"You humans think you can just invade, rape and murder as you please but I ain' gonna let you scum do what you want. Who among us hasn't lost a friend or family to humans? Meanwhile you think it's fine to just set up shop in our neighbourhood to leech off of us?"
Clicking his tongue in disgust.
Though the man didn't seem like he could give any less of a fuck at the posturing of the "young pup" and his face clearly displayed as such.
Leaving an awkward silence as he didn't immediately reply to Reolf's question.
"Shut it with your shitty self justification, I've lived in this city longer than you've been born, so just tell me what you really are here for since it clearly isn't to spew all this nonsense."
His reply clearly ruffled some feathers (for some that was quite literal) in the gang as well as within the crowd who had formed to watch. Rolf though didn't seem too bothered. Pacing up on Beck with the same smile even if it did falter when he realised that he was actually shorter than Beck.
Resulting in his being forced to actually look up at the muscular old human who just stood there, looking down at him with crossed arms, a faint smirk forming on his face. That smirk causing Reolf's brows to twitch as it clearly held some mocking. Poking that old man in his annoying toned stomach.
"If you want to make it easy on yourself then I suggest you donate to our little friend group."
"And why would I do that?"
"Because otherwise…"
Looking back over his shoulder towards his same "friend group" who had slowly began to spread out around the entrance of the shop thus stopping the old man from being able to escape. Other than going back into his shop. Though it didn't seem he was very inclined to do that as he backed up before closing the door and locking it with a *click*.
"We'll have to convince you."
He looked quite proud of himself.
"Look at it this way; safer for us to take over these streets rather than letting some more anti-human group take over where I doubt they'd be able to resist the chance to put a human like you in your place."
Cackling as he looked forward to seeing that man's face contorted in fear as the realisation of Beck's truly hopeless situation sank in. It was half the reason Reolf even bothered doing stuff like this. The feeling of control was truly an addicting one that he simply couldn't help clutching onto.
Yet what he saw when he looked at Beck's face was… Pity?
"'Fraid I can't be signing up to your little protection gig."
"Eh~ you think you have a choice, have the fear short circuited that brain of yours, get with the program you dumb old man."
He simply shook his head.
"No, I've just signed up for a protection racket that is a little bigger and scarier than yours."
That was clearly not the answer Reolf wanted as his voice began sugary sweet to the point of being sickening for both him and the listener.
"Oh~ really~ care to share the name of who has made you so confident~?"
"Yakuza."
"W-What no they wouldn't bother with a human like yo-"
Beck stood as a pillar of confidence, having sent his customer to contact the Yakuza who he had bought protection from, while Reolf and his gang suddenly lost a lot of confidence. All of them suddenly were sweating as those who were more nervous literally just bolted. About time as well as a shadow abruptly appeared overhead to momentarily block the sun.
Coming down with a thunderous explosion of dirt with long silver hair flickering behind like a divine fire that directly opposed the monstrous hammer adorned with terrifying chains.
"What appears to be the problem." < >
Standing up to their full height of just over five feet… So not actually too tall yet it was impossible to consider them weak when they easily heaved that horrifyingly large hammer onto her shoulder. Her silver hair, a sign of their royal heritage from their enemy nation, passed over the red wolf in favour of directly asking the client.
"These young gents are demanding cash from me if you catch my drift."
"Right." < >
Turning to Reolf who was suddenly backing away with the fear of god in him.
A demon god.