A worker who served a minor boss of the Water Guild named Raynor was cheated out of money by prostitutes in collusion with the madam. Raynor felt his authority had been damaged and decided to restore justice.
What is the Water Guild?
In the world of Warhammer 40k, humanity has become a starfaring civilization controlling millions of planets.
In such conditions, organizations responsible for water purification become vital.
On some worlds, the Water Guild is a state structure, on others – a private corporation, somewhere – a joint venture, or even a mafia syndicate.
Agri-world 496b was famous for its favorable ecology. Here, you could walk around without a protective suit, and water was in abundance, so the Guild's influence remained moderate. They were active only in the Hives, where resources were tightly controlled, and there they resembled a medium-sized shop.
Now, in the red-light district of the safe zone, Li Qingyu squatted in the shadows, smoking and intently watching a three-story building made of junk.
The madam, a fat woman with a face slick with sweat, stood at the entrance, surrounded by girls, luring customers.
Li Qingyu's gaze slid past them – into the depths of the building, where bouncers were playing cards at a table.
He spat, feeling acute contempt for this old hag.
Old Man Li lived by his code: honesty above all else. Whether you kill for money or sell your body, it's all the same, but you can't cheat customers!
This fat bitch not only sells – she also scams people. And what if someone has a nervous breakdown from such "service"? That's trauma!
Such behavior demanded a response. And the response would be him – Old Man Li, the arbiter of justice.
He took the last puff, threw the butt, crushed it with his boot. He pulled on his gas mask, pulled the pins on two gas grenades – and moved towards the building.
"Hey, handsome! Come in, my girls are one more beautiful than the other!" the madam shouted, shaking her hips.
Behind her, Jenny, Alice, and Lena were diligently posing, luring the rare passers-by – the rats of the Lower Hive.
But the bottom had been hit again. The Upper Hive was drowning in war, fewer garbage fell, no earnings. Jenny, Alice, and Lena had grown thin, and the madam had no choice but to resort to "dynamo" – scamming stray workers from the Middle Hive.
Passers-by eagerly eyed the girls but didn't dare approach. The madam growled – a day without revenue meant a new scam.
And then she noticed a man walking straight towards her. Her eyes lit up – a customer!
She had already opened her mouth, but Li Qingyu threw the grenades.
Two cylinders flew through the open window. The pins clicked off, and as soon as they touched the floor, the grenades were enveloped in clouds of yellow-green smoke.
The gas instantly filled the room. After a couple of seconds, the first floor turned into a torture chamber: the bouncers coughed, clutching their throats, dropping their cards.
The madam froze, but immediately reached behind her back.
He was faster: the pipe in his left hand, the homemade gun in his right. The woman pulled a shiny pistol from under her dress.
The pipe cut through the air – the blow landed on her wrist. A crunch. Bone broke, the weapon fell, and the madam screamed like a pig at a slaughter.
Without wasting time, Li Qingyu fired a bullet into her knee.
BANG! The kneecap shattered, the female carcass collapsed to the ground.
Jenny, Alice, and Lena froze, but didn't run – they drew knives and rushed forward.
Only those who fight survive here. Lose your spot – and the rats will drag you into an alley and finish you off.
But Li Qingyu had more resolve.
The pipe with a dull crack broke Jenny's head, her eyes popped out of their sockets. Her body shuddered and went still.
Alice shrieked, throwing a knife. He dodged, then hit her in the stomach with the pipe. The girl folded in half; another swing – and her neck snapped.
Lena lunged towards the ground, trying to grab the madam's pistol. Her fingers touched the handle, but a boot descended from above – and pain pierced her hand.
"A-a-a-a!!"
Li Qingyu fired. The scream was cut short – along with half her skull.
He pocketed the pistol and looked at the first floor: thick smoke, lying, writhing bouncers. He gave them a bone trial – breaking one leg after another.
When everything quieted down, Li returned to the madam. She was crawling away, dragging her broken limbs.
He tore off her mask, grabbed her by the hair, and leaned down: "Do you know who you messed with?"
Terror flashed in her eyes. Through tears and pain, she rasped: "I... I made a mistake! How much did Raynor give you? I'll pay triple... no, ten times more!"
Li nodded.
"You're a smart one. You understand everything correctly."
He flipped her over with his foot and broke her other leg. Her screams merged into a pig's squeal, but he didn't stop.
A crowd had already gathered – rats, scavengers, gawkers. They watched as if at a show, appraising the spoils.
Old Man Li felt a surge of elation. The day had been a success. He pushed himself up, pointing his bloody pipe at the crowd:
"My children! Business must be conducted honestly!"