– A Situation In The Pub

*****

Although Xavier tried appearing strong as he walked away from the house he had bought through his blood and sweat, he was very vulnerable.

His mind was in complete disarray, and he felt like a wreck, recalling the memory he did not know if he would ever forget in his life.

He was deeply pained, realizing he had wasted his love and emotions on someone who did not deserve them.

In addition to his pain, Xavier felt a deep sense of guilt, knowing that he had also punished his parents, which weighed heavily on him.

Although he knew his parents couldn’t have managed his company on their own, Xavier felt pained that he should have entrusted everything to them instead of the ungrateful woman.

For this reason, Xavier did not immediately look for his parents after leaving Jennifer—He had one idea how he would face them after five years of denying them the right to see and be protected by their son.

Xavier began to walk aimlessly around, various memories running through his head at the same time.

After strolling around for what felt like an eternity, he eventually found himself walking into a bar filled with heavy music and the heavy smell of alcohol.

“One of your strongest drinks, please,” he said to the beautiful bartender who appeared to have a weird countenance.

The lady looked at Xavier in surprise, and her eyes lit up as soon as she saw his handsome appearance.

“Hey, handsome. Seems you just suffered from a heartbreak. Do you need someone to talk to?” she asked loudly, but Xavier ignored her, making her instantly snort at the realization that Xavier was not interested in her goodwill.

With this, her eyes flashed fiercely, and l without hesitation, mixed the strongest alcohol in the bar for him.

‘Let’s see if you’ll be able to ignore me once you’re drunk,’ she thought with a scheming smile as she handed the drink to him.

Not knowing what she was thinking, Xavier accepted the cup and chugged the entire content without hesitation, badly startling the bartender.

She stared at Xavier as though he were an alien, unable to believe that he had just downed the strong alcohol in a single gulp.

“You—are you trying to kill yourself?” She gasped but before she could think much, Xavier handed his cup back to her.

“More.” He demanded, almost causing the bartender to fall off her feet.

“You—you—do you think getting yourself killed because a lady broke up with you is smart?” She inquired helplessly, hoping Xavier would reason and change his mind but he only stared emotionlessly at her.

“Make it two cups,” he stated coldly.

“You—you—” the bartender became frustrated before eventually becoming infuriated, realizing that Xavier was too arrogant.

“Whatever," she snorted and complied with the request.

After paying for the three cups he had ordered, Xavier took the two cups handed to him and turned to walk toward the back area of the bar when suddenly, his eyes went in a particular direction and he subconsciously became stuck in his tracks.

Although Xavier had been in prison for the past five years, he had met more people than he could have in his entire life, including numerous world-class beauties, yet, compared to the woman he was currently staring at, all the beauties seemed to pale in comparison.

But what really made Xavier stop in his tracks wasn’t this beauty herself, but instead, the expression she currently had on.

She appeared heartbroken, helpless, exhausted—with an emotion Xavier could deeply relate to. The look of someone who wished to cease living.

For some reason, Xavier’s heart ached, seeing this lady like this, especially when he saw the two men with sinister intentions beside her, continuously pouring more alcohol into her cup and persistently pushing it to her mouth.

He understood at a glance that they were trying to take advantage of her, but…

“What are you staring at, you brat?!” An aggressive voice abruptly broke through Xavier’s train of thought, and upon looking, he saw one of the two men glaring coldly at him.

“Get your ass moving now before I gouge your eyes out of their sockets!” The other snapped and Xavier, hearing their unhidden threat, frowned slightly, however, what does anything have to do with him?

‘I have my own to deal with,’ he thought and then looked away after which he moved to the last seat in the deepest corner of the pub and sat.

With that, he began to sip his alcohol, while wallowing in his misery.

The more he reflected, the more regretful and pained he felt, and he came to realize just how much of a fool he had always been.

‘How could I have loved a girl so much to the extent of going to prison for her?!’

‘To think I almost got killed the first few weeks of my time in prison, all because of love.’

‘To think my favorite time in the past five years was the time I think about her and our meeting after serving my time.’

“Argh!!!” Xavier suddenly growled under his breath and then ground his teeth hysterically against each other.

Perhaps the world would have been thrown into chaos if it knew that the renowned Master Xavier was currently sobbing and consumed by sorrow over a woman. However, since it remained unaware, Xavier, utterly devastated lost himself in basking in his grief until, suddenly…

“Lea—leave me alone!” A weak cry broke through his thought.

Xavier subconsciously looked toward the source and behold, it belonged to the jade beauty of earlier.

She currently appeared totally wasted.

“I’m—I’m not following you, evil men!” She uttered in her drunken state, pushing back the two men currently trying to make her follow them.

Although it was in a less crowded part of the bar, there were still several people present. However, despite witnessing the vulnerable woman about to be taken advantage of, no one showed any intention of intervening. Instead, they laughed and mocked the lady, happily enjoying the scene.

“Why don’t you follow the lion kings!”

“Hahahaha! The two kings are going to take care of you!”

***

Hearing the voices around them, the expressions of the two self-proclaimed Lion Kings, renowned for their dominating actions and their boastful claim of being the absolute ruler in their territory like the original Lion King, grew even more excited.

“You heard the crowd, right, beauty? Why don’t you just quietly follow this king and become one of my Lionesses?“

“That’s right. This Lion King’s body is already full and given how this Lion had never seen such a beautiful as you before, just follow us already! I promise we will not hurt you!’ The second menace guy also urged, trying to pull the intoxicated lady up.

One would think that since she was already wasted, she wouldn’t be able to resist after all the persuasion. But contrary, she strongly fought back

“You are—you are both evil! I—I won’t follow!” she said, hiccuping

“This…” the two lion Kings finally frowned with helplessness and frustration which eventually ended up turning to anger.

“Whether you like it or not, you are following us tonight!” The second Lion King coldly uttered and then resorted to using force.

“You—you… leave me!” the lady cried out in her drunken state, her face finally showing a hint of fear. However, too drunk to resist, she was unable to fend off the strong man's pull.

Realizing this, the lady subconsciously threw the leftover drink from her cup into the guy’s face, and instantly, the area fell silent. Even the DJ, who had been excitedly hyping the two Lion Kings subconsciously stopped his music.

No one could react for a moment, refusing to believe that someone had dared to pour a drink on one of the two evil Lion kings’ faces.

This silence lasted for a moment before everyone began to heave cold sighs, and then started shaking their heads in pity for the lady, already knowing what her fate would be.

With this, the few people around quickly ignored what was going on and returned to doing what they had been doing before.

At the same time, the eyes of the Lion King who got himself drenched in alcohol flashed fiercely.

“B!tch!” He suddenly growled, his voice booming within the bar and causing everyone to turn their heads.

They immediately sighed, realizing that another beauty was about to suffer. As they watched the Lion King raise her hand to strike the woman’s face, they all felt a sudden pity for her.

”I will fucking kill you!” The Lion King roared, finally throwing the hand he had raised, making some people shut their eyes, unable to watch.

Just as the palm was about to strike the now-terrified beauty on the face, with the club now in absolute silence, however, a gentle hand reached out and stopped it.

“Please respect yourself,” a lazy voice sounded.

For a moment, no one could react, unable to believe that someone had dared to interfere in the Lion King’s business.

Everyone quickly turned their heads to see who dared to intervene, and a moment later, they were left dumbstruck, their mouths agape in disbelief, as they questioned whether they had seen correctly.

“Had—had that weak-looking person just dared to involve himself in the Lion King's affairs?"

“Is he tired of living?” These two questions popped up in everyone’s mind.

– The Situation Getting Out Of Hand

*****

The entire bar fell silent, with everyone staring blankly at the lean person holding a hand that was twice the size of his own.

No one could react for a moment, but eventually, the eyes of the Lion King, whose hand Xavier was holding, darkened with wrath.

“Brat! Weren’t you the one I warned earlier to mind your business?” He snapped, his voice brimming with unhidden killing intent.

Xavier, however, wasn’t bothered. Instead, continued maintaining his composed demeanor.

“This lady here does not want to follow you, why are you forcing her?” He inquired calmly making everyone instant exchange stunned gazes.

“This—this fool!” The bartender, whose gaze hadn’t left Xavier since the beginning scoffed with frustration and then hurriedly left what she was doing to rush over.

“Lion King, hahahah. Please don’t mind this friend of mine. He appears to be too drunk to know what he was doing,” she stated with a smile, tearing Xavier’s hand away from the lion king.

The Lion King quickly cast a glance at the bartender and growled but then hesitated before snorting.

“I will let him go on your account then,” he said unhappily before sparing Xavier a dangerous glare and then ignoring him, casting his unhidden hungry-filled gaze back at the terrified beauty.

“You’ve caused enough scene here already, let’s get going now,” he said darkly and threateningly before looking at his brother.

“Let’s pick her up,” he said and the first lion king nodded his head, scaring Grace to the core.

Although she was completely drunk and her mind was no longer functioning properly, she instinctively shrank back when she realized what the two were planning, her heart pounding fiercely with fear.

Grace had heard many times from news about something like this happening, but she had never expected to encounter it the first time she decided to run away from her comfort zone and drown in her sorrow.

She looked around for help but saw none. Instead, a few people watched her with pity, while the majority laughed, cheered on the Lion King, and praised the spectacle as a display of beauty.

Just as Grace thought she was doomed, however, the composed voice she had heard earlier, which she thought was that of a savior sounded again.

“Did I tell you that you can go with her?”

The entire bar became eerie silent again, but it was soon broken and before long hushed voices filled the entire bar.

“Is this guy a fool or what?”

“Instead of being grateful for the Lion King’s forgiveness, he still chose to push your luck?”

“Given his weak physique, wasn't he even supposed to keep a low profile instead of provoking people who could end his with a single snap!”

Everyone mumbled and even the bartender, who had earlier pleaded on behalf of Xavier was stunned for a while before she sighed helplessly.

She looked back to the Lion King and wanted to beg them again, but before she could open her mouth, they had already addressed her.

“I listened to you earlier because of my respect and appreciation, but please, don’t try your luck too much,” they said in unison, their voices laced with an unmistakable menace.

The Bartender immediately sighed upon hearing them and then looked at Xavier helplessly.

Eventually, she shook her head and glanced back at the Two Lion Kings. “Please, for my sake, don’t give him a life-threatening injury.”

“That, we can do,” the two responded and looked back coldly at Xavier.

“Since you hate minding your goddamned business so much, get your ass over here and move this b!tch to our room for us!”

The second King, whose hand Xavier had earlier held growled and the bar became silent again with everyone staring at Xavier, wondering what he would do.

Contrary to their thoughts, however, Xavier, who had been calm all along did nothing.

He just continued standing and watching lazily, acting as though he didn't feel the alarming intent closing in on him.

“Bastard! Are you deaf?!” The voice of the second Lion King boomed, sending the hearts of the hearers banging against their chests, but still, Xavier did not react.

This finally infuriated the two Lion Kings to the extent that they felt like killing someone.

“Please forgive me,” the second Lion King said coldly to the bartender, then not waiting for a response stormed toward Xavier.

“What I hate the most is people interfering in my affairs, offending me, and disrespecting my order. For daring to do all those, I’m going to castrate you,” he said coldly, then not waiting for any reaction, delivered a powerful kick to Xavier’s crotch.

As soon as everyone saw this, their hearts skipped a beat, following which, their entire body went cold. They sighed deeply, suddenly feeling strong pity for Xavier.

“He could have minded your business but unfortunately chose not to..”

“This made me recall the last person who offended the Two Lion Kings. Hadn't he become a past today, yet, another little guy will join.”

“What a stupid hero. Wouldn’t he live the rest of your life in pain and regret now, knowing he could have easily refused to help the needy,” the crowd sighed one after the other.

Even Grace couldn’t help but be scared to death, watching what was going to happen.

She opened her mouth, wanting to plead for mercy for Xavier, knowing she would never forgive herself if Xavier ended up getting hurt because of her.

“Plea-“ she began to cry out when without any warning, her jaw dropped and her eyes constricted sharply.

It wasn’t only hers, but literally everyone in the bar.

If Xavier was like a thin pole, the Lion King attacking him would be a small mountain—muscular and imposing. Yet, at this moment, Xavier was casually holding his leg in his hand.

That’s right and just then, a calm and composed voice filled with disbelief sounded.

“You will castrate me just because I don’t want you to commit a wicked deed?”

– The Terrified First Lion King

*****

Bars are known for their constant noise, especially at night during operating hours, but right now, the entire bar is eerily silent with everyone within staring blankly as though they were seeing the most disbelieving thing in history, particularly the ones who knew the reputation of the two Lion Kings.

This silence lasted for a long time before eventually, the Lion King, whose leg was being held by Xavier returned to his senses and became deeply embarrassed which promptly changed to an incredible rage.

“Bastard! Let go of my leg!” He snapped ferociously, trying to force away his leg from Xavier’s lazy grasp. Yet, for some reason, he wasn’t able to move it an inch—It was as though the leg was being held by the large hand of a deity and not the seemingly weak Xavier.

“Are you deaf? I say let go of my leg!” He barked and Xavier instantly smiled slightly before nodding his head.

“Sure,” he responded before continuing just as the Lion King was about to heave a sigh of relief. “I will just repay you with what you wanted to do to me.”

“This!” Everyone gasped and saw something flash in their eyes before they could think, after which, a shrill scream that sounded as though someone was being butchered echoed.

Subsequently, Xavier let go of his hand and the Lion King was sent ricocheting away halfway across the bar.

“Ah!!!!!!” He wailed like someone whose skin was being torn away from his body, making everyone feel their hair standing at the end while wondering about what had just happened.

They all turn into statues in an instant which lasts for a moment before the first Lion King forces himself to return to his senses.

“Third—third brother! What’s with your cry?” He asked with fear before rushing toward his brother.

“Aren’t you embarrassing yourself too much? Yelling this loudly and painfully merely because a tiny ant that could easily be squashed to death with my fingers hurled you away?” He complained with dissatisfaction before bending over to help his brother up.

The following second, however, he paused slightly before his eyes widened significantly, after which a strong shill ran down his spine.

“What-“ his mouth hung open as he subconsciously moved his hand toward his brother’s crotch area.

“What’s—what’s blood doing here?” he inquired incredulously and then pressed down with his hand.

“Rahhhhhhh!!!!” The second Lion King’s roar intensified as if he were experiencing the most excruciating pain imaginable, and soon after, he fainted.

The bar became pin-drop silent after this until; “He wanted to castrate me, but I castrated him instead. That’s fair, no?” A calm and lazy voice inquired, making everyone shiver frantically with goosebumps crawling hysterically all over their skin, then they glanced at the speaker.

“He—he crippled the lion king?” Someone swallowed hard and mumbled doubtfully.

Just then, the first Lion King returned to his senses and he screamed. “How dare you castrate my brother?!”

“I’m going to kill you!!!” His voice filled to the brim with killing intent scaring everyone in the bar out of their wits.

“The Lion King is finally mad,” someone mumbled and ran toward the bar’s exit without hesitation, looking terrified to the core.

“Probably all the eyewitnesses here tonight are done for!” Another person mumbled fearfully as he also ran for his li…

Everyone, knowing how unreasonable the Lion Kings normally are quickly ran for their lives, and before long, only Xavier, the fainted Lion King, the first Lion King who had turned into a raging bull, the dumbstruck bartender, and a horrified Grace were left behind.

“Die!!!!” The First Lion King roared with rage and closed in on Xavier, throwing his tightly clenched fist at his face with all the strength he could muster.

Watching this scene, the hearts of the bartender and Grace trembled, knowing that there was no way Xavier would be able to dodge or survive the attack.

Although they weren’t the ones receiving it, they felt the strong force originating from it and trying to destroy them, making the two ladies shut their eyes just as the attack was an inch away from hitting Xavier’s face, unable to handle the scene that would follow.

They brace themselves, expecting a shrill scream, but then a deafening silence was what they heard, lasting for a long time until the ladies could no longer handle their confusion.

‘What happened?’ they thought and squinted open their eyes, wanting to sneak a peak at what had happened.

What came into their view the next second made their eyes widen in stupefaction.

“Am—am I dreaming?” The bartender mumbled to herself dumbly before quickly pinching her arm.

Having worked in the bar for a few years, she had long learned about the strength of the two Lion Kings, able to face the attacks of five able-bodied men without breaking a sweat, yet…

“You—you—you…” the Lion King, who had attacked Xavier with madness and hatred earlier finally returned to his senses and stuttered as he eventually experienced what his brother had gone through a moment ago and to say he was terrified right now was nothing but an understatement.

He had never thought the seemingly weak Xavier who looked like someone he could pinch to death with his fingers would be able to stop his punch with just a single hand.

He thought he was dreaming as he stared at Xavier casually holding his arm that was tightly bulging with his thick veins from exerting all his strength.

“You—you—who… who are you?” He finally completed and Xavier, staring composedly at him sighed.

“I didn’t want any trouble; I just wanted to prevent you from committing an immoral deed while enjoying my peace. Why did you and your brother have to push my hand?” he asked helplessly, leaving the Lion King and the bartender stunned.

‘You didn’t want trouble and yet you interfered in our business, even castrating my brother! What nonsense was that?!’ He yelled in his mind, almost sobbing, but dared not to speak out.

“Plea—please forgive me, master. I—I was just too blind to see the elephant in the room! Please forgive me!”

The bartender, “_”

‘Is this still the First of the two shameless and evil self-acclaimed Lion kings?’ She thought blankly before hurriedly glancing back at Xavier.

Her heart began to pound frantically in her chest and she became filled with curiosity for him, meanwhile, Xavier, not realizing what he had caused to the bartender suddenly gazed seriously at the Lion King.

Given how you and that fool behaved today and the things I learned, you two love getting ladies drunk so that you can have your ways with them, no?”

“I—I… “ The Lion King became further terrified.

If those who had run for their lives out of fear were to witness this scene, they would have been stunned to death, but since no one was there, they couldn’t have in their entire lives imagined what had transpired after they escaped.

“I—tonight was our first time and I have never had the intention of forcing myself on anybody,” the lion king sobbed, regretting why he and his brother hadn't ignored or begged Xavier to mind his business earlier.

“Please forgive me!” He pleaded desperately, wishing nothing but to escape right now.

Xavier watched the horrified Lion King without reacting for a moment, while the two ladies stared at him, waiting to see what he would do. Eventually, he sighed deeply.

“As I mentioned earlier, I only wanted to have some drink in peace.”