CHAPTER 1: Prologue
"Aah!" The women's screams echoed through the arena as the luxury supercar shot off from the starting line. The driver skillfully overtook every car ahead, claiming first place in the race.
His sharp eyes focused on the road ahead as his foot pressed the accelerator almost to the floor. No one in the arena could take their eyes off his car as he left a considerable distance between himself and the other racers. A smile played across his lips when he spotted the finish line. Without hesitation, he accelerated until his car crossed it, drawing thunderous cheers from those who had bet on his victory.
"Take care of the car," Joshua said, tossing the keys to his close subordinate. He ran a hand through his hair, grabbed a water bottle, and drank thirstily before throwing it into a nearby trash can. As he turned to walk away...
"Excuse me, handsome!"
A hand grabbed his arm, stopping him in his tracks. Joshua turned to find a high school girl with braided pigtails tied with dark blue ribbons looking up at him eagerly.
He said nothing, merely glancing at her cute face and the hand holding his arm. Farin noticed his displeasure and quickly released her delicate grip.
"Um... c-can I please have your autograph?" The smile on her cute face slowly faded as he continued to stare at her without speaking, his intensity making her increasingly uncomfortable.
"N-never mind, I don't want it anymore."
Joshua turned and walked away, leaving Farin standing there, watching him longingly. She had skipped school just to watch him race, hoping to get his autograph and take a picture afterward. But everything had gone wrong. The rumors were true—he never gave autographs or took pictures with anyone, and some people were even dragged away by men in black suits for trying.
"What a waste," she said sadly, walking away with her head down, staring at the paper in her hand with disappointment.
"Move it!"
"Ouch!" A man suddenly shoved past her, causing her to fall hard on the ground. She looked up at the rude stranger before quickly scrambling to her feet to follow him.
"You're a cheat!" Her eyes widened in shock as she watched the man who had pushed her now pointing a gun at her dream racer.
"I didn't cheat. You lost and just can't accept it," Joshua said, taking a casual sip of fine wine. He seemed so relaxed as if he'd forgotten there was a gun pointed at his head. "If you want to shoot, then shoot. But I can't guarantee you'll leave this room alive."
"You think I won't dare to shoot you?"
"Why should I be scared of trash like you?" Joshua finished with a mocking smile. This wasn't the first time an enemy had pointed a gun at his head. He had experienced it so often that it had become routine, and he wasn't particularly alarmed. As he always said, if they dared to pull the trigger on him, his men would return the favor.
The young mafia boss rose to his full height and approached his defeated opponent. The smile on his face stretched into something menacing, causing the man before him to lose his composure. Most people might not have known Joshua's true identity as a mafia boss.
To the public, he was merely a race car driver, though that was simply a hobby he enjoyed. His numerous victories came from natural talent. It was no surprise that anyone who competed against him ended up losing and reacting like this. Even skilled racers had lost to him, like Chris, who now pointed a gun at him with trembling hands.
"You must have had a lot of people betting on you. When you lose, you get attacked and take it out on me. Do you think it's wise to point a gun at me?"
"What makes you so special that I should be afraid of you?"
"Allow me to demonstrate why you shouldn't point a gun at someone like me," Joshua sneered, moving swiftly to disarm Chris while he was distracted.
Click!
"You!" Chris gasped in shock as he realized Joshua had taken his weapon.
"Say your goodbyes to this world."
Drawing the silenced pistol tucked behind him, the young mafia boss used his foot to trip Chris as he tried to flee, sending him sprawling to the ground. He grabbed Chris's hair tightly, pressed the gun to his forehead, and pulled the trigger. Though the silencer muffled the shot, it couldn't hide what had happened from the one witness present.
Farin's eyes widened in horror. The young girl covered her mouth with her hand, staring at Chris's lifeless body lying in a pool of blood—the work of her dream racer.
"Don't think I don't know you're watching. If you talk too much, your end might be the same as his!" Joshua glanced at the wall with a knowing smirk before walking away. Shortly after, two men in black suits arrived to dispose of Chris's body and eliminate all evidence.