"Alright, Mr. Philip, how much are you willing to pay to buy this hand of yours?" Joker asked with a smile, turning his head.
The hammer in his hand pointed at Philip's right hand. A Joker Gang member grabbed Philip's hand and placed it on the table.
"I... you... one hundred thousand!"
Philip hesitated before shouting out a price. He was more worried that saying any other nonsense would provoke Joker into attacking him. Since this was an auction, there had to be an option to raise the bid, right?
"I bid two hundred thousand!" Joker grinned, raised the hammer in his hand, and smashed it down on Philip's hand before everyone's eyes.
With a crack and a heart-wrenching scream, Philip clutched the back of his hand, dropped to his knees, and curled up.
"Dad..." Tears streamed down Kate's face as she glared viciously at Joker, wishing she could rush over and bite a chunk of flesh off him.
"Alright, everyone, we should continue the auction. Who will be next?" Joker staggered over with the bloodied hammer in hand. His gaze fell on the crying Kate, and he walked toward her.
Philip, still kneeling on the ground, saw where Joker was heading and hurriedly shouted, "Don't touch her!"
"No." Joker turned his head and replied mockingly.
Philip looked utterly lost. "No, I can give you money! Don't touch her, don't touch her! You bastard!"
Like a madman, Philip scrambled up from the floor and lunged at Joker, only to be kicked back down by a Joker Gang member.
Joker walked toward Kate. "See? You people always think money can solve everything, but isn't the problem still unsolved?"
As he spoke, Joker raised his pistol and aimed it at Kate's pale forehead. Kate clenched her teeth and stared him down.
Clang!