"Greetings folk of kingdom Farland. I'm Mr. Kentai and this is Mr. Borollo and we are here to collect the future angels from this kingdom."
The crowd that had gathered around the fountain came closer to hear the two angels' words more clearly.
"So, as you may know us we are angels straight from the Red Valon Society headquarters. Today, we come to this kingdom to collect all that received the Blood of Adam. So, without further ado, let's begin with"
Mr Kentai turned around to face the fountain that was gashing out water from its top, and with a wave of his hands, the stone tablets flew into the air and began to float around him.
"Wow," the entire crowd was in awe as they saw the tablets fly before their own eyes. Mr. Kentai smirked as though he already knew how the town's folk would respond.
He then clapped his hands and called for everyone's full attention because he was about to read the names of the future angels.
The first name to be read was Siriss O'kana, who was standing next to Zero and Rune, but nobody noticed them as they were all clapping for Siriss.
"Oh, my name first. Bit too soon, but anyway, it looks like I'll see you guys later. Bye."
Siriss waved at Zero and Rune before running in Mr Kentai's direction. After his arrival, Mr. Kentai read the next name names.
"Zara Lakewood,
Luke Carimin,
Olivia Vanilla,
Oliver Rodes,
Kush Watter,
Jericho Rima,
Revy Lott,
Ethan Carcel,
And lastly, Diane Larster."
All the mentioned names walked over to Mr Kentai, apart from Jerisho, who was the only person absent.
"Yo, Kentai, there appears to be one absent."
Mr Kentai looked at all those present and saw that they were nine instead of ten. Of course, the number of new angels didn't matter to the angels as it wasn't common to find many humans that had the blood of Adam and if there were, it meant that something bad was bound to happen.
Though it still did baffle the angels as to what happened to Jerisho and right before they were about to ask about him one of the town's folk rose his hand to answer their inquiries almost like a mind reader.
"You're looking for Jerisho, aren't you? Well, just yesterday, he was nowhere to be seen, and we honestly don't know where he is. We checked everywhere and yet no trace of him at all."
'Damn, did we hide him that well?' Zero thought before looking back at the two old angels who had very stern looks on their faces he knew that they were thinking of something regarding Jerisho's almost magical disappearance.
Suddenly, as the tension was high, Mr. Borollo stood up from his seat and looked at everyone present.
"It's best to stop your search."
"But why, sir? That boy there was my one and only son so what do you mean we stop searching?"
The town's folk began to murmur uneasily, wanting to know why they couldn't go on with the search.
Just then, Mr. Borollo sat back in his seat and stared at Jerisho's father, who felt a cold chill run down his spine that he stopped talking and looked back at Mr. Borollo.
"You said he was your only son, right?"
The man nodded his head in affirmation.
"Well, too bad. Because your son is dead and he's never going to return because your son must have been too stupid to realize that his life was more valuable than adventure and was probably eaten completely by a demon so if I were you I would make another. You can't replace the time you've lost looking for him, but you can replace him."
The man looked at the old angel with much disdain, but he understood the man's words and kept quiet.
Mr Kentai then looked at his partner, who, even after saying all that, remained completely indifferent. Mr. Kentai honestly respected Mr. Borollo's honesty.
He then looked back at the crowd and told them calmly, "No need to worry, nine angels are okay."
But just as he was about to turn to the nine children, a voice shouted out, inquiring about something
"Excuse me, sir, what if we replaced the dead child with another?"
Mr Kentai looked at the crowd and asked the people if they had another child with the Blood of Adam.
"Not quite, but we do have a child that is fairly strong and resilient. In fact, he's quite the unkillable roach. Believe us, we've tried to kill him, but it has failed."
Mr. Kentai looked at the crowd with much confusion.
"Whoever said that show yourself and the child of which you speak about."
Suddenly, a large figure held Zero's left hand and dragged him to the front of the crowd. Everyone's eyes widened upon seeing that it was the head of police, the same large police officer who beat up Zero before taking the purse he stole.
'What does this big brute want from me now?" Zero thought to himself as he fell to the ground right at Mr. Kentai's feet.
Mr. Kentai looked at Zero carefully and asked the large police officer, "Why do you wish to send this child out to his death when he doesn't have the blood of Adam."
"Well, he's abnormally strong, and we are just so tired of him, I mean, he's worthless. He barely has a name."
Mr Kentai looked at Zero with much pity and told the town's folk that they couldn't take him as an angel, but the people insisted, even offering to pay them money to take him.
Zero listened to all the noise with a strange emotion that was a blend between hate and joy where on one end he wanted all of them to rot in hell but the other end was happy because for the first time was he worth to be talked about.
Mr Kentai looked at all the town's folk offering money to have the boy sent to certain death and the scene made him sick to the stomach that was soon going to draw his sword and scare off the people but he refrained from doing so but the temptation was great.
"Shut up, all of you," shouted Mr Borollo as he walked over to Zero, who had no tear in his eyes, and this shocked Borollo so much.
"It's clear that all you people want is to kill him. For whatever purpose, I don't care, but we can't just take a powerless child simply because you fools asked us to. We don't take orders from you."
The crowd looked disappointed, and Kentai was relieved, but this would not last long as the next words to come out of his partner's mouth would leave him wondering as to why he trusted Borollo, Gambling Angel.
"However, we can make a bet."
The crowd got rowdy again as everyone began talking over one another, wanting to partake in this bet.
"No, it isn't a bet between you people and I. It's a bet between me and the boy."
Everyone fell silent again as they waited to hear the bet. Even Zero was now attentive to hear his bet.
"You say this boy is exceptionally strong, so why not put it to the test by having him go hunting."
The crowd of people booed in disagreement but Zero smiled as hunting was somewhat a side hobby for him but his joy wouldn't last long as Borollo told them that he had to hunt down the demon that killed the tenth angel and kill it then bring its head to him and he had up to sundown to bring it.
Zero's black eyes widened not because he had to kill a demon but rather because the demon that killed the tenth angel was Rune, his best friend.
Suddenly, a wave of hate washed over Zero like a tsunami as he felt resent for everything and everyone. He cursed it all, the heavens, the earths, hell, the creator, Adam, and all things that existed. He cursed it all and wished it burned down.
He saw the old angel's hand reach out for a handshake before asking, " So,is it a bet?"