"At least, explain why you called me at the time like this," while cracking his neck bone. "Besides, I'm taking a bath now. Just give me a few minutes!"
"This is important! 'bout yer girl. Just a few minutes, brat!" he replied while looking around.
(Strange! This Old man didn't usually behave like this!) Nagao thought suspiciously.
"Soon!" Nagao replied while looking around. "We'll talk at the front!"
In the end, as Nagao done with his bath, they moved to the selling space, talking about their previous concerns. The customers didn't have come yet, so they talked like they usually did ...
"You mentioned about the person I brought," Nagao yawned, stretching his body. "What's the matter, Old man?"
"Yer girl ... ain't the same person who try to kill you several times, right?"
(This Old man got a high intuition, huh?! Well, even though I wanted to keep it a secret from him first!) I thought surprisingly.
Aware of the current state Nagao have,
"Huh... you got me, Old man!" he looked at him. "So, what would you do if you already know the answer?"
Mr. Schmidt immediately headed over to one of his display weapons. After he grabbed a sword, he straight attacked toward Nagao's neck ...
*Swoosh!*
Nagao's sensitivity felt his attack, seeing his attack and immediately taking one of the daggers on display. While turning the dagger's hilt, he made the dagger's edge turn out to blocking Mr. Schmidt's attack ...
*Tang!* *Schrrt!* *Tang!* *Schrrt!* *Tang!*
Those fire sparks occurred due to the clash between their weapons. However, Mr. Schmidt's power possessed this time was a big deal, pushing Nagao several meters and making the floor squeaking ...
*Krrt!*
After being able to block his attack, Nagao whistled, commenting his attack,
"What's this? 'Stab your friend before he stabs you behind', huh?" he spoke sarcastically, smirking at Mr. Schmidt. "I got a new level in social relationship looks like!"
"I ain't gonna lie this time, you rascal bastard!" He reacted angrily, beginning to move his attack again.
Attack after attack launched by Mr. Schmidt. Notwithstanding, Nagao mostly got into the defensive form, parrying and blocking his attacks ...
*Swoosh!* *Tang!* *Schrrt!* *Tang!* *Schrrt!* *Tang!* *Schrrt!* *Tang!*
(This Old-jerk-man really wanted to kill me, huh?! But you aren't the only one who get stronger, asshole!) Nagao thought angrily, parrying and launching a sneaky attack, aiming on his hand.
*Swoosh!* *Tang!*
He could parry that sneaky attack, counterattacking Nagao again ...
*Swoosh!* *Tang!* *Schrrt!* *Schrrt!* *Tang!* *Schrrt!* *Tang!*
Even though Nagao could guess his pattern attacks, unluckily because of his strength, Nagao almost overwhelmed to parry until block every single of Mr. Schmidt's attacks ...
*Swoosh!* *Tang!* *Schrrt!* *Schrrt!* *Tang!* *Schrrt!* *Tang!*
Amidst his attacks, Mr. Schmidt cursed,
"Like a snake, traitor always an asshole!"
"Let me talk first, you old grumpy bastard!" Nagao was parrying his attack, angering at him. "You've overthought like a dipshit! Stop for a while, will you?!"
"Shut yar dirty mouth!" While swinging his weapon. "Brought a danger to ma hood?! I'll fucked you up like shit!
Several parts of the shop were crushing by our attacks. Simultaneously, I was being pushed by him to the edge of the shop entrance ...
(At this rate, I'm going to die! I must stop this bastard!) Nagao thought as he searched for a way.
However, when he tried to parry off his attack, Nagao heard someone opening the shop door. When Nagao glanced toward it, it was Emilia, trying to come in,
"Father! I brought several foods—!" The moment Emilia came in, Mr. Schmidt's attack aimed at her, making his attack's speed unavoidably to hold anymore.
Reflexively, Nagao immediately protected her, forward rolling to saving Emilia's life. Unfortunately ...
*Slash!* *Thud!*
"Urggh!" While Nagao was evading Emilia's life from danger, he was getting a long incision on his right cheek. It almost reached his right eye. Luckily, Nagao could evade it before his eye got thrust by him, making a slightly head tilt movements in the split seconds.
As the consequences of his bold actions, Nagao's head bumped the wall's shop while he was defending Emilia. Fortunately, Emilia survived from previously actions, making she evade from severe wounds or light injuries ...
"Big brother Nagao, are you alright—!" before she finished her words, Emilia displayed a shocked expression. "BIG BROTHER! YOUR FACE ... HEAD TOO!"
"Take it easy—urggh!" Nagao winced in pain, feeling an excruciating sensation around his right eye areas. Not only that, but Nagao's tears also came out, interfering his vision when he looked at Emilia.
Amidst his embracing at Emilia, Nagao asked her,
"Did you feel anything hurt ... Emilia?"
Emilia's tears busted out immediately. While gripping my clothes in embrace position, she replied,
"Big brother! Your right eyes ...!"
"I can still see you, okay! As long as you save, I felt relief, you know!" Nagao smiled at her although his face covered in blood.
On the other hand, Mr. Schmidt stood frozen, falling into his knees and making his face drenched in sweat profusely. His face twisted into regret, anguish, and guilt expressions at several moments. He couldn't move a inch from his spot, unnerving to say a word.
Because of the pain on my face, I couldn't see him clearly. However, I heard a slap before me ...
*Slap!*
Instantly, the slap followed by a voice,
"You, with yer nasty behavior, are you done with yer stupid shit?!" Someone angered at Mr. Schmidt. "You—!"
Because of the unbearable pain and lost much blood, Nagao felt dizzy, slowly losing his conscious ...
*Thud!*
...
After all that had happened, Nagao was being treated by Emilia and Adolph. Thankfully, Mr. Schmidt's attack didn't damage his right eyeball so Nagao could still see like a normal person. Despite receiving treatment, Nagao's right eye areas were being bandages for the healing effectiveness. As for the impact on his head, Nagao only experienced a lump that it didn't cause a serious impact. Time passed quickly until a nighttime has come out. Nagao could wake up from his faint, regaining his conscious.
Concurrently, Nagao, Adolph, and Mr. Schmidt gathered in one spot, except for Emilia, gathering to clear matters that led to big misunderstandings. Although they were gathering together, but they were remaining in silence, nothing a single word could out of their mouths. Only their expressions displayed at this struggle time.
After several times in silence, Nagao stood up, walking toward Mr. Schmidt ...
*Tap-Tap!* *Tap-Tap!* *Bam!*
Nagao punched Mr. Schmidt's face with his knuckles, punching him right in his face. He did several times to him ...
*Bam!* *Bam!* *Bam!* *Bam!*
Mr. Schmidt didn't reply with his punches instead, only silencing when Nagao punched him ...
*Bam!* *Bam!* *Bam!*
When Nagao wanted to punch him again, Adolph held his hand, preventing his punch,
"That's enough. You wanna same as him, out busting your rage like him?"
Although the rage expression displayed on his face, but Nagao maintained his voice keep steady, preventing Emilia woke up,
"After all you fucking did ... have you lost your fucking mind?! You almost kill her with your reckless!" Nagao tugged Mr. Schmidt's collar, pulling his face closer to him. "Look at me, you grumpy dickhead! Look. At. Me!"
Adolph held Nagao's shoulders, preventing his next punches. Mr. Schmidt only looked at him, plastering a tormented expression although his face covered in blood.
Seeing his reactions, Nagao pushed him away,
"Couldn't believe it about what happened earlier!" he took a deep breath, looking at Mr. Schmidt. At once, he hurled him a handkerchief, falling on Mr. Schmidt's face. "Clean yourself. I don't wanna hear Emilia's complaints after I punched his dad!" His composure slightly better than before, keeping his intonation until voice to steady and sitting on his previously spot.
Mr. Schmidt wrapped his head with it, realizing that handkerchief was Emilia's one. Aware with his reactions, Nagao only responded,
"Yeah, that one is Emilia. She gave me once I woke up from my pass out based on Adolph's talks."
Mr. Schmidt's tears came out, crying in silent. He covered his face with that handkerchief, making his tears and blood mixed. Nagao and Adolph only gave his time alone for now.
Times flew away, and now, they gathered together in the same spot. Instantaneously, Mr. Schmidt started to utter his words,
"This ain't enough 'bout what happen before. However," while lowering his head. "As regret of mine, I want to apology!"
Both Nagao and Adolph just silently looked at each other. After a while, Nagao commented,
"Good then if you understand, Old man!" Nagao sighed, caressing his wounds on his head.
Mr. Schmidt immediately raised his head, saying his words firmly,
"But," while looking at Adolph. "Fo this shit, hell nah. Why? Why didya bring the killer to ma hood? Ya lost yer frickin' mind, huh?!"
Nagao realized of these matters. Nagao understood about the consequences he would receive once he brought Adolph here. In the other side, Adolph looked at him, waiting at his response. Same with Adolph, Mr. Schmidt waited for his response.
After a moment of silence, Nagao uttered his minds,
"Did you remember where you made the 'selfish' wish with me?"
As if understanding with Nagao's words, Mr. Schmidt replied,
"Ya wanna take this as ma own debt to ya?"
"That's not my point is," while looking at Mr. Schmidt. "Human always did the same, selfish to each other. Me, You, Her or whoever is that. But we realize that we need each other, back up our backs!" He spoke assertively.
Mr. Schmidt heard Nagao's words, processing every single his words. Immediately, he replied,
"Ain't gonna lie with yer truth remedy," while looking at Adolph. "But she's a backstabber, a snake who sell other head. I can even rely on myself. Make it simple, why? Why didya choose her?"
Hearing several negative comments from him, Adolph replied with irritated,
"Ya underestimate me that low-down?! Ya even—!" Before she finished her sentences, Nagao stopped her acts with a hand signal before her face.
"Trust me," He retorted assertively, giving her confident and smiling at her. "I can handle it!" Seeing his reactions, Adolph returned to silence.
After Adolph could calm down herself, Nagao paused for a moment, deeply thinking within his mind. After a while, he gave his reasons,
"First, it's her abilities. You already know about their job and specialties. About those, I could guarantee those by myself. Second, she's best adaptability, suitable as an informant. Third," he paused for a moment, remembering something within his minds. "It's her mentality. Someone who lives in a harsh environment, understanding the importance of a return favor. Based on those, I choose her!" Nagao spoke assertively, persuading Mr. Schmidt.
Mr. Schmidt was silent for a moment, hearing Nagao's reasons. Later, Mr. Schmidt replied,
"All right! Yer suggestion is accepted!"
Both Nagao and Adolph looked at each other with their own feelings. Nonetheless, Mr. Schmidt uttered his minds again,
"However, there's one condition she must fulfill!"
"Condition? You mean?!" Nagao thought something, realizing his reckless behaviors.
"She must fight against me!"