"Boss, they can't pay the debt. So I brought valuable collateral," said the tall, skinny man as he lowered Ellie until she fell.
His fat boss wore a neat white coat, a cigar that was always tucked to his lips, and a bald head looked intently at Ellie. But Ellie wasn't afraid. He even glared back at the boss.
"Hey girl, it's not good to stare intently at someone who lends to your parents. I'm Bossman," said Bossman.
Ellie didn't answer. She kept her gaze fixed on Bossman.
"Kid, be polite with Bossman," said the tall, skinny man.
"Already let it go, Salino. She won't harm us," said Bossman.
"Why are poor people always troublesome?" Salino then spit out.
Now Ellie was staring intently at Salino.
"Hey kid, don't look at me like that. You know that look of yours is disgusting."
"And your behavior is just as disgusting," Ellie replied.
Salino was furious. He picked up Ellie and was about to hit her.
"Salino!" called Bossman, "Stop it. Hitting children is a despicable act."
Salino then put Ellie down.
"So, what are we going to do with this kid, Boss?" asked Salino.
"You locked him in the room. We're waiting for his parents to come."
Salino just smirked.
***
Berna continued walking with his hands clenched and her face full of anger. Meanwhile Zaru followed behind him while continuing to persuade Berna not to interfere.
"Berna, you won't win against them," said Zaru.
"If you don't try, you won't know."
"We are just children. If it's against an adult, it's an unbalanced opponent."
"Regardless of the outcome, I will still save Ellie."
"Why do you care so much about Ellie?"
Zaru's question made Berna stop walking. He then turned and looked at Zaru.
"Because she was the first person who thought I existed and praised me," Berna replied as she turned around and started walking again.
"B...but," Zaru followed Berna from behind.
"Tell me how much your parents loan."
"About a hundred thousand."
"Many."
"Just paid twenty thousand."
Berna suddenly stopped and said, "I want to ask you one more question. Where are the debt collectors?"
"I…I don't know exactly. But I've heard my father and mother talk. The debtor lives in the south of Robutani village. My father often calls him Bossman when he is discussing debt with my mother," Zaru replied.
"That's valuable information. Now, I want to go there. If you don't want to come, you just go home."
Zaru hesitated. On the one hand he was afraid. But on the other hand, he also had to save his sister.
"Not. I'll come along. As a brother, I have to save my sister," said Zaru.
"Then let's go over there."
They walked for thirty minutes. Berna had time to ask local residents. But most people don't even want to answer. Hearing the name Bossman alone, they were immediately frightened. Finally, forced, Berna threatened one of the residents to tell where Bossman is. Berna and Zaru arrived at a mansion with a barbed iron gate.
"It's huge," said Zaru.
"No bigger than my adoptive parents' house," said Berna, placing the palm of his right hand on the iron gate.
Instantly his right palm emitted a light and the iron gate was perforated.
"Your magic tricks are getting better," said Zaru.
Berna then entered and saw a stretch of garden overgrown with beautiful grass. When he arrived at the door, without saying excuse me, Berna immediately put his right hand on the door. And the iron door suddenly bent so he could see into a dimly lit room.
"I came here looking for a person named Bossman!" said Berna in a high and firm tone.
The people in the room immediately looked at Berna and Zaru. They are big men.
"How dare a child come in here," said one of the men.
"Hey kid, you better go home, drink some milk and take a nap," said another man.
Instantly the men burst into laughter.
"I won't take a nap until I save Ellie," Berna then knelt down and put her palms on the floor. Instantly the floor turned soft and bound all the men and then hardened again.
Berna then reached into her trouser pocket and put on a white glove and put it on her right hand. He drew near to one of the men whose body was immobilized due to being bound by the hardened floor earlier.
"Tell me where is Bossman?" asked Berna, raising her right hand and ready to snap her fingers.
"H...how come?"
"Want to answer, or not?" Berna threatened.
"I have sworn allegiance to Bossman," the man replied.
Berna then backed away and he swung his right hand while snapping his fingers. Instantly the man caught fire as if Berna's hand was like a lighter. The man thrashed from the heat and was eventually roasted to death.
"Berna, what are you doing?" asked Zaru.
"I was just teaching him a lesson," Berna replied.
Zaru is now scared to see Berna. He now realizes that what Berna has mastered is not magic tricks.
"Anyone who doesn't want to answer anymore?" Berna asked all the men raising her right hand and ready to snap her fingers.
"He...he's on the third floor," said one of the men.
"Good, that means he's here." Berna immediately ran towards the stairs.
"Berna, wait!" Zaru also ran after Berna.
They ran through a slightly dark hallway and up the stairs again and came to the third floor in front of large double doors.
"This must be the Bossman's place," said Berna.
"I'm even more scared," Zaru's legs were now starting to shake with fear.
"Relax, I will protect you."
Berna pressed his right palm against the double doors. Instantly the double doors turned to dust. Bossman and Salino who were inside were shocked and looked at the double doors.
"Who is that?" asked Bossman.
"I'm Berna. Want to find a person named Bossman," said Berna with a sharp look.
Salino who was looking towards the door was suddenly shocked because he saw Zaru.
"You," Salino pointed at Zaru.
Zaru gets scared and hides behind a wall. Meanwhile Berna was still standing with a sharp look.
"You know him Salino?" asked Bossman.
"The child behind the wall is the daughter I brought with me," replied Salino.
"And who is this boy with the piercing gaze?"
"I don't know."
"How could he break the door? And how did he get to the third floor? Where are my men?" Bossman's head has lots of questions.
"Your men are safe. But I'm sorry that I killed one of your men," said Berna.
"What?" Salino was taken aback.
"Salino, it seems he is not a random child," said Bossman.
"He has a strange move," Salino continued to stare at Berna.
"Can you handle it?"
"Isn't the word Boss hitting children a disgrace?"
"Yes. For harmless children. But he is a dangerous child."
"For the first time in my life, I want to kill children," Salino smirked.
Behind the wall, Zaru peeked inside.
"Berna, can you fight?" asked Zaru in a whisper.
"I can't. But I mastered something else that might beat the guy in the round hat," Berna replied,
"Your guts are big too, kid," said Salino.
Salino then closed his eyes then he opened his eyes again. Instantly he ran and then turned around and threw a right foot kick. Berna quickly lowered her head and placed her palms on the floor. Instantly the floor in front of him rose and a new wall emerged from under the floor so Salino's kick hit the wall.
"Unlucky!" Salino then jumped back.
"How could that be?" said Salino.
"I told you that boy has a strange move."
Suddenly the floor beneath Salino's feet rose rapidly. But he managed to dodge and the floor hit the ceiling and formed like a square pillar that stuck from floor to ceiling.
"It was so dangerous. If I don't," said Salino in his heart.
"Salino, if you kill that kid, I'll give you whatever you want," said Bossman.
Salino just smiled. Then Bossman stood up and walked back to open the door and into his room.
"I'll be serious with you, kid!" shouted Salino.
"I don't care," Berna replied.
Then, Berna ran to the side of the room, jumped up, swung her right hand and then snapped her fingers and sparks appeared in his hand which shot towards Salino. But Salino managed to dodge and Berna rolled on the floor and then he put his left hand on the floor so that in front of him a wall appeared to protect him.
"Hmm, so you want to ask me to play hide and seek?"
Salino ran quickly towards the side of the wall protecting Berna. But when he was about to strike with his right foot, Berna was gone.
"Shit, where did he go?" muttered Salino.
"Behind you!" shouted Berna as he ran and threw a right-handed punch.
Salino turned around but he couldn't dodge so he couldn't dodge Berna's attack. Berna didn't hit but put his right palm on Salino's chest. Immediately Salino's chest burst into flames and he immediately took off his coat.
"What technique did you use?" asked Salino after taking off his coat which was now charcoal on the floor.
"Alchemy is the science of deconstructing, combining, and reconstructing everything. Metal, flesh, fire, earth, even soul," answered Berna with a sharp gaze.
"This will be interesting," Salino smirked.
Salino then took off his round hat while closing his eyes. Berna also got ready. Their real fight is just about to begin.
To be continued...