/"Listen here you fucks, you have until the count of five to get whatever trash-water nonsense you came here with. Once that's done, you have half that time to discharge from the premises or else get thrown out. I won't warn you a second time"\ Ripply declared.
By the side, Makieth who was surprised to hear such brashness come from a calm-looking individual like Ripply couldn't help when her mouth gapped unknowingly.
On the other hand, Bell who had known Ripply for the longest smiled.
"Still as foul-mouthed as always huh, Ripply? For a second there, I was starting to think that Centshuu had domesticated you too much but I guess I was wrong" Bell monologued, staring at Ripply with nostalgic eyes.
With a surprised expression, Kenser looked at her and said "Madam Bell, you knew this would happen?"
Bell returned her gaze, chuckled, and then she looked at Makieth whose mouth was still gaped.
/"It's unbecoming for a lady to look so lost. Correct yourself"\ Bell said as she helped Makieth close her mouth then went back to crossing both arms.
Mosey discreetly glanced at Kove, the only one among them who might have understood what Ripply said and he asked "Do you think he did it again?"
Centshuu, observing his right-hand man, chuckled, stealing the attention of everyone in the squad minis Ripply's..
"Maybe. Only Ripply knows exactly what he says whenever he translates, but I'll tell you this: the vein on his neck throbs like that only when he's being his true and authentic self. So, do what you will with that information." He said
"True and authentic self? What are you guys talking about? What did he say?" Avery asked.
"It's a little inside joke for everyone in the squad. Don't worry, you won't get it. Not yet anyway," Centshuu replied, making Avery even more curious.
He began to process and deconstruct what Centshuu had said about Ripply, but then, something else suddenly took his attention.
His eyes widened and he thought 'Not yet? Wait, does that mean that Centshuu has plans to start considering me as a part of the squad? Will I be part of the squad? Wait, do I want to be a part of the squad?'
"Hey Ripply, your mask is starting to peel off so you mind being careful next time?" Centshuu said.
Ripply furrowed his eyebrows and looked at him.
"Huh?" The annoyed translator responded.
"I thought your job was to translate exactly what I said, or at least what I meant. I didn't think you'd instead remind us why you made the decision you did about the two of us," Centshuu said.
Hearing this, Avery grimaced with curiosity.
'What decision is he talking about? I guess it's something that happened before I came around but damn. I'm so curious' he thought.
"That's what I did. I translated exactly what you meant, so don't worry. I'm sure they get the message loud and clear," Ripply replied then looked at Vox and his friends' shocked expressions.
Not even they expected such foul language from him.
For a moment, they felt like they'd all been fooled by appearances because none of them truly knew Ripply or, at least, the real him, which Ripply had tried to hide.
This was one of the reasons why Ripply had stepped down from the leadership position, in favor of Centshuu taking over.
He had always disliked being in a leadership role since the early days of the squad with just him and Mosey. However, that feeling became even more pronounced when something happened in the past that made him decide that he was no longer worthy of the position, and opted for Centshuu to take over.
It was something involving Bell that only the two of them and Centshuu knew.
Another reason why he stepped down for Centshuu to take over was because he loses all sense of reason and tact when his friends get insulted which is a strange flaw to have for someone who acts as Centshuu's anchor so he doesn't go off the deep end with his ambitions.
A job he failed to do which resulted in their current predicament, but that also shows how great Centshuu was with his words and convincing people. A skill that makes him a great leader or at least a better leader than Ripply.
Centshuu, looking at his translator with a skeptical gaze, groaned after hearing what Ripply said.
He took a deep breath, exhaled, shrugged, and then replied, "Okay."
Vox and his friends glared at the six men in front of them, their focus mostly being on Avery, who was the youngest, second shortest, and least physically intimidating person among all of them.
However, after all he's shown to be capable of, they all couldn't help but gulp at the thought of starting yet another fight and getting their asses handed to them by him.
/"Hey Vox, what should we do? If you ask me, I'd say we should just manage our losses and leave,"\ Mikie advised.
/"Yeah, Vox. I don't think I have another fight in me. After that tussle and what the brat did, I think I'm too tired for anything else,"\ Fez said, grimacing in pain.
/"It's a good thing all these idiots, minus this tallest one, can't understand what we're saying. I can't imagine the amount of shame I would have felt if the punk heard and knew how worried I am about what he can do,"\ Kief said to himself, holding where Avery had hit him.
Vox, who was the only member of his group yet to be physically damaged as a result of the fight, didn't sympathize with what the others were going through. He was too angry to listen to their advice.
Feeling like his ego had been attacked by everything that transpired between himself and Avery and feeling disrespected by what Bell and then Ripply said to him in front of everyone, got him even more riled up.
Vox clenched his fists, vibrating with rage, which his friends saw, and became even more worried.
They could only ponder and fear for what was going through his mind at that moment.
Was their leader not going to listen to all the advice they've given him?
Was he about to force them into a situation they didn't want to be in just to soothe his ego?
Was he going to make them relive a beating from Avery all over again? They wondered.