In the early dawn, with the moon dim and stars sparse, a faint light began to appear on the distant horizon. The small village of Syrup was quiet and peaceful. Some diligent merchants had already risen to start preparing for the day's work.
However, unnoticed by the villagers, a shadowy figure slipped quietly into the only mansion in the village under the last glimmers of moonlight.
In the master bedroom of the mansion, a couple with extraordinary grace were still asleep. They were Kaya's parents, both alive and well. Kaya's father was a shrewd and capable businessman, while her mother was a dignified and elegant lady. Their exceptional qualities had given birth to a girl as graceful as Kaya.
Sadly, their happiness was short-lived. Kaya, kind-hearted and frail, had been sickly since childhood and seldom left the house. Despite the expanding business and offers of nobility from many countries, they chose to remain in the tranquil village of Syrup, believing it would benefit Kaya's health.
But on this day, an uninvited guest shattered their peace.
Kaya's father, sleeping soundly, felt a slight chill on his neck in his dreams and instinctively reached out to touch it. The coldness jolted him awake.
"What is it?" He exclaimed, feeling pain in his palm. As he opened his eyes, a cold male voice spoke beside him.
"Don't move."
A thief! The realization struck him instantly. He spread his hands slowly, indicating no resistance.
"What do you want?" he whispered, careful not to wake his wife. He knew escalating the situation could only anger the intruder.
"Stop talking nonsense!" Kuro interrupted before he could finish, pressing a dagger against Kaya's father's neck, causing a trickle of blood.
"Please, don't be impulsive. Everything is negotiable!" Kaya's father pleaded, trying to stay calm. He knew he had to comply.
"I want money!" Kuro demanded, producing a large sack.
"Fill this bag within an hour, or I'll kill your entire family!" Though he didn't intend to kill, his aura suggested otherwise.
"Okay... okay..." Kaya's father choked out, scared. He slowly got out of bed and walked to the closet, triggering a hidden switch to reveal a row of safes.
"Hurry up!" Kuro ordered, his eyes gleaming greedily. Normally, he would have killed everyone and taken the money, but Leo's warning kept him in check.
"I'll get it... I'll get it," Kaya's father responded, quickly opening one of the safes. The smell of money filled the air. The Kaya family's wealth was substantial, with this safe alone holding at least 300 or 400 million Baileys, and there were three such safes.
Kuro tossed the sack over. "Put all the money in this bag!"
Kaya's father hurriedly filled the sack, trembling. As the sky lightened, Kuro grew anxious. "Time's almost up..." he thought, deciding he couldn't risk more time. Kicking Kaya's father away, he grabbed the filled sack.
The commotion woke Kaya's mother, who rushed to help her husband. "Husband! Are you okay?"
Kaya's father coughed, disoriented, looking at the still partially full safes and the direction Kuro fled. "Did I meet a thief with a conscience? He took only what he said he would."
Moments later, guards arrived, too late to be of use. Kaya's father, dressed and furious, berated them for their incompetence.
At that moment, a small voice called from behind. "Dad, Mom, what happened?" A young girl holding a teddy bear stood at the door, curious. Kaya's father calmed down and reassured her, "It's okay, sweetie. Just a strong wind broke the window."
The guards, meanwhile, set off to chase the intruder, but Kuro was long gone.
…
"Lord Leo!" Kuro called as he reached the woods, dropping the bag of money. "I want to exchange all this for points. Can I buy a Pokémon now?"
Leo appeared like a ghost with a smile on his face, with Evee sleeping on his shoulder, he touching the bag. Instantly, it deflated, and Leo's system recorded an additional 2,200 points.
"Congratulations, Captain Kuro. Your current points are 440. What Pokémon do you plan to choose?" Leo asked with a smile.
(End of this chapter)