"What did you just say?"
Anthony raised his blade, ready to strike.
"Fine! I admit defeat, alright?" Ansel's face turned bitter as he cursed, "Just you wait a few years, then we'll settle this again!"
"Oh, really? Alright, kid, I'll be waiting!"
Anthony was both amused and exasperated. It had been a long time since he'd encountered such a stubborn little brat. He didn't know if the kid had guts or was just reckless, but his mouth was certainly unrelenting!
For a fleeting moment, Anthony saw a younger version of himself in Ansel.
As they continued their quarrel, Thomas suddenly spoke up, "Not good, Boss Miles is back!"
Everyone turned toward the sound. Miles was limping back, clutching his injured groin, his face contorted in pain.
Nathan's eyelids twitched wildly at the sight. Panicking, he blurted, "Uh, my kid needs feeding. I've got to go!"
Ansel grinned mischievously. "Quit lying, Nathan. Aren't you single?"
"Shut up! You're the reason for this mess!"
Nathan smacked Ansel on the head before bolting out of the room.
"Stay right there!"
Miles had just reached the doorway when he caught sight of Nathan sneaking off. His face darkened, and he growled, "Run one more step, and I'll make sure you regret it!"
"Boss Miles, my wife's waiting for me to feed the baby. You take care, alright?"
Nathan wasn't the smartest, but he wasn't stupid either. He dashed off like his feet had sprouted wings, disappearing around the corner in just a few strides.
Miles, seething, yelled after him, "Fine! If you've got the guts, don't let me catch you! If I don't pay you back for this, my name isn't Miles!"
At the heart of this chaos was Nathan's big mouth. The man couldn't keep anything to himself, turning every passing comment into full-blown rumors.
...
Inside the house.
Isaac greeted Miles with an awkward smile as he entered. "Boss Miles, I'm sorry. Nathan's just thoughtless. He doesn't mean any harm, but that mouth of his is a disaster. Don't worry, I'll make sure to teach him a lesson later to vent your anger."
The way a master disciplines his apprentice is much like a father scolding his son—loud threats but soft hands.
Miles, having cooled down a bit, plopped into a chair with a grimace. "Damn it, if we don't curb this nonsense, they'll think they can walk all over me!"
"Uh, Boss Miles..." Thomas approached with a smile. "I've got a pot of soup simmering at home. I'll take my leave now. No need to see me out..."
Before Miles could respond, Thomas was already halfway out the door.
Miles chuckled suddenly. "That guy's sharp—sharp enough to be exactly where you need him before you even ask. A natural talent."
Anthony, glancing at the door, remarked calmly, "He managed to rally a group of 500. That's no small feat. Not everyone can do what he's done."
"Exactly," Ryan agreed, nodding. "The recruits from the military academy are just as unruly as Ansel. Tough to train, but he's got them under control. Even after Luther's death, not a single person deserted. That's impressive—and something to keep an eye on."
Miles smiled faintly. "The smarter they are, the easier they are to handle. He knows his limits. He wouldn't dare cross the line without absolute confidence."
"What do you mean, just like me?"
Ansel, overhearing, puffed up indignantly.
Smack!
"Shut your mouth!" Anthony slapped him across the head. "Can't you tell the difference between kings and jokers?"
For once, Ansel stayed silent, head hanging low like a soaked puppy.
"Come here," Miles called from the couch, leaning forward with his hands on his knees.
Ansel hesitated briefly before stepping forward, visibly uneasy. "Boss!"
If Anthony intimidated him, Miles was his nightmare. The memory of Miles crushing a car with his bare hands was enough to snuff out any thoughts of rebellion.
"What's the matter? Where's all your fire now?" Miles teased, a sly grin on his face. "Didn't you say you wanted to be a leader? Starting tomorrow, you'll be the site supervisor. Your job is to oversee the workers on the construction site."
"Supervisor?" Ansel blinked in confusion.
"What? Think the position's too small for you?" Anthony glared at him.
"No, it's not that..." Ansel quickly shook his head. "I just don't know what a supervisor is supposed to do."
Miles chuckled. "Just do whatever Mary tells you. Your only task is to make sure the workers don't slack off."
"Isn't that just being her lackey?" Ansel muttered under his breath, glancing nervously at Anthony and shrinking back.
Miles smirked. "Come on, be a man! Take the job or leave it. If you're not interested, I'll pay you what you're owed, and we'll part ways. No hard feelings."
Ansel might have been headstrong, but he wasn't stupid. He knew there was no better place to go—out there, he'd be left wandering aimlessly, struggling to survive.
"Fine! I'll take it!"
"Good! One more thing..." Miles nodded, pointing at Ansel. "From now on, whenever you see Nathan, I want you to beat the crap out of him. Every single time. Can you do that?"
"That's easy!" Ansel rubbed the back of his head, ready to agree, but hesitated as he glanced at Anthony. "But... what if I can't beat him?"
Miles rolled his eyes. "You're a grown man. If you can't beat him now, train until you can! Eventually, you'll take him down."
Ansel frowned suspiciously. "This feels like a setup..."
Miles' lips twitched. "How about this—every time you fight Nathan, I'll reward you with a bar of chocolate. Deal?"
"Really?"
Young as he was, Ansel couldn't resist the temptation of chocolate—especially in a world where luxuries were scarce.
Miles maintained a straight face. "I never go back on my word."
"What if I beat him ten times in one day?"
"Ten bars."
"And if he beats me ten times?"
"Eleven bars."
Miles held up an extra finger. "The extra one's for emotional damages."
Ansel no longer hesitated. Slapping his dusty face, he declared, "Deal!"
"Great. Start today." Miles clapped him on the shoulder approvingly, leaning in to whisper, "Nathan's in Block C, Unit 016. Don't forget."
"Got it, Boss! You can count on me!" Ansel thumped his chest dramatically, as if marching off to war. "I'm on it!"
"Go on, then."
As he reached the door, Ansel turned back, grinning at Anthony. "See you later, Anthony!"
Anthony's expression darkened as he muttered a single word: "Scram."
Isaac shook his head, half amused, half exasperated. "Boss Miles, you've just handed Nathan a living nightmare. He's going to have his hands full..."
Miles rubbed his sore groin, scowling. "I've always believed in settling scores."