Chapter 253 - Return To Ishgar {29} Deep Talk In A Dark Dungeon

After Sherria had joined the group outside of the academy and saying a proper goodbye to the principal, they were on their way. Before they could get far Sherria stopped them and suddenly bowed in front of them. Her lips were shaking and a smile was close to breaking out on her face. "I just want to thank you all for taking me into this family! I never would have imagined myself being here one day."

"Woah, Woah! Hey, kid! We're not a family. Don't ever call us that, I refuse now and I will always refuse to call that creep, my daddy!" Touka pointed at Amell. He grimaced as much as she did.

"I don't know what you got that from! I certainly didn't ask you to call me that. If anything, call me grandpa!" He expected another sarcastic response back, but Touka up and left ahead of the group. "Too easy," He smiled in victory.

"Okay, grandpa. I hear you loud and clear!" Sherria walked away with her thumb raised high in victory.

"Hey, it was a joke, don't call me grandpa! I have enough people doing that." She didn't listen to him. She simply turned around and winked, "Sure," She said as she ran after Touka. Briar came up after that and took Amell by the hand. "Come on, grandpa, we don't have all day."

"Not you too!" His spirit broke after he saw even the young Briar give in to the joke.

Since the girls didn't know where they were going next, they had to eventually stop and wait for Briar and Amell that was lagging behind. The group made their way over to the council prison, it was in here where Amell sensed his other candidate. Ones they arrived at the prison which looked almost as nice as the academy, he only had to show his face for them to let him in. But, it was only him, the kids had to stay in the prison waiting room as they weren't allowed in where he was going.

"This is depressing. I Can't imagine how you guys are feeling." He said sarcastically as he marched through the halls of the prison. Despair and anxiety were hanging in the air and he couldn't imagine himself ever working in a prison. stuck in this atmosphere all day, he would rather keep being emperor and sitting at home sipping his strongest alcohol until the day he died. Rather that than this. As his mind wondered, the guard that was guiding him stopped and looked at the paper he held in his hand. "T-This is it, Sir Amell!" He made himself scarce quickly after that.

"Anyone in there?" Amell gazed into the pitch-black cell, knowing fully well that it was occupied. When he didn't get a response he took a step forward and walked through the bars and into the cell. "Glad I decided to work on that. Saves me ripping these bars apart." He sat down on the one chair that was in the cell then turned his head to the corner ahead of him.

"Come, sit on the bed. I just wanna talk." It took a long while, but whoever sat in that corner finally came forward slowly and sat on the bed opposite Amell.

"W-What are you? Some sort of devil or something? I'm not sorry for what I did, so if you're here to take my soul, go ahead."

"Brave words for a mere child. Tell me, what did you do?" Amell waited in silence for an even longer period of time. The child didn't speak, he sat on the bed and stared into the floor. "You know, you can't make that floor disappear by just looking at it. How about stop staring at that and look at me instead." That somehow got his attention and the boy looked away from the floor and onto Amell who met him with a relaxed smile.

"I know what you did. I think it's brave. A boy should know how to stand up for himself. I want you to know that I think it's wrong that they cast you down here in this isolated dungeon, and expecting you to change. Being here will only make things worse, so that's why I have an offer for you." Amell heard what he just said, and the boy wasn't wrong. He did sound like a devil coming to bargain. As expected the boy denied by shaking his head violently.

"I was right. You are some sort of devil aren't you!"

"I could be, would you want that? Would you like to see the devil?"

"No!"

"Good, for I am not one." Amell made a tiny light at the tip of his finger, just enough to shine a light on him and the boy. "My name is Portgas D Amell. I am a normal human just like you. Well, maybe not exactly like you since you just saw me walking through those bars."

"W-What's your offer?"

"Well, before that. I have introduced myself so now it's your turn."

After a little hesitation, the boy introduced himself. "Orga Nanagear. I want to know your offer now."

"You're not only strong Orga, but you seem quite intelligent too. Let me explain. I am gathering up kids with incredible potential for magic. Not to take over the world or anything. I am here because I want you to join this group. The group currently consists of only girls if that helps your motivation at all." For just a split second, Orga's cheeks grew a little red.

"I would be free here? And, you would become my master?"

"Yes to both. You don't have to call me master. There is a trend going around with people calling me grandpa. Why not stick with that." Amell chuckled, yet Orga just titled his head with even breaking a smile.

"Grandpa?"

"It's an inside joke in our group, I think. Anyway. What do you say? Feeling up for some adventure?"

"O-Okay, I guess I wouldn't mind. Not like I have anywhere else to go even if I somehow got out one day."

"That's what I like to hear! I am going to go and have a quick chat with the warden here. I'll be back in a minute or two." He walked through the bars again. "You'll be out before you know it, just sit tight."

"Okay." Orga laid down on the bed, and with how dark and isolated it was in here, he had no idea what time of the day it was. Or even what day it was.

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