CH 20

The kitchen was now full of children that are looking for something to eat. There was a line that was so long that children were lined along the four walls just so that they won't block everyone else's way. In the middle of the room was a pair of men who were holding on to batons.

One of the men was young, wearing a soft smile on his face while holding the baton with one hand over his shoulder. His 'Metallina' shirt and pair of board shorts painted a mismatch picture showcasing his lack of fashion sense, or maybe just lacking in money to buy better clothes.

The other man was older, sterner looking and his body exuded a certain glow. A shine that comes from the top of his head that lacks any hair and the fact that he was standing right below the single light bulb in the room. It was so bright that it causes the children to close one eye when they glance at his direction. The man wore a security guard uniform, a long sleeve shirt and black pants with some accessories across the whole attire. He wore a frown while holding his arms behind his back.

It was then that a pair of little boys around the age of 4 were heard laughing at the corner of the room and one of them was holding a hand over his mouth while the other held the bowl he would use to collect his share of food. The laughter would have been inaudible in another room, but in this place where the only thing that can be heard is a ladle scooping soup out of a pot, the laughter was heard by everyone and their mother.

"You laughing at something, boy?"

The stern old man was walking towards the boy who was holding his mouth earlier. The boy didn't respond with words, choosing to just shake his head vigorously while raising his bowl that was only large enough to protect his chest.

"You think my bald head is funny? Is that why you're laughing?"

" Hick. N-no sir! I just told him about th- Smack. "

"Was I asking you? Keep your mouth shut and fuck off, you little shit!"

The man slapped the other boy away with one hand. The kid was now lying on the floor while a red mark that fit the old man's palm print was now plastered on his young left cheek. The boy was crying while snot fell out of his nose, but no sound was heard. He didn't dare to let out a whimper.

No one tried to help him, some even went out of his proximity to not get implicated. The thing about Gerry is that his anger knows no bounds. In here, Gerry is the king. If you do something he doesn't like, then he would get his way with you. If you do something that he doesn't like, then you will suffer. So just suffer alone.

"You like laughing at an old man's insecurity, you little shit?"

This time the other boy was already crying. The bowl was raised higher and now protected his small head. He knew that he was not going to get out of this unhurt, so he just closed his eyes and waited, patiently waiting for the incoming strike.

" Smack . Ahh! Ahh?"

The sound was transmitted to his ears, but it was strange. He didn't feel a thing, not even a small pinch. Then he heard it, a grunt that he didn't expect to hear.

"Aargh!" He opened his eyes and saw that a brick was lying on the ground. Covered in blood, Gerry's blood. He looked towards the boy holding another brick who was out of line, a blond-haired boy who was taller than him. His eyes glowed an eerily calm blue, but he saw a ripple there. A look of anger.

"Where is she!? Where's my sister!? Thud. Thud. Thud. "

The boy was now sitting on Gerry's chest while he beat his chest with the other brick he was holding. Gerry was probably still unable to move because of the shot on his head so he didn't reply. It was only when another sound different from the sound that a brick hitting meat would produce that Gerry finally came to.

"Ugh!"

"What the heck do you think you're doing little Charlie? Hurting your guardian like that?"

"Where is Tina!?"

The young man who was guarding along with Gerry hit Charles' left rib with his baton. But Charles didn't care, his body was hurt, hurt badly but he didn't care. Tina was missing from their room, and a pool of blood was there. He didn't know whose blood but if he doesn't find his sister soon, he...

"Stay still and calm down little Charlie. Your sister is fine. She was adopted just a while ago, her new parents even went and picked her up already."

The young man was smiling gently at Charles, but Charles knew better than to trust that smile. If you were to say that Gerry was a dominating lion, then this Jason was a snake. A very deadly snake. Charles knew that if he tried to attack him with the same tactic he used to bring Gerry down, he'd only be disappointed.

'Gerry wasn't able to see me. He wasn't alert, that's why I got him down in one hit.'

But Charles had lost reason by this point. A bad feeling was looming on his chest, he had to get Tina back quickly or he might never see her again.

'Big brother! Look at this pretty flower I got.'

'Big brother! Look! Look! This little birdie is following me hehe.'

'I don't feel so good big brother, am I going to heaven?'

Charles was now desperate, his little sister was too weak, too fragile. He needs to be by her side or she might die! He didn't care anymore, he threw the brick towards Jason who simply dodged to the side with ease.

" Tsk. Tsk . Now you lost your only weapon. Lie down on the ground and I promise to make it less painful. Though I can't say the same for Gerry over there, he'll be pretty mad when he wakes up."

Even though the blow to the head made Gerry unconscious, he was already showing signs of waking up. Charles knew that time was running out, he needed to know where Tina is before, before something bad happens.

Then the doors of the kitchen opened. A couple were holding a little girl's hand who was situated in their middle. The little girl's eyes lit up when she saw her big brother but was startled when she saw that he was holding a pained expression while his hand covered his left side.

"Tina!"

"Big brother!"

The two children hugged each other while the others just watched on. Charles held his little sister tightly, while tears of relief were now presenting themselves on his young cheeks. He quickly let her go and checked up on her condition.

Her once pale skin was now giving off a healthy sheen. Her ruddy hair that had lost color was now a deep red again. Even her chapped lips were now soft and smooth. He couldn't believe what he was seeing so he asked her in concern.

"Where did you go? Why was there blood in our room?"

"A man took me from the room. He said that big brother was already with him and that he was taking me to you. But I knew that big brother would come back for me, he promised me so I said no." Tina had a thinking look on her face as she tried to recall what happened earlier.

"He hit me on the head and I don't know what happened after because when I woke up I only saw that handsome big brother and beautiful big sister carrying me. They said that everything was fine and that they would bring me back here!"

It was only then that Charles saw the faces of the people who saved his sister. The handsome man from earlier and the pretty big sister he had with him. The man's face was looking around the room, his face gloomy and his frown became deeper when he saw the state of the three people on the center of the room.

"Why are two kids grimacing in pain while an old man's head is bleeding?"

The man was now walking towards Jason who was still unable to recognize the situation. Instead of replying, he took his baton and placed it over his shoulder while eyeing the beautiful big sister.

"I asked you a question little man, if you don't give me an answer then I don't mind beating one out of you."

Zel was now fuming, his mana was concentrating itself that it became partially visible. At least for the four people in the room who can sense it. Jason was now sweating bullets while stuttering a reply.

"Th- the boy suddenly attacked the Head Guard. Yeah! Then he got beaten by me who was only protecting the Head Guard that he kept attacking!"

Jason was pumping himself up as he answered, he knew he was in the right on this one. What he didn't expect was the man didn't seem to care about him anymore and instead squatted down in front of Charles.

"Was he telling the truth? Did you hurt that man?"

"Yes sir, I did."

Just because he was angry, doesn't mean that Charles was a liar. He did do it, but he didn't regret it one bit. In fact, he would do it all over again if it meant finding Tina. Thankfully big brother and big sister found her, or he didn't know what he would do if they didn't.

"Good, at least you have some guts."

"What?"

He expected big brother to hit him, or at least scold him. He didn't understand why he would praise him for what he did. Could he be a bad man?

"Don't worry about it child, Zel will take care of everything now."

"Yeah, big brother Zel is strong!" The big sister was already by their side before he realized it. Her hand was patting his head while his little sister was hugging his left arm. He didn't know why but his heart felt like it was being squeezed. It was getting harder to breathe, like he was suffocating.

"You don't have to be scared anymore. I promise that everything will be better now, ok?"

"Yeah! big sister Emilia will make everything fine!"

Hearing his little sister cheer the big sister on while giggling to herself, he couldn't help but smile himself. Big sister Lia's words seemed to tug at this heartstrings, causing tears to flow while he kept his smile.

" Sniff. Sniff. Thank you! Thank you so much!"

"You're very welcome." Emilia kept on petting his head while her gentle smile calmed his now lightened heart. The burden of today had taken him to a turning point, one he thought would break him.

But the presence of this big sister and that big brother over ther-.

" Bang. Smack. Thud. " He saw that big brother had moved so fast that he only heard a strike and a slap and then everything was over. Jason was now lying on the ground while big brother was pulling out a phone and dialed something then put the phone beside his ear.

"Hey, James. Yeah, I know it's late. Come on dude, it's not like I'm a trouble maker. Well, yeah, about that. Uh haha, yeah? I guess so. I'm actually in Changhai right now with Emilia. Yeah, I did. Pfft, I'm not going to do that. Yeah, umm, I need your help. I got some kids on an orphanage that needs help. Yeah, their caretakers have been selling kids and I would really love it if you give me the favor of contacting the police here."

Zel had a goofy face on, making the scared children look at him weirdly. The man just beat someone up like it was nothing. He wasn't even yelling or anything, he looked so calm. The children didn't know what to do so they kept still. Just as they have always done.

"Oh come on, I know that you got the connections. Yeah, yeah, I'll get you and Samantha that vacation you wanted. Yes, you can bring Mr. Snuggles with you. Yeah, yeah, I'll take care of it. I'll send you the detail with a text. You too man, see you when I get back. Alright, bye!"

"Is it handled then?" Emilia who was watching from the side went to check up on Zel. She wasn't quite sure about who the person on the other side is, but she can see from Zel's face that he got it handled.

"Yeah, James said he'll take care of it. Let's go get something to eat." Zel rubbed his stomach, he wasn't even able to eat yet when they found that little girl. If Emilia hadn't sensed him, she'd probably been taken away.

"What about the other kids?" Emilia held Zel's hand, showing him a cute pleading look that she knows he can't resist.

Zel looked around the room and counted 37 kids in total. He showed off his trademark smile and Emilia couldn't help but wryly smile in response.

"Hey! You kids hungry?"