chapter 2

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**Chapter 2**

*11 Years Later*

??? POV

*Sigh*

'I really hate this place,' thought a woman with messy black hair and sharp features, 'but this is what I get for declining that offer.'

"If you don't get up this instant, I'm going to kill you," she said, approaching what appeared to be a beaten-up boy.

"..."

'Did I go too far? What are you doing, Satoda? He's just a kid,' Satoda then looked at the boy lying at the back of the room out of the corner of her eye. 'No, I'm doing this for his own sake. He's too weak to survive al kamar. I'm surprised he survived twelve years in this place.'

"Urk..."

"Oh, I didn't expect you to wake so quickly... Hey, kid," Satoda then dashed closer to him.

'!!!'

"Yes?" asked the boy after jumping backward.

"No need to be so tense. I was just curious about something; it's a bit personal."

"Uh... What?" he said, confusion on his face.

"How did you survive this far? You're so weak that I can compare you to a normal citizen. There is a similar case to yours here in JAA, but the person I'm talking about has an older brother, and he had some potential in him, unlike you."

"...I don't know."

Satoda then stared blankly at the blonde kid. *Sigh* "It doesn't matter... training time's over. You can go back," she said with her hand in her pocket. 'I thought I had one left... am I getting too addicted?' She then sat on the training room floor. 'I didn't even ask about his name... I hope he survives until our next meeting.'

...

"Ooof... finally I can rest a little bit," said the kid, scratching the back of his head. 'I hope it was worth the beating.' He then scanned the area to see if there was anyone watching him. 'I always wanted to try this thing... I guess I will keep it for my birthday,' he thought, looking at the piece of cigarette in his hand.

'Hehe, I can't wait to tr-' While he was thinking, he bumped into someone and fell. "FUCK... Oh." When he raised his head, he saw what appeared to be a buff baby wearing a suit and a fancy straw hat. "Umm, I didn't mean to bump into you... sorry."

"Oh~~ there's no need to apologize, dear," the baby said, holding his chin, and then asked, "what's with those black marks?"

The boy then covered his eyes and said, "I got them from Ms. Satoda."

'Just who is this man? Woman? They have a girl's voice but with manly expressions and build. When I bumped into them, it felt like I bumped into a huge rock. He must be someone important from the clothes he's wearing.'

"Hmm~ Etsuko-chan... I see. I don't remember her being so rough." The baby then extended his hand. "Let me see your arm."

"Okay..." He had no choice to begin with.

The baby then began to examine his hands. "Hmm, interesting... interesting." He then licked the bruises on the kid's hands.

'Just what's he doing? This thing has been examining my hand for 10 minutes... now he's licking it?!'

The baby felt his discomfort and said, "Don't worry, I don't have that kind of desires... and I finished examining you, so rejoice."

Then the baby stared at him with no expression on its face.

'Now what? Is he going to stare at me like that forever?'

"..."

"Umm, sir, can I le-"

"There is a huge amount of drugs in your body... even more than the amount in mine... And it's not from steroids."

"Huh?!"

"Dear, can you tell me your name?"

'Oh great, now he wants to know my name... my peaceful life is officially over.' A tear almost came down from the boy's eyes.

"I don't have one..." he said with a blank face.

"You... don't have a name?" The baby asked with confusion.

"Yes... I was born here."

*Sigh* "How troublesome... Well, my name is Natto L. Nerinho, and yes, my name is inspired by that bad-smelling food. Nice to meet you," he said, extending his hand for a handshake.

"Oh yes, nice to meet y-" Before he could finish, he felt like a huge boulder fell on him and he instantly fell flat to the ground. 'WTF is happening?'

"Dear, don't you know that smoking is bad for your health?" Natto then took something from the boy's pockets. "Hmm, where did you get this from?"

"Argh... I," he tried his best to talk, but he couldn't because of Natto's bloodlust and the invisible boulder on his head.

"Answer me or I'm going to turn you into a penguin."

"I... stole... it." The boy's nose started bleeding.

Then Natto grabbed the boy's hand.

'What does he want from me?'

*BANG*

Natto's grip was so strong that the boy's hand muscles and bones couldn't resist the pressure.

"Ahhhrg..." the boy screamed. 'Why is he doing this?' This question was the only thing in his mind.

"From... WHO?" Then Natto grabbed his other hand, ready to rip it out of its place.

"FROM SATODA, YOU FUCKING PIECE OF SHIT " shouted the boy, glaring at him with his bloodshot eyes.

"Hoh~~" Natto exclaimed, his grip loosened. "Good enough."

*CLAP*

Everything then returned to normal. The corridor that was filled with the boy's blood returned to its white color, and the boy's ripped hand returned to its original place like nothing happened to it.

"Huff... huff... huff..." He was still breathing heavily because of what had happened earlier.

"From Satoda... huh? I guess teaching dulled her senses," said Natto, blowing the dust from his straw hat. "But at least she's strong."

Then he looked at the boy and said, "That was a bit rude, don't you think so? Calling me that for no reason."

"Oh... huh," the boy was still in a daze from that experience.

*SIGH* "That doesn't matter. How about we make a deal?"

"Deal? NO tha- I mean, no fuc-" he tried to refuse.

"Tsk, let me finish, you monkey. *Ahem* You see, the higher-ups in JAA have a plan to create future order members... and I want you to participate in it. If you survive, you will get a name and a luxurious life."

"Do I have a choice?"

"You're a bit slow, aren't you? I said this is a deal, and it's a one-time deal because I'm not coming back to this shithole again... and I'm not doing this because of your attitude or disgusting face. I'm just curious about that weird junk in your body."

"Alright... I accept," the boy stood up.

"Good~~, now get the fuck out of my face."

"Wait, when do I start?"

"Now."

"Wha-" Then he was struck by someone in the back of his head.

"Are you sure about this, Mr. Nerinho?" said a rough voice.

"Hmm, why wouldn't I be sure?" Natto glared at the guy.

"This kid looks important to them... he used to live amongst them," the guy pointed at him.

"Oh please, do you really think they care? Most of them sent their children or relatives to Al Kamar. Why would they care about a nameless mongrel? And again satoda is the one who called us to test him "

"I see .. but he doesn't look much to me"

"Well me too ... but after inspecting his inside ... there was a weird substance almost identical to steroids but different at the same time "said natto

"Shouldn't we inform the worm about this ?? " Asked the big guy

" no , we should NOT inform the worm " natto glared at the big guy again "lu tian , do you understand??"

"Yes ."