Earth: The Second

Mr. Green, the Best Information You Can Get!

After chatting with the receptionist of the guild, Adma decides to take the contract letter first. He wanted to learn and digest more about the job as an adventurer before he decides to delve deeper into it. As he just goes outside of the guild, suddenly he hears an angry shout that he is familiar with.

“Traitor!” said the boy. A teenager with short brown hair, the white shirt that he is wearing is stained black between his short pants suspenders. He is Jerry from the orphanage.

“I know I should have kept my eye on you! What are you doing now? Reporting the result of your spying to your boss? Or did you decide to join adventurers so you can receive a lot of money?” Jerry shouted again, his eyes are filled with anger, and his fists clenched. He ready to fight anytime, although Jerry himself knew that he probably can’t win against him.

Oh dear, did not expect this to happen this fast. Adma already expected this kind of scenario, but he did not think that Jerry himself will openly confront him.

from the corner of his eyes, Adma can see the adventurers that just sitting by the entrance are also taking notice of Jerry’s protests, and now they are looking at the boy fiercely.

We are caught too much attention. Thought Adma. He approaches the boy, expecting that they can set aside this quarrel for another time.

“Like hell I’m going to let you away, traitor!” said Jerry again, trying hard to sound intimidating.

“We are in the middle of the street, and aren’t you supposed to do your job? What will happen if they fire you?” Adma tries to shift the boy’s attention, to his priority right now.

“It’s nothing compared to not catching you plotting up with this nest of snakes!” the boy lifts his voice and successfully gaining the attention of some adventurers.

“Come on Jerry, let’s not make a ruckus,” said Adma, he tried to look calm, but deep inside he already wanted to shut Jerry’s mouth.

“Adventurers are all just the same! You are all just money hoarders!”

For his last sentences, Jerry shouted with all of his might. Now every eye in the area is looking at the boy. As if he is a child in the middle of a tantrum because his parent won’t buy the thing he wanted. There must be people who also feel angry towards the kid, but the worst of them just arrived right behind Adma.

“Hey, kid what are we listening to here?” a man around the end of his twenty, with a weird hairstyle, and armor that weirdly flexing his muscle, now standing beside Adma and Jerry. He does not come alone though, one of his companions with the same apparel is also surrounding Jerry.

Jerry grit her teeth, his clenched fist is now shaking.

“What wrong? Cat got your tongue?” mock the companion.

“Hey, brother, if this child is disturbing you, why not just give him a quick punch to shut himself up?” the Weird Hairstyle circle his shoulder on Adma’s back, and acting all familiar and friendly.

However, his action for some reason disturbs Adma, more than the child did. He does not know this weird person, but he already acts chummy and mighty, until the point that he invade his personal zone casually.

Trying not to show how furious he is, Adma asked the Weird Hairstyle guy, that the child is fine, and they are going to go on their way.

“He is an acquaintance of mine, and you see, he just has some misjudge for adventurers. Please forgive him, I will also try my best to educate him after we got home,” Adma said that plainly, with a fake smile, and made-up friendly intonation.

“Humph! Well OK then if you don’t want a little bit of action!” the Weird Hair finally letting go of his arm from Adma. He sounds disappointed.

“But still, educating the children is also our duty as an adult!” Weird Hairstyle quickly turns around. His right foot is swung forward, aiming right toward Jerry’s face. The kid can only see the fragment of his movement, as his instinct responded to the threat by commanding him to lifts his arm, protecting his face. Jerry already expected a kick, but for some reason, a punching sound was heard somewhere else.

And then, screaming.

For Adma, the Weird Hairstyle’s speed of kicking is basically the same as the slowed-down video. It is a simple matter to see his attack, and Adma decides to counter it with a karate chop, right into the man’s shinbone. What is left after that, is just a scream of agony.

“Brother!” now, his companion running to his rescue. The Weird Hairstyle holding his right foot, spouting curses, and groaning. His companion tried to get him up, but his steps are limping now.

Jerry is frozen seeing that man is falling back, while he is hundred percent sure that he is the one who will get kicked.

Adma quickly grabs Jerry’s collar and pulls him far from the scene. They arrived at the merchant’s district, the next Adma’s destination. He ended up cornering the child, in one of the quiet alleys between buildings.

“You’re bold, but i***t,” comment Adma harshly to the kid. “You said something about spying on the orphanage when you are the one who abandons your work to spy on some strangers. And then openly challenge me right on your enemy’s turf? How stupid can you be?”

Honestly, if not because Adma can give that adventurer a physical pain, he probably will slap Jerry instead.

On the other hand, Jerry can not answer, but he is still looking at Adma with a face full of anger.

“Listen. I don’t care if you hate my decision to become an adventurer. But I have a debt to Kiki, Father Risto, and the orphanage. If I want to pay that debt, then I have to work, and figuring out where I want to go next,”

Again, Jerry is not answering. He seemed angry, but he looked down as if he concerned about his decision.

“That is all I have to say, now go back to work. and I will go on my way too.” 

Adma leaves that place first, while Jerry, still angry and confused.

***

“I wonder if that man will arrive today,”

Gon, AKA: Mr. Green, is sitting behind the counter of his shop. A place that packed with merchandise, from kitchenware to tribal decoration. Just like his nickname, the interior of the shop is also decorated with greens here and there. 

Don’t forget that there is also a small bonsai plant, right on the cashier counter. It’s not for sale though, just one of Gon’s hobbies to pass the time.

“It’s already four days, you talking about this ‘man’, sir,” a girl emerges from one of the shelves. She is a human of course, with an outfit similar to a maid’s uniform, round glasses, and long black hair that tied back. 

‘The Man’ that Gon is talking about is indeed Adma. As one of the most successful merchants in the district, he has told stories about the strong individuals that manage to kill a wild bear with his bare hand. No Gon’s thought is wandering around, waiting for the man to appear in his shop.

“Well, his child companion himself told me that he is in some kind of amnesiac status, and might need help,” he paused, then standing on the chair of the cashier. “Where else can you get the best information, if not right on the Mr. Green’s Goodies and Merchandise!” 

he shouted cheerfully, imagining if he is inside one of the commercials, whereafter he said that, a jingle that promotes his shop appeared.

“Mister, can you stop doing that? I’m just finished cleaning you know! And your habit to step on your merchandise will end up badly you know!” protest the maid.

“Oh, my deepest apologies, to my dear colleagues, disciple, and maid!” shouted Gon before he returned to his seat. 

“Drop the ‘maid’ part! You accept me to become your successor, not to tidy things up!” again, the girl is protesting to her teacher.

The girl’s name is Savaraski Rika. She is a 21 years old girl, who worked and studying at Mr.Green. It’s already her third year living in this shop. While she does learn about the basics of working as a merchant, a huge portion of her job is directing towards cleaning and cooking. Her teacher is very used to it, even he himself commands Rika to wear a maid outfit on her working day.

“Isn’t this just the same if I learn to be a housewife!?” there are days when she shouted like this to her teacher. 

Gon, on the other hand, seems very laid back to his pupil. 

“Rika! To be a merchant is to be able to do many things at the same time! Imagine what will happen if your client is someone interested in cooking, and wanted to know which ingredient to increase soup’s flavor? What will you recommend to them!?” Gon placed his left hand at his hip, and his right hand pointing toward his pupil.

“Umm…” Rika is mumbling.

“Fools! The answer is this product called Monosodium! A magic powder to increase the flavor of cooking thousand times to heaven! Next question: If a head butler come inside the shop, and wanted something to clean up their silverware, what is your recommended product!?” 

“Ummm… Teach…” again, Rika just mumble.

“Didn’t you do your homework!? Give them The Round Table’s Polish Cream! The most expensive in the market, of course, we have to make those rich families paying more on the expensive item! Dammit!” screamed Gon again. As if he has some kind of revenge for the rich family.

“No, teach, we have a customer, ”

“What are you talking about?”

Gon just turn his head, when he realized that there is a man, right in front of his counter.

“WHOAH!”

He shouted and jump backward. Not realizing, that between his conversation with Rika, a male just standing there, menacingly. 

“Oh my god, you gave me a heart attack,” protest Gon. “Wait, since when you have been here?”

“Since you started singing,” replied Adma, briefly.