Leap

Chapter 11 - The Chivalrous Thieves

Louie wander in the city to reflect on what he did

Louie is talking to himself

"What's wrong with her? I only care for her, i want to protect no one none other than her. Serenia you stupid, we still don't know who are we dealing with, yeah, i admit it i am hero who is not living up to it's name, because i choose who will i want protect, i chose to protect only you, the marikeños, and Diane. No, maybe, maybe Serenia's is valid and i'm the one who is not, what kind of hero am i, prioritizing my selfish desires rather than being a hero, so i am a hypocrite i am no different from my bullies, this is so hard."

He saw a bar in the alley, he enters

"This is a good timing, might want to forget my problems for a bit"

He decided to have a drink there

"Sir what drink do you prefer?"

"Give me any, something that kicks quickly"

He got drunk quicky since he has low tolerance in liquors, while drunking himself, he saw the delinquents who wants to sell and r**e Serenia.

"T-t-those bastard again, i can help it, i think i wanna beat them, messing with Serenia, like they d-d-dont know their places... hmmm should i trash them here right now?"

Louie saw the Leather where Serenia's pic is inscribed held by one of the delinquents

"Hey, hey, wait, is that the Picture of Serenia, why is he holding it, are these goons still plotting something to Serenia, now i have another reason to beat them to pulp, prepare yourselves you bastards.

He was about to attack them but he saw the delinquents went in a room with Marco the leader of the city and his body guards, he was in a bit shock.

"Why is the leader of this city doing with that kind of people?"

He remembered Marco is interested to Serenia, he assumed the man's trying to abduct Serenia

Louie think and came to realization

"Those bastards is trying to sell Serenia to that man, the one who have lust on Serenia, of all the people why it has to be you, Marco! Is this how you play things, then i'll play your games with pleasure!! I am sorry Serenia for working for this bastard, who doesn't even respect you."

"But wait, i need to hear more about their schemes"

Louie eavesdrop in their conversation to know what they're trying to accomplish

"Boss the slaves are now ready to be trade, we only need to worry about the transportation"

"Worry no more, we have an adventurer, he seemed reliable, i will hire him after the subjugation of the Thieves hideout. By the way, are you sure about this girl, you had her earlier?"

"Yes, boss, we captured her earlier wandering around looking for someone, he said "a man in a black suit" we led her to secluded to restrain her, but unfortunately something happened, a smoke filled the area just like what happened in the plaza, and she disappear, but that was good thing, her subordinate came after her, we got beaten by him, good thing he left, about the girl i think the thieves have her, but do not worry i cast my tracking skill on her so as long i have mana i can keep her on my watch. See it will be two birds one stone, you will know the hideout of the thieves and get the girl, too, the only problem now is the adventurer"

"You impress me there, give me their location, once i have the girl, i will pay you all tons of money, hehehehhe, and about Louie the adventure, leave me to him, i got someone who can deal with him"

He is being hesitant wether he will help the thieves or go along with Marco

"Serenia might get in danger i need to warn them"

"Should i team up with the thieves, then or destroy this bastards right here, right now? But i want to spice things up, i'll make sure you will regret messing with me, you pig"

Louie left the bar

He decided to went back to the thieves' hideout, he dig out again using his earth manipulation skill

"Earth manipulation magic: diverge!"

The rumble 'caused ruckus, he got back inside the hideout, the people attacked him

He tried to explain, while defending their attacks

"Wait, wait i-i-im not here to fight, i am here to talk, where is Serenia? Please call Serenia, i need to talk

Serenia and the man came

"Serenia! I-i'm sorry for being selfish awhile ago, i am the wrong one, i admit it, please talk to mee-e"

Serenia is a bit irritated

"You reeks of alchohol, don't talk to me, i can smell it"

Serenia turn back and went in a room

Louie got a little worried

The man in black talk to Louie

"follow me mister Louie, i will help you sober"

They went to the cafeteria and brewed some coffee

While they are drinking, Louie and the man in black uit had a talk.

"Mister Louie, i am Andres the leader of the thieves, what's your buisness in here?"

Andres took of his mask as he introduces himself

Louie got a strange feeling on how Andres talk to him

"he doesn't talk like any other, i felt relaxation when he talked"

"Ughm, i am here to help you all, but first i want to know your side, will you explain me, what's going on in this city"

Andres replies

"Mister, Before i talked for our side let me tell you the history of the Nihonggo. Decades ago this is just a normal town like the others, i wasn't born back then, one of the first hero named  Hideo Kaseki the founder of the Nihonggo came to this place  who is being attacked by the horde of halimaw's and it was total disaster, but Hideo fought them and succesfully eliminating the whole horde, the village was destroyed and survivors were in grief, mister Hideo decided to not leave and settle, he then use his knowledge and shared it to the survivor to upgrade the village and eventually turned it into a city, he built 3 walls sorrounding the city, it was a brilliant idea he got from a manga he read he say, people were drawn from far places and settle down in here it became almost par with the kingdom, everything was alright, until these last two years, the hero Hideo left for the lower floor along with the other heroes, goodthing my father the former subordinate of the hero Hideo left the city to him, everything was fine then, but my father was killed and a thief was the 'cause, but i don't believe it since my father is stronger than everyone and he is indeed love by everyone, the city must have a ruler, so they picked the next in line, my uncle Marco, the city was fine at first but as time passes the city got in consequences, my uncle established something that some citizen experienced poverty, i overheard him getting excited on something and said "things were going as planned, rest assured my lord", yeah back to the story, he introduces people with paper money instead of gold, this city is now using money instead of ores, so the golds, silvers, and bronzes were traded to money, The money's value was fine but over time at no reason the money's value fell, we realized that money is just a paper the value can be manipulated. the resources got expensive for the commoners, they experienced poverty, while the rich getting more rich, they were forced to work so they would survive, some people want to get out of the city, but they don't have a protection from halimaws they can't hire any adventurer 'cause they don't accept paper money, some tried to borrow money, but it so hard to earn money they fail to pay in due, the debt increases, so they had no choice but to be slave, the slave were being sold to other places, that's where i step up to be a thief and steal to fortunate like my uncle, and that's the time were i realized too that my uncle is greedy and have something to do with my father's death. That's all"

"Ohhh, that's some great and sad story, no wonder the potion were so expensive, i now feel grief for the people of this city, i want to fightback alongside with the citizen of Nihonggo, so what's your plan?"

"Serenia and i plan, is to help this people get out of this city, i know you're strong enough to defend them until they reached another places"

"What? What kind of plan is that, gimme a second can you please call Serenia, i really need to talk to her."

Serenia decided to came over

Louie tries to talk things through and apologize again

"Hey, Serenia i didn't know that that bastard, uncle of him is destroying this beautiful paradise, but i finally have a decision, so please forgive me, let's get along.. hihihi"

Serenia replied with a blush on her face

"Fi-fine, just do what a hero does, and we will get along"

"Thank you! My final decision is.... i won't help you Andres.."

"Whaaattt? Did i heard you wrong mister?"

"No, Andres you heard me right, i won't help"

Serenia Smashed Louie's head

"You stupid big bro, getting chummy with me and now you're taking it back!!! Leave this place, i won't going with you anymore"

"No! Please wait i'm not done talking, what i am trying to say is i am not going to help you help these people leave, and plus i have a question for you? Andres"

"What is it mister?"

"Are you ready to kill your Uncle, for revenge?"

"I don't care about killing uncle my task my father left me is to help these people, guide them, i don't care about revenge anymore."

"So, my plan is really fit to happen, i have another question for you? Are you ready? To be a ruler?"

Andres got surprised with Louie

"Wh-hat? A ruler what do you mean?"

"You are gonna lead this people, we will destroy this system your uncle made, and we will replace it, and you are gonna be the ruler. Instead of running from home, these people will not leave home rather they will chase out the cancer of this nation, you're uncle."

"But mister our plan is not to involve you all this much, we chose not to trouble you furthermore."

"No, it's now my problem too, it's a heroes job to eliminate, something that is not right, and plus no one disrespects my precious friend."

Serenia got surprised with excitement

"You really love me, big bro don't you?"

"Yeah yeah, i love you but not as i lo-love Diane!"

"So here's the plan, the operation will happen in the Auction tomorrow night, the thieves will robbed the items, that will be serving as the funds of the Citizens  and that will cause the ruckus  and you will be there not as the man in a black suit but as a noble rather, i'll be the one who takes that role, when i completely destroys your Uncle and the one involves in his schemes, you will be the one who will defeat me as show, to get people's favor, and finally we will leave the city, because i heard there will be incoming guest from the kingdom, it will be better not to met them."

"i am sure you will be the one to rule this city"

"I see so that's what you've been thinking all along, i completely agree with the plan, i promise mister Louie i'll make this country prosperous again"

"But are you sure, you know the risk, right, if you fight this city, you will attract attention from the kaharian too"

"I know that very well, i don't know what surprise your uncle might be hiding, but i definitely will be stronger than them."

"The only way to pass this obstacle is to be stronger"

"I'll promise i will be stronger so don't worry about me"

"My big bro is really the best"

"now, now, we should inform the others."

- end of chapter 11-