Vote with: Power Stone!
A clock, the ticking of its hands can be heard, even though it is inside a glass case.
Clock, hanging from the arm of an unknown figure—seemingly endless counting. It is clear that a man is holding it, evident from the shape of his flesh, which is lined with spider-like veins.
His hand is resting on a wooden surface coated with varnish, while his fingers are playing on a table.
"Let me go," a young boy struggles while walking awkwardly. A large man is firmly holding onto him, pulling his shirt up from the back, carrying him like a cat.
"You filthy little pests, you think you can escape the nonsense you've done," says the unknown man. "You unruly kids," he grins. "You'll explain to the boss, let's see what punishment he will impose on these trash. Surely, these will have consequences," he laughs.
"Phew, you are the trash," spits a girl who is holding onto one of the companions in front.
Another boy is with them, thin and with a very ugly face—he is the one who got spat on, which caused his irritation. A quick scowl crossed his face after being spat on by that girl. He raised his arm, ready to retaliate against that girl from behind since she was perched on the shoulder of that large man, but the bearer spoke, and he held back. "Are you going to continue what you're doing, Tianok, or will the boss give you a grand reward?" said the man carrying the girl—he forcibly lowered his wide hand. He realized that he might receive pain if he slapped that girl.
"Think carefully, Tianok," one of his companions on the side laughed at him. "Just stay calm, let's wait and see what punishment will be imposed on these trash when the boss finds out what happened to his pets," he grinned irritatingly.
"Don't you know how much we lost from our hard work, you little insects? That was worth one hundred million pesos," he said, raising his voice. "Do you know how big that is, haha, it's worth more than your lives," his voice rose even more. "You trash kids, uneducated ones," he danced his fingers in front of the face of the one he was annoying.
"As if you studied, you didn't even step into kinder garten" the girl suddenly spoke, that was Irene.
"What, how did you know?" he was surprised. "Just a guess, why, but it's obvious from your looks. Just by your face, you wouldn't pass any teacher," she mocked the defenseless man. He wasn't done yet, "You ugly creature," he shouted.
"What?" he was taken aback.
His other companions laughed as if they also had some flaws in their appearances.
"What did you say?" he suddenly got angry, but he still couldn't retaliate in the end.
"Don't get too comfortable, you fools, because when the police find out about your illegal work, you'll all surely rot in prison," Kei suddenly chimed in.
"That's what you think, kid," spoke someone from the other side.
After a few minutes of walking, they finally arrived at the room of the one they called boss. But the girl with him seemed a bit far compared to him.
"Well, well, well, look at that, two bait have arrived," he smirked deeply. "And what crime have those you picked up committed?" asked the unknown man loudly, his two hands clasped over his now-covered face.
"Let me go, let me go," the child continued to struggle, and with just a little more force, his shirt at the back was about to tear. "I will have you arrested by the police, get ready all of you," she said, very angry. "And you won't be able to repeat your wicked deeds, I promise you that," he added, his voice booming without pause.
Out of annoyance, the man carelessly threw Kei to the floor until she collapsed.
"Who is that noisy one who looks like they just came from the market street," he said.
"Boss, you won't like what these two kids did," he finally spoke. "Hmm," he grunted.
"You heartless beasts, you deserve to be thrown into hell," he interjected.
Suddenly, the so-called boss laughed, he let out a loud guffaw but stopped immediately. "Is it hell you're talking about?" he groaned, his fingers playing on the table.
"The pets were released by these two."
"What," he suddenly frowned.
"And if we hadn't caught them, probably nothing would be left of those," explained the man.
"Most of them are scattered on the streets, boss, we didn't have time to bring them back to the station," said one of his colleagues.
"Tss," Kei exhaled.
"About a hundred million was lost to us because of these." What are we going to do, boss? "We can't just let all of this go; these ground insects need to be made to taste severe punishment," he said, his regret evident after those two kids released the animal they had worked hard to catch, which came all the way from Sariaya Forest.
"Don't jump to conclusions," he shouted until that man fell silent in a corner.
"Yes," he suddenly slumped.
"Tell me, boss, what should I do with these two?" one asked in a calm tone.
"Hmm, forget about the lost money, for now we have an important job that we need to focus on and finish tonight," his chilling smile unchanged.
"What is it, boss?" asked the thin man.
"The Dr. called me." Animo Viega," his fingers stopped moving.
"Who is that, Boss?" one replied.
"That crazy old man," a muscular man muttered to himself. "Why, what has he done to you, boss?" he smiled. "Just tell us what to do, boss, my colleagues and I will take care of it," he said, seemingly confident.
"A large amount was demanded in exchange fo what he was asking for". "One Billion pesos," said the so-called boss.
"What, one billion pesos?"
Everyone was shocked by what he said; some rejoiced, but others were stunned.
"But why, boss, that's such a huge amount," he didn't expect that.
"One billion pesos for an animal," he finally said, but he wasn't done speaking yet.
"An animal," thought a colleague, puzzled.
"For a Chuvannel."
The heartbeat of everyone rose upon hearing that, they couldn't believe it—surely they knew that creature.
"That's impossible, boss, we can't capture a being like that, it's almost equivalent to our lives." "If we get caught by the authorities, there's a one hundred percent chance we won't make it out alive from prison," he said, as sweat began to trickle down his cheek—his pulse racing with fear. "You know that, boss, even if you're innocent, you'll still be in danger once they find out we're the ones behind the theft," he thought, deeply anxious.
"Are you scared?" It was a piercing look. "You're right, that Chuvannel is indeed worth a lot more, but that's not the most important thing in this operation," he said, continuing to speak. "First, the important thing is to get that money." Secondly, it's about how you can save yourself without anything covering up the hole you've made," he explained in a serious tone. "Third, I believe that old man is conducting a major experiment that goes against the knowledge of the world we all inhabit, and that's what I want to know," he explained, his chilling smile deepening. "In short, you just need to use your brain, Baguis," he poked his finger into his temple while sharing with his subordinates, implying that he had something in mind that only he knew. "And it's not just the body that matters," he added.
"Aren't you regretting that money, don't you want to get everything you desire?" "Along with the sexy and beautiful women you've long dreamed of," he said, accompanied by an irritating smirk on his lips. "Isn't that what you want, I'm right, aren't I... right?" His smile deepened.
The surroundings fell silent. "That old man is not just some frail old man with only a little life left in this quiet hell," he said. "He is a humble genius compared to us and everyone else." There are still many things I want to know about the world that I haven't answered until now. "Perhaps, he already has the answers I've long been yearning for," he thought, his inhuman expression unchanged.
"If that's what you want, we will do it," he finally agreed. "Sorry, boss," he apologized with a polite gesture.
"That's good then."