[Pfft.]
I spit on the floor as the last of the annoying sons of bitches leaves the room. There's no real reason for spitting, but since all the tough guys in the movies do it, the rat kid does it too.
But, whatever. Back to business.
"Din, din, din."
[Service, service.]
I say as I tap the reception bell and look at the receptionist vixen next to Carla and the others.
[[[[…]]]]
But, for some reason, all I get is a widespread uncomfortable silence.
Ahhh, rich, rich discomfort. What a great way to wake up.
[Wench, how's my order coming along?] –I finally ask the vixen, who doesn't move from the counter.
[…It's in process] –although she was stunned for a few seconds, she finally returned to her cold expression and replied.
[And how long will it take?]
[I don't know, how many years do you expect to live?]
[Until you fulfill my damn order.]
[I see that as difficult. That rotten brain of yours won't last that long before decomposing.]
This wench keeps exciting the rat kid for some reason. Stop exciting the rat kid, damn it.
[Orangutan grandpa, she's bothering me] –I appeal to my new convenient card, just to see.
[Come on, Flora, you already have his request, don't you? Look how desperate he is. Don't you feel sorry for him?]
That's right, don't you feel sorry for the rat kid? The rat kid needs results to increase his profits. The rat kid needs his naked sponge bath.
Although it was agreed they'd give it to me even if I don't get any results, the rat kid cannot accept payment without results. The rat kid has principles.
[Stupid old man, did this apocalypse break your brain? Or have you just gone senile? It's obvious he has some hidden motive for this information.]
But, even so, you still looked for it, wench.
[Aren't you being hard on your superior?]
[Huh? Do you think any of us will have a job after today?]
[Isn't it rude to discard me as soon as I lose my power? What happened to the years of trust and companionship?]
[They ended the day you stopped being useful to me.]
I'm in love. This woman makes the rat kid fall in love.
[""Grii, GRIIII.""]
In the softened atmosphere, the goblins break free from Ana's arms and cling to my legs, crying.
[What do you want, tadpoles? Can't you see the rat kid is in the middle of getting another wench for his harem?]
[I'd rather die.]
Fear. Could this be the end of the rat kid?
""Griii, griii.""
Indifferent to my words, the goblins keep clinging to me and crying. I tried to call the girls to do something, but they just shot me a glare that said: "comfort them properly or you'll see."
[Fine, fine, the rat kid understands.] - I say as I crouch down to their level.
[You feel frustrated for not being able to do anything, right?]
At my question, they hesitate for a few seconds before nodding, clenching their fists.
[Well, that's what happens when you're weak.]
I say it while patting their heads. Their faces change to a mixture of indignation and doubt.
[Today you are weak, so the rat kid must protect you. So you must become strong so that tomorrow you can fight alongside the rat kid, and even stronger so that, someday, you can protect the rat kid.]
I stop patting their heads and pull their cheeks instead. They're soft.
[Then, the day will come when it's your turn to take care of the weak, and the cycle will begin again. With each cycle, the clan will become stronger. With each cycle, we will be better.]
The goblins' eyes stay fixed on mine, their faces bewildered, apparently processing my words.
That reminds me, do they even understand what I'm saying?
[Did you understand?]
I ask, just in case, and for some reason, their eyes filled with tears again.
""GRIIIII.""
They shrieked as they lunged at me.
[¡GYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!]
In the end, I was knocked over by the force of the two goblins.
......…
[GYAAAAA, that hurts, wench.]
I complain to Carla, who is putting an ice pack on the rat kid's head with the subtlety of an underpaid construction worker.
[Why are you such a crybaby all of a sudden? Where's the guy who popped his own shoulders back into place with a slam?] –she replied with her own complaint.
[What the hell does one thing have to do with the other? If it hurts, it hurts. Period.]
[…Anyway, don't look at me. It's embarrassing] –she said as she looked away, blushing.
She's not the only one. Everyone, more or less, is avoiding my gaze with some embarrassment since my conversation with the goblins, who are now sleeping next to the shitty cat on the side of the room.
[Here's what you asked for…]
As I was thinking that this wasn't the kind of discomfort I was looking for, the receptionist vixen handed me an envelope with the information I asked for. She avoids my gaze too.
[Hehe, if you were always this honest, I'd have nothing to worry about.]
My aunt finally returns with the orangutan grandpa and others, then she started ruffling my hair as she felt proud for no reason.
[What part of "it hurts" don't you understand?]
[Don't be a crybaby.]
[That's what I'm saying.]
My aunt and Carla form a front against me. Do they think I'm happy because it hurts or something?
[Anyway, can we share information once and for all?]
Anything to get out of this uncomfortable atmosphere that isn't the one the rat kid is looking for.
........
[Are you all morons?]
I ask directly after hearing the full story.
[[[[Hey!]]]] – Carla and the others instinctively try to reprimand me.
[[[[[A little, yeah…]]]]] – but the group of chimps admits obediently.
They say that when you narrate a past event out loud, actions that sounded logical at the time can drive you crazy when you examine them in the cold light of day.
["Ahem," not all of us can be carefree teenagers. There are rules, protocols, and chains of command that, as an adult, you must follow, especially us as police officers.]
[We have jobs and families to support, brat. That's being an adult.]
[[[…]]]
My aunt and the receptionist justify themselves, but the rest of the chimps and the grandpa just hang their heads in shame.
[[Don't you have anything to say?]]
The women complain to their silent colleagues, and the girls seem to support them, but the chimps reserve their right to speak and just look away.
[That's all very nice, but… what good are rules to a corpse? Because you all already knew the most likely outcome, to a greater or lesser extent, from the beginning, didn't you?] –I finally ask. I don't even feel like mocking this.
No, you sweet things, you definitely shouldn't be anywhere near this situation.
Assuming that "safe zone" exists, you all should be there, singing Kumbaya.
But you ended up trapped, waiting to die like idiots for not kicking that annoying suit-guy from the start.
[[[[….]]]]
At my complaint, everyone looks away, ashamed.
[Whatever, bring me the suit guy. If he refuses, break his legs and drag him… No, actually, break his legs and bring him even if he doesn't refuse.]
Do you know how many beatings I've suffered because of this stupidity? The rat kid needs to vent.
I could be at home, annoying my harem, but no, I'm here, putting up with this shitty situation without any logical justification.
At least Louise and the others were trapped from the beginning, with no time or way to do anything about it.
[[[[Right away!]]]]
The chimps get up decisively to follow my order. Their atmosphere is quite dangerous. Who knew they were surprisingly useful. Maybe I'll adopt them after all.
[Hey, wait, there must be a better way to get the armory codes…] –Carla gets nervous and stops them.
[[[[Armory?]]]]
We can't help but ask.
[…Ah, right, the armory codes] - the orangutan grandpa gestures with his hand and declares, as he remembers. Now the rat kid remembers too.
[[[[Ummm.]]]]
The girls shoot us murderous looks upon realizing we just wanted to beat someone up for revenge.
[Anyway, we still have some time before the generator fails completely, and even when it does, we'll have a few hours of battery left. How about you help us with a proposal that doesn't involve direct conflict?]
[But conflict is the easiest way. The rat kid likes easy.]
Easy is to the rat kid what corrupt is to a politician. Part of his essence, never one without the other.
[Astrad.]
Fear…