Chapter 1 Meteor punch
Year 923 in the Sun Calendar (West Coast of Givnu Island Samuh Kingdom)
The war between the Kingdom of Gulm and the Government of Rule had just ended, and many countries and people were still trying to recover from it. Consequently, many bandits and unscrupulous hunters were trying to get everything they could: food, gold, jewelry, and every 'kaudi' they could find.
"So, do I need to pay a tax for having a pet now?" asked a girl in a normal green T-shirt and blue short pants.
"Yes, the Kingdom of Samuh might go to war with the Government, and like last time there can be unknown bandits or runaway soldiers who can come to attack and loot us so these hunters will protect us. Right now, they are short on funds, so, like every time, they make a new law on taxes. Now they want a tax on 'travel pets,' based on how much they weigh. You need to pay tax on how much your pet weighs," said karnol, an aged man in knight armor.
"What, Karnol? I need to pay based on how much she weighs?" Mira looked toward a seventeen-foot whale who was swimming in the ocean. "But we are already paying multiple taxes for safety and security! We even give food and drinks for all their food and parties from my sister's restaurant!" she snapped, stomping her feet.
"Yes, Mira, you are right. So, from now on, you don't need to pay any other tax. You only need to pay pet taxes," a man in a formal black suit and pants said, looking toward the orange-haired girl. "And as for food and drinks, we will be paying for that from next week. How about it? I don't have time to chit-chat with you. I told you all the details. Now I am going. I hope next time I don't need to come here again." He turned and left them.
"I will be going then. I also have to tell all the people about the new taxes and try to convince them that if these hunters also leave, who will protect us from the bandits and monsters? You also need to find an association office and register so you don't need to pay tax." Karnol then left too.
Looking toward the back of the aged man, Karnol, who was trying to help everyone in the village get better in life, she sighed and started walking towards the whale who was her travel pet and said, "Timini, I wish I could make you small and pay zero tax to them, but what can I do? I just hope I can find the association office so I can earn money at least."
Timini trumpeted twice—"Timi, timi"—then dove towards the open ocean.
"Hey, where are you going?" she shouted. "Playing again? How much do you want to play? Try not to go too far. We have to return home again tonight," she shouted again, loud enough for the whale to hear. Then she started checking all her supplies and goods.
"Hey, are you done?" said a young man in a blue T-shirt and short pants. He ran toward her and said, "Now I can deliver these. Just let me check. He checked Good, all food products are here. Now I can go and deliver them," he said with a smile.
"Yes, and if you have extra, you can give it to us," suddenly two men in brown T-shirts and long green pants said, coming towards them. "We are a little short on food supplies, so you can loan those goods to us, right?" the first man says.
Mira's face turned red as she clenched her fists and looked towards them with angry eyes.
"Of course, she will help us. We are their saviors, aren't we? She will help us as she can," the second man says, and both start laughing.
"No, we won't help you. These are all Madam D'Souza's supplies. If you want this, ask her. We can't give it to you," she said, knowing that they didn't have the courage to ask for Madam D'Souza's supplies.
"What? You know we can take it for helping you, or are you trying to meddle in hunters' work?"
"No, we are not," the boy tried to smooth the situation. "Mira, let them take the supplies. We can just tell Madam D the full story; she will understand."
Just then, 'Timi timi,' the whale Timini trumpetedfrom the ocean. She was swimming at a very fast speed, and there was a man on her back, sleeping soundly, cross-legged, in a black sleeveless T-shirt and short pants.
Timini was swimming very fast but stopped just before she could crash on land, but the man was sent flying, crashing onto the land a short distance away.
"Ouch, ouch! Did we reach the land?" the man asked, then stood up.
"Who are you?" Mira asked, "and why are you with Timini?"
"Oh, I am Vibho," he replied, "and she helped me when I was drowning in the ocean. She said her friend can tell me where I actually am."
"You don't know where you are?" Mira asked.
"Me and my brothers were traveling when we got separated in a tornado. I need to find them, but I lost my 'vad stick,' so I couldn't communicate with them. Do you have any?" he asked with a smile.
"'Vad stick'? What is that?" Mira asked—but the man cut in and said, "Hey, are you ignoring us?" the first hunter said furiously and loudly.
"No, we are not ignoring you," Arun said in a low voice while trembling. Seeing him, Mira said in an angry tone, "Yes, we are ignoring you, and nor are we going to give you any goods, so leave us!"
"What? You know we take them as a tax for helping you, and you can just cut the money from other taxes. How about it?" the second man said while laughing.
Arun turned toward Mira and said, "I think we need to let them take it, or we might get in trouble. Madam D will understand, but they will not," he says.
"But Arun, they already changed the tax laws this morning, so why are they taking my supplies?" she says in an angry tone.
"But you can't take taxes," the man said, sitting on the land, to the two hunters.
"Why can't we take taxes? We are protecting them from all bandits and soldiers who are trying to harm them," the first man says.
"Unofficial hunters can't take any extra tax or money for any job they take. Don't you know?" Vibho said, looking towards the hunters like they were idiots.
"But we are official hunters," the second man said hurriedly.
"But you don't have any badges," Vibho says in a suspicious voice.
"Our boss has it," the first man says.
"Yes, Boss has it. We are just his subordinates," the second man says.
"Is that so? Then all right then," Vibho started laughing, without thinking they were suspicious.
(Yes, as you can see, he is a fool and slow-witted, but his brothers can handle his mess.)
"So, can we take the supplies now?" they asked.
"No, you can't. Only those with badges are allowed to collect them." Then he laughs and says, "You can just send your boss to collect them," Vibho said while smiling widely.
But Mira found the hunters suspicious and looked towards them with glaring eyes and said, "Are you even a real hunter?" she asked, then looked towards Vibho and asked, "Is there something that proves their identity?"
"Yes, you can check their unofficial pass. Official and unofficial, every hunter has it."
The hunters were stunned for a second. Then they looked at each other, nodded, and took out a small sword and attacked Vibho, aiming for his neck and stomach.
"Hey, why are you attacking me?" Vibho said while dodging their swords.
"I knew it! You are frauds who are trying to take our money in the name of a hunter, aren't you? All of you are taking advantage of us by taking our money and demanding whatever you want!" Mira shouted in anger. She was ready to attack them.
"It's you who won't let us collect taxes," both said at the same time. "If you don't meddle—"
"Meteor Punch!" Both of them were sent flying from Vibho's punch.
Vibho turned and saw that Arun was crying and in a state of utter despair. Mira was on the verge of crying but was controlling herself.
Then Vibho said, "Can you take me to their Boss?"
"Yes, I can, but they are very dangerous. You won't be able to defeat them all alone."
"You can trust me. I am strong," Vibho says and smiles.
"Okay, but please let me deliver all the goods first," Mira asked.
"Okay, I will wait—" Just then, a flying sword made a cut in his arm.
"Ha hahahaha! So, you are the one who is disturbing my plans!"
A man wearing only green pants without a shirt and with two swords, at least six feet tall, appeared. With him were eight more men, all in the same clothes: brown T-shirts and long green pants.
Arun and Mira were trembling with fear. Arun was already crying, but Mira said with a trembling voice in a low voice, "He is their boss, Dulga."
"Hey, Dulga, I need to loot this village tonight, so kill them all fast. I don't have time," said the previous man in the coat.
"What? You want to rob us?" Mira shouted and started crying.