The next day.
"This is the cheapest one we got here, kid. Two rooms, one kitchen, and a bathroom. Now, I don't want to be rude, but I trust that I didn't just waste my time here showing this apartment to you."
"Worry not, I have the money."
This apartment was your typical Omashu house. It was made of stone with a green tile roof and was stacked like other houses on the hill. It was clean and all, but I didn't trust the foundation of this, so after moving here, I planned on strengthening the walls and the ceiling since this one was on the first floor.
I could survive a full collapse of this apartment building, but I can't stay the same as Bumi and the soon-to-be members of the group, so I have to be cautious. You never know, a fight can suddenly break out between Earthbenders, and they suddenly fancy this apartment as an ammo.
After all, this is going to be our house and base. It needs to be well-protected.
"It's decent. I will take it. How much is the rent?"
"24 gold edge copper coins per month."
1,200 copper per month? Not too bad, but it seems that I'll have to increase the business income. With the addition of new members, the expenses will rise.
"So, when do you plan to pay? Speaking of which, do your parents know about this?"
"My parents kicked me out and gave me money to live by myself."
It was obviously bullshit, but the message behind my words was, "Mind your own business." The man didn't seem to take it in a bad way, as he just smirked.
"Well, I don't really care. As long as you're able to pay me, then do whatever you want. So when are you going to pay, and when are you moving in?"
"I have something to do today, so tomorrow."
–
Bumi walked aimlessly through the northern parts of Omashu, where slums were prevalent and where crimes were the highest, at least from what he heard from adults speaking. And slums mean poor kids, and poor kids mean easy recruitment.
Though that's not what he was here for, he was only a scout while Guan would decide if they were eligible for joining their group. He still didn't fully understand the intention behind this move, but he would trust his new best friend since this week had been enjoyable and the fact that he didn't need to steal anymore to feed himself.
He was now eating whatever he wanted or whenever he wanted! The Bumi of now guaranteed that the Bumi of the past would never believe this.
At first, his only goal in life was to steal food to survive until he could join the Omashu army and rise through the ranks, but Guan had given him a new goal in life. It was to be rich as hell!
Now that he had a taste of what it was like to have money, he didn't want it to end. He still didn't know what to feel about the cheating part of making money, but as long as he didn't need to worry about food again, then he didn't need to put too much thought into it.
Guan and he weren't targeting those that looked poor anyways, and only those that looked well-fed and rich. They even donated coins to those struggling and at their lowest wherever they saw one, so it's not like all they did was bad. That's what Guan always said to him.
And his morals always leaned on believing them.
'Kaa! Why are there no kids here that look orphaned like me?! I mean, that's a good thing…'
Shaking his head, Bumi continued to look around more until he saw a kid walking around in dirty clothes, begging whoever stranger came by. Even though he had been alone for many years, he knew how to take care of himself, so this one looked very pitiful.
Taking 10 copper coins from his pouch, he approached and dropped them in the hand of the beggar kid, then walked away immediately.
"Thank you!"
What Bumi didn't know was that a few eyes saw what he did from the start. They saw how filled his pouch was, and they smiled, knowing that another rich kid with an insane-looking expression entered their territory.
As Bumi continued to walk on the street, he suddenly felt a kick on his back, making him fall forward, face-planted first. It's not the first time he kissed the ground, but he certainly didn't like it, especially when someone made him do it.
Bumi could tell that his face got some scratches from this one, as he felt a tingling, painful sensation on it.
"Keuk! That hurts!"
"Stay down!"
As he was trying to stand up, he felt a kick on his butt again, making him fall forward like before.
Then, out of nowhere, hands started searching his body, trying to find something. It stopped when it touched his pouch.
"Found it! We got a big catch today, boys. This thing is heavy and packed!"
'Oh, these friggin' thugs! They want the money! My hard-earned money! Keke, well, not really hard-earned, but still!'
He felt anger rise within him as he found the intention of these people. Raising his hand and clenching it, he smashed it on the floor, causing the ground to form a big rectangular rock which propelled whoever was on his back upwards.
"Ahhh, what the hell!"
"Keuk! I bit my tongue!"
Bumi then swiftly turned himself around and used his bending to help him quickly stand straight. His eyes watched as the thugs dropped on the floor with groans following after.
"Kekeke, you bastards really think you would get my money?!"
He took the punch that fell on the floor alone, then proceeded to use his bending to cuff their feet with earth.
"There, that should be enough punishment."
Just then, his eyes suddenly caught that he was causing a scene now and many people were currently watching him. This was bad, really. Guan told him that he should keep a low profile around a crowded area and not use his bending if not necessary. They were at war right now, and Omashu would soon start sending troops to the frontline, and if they found out that he could earthbend, then they might draft him!
'This is bad. I have to leave now!'
As Bumi left the scene, he didn't notice that someone had noticed him again. This one didn't care about the pouch of money that he had, but his ability to earthbend at such a young age and at a good mastery too.
"What an interesting kid. Let's see where he's going after this."
–
"Oh, Guan, why aren't you entering?"
The waitress at the soup shop named Toka asked me while I was waiting outside the shop.
I returned her smile back as I gave a reply.
"I was waiting for Bumi here. We have something to do today, so maybe later."
"Ah, I see. Then I will wait for you two inside then!"
She was a truly beautiful and innocent girl, about 4 years older than me, with typical black hair reaching her waist that was always tied in a ponytail. Her eyes were pretty pure, as usual, and combined with her pure white skin, she looked like a model but with an apron.
[Image]
Though I didn't want to start pursuing her, since I'm still in the starting phase of my plans and getting distracted from it could slow me down.
And there's a main problem right now...
'Where the hell is Bumi?'
I've been waiting here for about 20 minutes. The plan was to look out for any potential recruits, then immediately come back, whether he found one or not, so it shouldn't take him too long. And he's never the type of kid who would want to disappoint his friends, especially me, who is someone he heavily relied on right now.
Then I realized something... He always has a pouch filled with coins with him for some reason, and he has entered a dangerous part of the city... That was enough for me to start getting some other conclusions as to why he's late...
'I just hope that nothing happens to him. I'll wait 10 more minutes, then I'll start finding him.'
However, at the end of my thought, someone entered my view.
It's Bumi.
And he had a bleeding face, but he was still smiling.
I immediately rushed towards him and grabbed his shoulder.
"What the hell happened to you, Bumi?!"
Bumi just laughed and scratched the back of his head.
"Hahaha, this is nothing. Some thugs found me having money and decided to rob me, but I managed to subdue them and quickly leave the area before things went bad."
"How can that be? No, never mind. Let's ask Toka and others to fix your face, brother. You look terrifying, especially with that smile."
I was smiling outside, but I'm really in a rage at what they've done to a friend of mine. His face is damaged, and there's a dusty footprint on his back that tells me they kicked him from the back, two times! Those pieces of shit will pay for this.
It also put me in a spot where I have to learn seismic sense as fast as possible so I can teach it to Bumi and future members.
"Oh, I was wondering where the kid was going. Are you two brothers?"