One month later...
In the village chief's office, sunlight poured through a wide window on the wall. The room was filled with stacks of papers and wooden furniture.
Nelson, a short man with dark skin, sat behind the desk. He wore a sharp blue outfit, fitting for a village chief.
Standing before him were two figures:
Harry, a 40-year-old man with a beard, black eyes, and simple green clothing.
Toji, a 13-year-old boy with rough brown hair and brown eyes. He wore a short-sleeved blue shirt and blue shorts.
Suddenly, Ten, Ren, and Kazuma entered the office.
Nelson (laughing):
Well, now we're all here.
Ten:
Hey, Harry… so you're here too.
Harry (smiling):
My old friend...
Nelson (firmly):
Enough chit-chat. Let's get to the point.
Nelson:
You all know why I brought you here.
At the border between the Thunder Village and the Fire Village, there's a box. A box containing highly classified books.
Kazuma (eyes wide open):
Are they really that important?
Nelson:
Yes. These books must not fall into the wrong hands.
The Fire Village has many scientists eager to buy them from us.
Ren:
Can you at least tell us what's inside?
Nelson (snapping):
Are your ears working? I said it's top secret.
Toji (curiously):
What if we open the box?
Nelson (smirking):
It's sealed with a trap. Open it—and boom.
Nelson:
We trust you... But be warned. There's a gang near that border—the Scorpion Gang.
Kazuma (nervous):
The Scorpion Gang...
Nelson:
Yes, drug dealers. Some of our deadliest enemies.
But don't worry. Unless I'm mistaken... you can handle it.
Ren (worried):
We'll do our best.
Harry (quietly, looking down):
I heard the Scorpions used to live in our village...
Nelson:
Nonsense. Just rumors.
Toji (excited):
Let me deal with them! Just give me a chance.
Ten (serious):
Any fight with them means big trouble.
Focus on one thing: the box.
Nelson (standing, pointing to a map):
You'll travel through the Florin Route, through desert terrain filled with caves and cliffs. Eventually, you'll reach the Fire Village gate.
Guards will hand you the box. Then you return.
Ren (tense):
Do we have a time limit?
Nelson:
No deadline. But beware...
That cave system is the gang's territory.
Many we sent there never returned.
Kazuma (closing and opening his eyes with resolve):
A secret box and a deadly gang… sounds like a fun adventure.
Nelson (stern):
To be honest… The Scorpion Gang's leader used to be one of us—until he committed an unspeakable crime. We exiled him.
Outside, the group stood before a wooden cart pulled by dark oxen. A brown horse was tied to it.
Nelson:
Don't disappoint me.
They boarded the cart. The driver wore a white mask and a blue-striped shirt.
Kazuma (eyeing him):
Why the mask? It's boiling out here.
Nelson:
Leave him be, Kazuma. He doesn't talk much.
Kazuma laid back. The heat was unbearable—like fire melting the world.
---
The cart rolled on through a vast, empty road.
Caves, cliffs, and endless desert stretched around them.
On a mountain to the east…
A black boot stood at the edge.
The camera panned up—legs, torso, face.
A mysterious figure in all-black stood, a dark scarf wrapped around his neck, hood over his head, and a black mask on his face.
He held the end of the scarf in his right hand.
---
Back in the cart...
Ten and Harry were asleep, snoring.
Kazuma, Toji, and Ren were sweating, exhausted.
Driver (softly):
We're almost there.
Kazuma (sitting up):
Really? Where's the gate?
They spotted a massive wooden gate, carved with strange symbols.
Ren (parched):
I need water... I can't take this heat.
Toji (about to faint):
My throat's dry...
The cart passed between two massive cliffs.
They reached the entrance. Flames lit up the area. The ground was paved with gray stone, and organized market stalls filled the place.
Kazuma (to Toji, excited):
Let's explore!
Toji (grinning):
I'm in! Let's go!
They jumped off the cart.
Ren (anxious):
Wait! You'll get lost!
Toji (laughing):
Relax. We'll be fine!
Ren put her hand to her forehead and sighed.
---
Kazuma and Toji stopped by a meat vendor.
They drooled while waiting for the food.
Vendor:
Where're you kids from?
Toji (eyes sparkling):
Thunder Village!
Vendor:
Oh, Thunder, huh?
Toji:
Is the meat ready yet?
Vendor (chuckling):
Haha, almost done.
The vendor, an older man in his fifties, handed them two pieces.
Vendor (smiling):
Here, on the house.
Kazuma (laughing shyly):
Haha, thank you, sir... We had no money anyway.
Toji (whispering):
Were you planning to steal it?
Kazuma (grinning):
Maybe...
Suddenly, a voice called out:
"Leave him."
They turned around—Ten, eyes full of cold seriousness.
Vendor (whispering):
Ten...
Ten (furious):
Couldn't you find another vendor?
The vendor went silent.
Kazuma (mouth full):
Why not? He's a nice guy.
Ten (grabbing them by the shoulders):
You don't know what he did. If you did, you'd hate him.
Vendor (shouting):
Still holding that against me?
Ten (cold):
You stabbed me. You betrayed our family.
Vendor:
That was the past...
Ten (grim):
I'll never forget what you did.
---
Later, they sat under a tent at a table with five chairs.
Kazuma:
You know that vendor?
Toji (innocent):
Was he a friend or something?
Ten (blankly staring at the table):
I wish he was just a friend.
Kazuma (curious):
What do you mean?
Ten (deep breath, hands on the table):
He was my older brother... But he did something I can never forgive.
Kazuma:
What did he do?
Ten (eyes sharp):
I'd rather not talk about it.
Ten leaned back, tapping the table.
Ten:
Just thinking about it makes my blood boil.
Silence.
Ten stood up.
Ten (serious):
Please, go back.
Toji:
But what are you going to do?
Ten:
Talk to my brother. Alone.
Kazuma (insistent):
We can't just leave you.
Ten (c
old glare):
Go. I'll be fine.
They hesitated… then nodded.
Kazuma:
If anything happens, call us.
Toji (hopeful):
Maybe he had his reasons.
Ten (cracking a small smile):
Don't worry. Just a talk.
Kazuma and Toji walked off.
Ten marched forward, rage in his eyes.