Kichu walked through the slums looking for the kid. But he was nowhere to be found.
After asking around, he arrived at a small hut. Honestly, it could barely even be called that.
He peeked inside through a broken window and saw the boy laughing and talking to someone.
"That little bastard," Kichu muttered, ready to enter—
But then a gentle voice stopped him.
"Did you eat, Marly?" a woman asked weakly.
"Yeah! You won't believe it, sis. I met an awesome guy today. He gave me a lot of apples. I ate one and brought the other for you. Look, I'm a good brother," the boy said proudly.
Kichu looked again and saw a woman lying sick on a worn-out bed.
"Someone told me you borrowed money from some lenders. Did you repay that?" she asked.
"Oh, that? Already paid. Like I said, I've got a job now. They're paying me a lot. I'm saving it all for you. I want to get you treated. Just trust me."
"It's no use, Marly. It's incurable. Even Dr. Lin said so. Don't waste money on me."
"It'll work, I know it. We'll leave this planet someday, and you'll get better."
The boy hugged her tightly. She patted his head with teary eyes.
Kichu slowly stepped away from the window.
"That little bastard…" he muttered again, this time with a strange mix of frustration and respect.
Back in the city…
Roco and Fizz were still searching.
"Where the hell is he?" Roco grumbled.
"Give me a sec..." Fizz said, then disappeared for a moment and reappeared. "Nope. He's not nearby."
As they walked, voices buzzed around them.
"You heard? Some guy took down the whole Leech Gang!"
"Alone?"
"Yeah! One of the gangsters is still stuck in a tree!"
Roco and Fizz glanced at each other.
"You think it's him?" Fizz asked.
Roco didn't answer—just turned around and walked faster.
Soon, they found a crowd near the city's edge. People were gathered around a tree, pointing and laughing.
"Look! That guy's still stuck!"
Roco and Fizz looked up. Sure enough, one of the gangsters Kichu fought was dangling in the branches.
"Yep. It's him," Roco said, turning back toward the slums.
Fizz followed, shaking his head. "Of course it is."
Meanwhile, outside the slums…
Kichu stood near the pathway, waiting. Eventually, the kid came walking down, singing to himself.
Kichu jumped in front of him.
"Got you, kid."
"Ah! Let me go!" the boy struggled.
"Why'd you lie to me?" Kichu said, holding him tightly. "I'm not letting you go until you explain."
"You're hurting me!"
"Your tricks don't work on me anymore."
"I just… I had to," the boy finally said.
"Tell me the real story. Maybe I can help."
"Help?" the boy scoffed. "Haven't heard that word in a long time."
Kichu slowly let him go. "I'm faster than you, so don't even think about running."
"I don't trust anyone. That's why I lied."
Kichu frowned. For an eight-year-old to feel this way… how cruel is this place?
"If you die here, no one buries your body. Everyone just wants money. No one cares. My sister is all I've got. She's really sick. I don't even know what it is—it has a long name. But I want to destroy that disease."
"Is that why you borrowed the money?"
"No. I want to get her off this planet. The doctors here can't save her. I'll buy a pod and go somewhere better."
"When?" Kichu asked.
"You can get a small pod for 160,000 Xe in the black market. I've saved 37,800 Xe so far. I'll keep working."
Kichu raised an eyebrow. "You think that's going to happen in time? What if her condition gets worse?"
"She'll make it. I believe it."
Kichu stared at the kid for a moment, then smiled and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"You're brave, kid. I'm glad that even in a place like this, someone like you exists. I'll help you. Because you told the truth. Or is this another lie?"
"It's not! I swear. But how are you gonna help me? Are you rich?"
"Kind of," Kichu smirked. "Come on. Let's go see your sister."
The kid looked at him with amazement. For the first time, he genuinely trusted someone.
They arrived back at the hut.
"Come inside, sir," Marly said with pride.
"I've been waiting to tell you—Kichu is fine," Kichu said with a grin.
"You're my master now. I'll do anything for you. Master!" Marly announced dramatically.
"This kid…" Kichu muttered, sitting on a wobbly chair.
"I'm sorry I don't have anything better," the boy said.
"I'd be happy sitting on the floor."
"Who's this?" his sister asked, waking up.
"He's the man who's going to save us!" Marly said.
"Yo. I'm Kichu," he waved.
"I don't know, Marly… why would he help us?"
"He's a good man. I can feel it."
She looked at Kichu suspiciously.
"Can we talk in private?"
"Sure," Kichu nodded and looked at Marly. The boy stepped outside.
"What are you really planning?" she asked, her tone sharp and serious.
Kichu blinked. "I just want to help you."
"Why? I've lived my whole life here and never seen true kindness. Everyone wants something. So tell me—what do you want?"
"I'm not from this planet," Kichu said softly. "But I've seen enough pain to know I want to ease it where I can."
She stared at his face for a moment… then smiled faintly.
"I don't know why, but… I believe you."
"Great. Let's get out of here," he said, helping her into a wheelchair.
"Are we going now?"
"Yeah. I caused a bit of a mess. Not safe to stay."
She looked back one last time. Even though the room was full of objects, to her, it felt completely empty.
"Is there anything valuable you want to bring?" Kichu asked.
"Valuable? If we had anything like that, I wouldn't have let my brother suffer."
She turned away without hesitation.
As they stepped outside...
The path was filled with dozens of men. The Leech Gang had returned.
"Ah… fuck," Kichu muttered, drawing his sword.
"Hey kid," a scarred man stepped forward, "I heard you messed with our gang. You think you can just walk away?"
Behind him, Marly was tied up and unconscious.
"Marly!!" his sister cried and collapsed from the wheelchair.
Kichu rushed to her, helped her back into the chair, then turned around.
"This… is more than I expected," he muttered.
He darted toward Marly, but the scarred man blocked him, swinging. Kichu dodged, grabbed Marly, and slashed.
More men rushed in. One attacked Marly, still strapped to Kichu's back. Kichu twisted to shield him.
"Shit! I can't fight and protect him at the same time!" he cursed.
He looked at Marly's sister, still sobbing.
"Damn it…" He spun his sword and held it high.
"Give up already!" the scarred man shouted, charging.
"Give up? I gave up on giving up a long time ago!" Kichu shouted, kicking the man in the gut and slicing through others.
"Surround him!"
They came from all directions. Kichu blocked, slashed, dodged. But it was too many.
Suddenly..
A massive gust of wind blasted through the crowd, sending gangsters flying.
"Yo! You good?" Fizz appeared, smirking.
"Barely," Kichu replied, blood trickling down his face.
The scarred man lunged at Fizz...
BANG!
His arm exploded in pain from a shot.
Roco stepped forward, spinning his golden revolvers.
"Bleeding for these chumps? Pathetic."
"Who called you?" Kichu said, grinning.
"You taking them to the ship? We'll handle the rest," Roco asked.
"Exactly what I was thinking," Kichu said, setting Marly down.
"I'll take them," Fizz said and vanished with Marly and his sister.
Roco cocked both guns.
"Now, who wants to die first?"
Kichu raised his sword.
"You're all gonna die Assholes..."
And the two charged forward.
Yeah… the deadliest duo continues.
-To Be Continued.....