What will become of Bell and Luis' new life?Jean managed to save Bell and Luis. But the whole city and soon the island were taken over by the pirates. What will Bell and Luis do now, after they lost everything? By now, they are in the middle of the ocean with a small boat.
Bell: "The city was completely destroyed."Luis: "And everyone we know is either dead or captured."Bell: "This restaurant belonged to my parents. I promised them I would take care of it, and I failed."Luis: "Hey, Bell, that's not your fault. It was those damned pirates."
Jean sat silently on the boat.
Luis: "Now to the important topic, who exactly are you?"Bell: "You said you were a Crimson, what exactly is that?"Luis: "Crimson?"Jean: "(Sighs) Alright, I'll tell you. I'm a Crimson, and Crimsons are like mages, only they don't use magic. They use the Ghosteater and the ability of their bearer. We are born as Crimsons, and each Crimson family has its own element. My family's element is fire. There are others too — water element, stone, air, and many more. Crimsons are not human. They can regenerate quickly, don't age, and can only be killed under certain conditions. Bell, when you were desperate, I told you my family was killed by a Crimson Slayer. That can be done by an ordinary human, because Crimsons are weak against poison and saltwater."Bell: "Saltwater?"Jean: "It has to be a certain amount, but for example, if someone dumped a crate full of saltwater on me, I'd start to melt. The same goes for poison. However, it must be very salty — salt itself is not harmful, but a certain concentration is very dangerous for us Crimsons. As for poison, even a small dose can be enough."Bell: "And could someone still be saved if they were hit with a large amount of saltwater?"Jean: "Yes. Crimsons only die if the heart melts. That means even if the body was completely melted but the heart remained unharmed, then you just have to secure the heart and the body will regenerate until it's whole again. Hmm?"
(Silence) (????????)
Suddenly, both screamed and clung to each other.
Bell: "bbb…b,bb,,, are you even from this… world…"Jean: "Huh? (????????)"Luis: "Ahhh, what the hell kind of people are you? You're not human!"Jean: "How funny, coming from a vampire!"Luis: "Oh right, I forgot."Jean: "Huh? How can you forget that? Apparently, you vampires have no brain!"Luis: "Excuse me, what did you just say!"
They both grabbed each other by the clothes. Suddenly, a strong current tilted the boat a little. As this happened, their hands slipped.
Luis: "Huh?"Jean: "Oh no."
Their mouths came closer until they touched.(Smooch)
Bell: "Huuuh!?" He screamed loudly.
Suddenly the two screamed.
Luis: "Ahhh."Jean: "Oh, that's (vomits)."
They kissed accidentally since they were holding onto each other's clothes and the boat moved due to the current, making them slip.
Jean: "(Vomits) So disgusting!"Luis: "Water, water!"Bell: "(Sweats) Um…uh?"Jean: "Hey, Bell, will I get pregnant now?"Bell: "(Sweats) What kind of question is that!?"Luis: "Are you stupid… a kiss isn't enough for that (vomits)."Jean: " and your mouth was full of blood. Disgusting!"Luis: "That's your blood, you idiot! (Vomits)."Jean: "Still… man, your mouth stinks like shit!"Luis: "Excuse me! (Vomits)."Jean: "(Vomits). That was my first kiss, and it had to be with you (vomits)."Luis: "Why does this keep happening to me!"Jean: "Wait… this isn't the first time, is it?!"Luis: "Exactly, it already happened between me and Bell… so it's even worse (vomits)."Bell: "(Vomits)."Jean: "Huh, why are you vomiting now?"Bell: "I remembered."Jean: "(Sighs) Oh come on… (vomits)."
One moment please, while the three finish vomiting.
Jean: "Oh man, what a day."Luis: "Oh, my stomach, I almost threw up my organs."Monkey: "Bell, Bell, kissing, kissing."Luis: "Shut up, monkey!"Jean: "Oh, don't shout like that!"Bell: "Hey, guys, can we finally get back to the topic? Jean, didn't you say you were a thief?"Jean: "I am… I'm both, a Crimson and a thief. (Hiccups)"Bell: "I see."Jean: "Well, I love valuable things and money."Luis: "Then you're just a money-hungry fool!"Jean: "So what, then I'm a money-hungry fool. Better than a brainless idiot."Luis: "What did you say?!"Bell: "Man, stop bickering and take this seriously. Where should we go?"Jean: "We'll go to my base, my hideout."Bell: "What, you have a meeting place?"Jean: "Of course."Bell: "And where is it?"Jean: "Hey Pilo, we need your help, come out now."Bell: "Pilo?"
Suddenly a spirit appeared, red in color with glowing red eyes.
Bell: "What is that?"Jean: "That's Pilo, the spirit I was born with."Pilo: "Hello, my name is Pilo. Who among you is Bell?"Jean: "The boy with the short blond hair."Pilo: "Oh, he's cute. And the other one?"Jean: "You don't need to know him. Just call him scum or idiot!"Luis: "Hah!"
Jean grinned wickedly.
Bell: "That's Luis."Pilo: "Aha, the boy you were so eager to save."
Jean blushed.
Jean: "But… only because Bell wanted it. Otherwise, I wouldn't have gone to the boat."Pilo: "But you said you wouldn't allow a nice boy like him to die."Jean: "Oh, just shut up. We have other problems."Pilo: "You want me to help you get to your hideout."Jean: "Exactly. Do you think we should go there or to another island first?"Pilo: "You could go to another island first and rest there."Bell: "I… I think she's right, Jean."Monkey: "She's right, she's right."Luis: "I think so too."Jean: "(Sighs) Really? If you say so… fine, then we can rest."Pilo: "Nearby there is an island where humans live."Bell: "Wait, Jean, what do you even work as?"
Jean looked at him.
Jean: "I'll tell you later. When we find a place to rest. I don't like talking here."
She pulled something from the small bag on her shoulder. It was a map.
Jean: "Alright, then let's go to an island. Let's see… how about this one? I think there are many towns and villages there."Bell: "How far is it?"Jean: "Hmm, good question. It's near your island, Lavi Island. But I think we'll only get there by morning."Luis: "Better than staying here."Jean: "Fine, if you say so. Now start rowing."Luis: "Hah! Giving us orders? Who do you think you are?"
Jean flicked his forehead.
Luis: "Ouch, hey!"Jean: "I'm the one who saved your ass, and the one who let you drink my blood. Isn't that enough? Besides, don't you want a beautiful, cute woman like me to avoid such hard work?"Luis: "Praising yourself just proves you're arrogant."Jean: "What do you think, Bell?"Monkey: "Bell, Bell."Bell: "I don't care, as long as we get to rest in a nice hotel."Jean: "Alright then. This island is called Highway Island."
Jean, Bell, and Luis set off toward Highway Island. It took until sunrise before they arrived. Bell, Luis, and Jean were completely exhausted, even the little monkey was tired.
Bell: "Ohhhh, finally, we arrived."Luis: "About time."Jean: "I… want to sleep and eat."Monkey: "Eat, eat, sleep, sleep."Pilo: "So you're here. You're on the beach. I think if you go forward, you'll find the city."Bell: "Does it look like… our city?"Jean: "Possibly, but that depends on finances, culture, and tradition."Luis: "Doesn't matter, let's just go there and find out."
Jean, Bell, and Luis left the little boat. But on this island, there are also problems. And what will become of Bell and Luis? Bell still doesn't know much about Jean, except that she is a strange woman and a Crimson.
After Jean saved Bell and Luis, she took them to a hotel in a distant city.
Jean: "Alright, you two probably want to know… who exactly I am… My name, as I said, is Jean Henderson. I'm 20 years old and I'm a spirit user… and I'm the reason why you're here. I saved you… and I'm the most wanted criminal in the world of Asteria."Luis: "Huh?"Bell: "Uh… excuse me…?"
Jean stood up and lit her cigarette.
Jean: "I work for a dark forbidden organization. We steal… we kill… and often do questionable things… but only… against rich people."Bell: "It doesn't matter… killing is not good."Jean: "Hmph… if I get my money, I'm ready to kill someone."Luis: "Are you serious? Then why did you save us, and what is this organization?"Jean: "Dark Hat… that's what we're called."Luis: "What."Jean: "I'm the leader of the Black Fox, a group that is also part of the Dark Hat. Our goal is one…"
She took a bottle, filled it, and drank.
Jean: "Our goal is… to steal from kingdoms and nobles to give money to the poor."Luis: "Like Robin Hood or what?"Jean: "Something like that… only more brutal."
She threw a newspaper. It had a report about hostages.
Jean: "A few days ago, we took hostages from a rich family… to pressure the government. It's a family responsible for slavery… murder… and lust slaves, even minors. Their name is Efenheimer. You've probably heard of them."Bell: "Ugh…"Jean: "Bell… you saw what they do to girls. That's what these people do."
Jean grew serious.
Jean: "Listen… you have no choice. Either you join me… or I kill you."Luis: "Just try."Jean: "Hahhh…"
She aimed at Luis' head.
Jean: "Hmph."
And shot his hand.
Luis: "Aaaaarghhh!"Jean: "Don't provoke me. I don't like being provoked. One more time… and I'll shoot your eyes."Luis: "I don't understand… I have vampire powers, why does it hurt?"Jean: "These bullets contain substances that can hurt a vampire. And besides, I have a wooden stake here. One into your heart, and you're dead. And you, Bell… you also have to decide… or I'll have to kill you too."Bell: "Hahhh…"Luis: "Ghhh…"Bell: "Alright."Luis: "What?"Bell: "The government… Jean… they knew about the pirates, didn't they?"Jean: "Mhm… many rich people even buy slaves from them. And not only that. If you noticed, there were government ships… but they did nothing. They knew only poor people lived on your islands."Bell: "My parents… died when I was a child. An officer killed my father… my mother fell gravely ill and died afterwards… they left me completely alone, with only Luis, whom they adopted."Jean: "Well, Bell, not to be rude… but compared to what other people and creatures have experienced, that's just a stick up the ass."
She kept walking.
Jean: "And you, Luis…"Luis: "Ghh… fine…"Jean: "Hehe…"
She threw something to him. It was a small glass vial.
Jean: "Put it on your hand and it will regenerate. Anyway… Bell and Luis, there's no going back. If I find out you're lying… or if you change your mind… I'll kill you. And one more thing… I've done it before. I don't hesitate… especially not with traitors. And here's a tip… we're not nice… we're evil… just not like the nobles. That's all."
Jean went to the bed and sat down.
Jean: "There are 3 rules you must follow. First, you will now wear the suits of the Black Fox. Second, I give you orders, though the orders usually come from the Dark Hat organization. Third, you're not allowed to rob or act against nobles without my permission. Okay?"Bell: "Okay."Luis: "Okay."
Jean stood up and kept smoking.
Jean: "Do you have questions?"Bell: "Have you ever killed innocents?"Jean: "…hmm?"
She looked at him.
Jean: "Ahhh… the wife of a noble. She caught us and I thought she knew about the horrible deeds her husband committed. Later I found out she had been forced to marry him… and that she was only 18."Bell: "Ugh…"Jean: "The only time I regretted shooting someone…"
She kept smoking. Then she pulled off her jacket. Underneath she wore only a tank top. She had several tattoos: on her arm, a map; on her back, a skull; and on her stomach, near the kidney area, a knife.
Jean: "Hmm…"
She sat on the bed and folded her legs.
Jean: "So… you are now part of my crew. One more thing… by the way… my crew already has 6 people. Three other girls besides me, and two boys. With you, we're now 8. Each member has a role… I'll introduce them to you once they're here."Bell: "Here?"Luis: "What do you mean?"Jean: "Hmmm."
She showed them a mirror. In it, they could see people on their way.
Jean: "I sent my crew via an owl. By the way, owls are important to us…"
(Knock!) (Knock!)
Jean: "That must be them. Bell, open the door."
Bell opened the door. A tall woman with long hair stood there. As soon as she saw him, she kicked him aside.
Bell: "Urk."Jean: "Oh dear… what are you doing, Kurumi…"Kurumi: "Hmph…"
Kurumi, member of the criminal group Black Fox, age 21, female, nickname Sharpfang.
Kurumi: "Hmmm…"Jean: "Calm down, Kurumi, they belong to us now."Kurumi: "Hahh… fine… are you coming in or not."
The others came in. A girl with a parasol, medium-length black hair, looking like a goth girl.
Bell: "Ugh."Jean: "This is Natalie. She's the youngest of us, 16 years old."
Natalie looked at him, stepped closer, so near that one more step and she could have kissed him.
Bell: "Ghh… (blushes)."Natalie: "Hmmm… looks boring."Bell: "Huh?"
She stepped back. Behind her was a dark raccoon.
Natalie: "Hmph…"Jean: "That's her older brother Ivan, the idiot…"
Ivan, 20 years old, nickname Idiot or Clown, male.
Natalie, 16 years old, about 155 cm tall, nickname Dark Clover, female.
Jean: "The one with the glasses is the oldest among us. He's half robot, by the way. His name is Hans and he's my right hand."
Hans, 54 years old, nickname String Beard, 175 cm tall. Jean's right hand.
Jean: "Now you, Sakura."
Sakura appeared. She was a beautiful woman with purple hair, two closed eyes, wounds on each eye, wearing a dark jacket. Underneath, only bandages covering her chest, midriff exposed.
Sakura: "Hmph…"Jean: "By the way, Sakura is 80 percent blind."
Sakura, 23 years old, about 170 cm tall, nickname Dark Slash. Blind, at least 80 percent. Female.
Jean: "So now you've met them. So, you five, these are Bell and Luis. They're part of us now."Natalie: "Huh?"Ivan: "Seriously…"Kurumi: "What are you talking about?"Sakura: "Hmm…"Hans: "Silence! Whether you want it or not, it was the decision of our leader."
They fell silent. Jean stood up.
Jean: "Hahhh...it's okay Hans...we already said that from now on, we don't want anyone else in our group except Natalie and Ivan….but well…those two saved me from the whip and by the way...that one there...Bell...just like you, who hate the nobles and most governments, he hates them too...they killed his father and his mother, because of stress and grief, became ill and died…Luis is basically his adoptive brother…you will treat them equally...understand…"
She kept smoking.
Jean: "hahhhh…"Kurumi: "But Jean…they are inexperienced."Jean: "That's true…that's why we will test them."Bell: "huh?"Luis: "What?"Jean: "Did you bring him."Kurumi: "mhm...bring the son of a bitch in."
They threw in a person, he was tied up.
Jean: "So Bell...you see this bastard...his name is Freddy...he kidnaps girls, young girls from poor families…abuses them...kills them...and the government has arrested him several times…but…because his father is rich and a well-known politician…they keep releasing him and he continues freely...his youngest victim...an 11-year-old girl...her body was found near a river...she was actually still alive...but died from her wounds…this asshole deliberately hurt her throat so that she would die slowly...very slowly…struggling to survive for more than 5 hours…"
She pulled out a pistol.
Jean: "Kill him."Bell: "ugh…"Luis: "Wait...but we're in a hotel...they will hear it."Jean: "Idiot...haven't you noticed...this hotel isn't a hotel...it's a forbidden place...what do you think why they let me in when I gave the card…this is a card that only belongs to the Dark Hat organization and its members...Bell...shoot him."Bell: "ugh…"
She handed him the pistol. She held Freddy up.
Jean: "Aim directly at the throat...he will suffer...just like the poor girl…do it!…"Bell: "I can't."Jean: "Hahh...Natalie...use your power...on him…"Natalie: "Ok…"
Suddenly she went over to Bell and whispered.
Natalie: "Bell…imagine you were the father of the girl…"Bell: "ugh."
Suddenly he appeared in a completely different place, everyone was gone...except him…
Bell: "What…"
He heard something—a cry, it was his own tears…he looked down...and there he saw the corpse of a child…
Bell: "ugh...aaaaaaaaaaaaaarghhh!"
He looked around and saw someone grinning evilly—it was Freddy.
Natalie: "Did you see how he smiles at you…how proud he is…that's what the girl's father would see…how the murderer of his daughter is free…and even enjoys it!"
(Swoosh)
Another place again.
Girl: "Please...no…"Freddy: "Hehe…I'm done with you…"Bell: "ugh.."
Bell saw the two.
Freddy: "hehehe…"
He took the knife.
Bell: "No!"
(Slash!)
Bell: "ugh...hahhhh…"
(Swoosh!)
(Slash!)
Freddy: "hehe."
He laid the body by the river.
Bell: "ahh...aghhh.."
He rushed to the girl who was still desperately trying to breathe.
Bell: "No...hold on...hold on…"
Bell desperately tried to save her...but he couldn't…and the girl died.
Bell: "aaaaaaaarghh"
And then he returned to the hotel.
Bell: "hahh."Natalie: "Now you've seen what he did!"
Whatever it was...it wasn't mind control...she had simply shown the memory of other people.
Bell: "...hahh…can you leave me alone for a moment."Jean: "..hahh..ok..if it must be."
They left the room, Luis as well.
Freddy: "hahh...please…"Bell: "I won't shoot you."Freddy: "hahhh...thank you."
Suddenly he pulled out a knife.
Bell: "But I will still kill you!"Freddy: "ugh…"
(A few minutes later)
Sakura: "Shouldn't we go in now."Jean: "Ok…"
They opened the door…
Jean: "ugh!"Sakura: "hmm?"Kurumi: "what…"Luis: "Ugh..hahh..Bell!"
Freddy's corpse lay on the floor...blood everywhere, even on the walls. Bell just sat in front of the body with a knife.
Bell: "...I did it.."Luis: "ugh...Bell…"
Jean grinned.
Jean: "Hehe…that's good…10/10 you passed!"Luis: "What?"Jean: "What do you think."Natalie: "Wow...really good."Kurumi: "mhm...not bad, kid…"Ivan: "Mhm…"Sakura: "hmm…"Kurumi: "And what about that one."Jean: "You mean the vampire...hehe...he already passed…"Kurumi: "Huh?"Jean: "I saw how he can help us on the island...he is ready to kill...right?"Luis: "hahhh...if I must…"Jean: "Hehehe...welcome...to the Dark Foxes…"