Ch.84Chapter 84. Ominous Aura

“Boss. This is the guy.”

“……”

Bob clicked his tongue and sat down on the chair.

The man kneeling with a bruised face could only tremble and glance around nervously.

“You? You’re the one who sold an assault rifle to a kid?”

“N-no… I…”

“Just answer the questions I ask.”

“Y-yes… that’s correct…”

Bob sighed deeply and leaned back against his chair.

Meanwhile, the gun dealer had no idea why he was in this situation and kept looking side to side.

He’d just been selling guns like he always did.

“B-boss… I’m really sorry I didn’t come right away when you called… but I don’t think that deserves such a beating…”

“You stupid motherfucker. Can’t you read the fucking situation?”

“What?”

“Kids got shot in Ohio. What do you think happens if that same shit goes down in California?”

“…?”

“Are you really this stupid? You think the cops in this neighborhood are incompetent just because they’re fat and eat donuts all day? You think that’s why you don’t get caught? They’re letting you be. It’s easier to manage when you don’t cross the line. But when someone crosses that line…”

“Oh.”

The state government upholds the law, but sometimes turns a blind eye to lawbreaking when it benefits the state.

The day Bob’s cartel causes problems, the California state government would love the law more than ever before.

“That’s when the bloodbath begins. Does your tiny brain understand now? If you get it, get the fuck out there and find the kid you sold the gun to.”

“Yes! Of course! Yes sir!”

“I’ll even get back the bulletproof vest I sold him!”

“Wait a second.”

Just as he was about to chase him out of the factory.

Bob had to stop the man, not believing what he’d just heard.

“You sold him a bulletproof vest…?”

“Yes. It’s cheap Chinese-made, but…”

“List everything you sold to that kid. Every single item. If you leave anything out, prepare to be dismembered.”

“M-modified automatic AR-15 one unit…”

“List the modifications too, you idiot.”

“4x holographic scope with a silencer attachment, vertical grip, and rails on the barrel with a target designator. I also replaced the pistol grip and stock with more comfortable ones.”

“Continue.”

“Two 30-round magazines. About 200 rounds of 6.8mm rifle ammunition. One bulletproof vest. One Russian chest rig. One Glock 88 with two 12-round magazines. About 50 rounds of 9mm pistol ammunition…”

“Ha.”

Bob let out an exasperated sigh.

What kind of lunatic would sell so many weapons to a kid who’s barely old enough to wipe his own nose?

“You fucking idiot. Are you training a mercenary? Sending him to war? A rifle, a pistol… motherfucker. Why didn’t you throw in a helmet and night vision goggles while you were at it?”

“I-I’m sorry!”

“Bring that kid in. Now!”

“Yes! Yes sir!”

Unable to contain himself any longer, Bob threw a can while shouting.

The man scrambled out immediately.

“Send some guys who can fight. That bastard is definitely going to run.”

“Yes.”

These illegal gun dealers were the kind of people who had zero sense of responsibility, selling guns to anyone who paid.

He’d probably try to run away rather than bring in the kid.

Bob couldn’t let that happen.

The day that automatic rifle started firing.

No, the day it was revealed that the automatic rifle was sold by a gun dealer from the slum cartel.

The entire LAPD would pour into the slums and arrest everyone, whether they were involved or not.

Nothing in this world was scarier than police backed by angry public opinion.

“Sigh…”

After exhaling for a long time with his hand on his mouth, Bob raised his head.

He had made his decision.

“Boys. Should we bail?”

It seemed like everything was fucked.

***

“Everyone, please line up. Don’t cut in front of others and maintain order… sigh…”

Jane, who had been clapping her hands to get everyone’s attention, closed her eyes tightly.

The hallway was too noisy for her voice to reach anyone.

Somehow the hallway had become an uncontrollable mess with students from different classes mixing together.

“It’s like watching a pigsty at feeding time. Heh heh.”

“Oh, Mr. Weiss.”

“Would you like some help?”

“How would you help…”

“Just watch. Heh heh.”

It was Mr. Weiss, the high school chemistry teacher, who had appeared behind her.

Jane wondered how someone who looked like they might collapse at any moment could possibly stop these energetic little ones.

Though doubtful, Jane took a step back.

Mr. Weiss cleared his throat and then took a deep breath.

“Hey, you adorable little brats! Be quiet!!!”

“…?!”

His thunderous voice echoed through the hallway.

The startled children turned around, and Mr. Weiss stepped back with a gentle smile.

The children stared with wide eyes and tightly closed mouths.

“Ah, yes. Everyone, shall we be a little quieter? And please maintain order so no one falls and gets hurt.”

“Yes!”

Such adorable little things.

The children answered energetically as if they had never caused any trouble, and began heading to the cafeteria with much lower volume than before.

“Thank you, Mr. Weiss. I’m learning some valuable techniques.”

“Heh heh heh. They’re cute at this age. By middle school, this kind of approach doesn’t work at all.”

“Haha…”

Jane could only laugh along with Mr. Weiss, whose eyes seemed to say “enjoy it while it lasts.”

After a few years of teaching elementary school, she too was destined to teach middle school.

“What brings you here, Mr. Weiss?”

“Ah… A student asked me to let him take a makeup test. For an exam he already missed. I was originally going to refuse, but my heart suddenly softened. So I left him to solve the problems and came out for a walk to clear my head.”

“I see…”

Come to think of it, there was a troublemaker in 12th grade.

Despite causing all sorts of problems—drugs, traffic accidents, theft—he hadn’t been expelled, all thanks to Mr. Weiss.

Mr. Weiss was known for being strict, so it was surprising that he would allow a student to take a makeup test that had already passed.

Jane wondered what had gotten into him.

“Have you gotten softer with age? I never thought I’d see Mr. Weiss breaking the rules.”

“What? Breaking rules? I’m just letting him solve the problems. Even if he does well, I won’t give him a passing grade.”

“Oh…”

That student is probably working hard right now, thinking he might pass if he scores well…

Mr. Weiss’s chuckling made him seem like a devil to Jane.

“By the way, I heard there’s a genius girl in your class?”

“Yes, that’s right. She’s been confirmed for grade acceleration to 7th grade… I honestly can’t believe it. It’s like something out of a movie, having such a rare genius in my class.”

“Keep in touch with her even after she moves up. She’ll probably struggle to adapt. At times like that, her previous homeroom teacher and friends can be a great source of support.”

It was advice that showed his years of experience.

Jane nodded silently and listened attentively.

Though Mr. Weiss was often criticized as an old fogey during staff meetings, no one at the school could match his experience.

There was nothing to lose by listening.

“Now, let’s go have lunch.”

“Yes, let’s.”

“It’s good to see Ms. Clarke being so passionate as a new teacher. These days, many teachers quit after just a year or two because they get bored. I’ll share many special tips with you today, Ms. Clarke.”

“That’s really not necessary…”

“Don’t refuse. I have so much to tell you during lunch. Heh heh heh.”

“…”

It seemed like today’s lunch would be spent in a suffocating atmosphere.

While Jane followed Mr. Weiss with a deathly pale face,

Cuss was leaning her arm on Alice’s shoulder as they stood in line at the cafeteria.

“Hey. Is Alice your armrest?”

“Hm? Alice isn’t complaining, so why are you?”

“She’s uncomfortable!”

“Alice, are you uncomfortable?”

“N-no?”

Alice flinched and trembled as soon as Cuss’s breath touched her when she leaned in close.

Cuss then gave a smug smile as if to say “See?”

Tom was so dumbfounded he couldn’t speak.

If this wasn’t bullying, what was?

“Apologize!”

“…?”

Just then, a loud voice came from a corner of the cafeteria.

The cafeteria was so noisy that most people didn’t hear it, but Cuss heard it clearly and turned her head in that direction.

There she saw Jake being grabbed by the collar by someone very tall—either a student or a teacher, it wasn’t clear.

Jake had always seemed tall to her, but next to this well-built man, he looked like a dwarf in comparison.

“I said apologize!”

“…”

Jake’s response was too far away to hear clearly.

The two seemed to be arguing, and then the man released Jake’s collar.

The force sent Jake flying backward and falling down.

The man walked toward the cafeteria door, grumbling.

At that moment, their eyes met.

One second.

Two seconds.

Three seconds.

The man continued to glare at Cuss with an expression that couldn’t hide his fury.

“What’s wrong, Cuss?”

“Tom. Your brother just went flying.”

“What are you talking about? Just move forward. You’re holding up the line.”

“Alright…”

Pushed forward by Tom, Cuss filled the empty space and looked back again.

But the man from before was gone.

Only the cafeteria door swinging back and forth violently, as if someone had pushed it hard, could be seen.

“Something’s weird today, Cuss.”

“Yeah. Are you worried about us separating because I’m skipping a grade?”

“Worried? I won’t have to see you anymore. Why would I be worried about that?”

“You jerk…!”

Tom’s face turned red all the way to his ears.

He had thought they were friends despite their bickering.

Was he the only one who felt that way?

Anger welled up inside him, but Tom’s mouth just mumbled without spitting out any curses.

In the past, he would have said whatever came to mind, but now it was difficult.

He didn’t dislike Cuss as much as before.

In the end, Tom had no choice but to suppress his anger and keep his mouth shut.

‘Jake… isn’t he eating?’

Cuss, who had been standing on tiptoe looking around the corner, tilted her head.

Jake was walking out of the cafeteria with a determined look in his eyes.

Was he following that man from earlier?

As Cuss was watching Jake with curiosity…

“Ah! Cuss!”

“Huh?”

In an instant, she stepped on something and lost her balance.

Barely managing not to fall, Cuss looked down at her tray with a satisfied expression.

A clean tray with no food left on it.

Confused, she turned her head to find Tom glaring at her with soup dripping from his head.

“Y-you…!”

He really couldn’t take it anymore.

He couldn’t help but curse.

Tom looked up at Cuss with a distorted expression.

And then…

“Ah… I’m sorry, Tom…”

“You! Argh!”

He found himself facing Cuss, who had a very apologetic look in her eyes.

Cuss was clasping her hands together, not knowing what to do.

Why was she acting like this?

She was supposed to be arrogant in this situation.

Tom, who was about to get angry, was considerably confused.

“Damn it!”

Tom stomped his foot and left his seat.

His heart felt like it would burst if he kept looking at Cuss’s face.