Blood Of Platinum
Chapter 44. Bag Information Search. 2
Lily who was looking at Kino's strange-looking, depressed smile asked him.
“What's up? Do you have stomach pain, Kino?”
“Ti–it's okay. Hearing Lily-san say such a thing reminds me of someone I know” Kino replied with a smile
Of course his smile was like a feeling of disbelief from meeting a person similar to his sister.
“So? Is she as pretty as me?” Lily answered as if teasing the teenager
“Um...be more beautiful Lily-san than that person. Really am. Ahahaha”
Kino did not want to prolong the pleasantries that could make his mental test even more. He tried to find other information.
“Lily-san, about that brown hat boy...does he always ask for donations into the altar?”
“True. Just that child alone, there has never been another child who entered this altar other than he”
Kino was silent for a moment. The Ivy toddler who tried to stand on Kino's lap started to hug her. Of course Kino with a smile helped the boy hug his neck.
“Ara, Ivy. You really like Kino huh. Though this boy never separated from me, but since meeting you yesterday he became very happy”
Seeing that scene Lily could only smile.
Kino returned the smile with a “thank you” greeting to Lily. Hugging the toddler, Kino finally remembered something.
[I remember clearly. He hit us and you helped him stand up this morning]
Those were the words Ryou said when he returned from the clock shop. At that time, Kino was sitting with a starving child and they were sitting together on the steps of one of the shops. The child's characteristics were similar to the child he was with yesterday and the child was also the one who hit him as he and his sister were about to come out of the altar.
‘The child with the brown hat that Lily-san is referring to is the child who was yesterday at the altar. Ryou also said it. I almost forgot about it. If not mistaken features other than the brown hat.’.
Kino who finally remembered it did not continue the words in her mind but directly asked Lily.
“Lily-san, regarding the child.Besides brown hat does she wear orange colored clothes and have black hair?”
“Really! The boy was wearing an orange shirt and had very good black hair. Did you meet him yesterday?”
“Iya. Yesterday the boy accidentally bumped into me as I was about to get out of the altar. After my sister and I helped her she just left”
“Hoo, it's worth yesterday I didn't see it. But, knowing the boy wasn't here, I thought maybe something happened to him?”
“I hope nothing bad happens to him”
Kino gently lifted the toddler who did not want to let go of her hugging from Kino's neck to sit back on her lap and play with her fingers again. The boy happily clasped all of Kino's fingers in a frenzy while shaking his hands up and down like he was playing. Lily laughed seeing her son happy to play with Kino.
All the information Lily gave was the first thing Kino had heard. He could only describe a few possibilities but was still hesitant with his analysis.
Lily remembered she wanted to ask Kino.
“Oh yes, I want to know. You said that yesterday you came here to ask about your missing thing. If you can know what that thing is?”
“My missing item is a vintage vintage gold pocket watch, but it is very old and has a lot of scratches everywhere”
“Antique pocket watch yes. Looks like mahal”
“I don't think anyone would think the same as you, Lily-san. The clock is very old but for me it means a lot”
Hearing that, Lily felt pity and rubbed Kino's back with a smile.
“May you find it ya”
“Thank you very much, Lily-san”
Ivy who saw her mother doing something moved her hand and followed her. He rubbed Kino's hand while laughing.
“Thank you, Ivy-chan” Kino smiled sweetly at the boy
Now Kino was so thinking of concluding something that she had never thought of before.
‘The case of loss happened last week, the missing things are all objects of high value if sold, the changes during that time are few and not so striking. Should I justify Lily-san's thought that this is a theft?’
Lily asked Kino to tell her something else. Of course Kino listened to him while giving a smile as a form of response. However, inside his mind was still full of heavy hypotheses that were still doubted by him.
‘If it is true theft, it means that our pocket watch is also likely stolen by the perpetrator of theft. Surprisingly, why would the thief steal my pocket watch? Why wasn't the money in my pants pocket at the time? Is this a coincidence or was the culprit accidentally taking the pocket watch from me?’
Still a doubt. Until now, Kino was afraid to guess who did it. He simply did not want to do so even if he already had a guess for it.
‘I seem to make a mistake. That pocket watch was no longer in my pants pocket as soon as I walked out of the altar. Though until yesterday, I insisted and was so sure to tell Kaito-san that it was still there for me. But it seems like I was really wrong. Kaito-san's words are like describing that she already knows her bright spot’
Kino's face became serious. He briefly smiled at Ivy who was trying to grab Kino's cheek. Kino just touched the toddler's little finger and smiled at him but in her heart she felt so guilty.
“What's up?” Lily asked Kino
“Nothing. Lily-san, can I ask you one more thing?”
“Of course. What do you want to ask?”
“If Lily-san was so sure that all the valuables belonging to the residents and worshippers were actually stolen, who would have done it?. Do you have an idea about it?”
“The culprit is yes. I didn't think about it. Must be someone who really needs money, right?. They won't steal something if they don't need money”
“So. I also agree. Thank you very much, Lily-san”
Lily smiled and looked at the altar room. More and more people are coming. He immediately picked up Ivy who was still engrossed in playing with Kino's fingers. As if she still wanted to play with her brother, Ivy continued to wave her small hand towards Kino.
“We have to go home, Ivy. Tomorrow we can still meet Kino's sister again” Lily spoke to her son who was already in his lap
“Tomorrow I'll play with Ivy-chan again. Take care of your health, Ivy-chan. Thanks for the information Lily-san. I really helped”
“Sama-sama. I hope you can find your pocket watch back, Kino”
“I also hope so”
After they said goodbye, Kino sat back down and let out a long sigh many times to restore her mentality.
“Kaito-san really gave me a tough task. I feel mentally I'm getting down if it's like this”
Unlike her, Kino seemed to be muttering something that still felt ambiguous. But if interpreted, it could be said he had already found the bright spot of the loss of their pocket watch with his own efforts.
“I think I'm doing sin”
The words that could be interpreted as an ambiguous sentence came back out from Kino's lips. After he sighed for the umpteenth time, he looked towards the completely unfinished guard officer with at the furious worshippers ahead there.
Kino picked up a new pocket watch in his pants pocket and looked at the clock hand shown by the thing.
“Already at 07.35 yes. I didn't realize time had passed so fast”
After entering her pocket watch, Kino got up from her place and turned towards the exit. Quiet for a moment, he took out something from his pocket and stared at the thing in his hand for a few seconds until he grasped it and walked towards the altar door.
Just a few steps Kino walked, he stopped back for a moment because he saw the group of children were coiling up and talking about something. Some of the children held their bellies and lowered their heads, the little girl who seemed to want to cry was also seen by him.
Kino could think of nothing else but try to get closer while muttering inwardly.
‘At least I can do something before my mind takes me to regret’
Another ambiguous sentence from Kino that finally made his determination round to step out and extend his hand before them.
**
Stelani and Fabil reached out to ask the pilgrims for money.
“Please sir, mom. Give us a little money to eat today”
“Please donate any kind of donation to the orphans of his pies”
The other children also asked for donations by extending their hands. This image is similar to begging. No, it's begging. Obviously begging. But, because the sentence ‘orphan children’ sounds so heartbreaking in the ears of worshipers make people who pass by still give money to them.
There was a woman with her child coming out of the altar and giving them money.
“Ivy, let's give this gift to sweet sister there”
“Thank you very much, mistress!”
The beautiful and sweet young boy smiled and gave the money he had in hand. He gave a big smile to Stelani who received her money with a blushing face.
The mother and the beautiful toddler walked towards the stairs down while smiling cheerfully and laughing.
“Look around, the money has been collected a lot! Thankfully~” Fabil looks happy with all that money and shows it to others
“They also gave me a 5 Franc coin. At least we can buy five small pieces of bread with this money if we store it without the knowledge of Justin-sama” Stelani shows the coin in his hand
“Don't, Stelani-neechan! If Justin-sama finds out later Stelani-neechan will get in trouble!” Michaela tries to prevent Stelani's idea
Stelani who heard that became moody and sad. He was just thinking about so that the other little ones could eat delicious bread again like last night. It was impossible to wait until Theo came back because he himself did not even know where and what he was doing to earn money.
“Fabil, but–”
“I think Michaela is right, Stelani. Its alright. I'll help too. It's not just Theo who will get the money for Justin-sama”
Fabil actually doesn't know what to do to earn money like Theo brought in last night. But since he was also one of the oldest there with Stelani and Theo, he felt he had to do something. He lamented that he who yesterday could only cry behind as Justin scolded them.
For a moment, the children crowded around and fell silent. The pilgrims who went in and out of the altar wanted to give their money but were undone by them after seeing all the children appear to be coiled with gloomy faces.
“Fabil-niichan, I'm hungry”
“Running in the morning makes me even hungrier. Stelani-neechan, we really don't buy bread with that money?”
“Nee, Fabil-niichan..”.
The other children kept saying that their stomachs were hungry. While whining, they continued to say hungry. It's natural, it's not their fault they're starving. It's just that their position is difficult.
If they come back with a little money then Justin will not hesitate to punish them. Trying to escape would be useless. Stelani and Fabil felt panicked and could do nothing to the whining of the children.
Michaela who was visibly flushed withholding cries finally spoke in a high and hoarse tone to the other children.
“You must not urge Stelani-neechan and Fabil-niichan like that!!. If the money is a little, Justin-sama will hit us!”
“Indeed you're not starving, Michaela?” ask a child
“Um...” Michaela put on a pouty face but held onto her stomach as well
-kruuuk
The sound of their ‘stomach concerts’ can all be heard as beautiful harmony in the morning. At the altar, the first song heard was the sound of their bellies being quite loud, including those of Stelani and Fabil.
A gloomy and sad atmosphere surrounded them while holding onto each other's stomachs. Until they heard the footsteps of someone who came out of the altar and saw a helping hand before them.
“Get this for you”
All of the children were shocked and immediately looked towards the person who reached out that hand. They saw the person's face giving a sweet and soothing smile with a gentle look to them.
The man looks like a teenager in his teens with a belt around his waist that holds three blades in a holster attached to the belt.
“I don't know if this is enough for you guys but I hope you guys will accept it”
Big brother, that was the call that they had thought of for that person. The teenager stretched out his hand and on the palm of his hand was five gold coins with the number 100 Franc on it.
Seeing that, their eyes twinkled and immediately shouted at the big brother.
“100 Francs!! Brother gave us five 100 Franc coins?!” Fabil was surprised to see what was above the big brother's palm
“Keren!!. I just first saw the 100 Franc gold coin up close!!” said another child while looking sparkling because he was too happy
“With this one 100 Franc coin alone, we can all even buy good food to eat three times a day and it can be eaten for four days!!” Stelani is no less enthusiastic to be able to detail the value of the coin
“Huwaaa!”
"......"
The teenager was silent just looking at them and not saying anything.
After their sparkling faces, now they fell silent and showed an uncertain face. Their delighted expressions turned drastically into gazes full of doubt.
Stelani even asked the teenager with a suspicious look.
“Kakak sure give this much money to us?”
“Indeed it's a problem?” asked the brother with a calm face
“For orphans like us, even by standing all day here we can't possibly carry that kind of money. The most donation money we get is only about 80 to 90 Franc”
Stelani said all of those things by looking into the teenager's eyes while showing her curiously expression. Fabil also did not change the look of the suspicious face. But who would have thought the person standing before them gave a smile back and said softly.
“I saw you guys standing here for a long time with hunger in mind. I don't want your effort and hunger to go to waste just for the sake of bringing in a little money. At the very least, you do not have to stand for too long now and can go home to rest”
Stelani and Fabil were shocked to hear the teenager's words. Not only shocked, Stelani even unconsciously began to shed her tears. Fabil could not hold back his tears.
The other children also could not hold back their tears and cried.
“Hiks...hiks.. huwaaa.
Now, it was the teenager's face that turned frantic seeing all the children crying. Even his face was more panicked when he looked to his left right and found all the worshippers talking about him from behind.
“Se–seventh. I'm sorry I made you cry. Please don't cry la–”
“Hiks...hiks...huwaaaaa..
Not finished talking, the children were crying more and more.
“Ke–why are you crying harder?!”
The children's cries grew louder as he tried to calm them down. What a great effort for a generous size teenager. The teenager has broken the record of making eight children cry at once in the morning to successfully make it a spectacle of worshipers passing in front of the altar entrance.
In the brother's mind he was like whimpering.
‘If it were like this, everyone at the altar would think I was a person who liked to do oppression to a child. I have to do something!’
Unwilling to get himself in trouble, the teenager pulled back his hand and stuffed the coin into his pants pocket. He begged deeply and asked them to stop crying. In addition, the teenager also invited them to eat together.
Stelani and Fabil who slowly wiped away their tears began to calm down followed by the other children.
“Please calm down. I'm sorry I made you cry. You must be hungry, right? I'll take you to dinner before you go home. We'd better all move places ya”
“Umm”
While wiping away her tears all the children nodded as a sign of agreement.
The nine men walked down the altar stairs and walked through the large streets of the city.
There's so much stuff in there. Because the sun is getting higher, the activity of the population is getting crowded on the highway. Carrying horse carriages are widely seen on each side.
The teenager walked side by side with all those children. While watching them carefully, he asked everyone.
“Is there any food you want to eat around here?”
They all fell silent. Their eyes were still glazed over as if those tears could come out at any moment. The teenager turned pale and tried to think of the best thing he could do. Not long after, right from the front there is a shop building that says [Stands de Restoration Family].
‘Building in front of it..The teenage family’ restaurant muttered inwardly.
He looked at the thin bodies of all those children so he thought it would be better if he gave them more nutritious food besides a piece of bread.
“Listen, in front there is a family restaurant. We'll have breakfast there, no problem right?”
Michaela rubbed her eyes red as she tried to wipe away her tears. After that he ran to the front of the teenager. The teenager's move was immediately stopped because it was blocked by Michaela.
Fabil called out to Michaela who was standing in front of the teenager.
“Michaela, what are you doing?”
“Michaela, don't be like that!”
Stelani approaches Michaela while asking her not to block the teenager's path. However, Michaela did not retreat and instead got closer to him. Seeing that, the originally startled teenager finally knelt down to match the boy's eyesight with her.
“What's up?” The teenager asked with a smile on his face
“Sister isn't a bad guy, is he?”
“True. I don't think I'm a bad person. Is there a problem with that?”
“Then I want brother to mention your name”
Stelani who was nearby immediately shouted.
“Michaela! Don't be like that, it's not polite!”
“But isn't this brother asking us to eat? That meant that this brother was not evil and a non-evil person would mention their name when asked. Theo-niichan always says that, remember? Bad guys don't like to be asked their names but good guys will answer when asked about their names”
“Michaela..”.
Michaela's plain answer did not change Stelani's panicked look. However, the teenager chuckled while showing her smiling face that was no less sweet than before. He even stroked Michaela's head gently.
“I'm sorry for being so disrespectful. Thank you for asking me my name”
“So, sister will answer it, right?”
“Sure. Hello, sweet boy. My name is Kino, Yuki Kino. Nice to meet you”
******