Capítulo 20: Like a Kite

General Aino laughed as he held Bahlol by his red hair. "Say it, you pathetic imbecile. Say what you said to me."

The red-haired former commander looked like a corpse, with bones sticking out showcasing his malnourishment. His tattered dry lips moved as a feeble voice came out. "The Fire Fate... Pome came from the... Midnight Suns."

Hearing the words, Aino grinned and looked at the expressionless Kizaru. "Where are the Midnight Suns?" He asked.

Bahlol's pupils rolled up and he fainted, however Aino was ready for such an occasion as he evilly grinned before viciously clawing at Bahlol's scarred chest.

"Aaaargh!" With a pained cry, the former commander regained his consciousness.

"When the Great General is asking you something, answer." He said as Bahlol panted, his dry tongue licking the blood on his tattered lips to hydrate himself. Bahlol looked at Aino with his swollen eyes and replied. "Go to… hell."

The eyes of Aino widened in disbelief and his blood boiled. "You bastard!" He howled and attempted to make the wound worse, however, only the tip of his finger reached it because another hand had grabbed his by then, surprising him and the onlookers.

He looked at the man who had grabbed his wrist, his pulse raised and heart beat like ritual drums. Aino was certain that the one who held his wrist was no ordinary man. General Aino was a Will User as he had reached the first awakening of the Armament Will. But still, he couldn't detect this man and neither could he escape his grip. A sole drop of sweat formed on his temple as he asked. "Who are yo-."

Before the traitor general of Moro Kingdom could finish his question, a fist clouted his mug, shattering his nose and leaving a visible dent in his face. From his eye sockets to his jaw, nothing remained in one piece.

The one who hit Aino was none other than Tufail Tigor, the Blood Drunk Halberd. Aino's body was blown back but Tufail maintained his grip. The moment Aino's half-dead feet touched the ground, another hit landed in his belly.

His body flew again but his wrist was still in Tufail's grip. Aino's body was akin to a kite that desired to fly high but couldn't due to the finite thread held by the playful boy.

At that moment, Tufail Tigor looked somewhere with a side-eye, before quickly jerking his hand and flinging the body of Aino in front of himself while creating some distance for himself. As a result, he was safe, however, Aino's body was now ripped in two.

"I knew you were a Will Power user." Said Kizaru as Tufail was looking at him with squinted eyes. The Great General's surprise attack had backfired on Aino.

"I am the youngest Great General of the Zenith Empire, I have seen and faced a lot of experts. Did you believe that your shameful story had actually convinced me earlier?" Asked Kizaru before Tufail smiled. "I never said that shit."

Kizaru smiled back and asked once more. "Who are you?"

"Tufail Tigor." The drunkard replied before Kizaru continued while gesturing at Bahlol. " And your relationship with that man?"

"He's the son of an old comrade." Tufail once again answered before the other threw out another question. "Are you related to the Midnight Suns?"

Tufail scoffed. "I told you, that's a bunch of bullshit, a shitty myth." Which made Kizaru laugh. "I somehow doubt that now, you're too suspicious."

"Sniff my suspicious balls." He retorted while massaging his head a bit. "My hangover... you bastards are enemies of peace-loving oenophiles."

"Peace-loving! You are an ally of this bastard who smuggled a Fate Pome without informing the authorities. You are nothing but a criminal as such you will be beheaded publicly once captured." Kaze retorted before Tufail turned in his direction. "Oh my! Thanks for letting me know. Here..." He lowered his head. "Take my criminal head, O' guardian of justice."

This enactment of Tufail caused some giggles in the crowd as he continued.

"You despicable mongrel, who gave you that right? He had the Fate Pome, he was the owner, he could do whatever he wanted with it. Even if he shoved the Fate Pome in his ass, it's his right. Who the fuck are you to interfere?

And you, you beat the living shit out of this kingdom's Great General over a Fate Pome and yet you shamelessly call me a criminal." Tufail ranted with a furious yet disgusted face.

"The Great Zenith Empire is the pioneer of humanity, his death was set in stone the moment he declined to hand over the Fire Fate Pome. The bastard king of this kingdom will face the same fate. Only the Zenith Empire can enforce justice in this rotten world. Zenith is justice, justice is Zenith." Kaze said self-righteously with a solemn expression.

"The fuck?" Tufail blinked in amazement as he mumbled to himself. "This kid is nuts, he's probably been brainwashed or something."

"Kaze." Kizaru called.

"Yes, master?" Kaze answered with a quizzical look before the former's words. "Be quiet." Kizaru ordered as pupil acquiesced. "Yes, master."

Tufail gestured at Kaze and said to Kizaru. "He's had some bad education in his upbringing."

"I know, his mother died when she gave him birth. I, as his uncle, raised him. He played with my sword when others of his age played with toys." Said Kizaru and hearing that, Tufail's eyes widened before he looked at his sword and then his pants. "Your sword!? Wait- I mean... Did you mean that metaphorically or literally? Tufail asked nervously.

"Ha, ha, I meant it literally." Kizaru replied with a soft chuckle.

"Oh, ha, ha, yeah, I knew it... yeah, hundred percent. No more questions about his chauvinism."

While Tufail and Kizaru were having a chatter, a figure wordlessly appeared near Bahlol.