章節 57: Illegal Occupants
I sharpened my senses as I tried to locate the individuals attempting to remove me from the house. My senses were still weak and could only provide limited information, so when I noticed movement just behind me, I didn't hesitate to chase after it and grab whoever was responsible.
"Whaaaa!"
I was taken aback as the scream turned out to be a girl's, and more surprisingly, it sounded quite young. My guess was that she was a child. I couldn't see her face since she was wearing a mask, but judging by her height, I assumed she was around nine years old. However, I couldn't be entirely sure, as appearances and height can be deceiving, making people seem younger or older than they are.
She attempted to bite me, but I quickly shifted her to my other hand while firmly grasping the back of her shirt collar. As a result, she had to struggle to free herself from my grip.
"Brother, help me! Let me go!"
Her scream reverberated throughout the mansion, and her words confirmed the presence of an accomplice. Given the loudness of her scream, I doubted her brother would abandon her, making it much easier for me to locate her partner without any additional effort.
It didn't take long for the brother to come rushing down from the second floor. It was a sight to behold as he descended the stairs hastily, stumbling and falling on a few steps. Nevertheless, he quickly recovered, aimed his pellet gun at me, and took a shot.
"Release my sister!"
He was a courageous young boy, seemingly around 13 or 14 years old. His long, shrunken brown hair and gaunt physique revealed he wasn't eating well. However, what surprised me was his determination, to aim a pellet gun at me. Some people would prioritize their own safety over saving a family member, even if they were the ones in captivity. To witness someone risking their life to rescue a loved one, oblivious to the danger, convinced me that he was a responsible and caring brother.
I decided to release the little girl I had been holding. She immediately ran to her brother and took shelter behind him. I had no intention of exploiting others, especially children. My purpose here was to purchase the house, not to take advantage of homeless individuals. Nevertheless, this didn't mean I would be lenient.
"Who are you two, and what are you doing in this house?"
The sister cowered further behind her brother, who stood resolute, still aiming the pellet gun at me.
"This is our house! You are trespassing!" he declared.
"Oh? Are you accusing me of trespassing? Aren't you the trespassers?" I retorted, presenting the keys to the mansion.
"Huh? The keys?" the boy was taken aback.
"Yes. As I possess the keys and have permission from the realtor to inspect the house, I am not trespassing. In fact, the two of you are the actual trespassers!"
Both of them were visibly shaken, but the boy didn't waver. "This is our home now! We won't let anyone take it from us."
I smirked and fixed a stern gaze on him. "Is that so? Even if you end up in a tough spot?"
The boy gulped, but he didn't bother trying to take the pellet gun away from me. Instead, he continued to aim it at me. Then the girl removed her mask, and I finally saw her face. To my surprise, I noticed that her brother's eyes were affected by the white color of her retinas, indicating that she was blind.
"Don't bully my brother!" she exclaimed.
I was taken aback and felt a bit guilty. But I was also amazed by the little girl. She might be blind, but if she had not removed her mask, I would have assumed she had good eyesight. She moved around with ease, which was somewhat unbelievable for someone who is blind.
"Mister, please, I beg you. We need a place to live. This house is the only place we can stay, and I don't want my sister to end up on the streets. She is blind, and I am still a kid. No one will hire me, and I can't let my sister and me go to the orphanage because they'll surely separate us. Please, mister, just let us live in this place," the boy said, his voice filled with desperation as he held back tears.
I felt sympathy for the kids. They had valid reasons for their current situation. Still, I wanted this house, and that meant they would lose their home. I knew what I had to do, but I wasn't sure if I could go through with it. Despite my own desires, I couldn't ignore their plea. So, I decided to make them a proposition.
"I won't disregard my plan to purchase this house, which means you'll need to find another place to stay. I'm sure many people would be willing to send both of you to an orphanage when they find out. However, I have an alternative offer for you. If you decline, I'll have no choice but to withdraw my offer, and you'll have to leave here forever."
"Proposition?" He looked at me in confusion.
"If you want to ensure your sister has decent housing, I'm willing to offer you a job as caretaker for my house. Both of you can work for me. In return, you'll receive a salary, free meals, and lodging. I assure you, I'm not a heartless person. What do you say? If you decline this offer, I won't hesitate to withdraw it."
"I accept! We accept your offer!" The boy responded promptly.
"Brother?!" the young girl was surprised. Although she could not see, she heard what her brother just said and she couldn't believe it.
"We have to do this, sis. As he said, we can't continue to do this kind of lifestyle forever and squat on houses as trespassers. He is offering us a generous offer and as long as you are safe, I will be willing to accept it."
I nodded and examined the two of them.
"Don't worry. I may be looking suspicious but I don't do anything that would endanger anyone. I am still a sane person after all."
They seemed oddly familiar, but I couldn't quite place where I'd seen them before. As a result, I decided to inquire about their names.
"So, what are both your names?"
"I am Akira, and this is my sister, Sora."
Akira and Sora? Weren't they the legendary mercenaries from the Alternate World? According to what I'd heard, they had amassed a fortune by playing the game in public capsules, which allowed players who couldn't afford their capsules and rings to participate. I never expected to encounter them here! Am I mistaken perhaps?!
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