章節 2: Hidden Agendas

Turai moved to sit beside the owner of the orphanage, the middle-aged woman trembling visibly in her seat. Her hair was pulled back in a tight bun, and worry lines creased her forehead. He placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder and whispered, "Calm down, Mrs. Benson. Let me handle this." She nodded, her eyes wide with fear and uncertainty, but a glimmer of hope sparked at Turai's confident tone.

Turning to face the strange men, Turai's young face was a mask of calm determination. Despite his age, there was an air of authority about him that seemed to make even these rough-looking men pause. "Gentlemen, what exactly do you want?" he asked, his voice steady and clear.

The leader of the group, a burly man with a scar across his cheek and arms covered in faded tattoos, stepped forward. His leather jacket creaked as he moved, and the smell of cigarette smoke clung to him. "We're here to purchase this building," he said gruffly. "Our company wants to turn it into a tourist center and a motel."

Turai listened carefully, his expression neutral. His brown eyes, usually warm and friendly, now held a calculating look. The idea of a tourist center sounded interesting, potentially bringing more life and opportunity to their small town. But at the mention of a motel, his eyebrows furrowed slightly, a brief flicker of suspicion crossing his face. He didn't have any good memory with the word.

The man continued, his voice growing harder, "We spoke to the owner before. She asked for time to decide, said she'd get back to us." He cast a disapproving glance at Mrs. Benson, who seemed to shrink further into her chair. "But she never did. Our boss is growing impatient."

Turai nodded slowly, processing the information. He stood up, his small frame somehow commanding attention in the room. "One minute, please." He gently guided Mrs. Benson out of the room to a quiet corner of the orphanage, away from prying eyes and ears.

In the hallway, the sounds of the other children whispering drifted towards them, a reminder of what was at stake. Turai looked up at Mrs. Benson, his eyes softening with concern. "Do you genuinely want to sell this place?" he asked her softly.

Mrs. Benson shook her head, tears welling up in her eyes. Her voice quivered as she spoke, "No, I don't. This orphanage is all I have left to remind me of my family. My husband and I started it together before he passed away." She paused, glancing towards the rooms where the children slept. "It's the last hope for these children. I can't take that away from them." She wrung her hands nervously, her wedding ring glinting in the dim light. "But I couldn't tell that to those scary men. I was afraid of what they might do."

Turai's eyes softened with understanding. He had known Mrs. Benson for years, had seen her kindness and dedication to the orphans. He couldn't let her lose everything she had worked for. "Don't worry," he said, his voice filled with a determination that belied his years. "If you'll let me, I'll deal with them myself."

Mrs. Benson hesitated for a moment, her eyes searching Turai's face. She had relied on him since he turned ten, watching in amazement as this ordinary-looking boy tackled life challenges. He had never failed her before, always finding clever solutions to the orphanage's problems. Once again, she chose to trust him. "Alright, Turai," she said with a nod. "I'll trust you."

They returned to the room where the men waited impatiently, their heavy boots tapping against the worn wooden floor. Turai stood tall, his young frame somehow commanding attention.

"Gentlemen," Turai began, his voice clear and unwavering, "I'm afraid we won't be selling the orphanage to you or your boss."

The men looked taken aback, their eyes darting between Turai and Mrs. Benson. The leader's face darkened, his scar seeming to deepen as he frowned. "Is this your decision?" he asked her, his tone menacing.

Mrs. Benson straightened her shoulders, finding courage in Turai's presence. "Yes, it is," she said firmly, her voice stronger than it had been all day.

The men exchanged glances, clearly displeased. The tension in the room could be felt, like a taut string ready to snap. But something in Turai's steady gaze seemed to give them pause. Without another word, they turned and left, their heavy footsteps echoing through the orphanage halls.

As the front door slammed shut, Turai turned to Mrs. Benson. "I need to go somewhere," he said, his mind already racing with plans. "The meal I brought is for the children. Make sure they eat well."

Before she could respond, he was out the door, his small feet carrying him swiftly down the street. He followed the men at a discreet distance, ducking behind corners and blending into shadows with a skill that spoke of long practice.

After a few blocks, in a narrow alley between two brick buildings, the men stopped. They were unaware of their young shadow, who crouched behind a dumpster, straining to hear their conversation.

"Can you believe that kid?" one of them grumbled, lighting a cigarette. The flame briefly illuminated his scowling face. "Acting all high and mighty."

Another spat on the ground, his saliva mixing with the grime of the alley. "Boss ain't gonna be happy about this. We promised him we'd get that building."

The third man, the leader with the scar, lowered his voice, causing Turai to lean in closer. "You know the real plan, right? The motel's just a cover." He glanced around furtively before continuing, unaware of the young ears listening intently. "We're supposed to build an underground area for storing kids like those orphans and selling women."

Turai, still eavesdropping, felt a wave of fury wash over him. His fists clenched at his sides, his whole body tense with anger.

"Yeah, yeah. After we get the place through force, that kid will be forced to do a lot of work. Work enough to override him. That should teach him a lesson."

The cruelty of their plan struck him to his core. These men were willing to destroy the lives of innocent children and women for profit. He thought of Mrs. Benson, of the other orphans who had become his family. He couldn't let this happen.

The men, oblivious to their audience, decided to return to the orphanage. "We'll go back, rough 'em up a bit," the leader said with a cruel chuckle. "See if that changes their minds."

But before they could take a step, Turai emerged from his hiding spot. The setting sun cast long shadows in the alley, making his small figure seem to grow as he stepped into view.

"I don't think you'll be going anywhere," he said, his voice cold and steady. The men whirled around, shock evident on their faces as they found themselves confronted by the seemingly ordinary boy they had dismissed earlier.

But as Turai stood there, his brown eyes blazing with righteous anger, it was clear to anyone watching that this was no ordinary child.

The men's expressions shifted from surprise to amusement, clearly underestimating the threat posed by a single child. But there was something in Turai's stance, in the unwavering determination in his eyes, that made them uncomfortable.

As the tension built in the narrow alley, the true test of Turai's extraordinary abilities was about to begin.

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