Chapter 203 –

The rain dropped down with a rhythm. Men and women passed by this store, creating splashes as they do. A lone man, wearing a cap, and a worn-out coat stood upright with a rifle in hand. He wore a despondent look, his eyes dull and bland.

There was a kid that ran near the glass window of the store. He looked up at the candy and snacks inside, licking his lips. He wore average clothing. He was pressing his hands on the window. There was this hungry look on the kid that was hard to miss.

“Can stay away from the window?” asked the guard.

“I’ll be buying,” said the kid.

“Is that so?” the guard pressed his lips.

The kid craned towards the guard. He sized him up with his eyes.

“How much are the stuff here?”

“I don’t know.”

The guard shook his head lightly. The kid crossed his arms, his face crumpled.

“Don’t you work here?”

“Do you see me inside?” asked the guard.

“No?” replied the kid.

“Then you have your answer, kid. How about ask inside? I am just paid to stand here.”

The kid looked at the guard again. He put his hands on his pockets.

“They don’t let you inside?”

“Why would they?”

“Because you work here!” said the kid. “It’s raining here.”

“Wow, aren’t you a genius kid?” said the guard.

“Is that a jest?”

The guard heaved a long sigh.

“Yes, it is. Please get inside and buy something. I am not paid to chat.”

The kid folded his arms. He looked at the guard with discerning eyes.

“You are one grumpy guard. Shouldn’t you be entertaining me?”

The guard looked at the kid with half-open eyes.

“Do I look like an entertainer?” the guard said coldly.

The kid curled his lips. He looked at the guard while tapping his fingers. The passerby’s looked at the kid who was glancing at the guard. They pondered why the kid was looking at the guard who seemed like he would fall asleep anytime soon.

“No?” the kid said.

“Bravo, you answered it,” the guard grimaced. “Now please buy, and please come back.”

The kid frowned. “You really hate talking do you?”

“What gave it away?” said the guard with a scowl. “Beat it, kid, don’t test my patience.”

The kid looked at him. “If you are a migrant, I don’t think that’s a good idea. My pa and ma are poor, but they are still citizens of the Empire.”

“Threatening me now?” the guard sneered. “I don’t really care. I am paid to stop troublemakers. Even the shop owner won’t give me that trouble.”

“Really?” said the kid.

He had this smug look. He was leaning while keeping this playful smile.

“You are one troublemaking kid. Why do you have to talk to me? Just get inside and be done with me. I am not that special for you to chat with.”

The kid felt that there was this cold tone on the guard. He was a kid but he could tell that the guard was truly annoyed. He didn’t dare to provoke the guard further. He entered the shop and disappeared from within. The guard looked at the door before sighing.

...

The rain didn’t falter. It made the brick road covered in water. There were puddles forming around. The cars would splash around, making the guard who was standing guard annoyed.

The door open, a kid stepped out of the store. He was licking on a round candy. He stood near the guard while looking at the road that was forming a mist. The rain tapped repeatedly. The water slid down from the tiled roofs of the city, creating a wall of water.

The kid continued licking the round candy. He took out a candy cane and bit on it. He then looked at the guard with a question mark above his head.

“How do they make this stuff?”

“I don’t know.”

“Is that so?”

The kid doubted the guard. The guard wanted to focus on staying guard but the kid’s loud eating of his candies ticked him off. The kid was definitely doing it on purpose.

“You are annoying.”

“Not really.”

“You are doing it on purpose.”

“I am only eating my candies.”

The guard glanced at the kid. His cold eyes peered at the kid. The kid looked at the guard as if clueless. He knew that the guard wouldn’t do anything to him.

“I am Jid, what’s your name?”

“If I tell you my name, will you go and leave?”

“Maybe,” said the kid. “Tell me.”

“Joshua, the name’s Joshua.”

“Oh, so Brother Joshua, where did you come from?”

“Livia Continent.”

“That place?” the kid widened his eyes. “I see. No wonder you looked so grumpy.”

The kid heard that the thunder of God was first fired at the Livia continent. Two nations were eradicated and were forced to surrender unconditionally. There was no hope for them to endure more of the thunder of God’s destructive abilities.

Joshua could somehow tell that the kid named Jid was thinking of that. He didn’t speak anything. He watched the raindrops meet with the road. He could still remember the horrifying explosion that made him realize how stupid it was to fight the Empire.

“I am sorry if that bothered you,” said the kid.

“No need to be sorry,” said Joshua. “If you understand then please leave me alone.”

The kid could take a hint. He looked at the guard named Joshua and nodded his head. He ate his candies silently. He then waited for the rain to falter a bit before taking his leave. Joshua watched kid disappear from his vision. He lifted his head up to the sky and thought of many things.

The rainy city of the Capital of the Empire of Valor soothed his heart a bit. But it was not enough to quell the heartache that he felt when those bombs fell. Every single night he would have to dream about that terrifying scene. Even the whiskey cannot heal that fearsome force.

Joshua has already set his mind straight. He had a lot of time to think when he was digging ores for the Empire. He might have lost a lot after coming in the Empire. Still, the Empire was safe. He wanted to bother none.

Joshua stood and watched dutifully. His eyes were reflecting the rain and the passersby.