"If you can't pay... hand her over to me." He gave a crooked smile, looking suggestively at Aunt Aland.
Hearing the man's proposition, her husband froze, a ticking time bomb ready to explode.
How dare he say that in front of me?! I'll kill him even if IT COSTS ME MY LIFE! he thought.
Honk! Honk!
Just as he was about to rush forward and attack the man, a car horn sounded. Everyone turned their attention toward the source of the noise.
It turned out to be the car Aland was riding in. Aland had been standing there with Bros for a moment and had likely overheard some of their conversation.
"Hoh, is there someone else here to collect a debt?" the cowboy man said with a smile, watching Aland and Bros walk toward him.
Bros stopped directly in front of the cowboy man's face, while Aland approached his aunt, who was slumped on the ground.
"A-Aland? You really came?" Her eyes welled up with tears. His aunt immediately hugged Aland tightly.
This isn't good. Did they hurt you, Auntie? Aland thought, feeling a surge of emotion.
The cowboy man shifted his gaze away from Bros and looked strangely at Aland, saying:
"Hey, kid!"
"Get away from her!"
"She belongs to-"
CRASH!
Before he could finish his sentence, his head slammed into the ground. Bros pressed his head down hard, causing cracks to appear in the dirt.
"Your foul words! You shouldn't be saying things like that in front of a child!" He slowly stood up.
"Who's next?"
The cowboy's subordinates immediately attacked Bros simultaneously from all directions, swinging their bats.
My wife once told me about a guard who watched over her sister with great care. A guard who once laid waste to the central plains. Is this the monster my wife told me about? the husband thought to himself, seeing Bros's aura flickering like fire.
"Um, Aland. Your uncle..."
Aland helped his aunt stand up and said, "There's nothing to worry about, Aunt."
Who among men could possibly stop that monster? Aland thought, smiling.
...
Bros had dealt with everyone. He ordered them all to bow, forming a long, sideways line so Aland could see them clearly.
Their bruised faces made Aland slightly afraid. The fact that Uncle Bros, whom he had known all this time, possessed such a cruel heart.
This monster... he really didn't hold back. Can they even speak now? Aland wondered.
"Alright, first things first, which one of you can speak clearly?"
"Looking at your disfigured mouths... I doubt you can still talk." He stared at them in disgust.
"Nod your heads if any of you can speak."
However, after waiting for five minutes, none of them nodded their heads.
"Tch!" He let out a long sigh.
"If not a single one of you can..." He pointed at Bros, who was standing beside him. "... I will have him break every single finger and toe you have!"
The man on the far left of the line nodded his head. "I-I can!"
"Aland. This seems a bit excessive," his aunt said softly.
"It's not their fault. It's our fault for not paying our debt on time."
She is kind, just like the Mistress. She has a gentle and caring heart. That's why I don't like anyone belittling or mocking her. Because she is the Mistress's sister. Anyone who dares touch the Mistress's loved ones, I will eliminate! Bros thought, looking at the Aunt.
Aland shook his head and said, "I can't, Aunt... they must be punished, Aunt..."
"Aunt, please go inside the house first. This won't take long."
Are these the thoughts of a six-year-old? I feel like Aland's nature isn't typical for his age. His mind is like an adult's, the Aunt thought.
"Alright. I'll go ahead then." She walked away and entered the house.
I hope this nature of yours... isn't the one your father possessed. Please don't disappoint me.
"Finally, Aunt is gone," Aland muttered, turning his gaze back to the men who had caused trouble.
"You! Quickly explain everything to me. From beginning to end! Without omitting or adding anything to your story."
"If there is a single sentence that differs from your explanation... He!" He pointed at Bros.
"Will cut you into small squares. Skin you and dry you over hot coals..."
Tch! Please be serious, young master... Bros thought.
"... do you understand?!" Aland continued. The man responded by nodding his head repeatedly and quickly.
He explained to Aland that his Aunt owed them a debt of about 100 million. However, because the Aunt couldn't pay it off within two years, the interest on the loan ballooned to 5 billion.
"Tch! UNCLE!" Aland snapped.
"Y-yes, young m-master."
"Working like that is the same as someone taxing the people and using the money for themselves. The people earn that money through hardship, sweat! Sacrifice! They do all that just for the money, Uncle!"
"If you raise the interest that high, how is Aunt supposed to pay it off?" He stared intensely at him.
In my previous life, there was a government that did something similar. They gave their people hope, providing them with facilities. But then the people had to pay three times what they received. That was a mission I truly enjoyed as a mercenary. Because I heard the suffering of the people, I tortured him for two days before finally killing him, Aland thought.
This killing intent... is it coming from the young master? Bros thought.
This little kid can emit killing intent? the cowboy man thought.
"P-please forgive me, y-young master."
"Young master. Leave this to me. It would be better if you went inside," Bros said worriedly.
The killing intent was still emanating. There was no mistake, it was coming from the young master. It truly was unbelievable-a small child could emit killing intent this powerful? Bros thought. Aland ignored Bros's words and walked toward the five men.
We're dead! This is the end for us! He's actually going to kill us! I told the boss not to increase the interest that much. This is utterly ridiculous! the cowboy man thought.
But Aland didn't stop in front of them. He kept walking toward the car. He went inside for a moment, then came back out.
What now? What does the young master have in his hand? Could it be... a knife? Bros thought, startled.
"Uncle!" He held out a glittering object toward the cowboy man. It turned out to be a gold bar the size of an adult's palm.
G-g-gold? A look of shock appeared on his face as he stared at Aland.
He sighed softly. "Debt is debt. I know this can't be justified because of HIM!" He pointed at Bros.
"Making you guys injured like this..."
That bastard! He's mocking me again! Bros thought, smiling.
"... even though I told him to restrain himself. Hospital bills must be expensive, right?"
"N-not at all, Young Master! It's our fault because we also damaged property in this house, hehe..." the Cowboy Man said, smiling slightly.
"Ah... is that so? You should have told me earlier, Uncle!"
Aland handed the gold bar to Bros. Then he returned to the car and gave a bottle of buffalo milk to the cowboy man.
What the hell is this?! Is this kid mocking me?! the Cowboy Man thought, annoyed.
Hoh, turns out the young master can play his part, Bros thought, smiling.
"Hurry up and take it!"
"Come on, Uncle! My hand is cramping from holding it." The man slowly took the bottle.
"Um, the person who sold this milk said it's good for physical recovery. Since there's only one bottle, please divide it equally among all of you," Aland said with a sweet smile.
"Th-thank you, Young Master."