Extra 1: Meeting with Evander

Arthur was twenty. He had a stable and strong teenage physique, tall body, long stride. No matter how the hot asphalt ground beneath his feet burned him, he kept running. Without looking back, he entered into a narrow alley, met another narrow alley and slid in—it went on like that until he didn't know where he was.

So far, there was no longer Cody's loud voice—no more sharp voices of his father's men looking for his whereabouts.

He ran very far.

Gasping, Arthur pressed his body against the old wall. His sweat dripped down causing his clothes to be soaked. But the adrenaline was racing strong.

"Uncle Cody." He muttered this name in his heart, his expression unclear.

Arthur had only known the old man for one year and they had to drift apart like this. Even when cornered by his father's men, the old man was completely unwilling to give away any information of his whereabouts.

"Thank you, Uncle. And sorry."

Arthur hoped Cody is not in danger. When his breathing finally calmed down, he looked at the sack filled with used bottles in his hand. His intention is to sell these bottles to Cody to get money. Too bad, his luck was so bad.

It's been one year since he left, and it's been half a year since his mother died. Why is his father still insisting on looking for him? Even if he died, he would not return to that killer.

His hands immediately clenched into fists.

"You arrogant little brat!"

A voice sounded from the side in a narrow alley not far from him. It was loud and clear. This place is deserted, just a remote old village and almost no people.

Who's there?

The voice sounded again, "If you buy my pride, do you think your money will be enough? Then buy all of our pride, you fvcker!"

Then a burst of laughter echoed there.

"Your pride is so cheap. Why can't I afford it? I'm freaking rich." A calm and proud voice replied.

"Don't just talk! Get all your money out!" The sharp voice sounded again, this time accompanied by a slight clatter.

Oppression? thought Arthur.

Now that he thought about it, it was possible. But they had nothing to do with him, and he intended to leave without causing trouble.

Suddenly, there was a loud falling sound inside the alley.

"My clothes are wrinkled, don't touch them with your dirty hands." The calm voice answered.

"This kid is really ..."

"Wait. You already got my watch. It's worth ten million. More than enough to buy six people's pride!"

"This little bastard talks too much! Catch him!"

No resistance was heard. Arthur finally got curious and peeked out from behind a large litter box. He saw six thugs with lots of tattoos pressing a teenager wearing a school uniform. One of the thugs had a knife.

"Check him out!" The one with the knife is probably their leader. After saying this, the detained youth was thoroughly examined.

"Boss, nothing."

Surprisingly, the teenager was very calm. "I told you I got lost and got my phone robbed earlier in another alley. I don't have my money."

The boss tapped the teenager's cheek with the blade of the knife. "Once you enter this area, you've already been robbed twice. The third time, you might die."

The big boss laughed. Following his men.

"Actually you are the third one," replied the teenager.

Arthur didn't understand why this teenager was so calm and liked to provoke thugs. Does he think this is a game?

Arthur was mildly interested.

The boss and his men looked at each other.

"The first thug took my money and the second one took my phone," the teenager answered their confusion. "And before my phone was taken I called the police. Those who robbed me before must have been caught and maybe the police are already around here watching you."

The boss was not provoked. He spat on the ground. "Why should I believe you?"

One of his men approached and whispered, "Boss, what if it's true?"

The others also whispered, "Yes, Boss. You saw a few days ago there were police patrolling. Hear it because this old place is about to be demolished!"

While saying this, he turned his head this way and that.

The boss looked at the teenager in annoyance. "Even if I get caught, I will kill you first! You won't be able to run."

The teenager's expression changed, perhaps because he didn't expect his threat to fail.

Arthur looked at the situation around him. Quiet. It's almost like an abandoned village here. The place he and Cody lived in was still busier, though not by much either, but it was still better than this place. It seemed that this place was where Cody had said that there were thugs hanging around.

Moreover, if the teenager is right, he has already been robbed three times.

Being preoccupied with other things, the situation in the alley turned tense. The previous teenager was pinned against the wall and the boss held his knife high.

Arthur immediately stood up, he knocked the big box in front of him accidentally and made a fuss.

This made the boss stop and turn his head.

"Police. Hands up!" Arthur, who immediately hid, was forced to shout this sentence, saying it firmly and strongly.

Luckily he was past puberty and his voice sounded low and deep, dependable.

The boss didn't look triggered though he was on high alert, looking for the source of the sound.

"Raise your hands and duck!" Arthur screamed again, deliberately running quickly in place so they thought a lot of hoofs were coming.

"Boss, Boss, let's go! Come on!"

Even the boss hasn't reacted yet, his men have already released the teenager and run away. Seeing that there was no one else in front of him, the boss tsked. Without glancing at the teenager, he ran.

The teenager who had just been pressed against the wall looked absent-minded. Suddenly he saw a young man appear from behind the wall, coming toward him.

"Quick! Run!"

Arthur grabbed the teenager's hand and led him to run as far as he could before the thugs came to their senses. The teenager was probably too flustered by this turn of events, he didn't make much noise and ran along.

They ran without stopping, and two people immediately broke out in sweat.

Arthur paused, pointing at the post. "The police are there. Go and tell them what happened. They will take you home."

After saying that, Arthur turned and left. But his hand was suddenly held.

"I'm Evander."

"..."

"You have helped me, I will repay you with money."

Arthur looked at the teenager, his eyes cold. He let go of his hand easily and turned around again.

He didn't hear any sound and walked in the opposite direction quietly. After walking quite a distance, he felt that someone was watching him, and he immediately became alert.

"It's me." The teenager named Evander appeared from behind the wall. "I said I'd pay you for helping me. Say what you want."

'Don't even say thank you?' Arthur snorted.

This teenager was really as he seemed, extremely arrogant. He looked like a well-grown young master from a rich family. Even though his school clothes were dirty now, but they were of good quality, he was probably a student from an international school.

Ignoring him, Arthur walked back.

"At least say your name."

Evander's voice was not very loud, but was sure that it was heard by the other party. He didn't feel irritated at being ignored, he continued to follow where his helper walked.

Evander could hear the sighs escaping from the young man.

His voice was very low. "Arthur."

It's finished. He didn't even turn his head after saying his name, causing Evander to pause a bit. As soon as he realized Arthur had stepped away, he ran after him.

"Where do you live? I'll send you the money." Evander said half catching up, but his voice was steady. "I really don't have any money right now, but I'll pay you later."

Arthur couldn't stand it and quickened his pace. "Go away."

"I will pay you."

"I don't need money."

"If not money, what do you want? Say it and I will grant it for you."

Arthur turned and glared at him. "Didn't you hear? Go away!"

Evander was getting stubborn. "But you saved my life. I don't want to be indebted."

Arthur wasn't sure if that could be called saving lives. He believed this teenager could save his own life with his arrogant words.

"I didn't save you," Arthur said finally.

The place was exposed to direct sunlight and it was hot. He repeatedly saw the teenager rubbing his wet neck, looking uncomfortable. Arthur pulled over to the empty lot of an abandoned shop. Evander followed him.

"I'm tired. Say what you want to say, and leave. The police are still there." Arthur sat down on a dusty bench.

"I want to return the favor."

"Not needed," Arthur hissed.

Evander did not sit and watch it from above. He paused for a moment before saying, "Okay. I actually don't want to go home right now. I heard there's a good meat restaurant in this area and wanted to try it. Can you take me there?"

Does Arthur believe his bullshit?

No fvcking way!

Unfortunately Evander wasn't lying. He continued, "I heard it's really good. I want to try it and compare it to the chef's cooking at my house."

Arthur had no expression on his face.

After a long time of deliberately ignoring the rich teenager, Arthur heard his soft voice, "Thank you."

Arthur was a little stunned.

"I was cornered then. Good thing you came. But I really can't go home now."

When his arrogant style faded away, this youth appeared to be a normal, normal teenager. Arthur once had a classmate who was almost like this teenager. His hair was as long as his ears, his bangs were parted and hung down his cheeks. The difference is Evander's face is very white and well maintained.

Arthur took the thanks in his heart and stood up. "There's a good meat restaurant. Maybe that's what you mean. But it's far from here."

And Arthur couldn't have driven him there.

"Give me your phone," Evander said.

Arthur stared at him as he sensed the tone of command coming. "Don't have it."

"What?"

"I don't have a phone."

"Your address?"

"Doesn't have a home."

Evander's expression looked like he couldn't believe it at all. But he also somewhat believed after seeing Arthur's appearance. It's just that he is hungry now, has no money and his phone has been completely robbed. If he returned at this time, it would be difficult to come here again because he didn't know his place.

It was true, he had come here because someone said that there was a good restaurant in the slum near the harbour. Although the location is inconclusive, it is stated that the owner of the restaurant cooked his meat using family recipes passed down for hundreds of years.

Evander, who is bored with the five-star chef's cooking at home, is curious about this. During his lifetime, his food was always healthy and well-organized, he was sick of eating it.

So he wanted to give it a try and left in the middle of school hours.

It was also the first time he had run away from school and skipped classes like this.

"Follow me."

Evander had not digested it, he had seen Arthur leave him again. "Wait. Where are you going?"

"Eat," Arthur answered nonchalantly.

Evander didn't think much of it and followed suit. He felt Arthur was an interesting man. Arthur was extremely handsome and slender in build, his expression indifferent and cold. If he was at his school, he would immediately become the target of many girls.

"How old are you?" asked Evander on the sidelines of the trip.

They passed the outskirts of the forest which was close to the big harbor. This place was completely deserted and there were rarely any houses, but the smell of the sea wafted from here. They had walked several hours into the afternoon.

"Twenty."

"Oh, you are three years older than me."

Arthur didn't answer. He silently reached into his pocket and counted his change. He was also hungry and now had to pay for food for two. Will the money be enough?

When looking for used bottles, Arthur goes everywhere, he goes through many crowded places to get bottle waste. Usually at the port there are many restaurants open.

He had eaten there several times, it was a good place and cheap.

After walking for another half hour, they finally arrived. Evander was barely able to walk, but he didn't protest.

"Auntie, I ordered two servings." Arthur said to the seller.

The aunt was young, maybe in her late thirties. She looked up from her spot. "Eh, you come again. Take a look, I put away a lot of bottles for you, take them and sell them."

Arthur looked at the bottles blankly. "Thank you, Auntie."

"Don't be shy. We're also here to help if anyone wants to collect used bottles and cardboard. Let's help each other, ok?" The aunt smiled kindly, then she saw Evander standing in another corner. "This is ..."

"One portion I ordered for him. He got lost and robbed in that empty village over there." Arthur explained indifferently.

"My goodness." The aunt served two bowls of green bean porridge with coconut milk on the table. "You sit down. You seem to be from the city, right? How did you get lost?"

"Escape from the driver," Evander answered casually and sat down.

The aunt sensed Evander's arrogant attitude and was not offended. She has met many city people who will cross the sea stopping at her shop. She's used to it.

Evander was a bit disappointed at this point, he thought Arthur would take him to the meat restaurant he was looking for, but didn't voice it out. He glanced at Arthur from the side looking to be enjoying the food and finally eating his own.

"Hmm, this is delicious!" said Evander honestly.

"Really? It's good if you like."

"Auntie, do you have ice milk?"

"Of course there is. I'll prepare it for you." The seller's lips smiled.

"Made some for him too. We walked in the hot sun for two hours. It was so hot." Evander was in a good mood and ate the porridge again.

"Ah, you didn't know. He doesn't really like sweet. He will usually drink black coffee without sugar. I'll prepare that too."

"Unsweetened black coffee? Old man's taste." Evander sneered.

A movement from beside him distracted him, he saw Arthur had finished his bowl and stood up. Issue money to pay.

"Auntie, is there a pay phone here?" he asked.

The aunt was even as absent-minded as Evander, then replied, "Should be in the ship's staff office. You can borrow it."

Unexpectedly, Arthur turned to look at Evander who was looking at him. Evander was a bit clumsy because he was caught off guard.

"You heard it. After eating call your family to pick you up." Arthur said coldly.

Evander called for him, but Arthur still walked away. He wanted to give chase, but the porridge was so good and he didn't want to waste it. So he ate it slowly. Even waiting for ice milk on his table like an obedient person.

After that Evander managed to contact his parents and he was picked up in a black luxury car that glistened in the sun. The sight of the car contrasted with the rusty old minibus parked near the harbour.

He hadn't seen Arthur since then, probably in nearly two months.

He was living his life again as a boring rich young master where everything was strictly regulated, money would flow to him every day until he wanted to burn it out of boredom.

This almost made him want to run away again, but unfortunately that intention was soon discovered by his eldest brother.

"I'm not going to run away, but find someone for me. He lives in the next suburb." Evander said to his brother.

Evander also said that the person he wanted to find saved his life, he went on to say that Arthur had beaten up the thugs and was injured. So he has to pay compensation.

His brother immediately believed. Quickly several messengers were deployed, they searched every corner of the outskirts of the city and even the thug's village, all the way to the port.

After three days of rigorous searching, Arthur was finally found in an old two-story house working to help an elderly, sickly couple.

Evander came to the house with his luxury car and expensive leather shoes. He got off with his usual self-assured smug style. At that time, he immediately saw Arthur in the large courtyard of the house, holding a large wooden fork in his hand.

Seeing him coming, Arthur wasn't even surprised. His demeanor was still as cold as ever. Evander was very interested.

"You ... what are you doing?"

Arthur looked very reluctant, but he still replied, "Scratching the paddy."

"Scratching the ... paddy? What is that?" Evander approached him slowly. "Teach me. I want to scratch paddy too."

"???"

That's how the first boss and second boss Eternuz got along.

END.