Chapter 4:
Captain Gourry stood before his troop of soldiers, scratching his head in bewilderment. He had counted and recounted heads, but he always seemed to arrive at one head short. Removing his beret, he fanned himself with it, twisting and grinding his brain in the attempt to remember the missing soldier.
That is, until the missing soldier knocked him across the head. "Yo, jellyfish brains! How's it going?"
"Lina! You're finally here! And I was wondering who-"
"Yeah, yeah, I know. I'll get in line."
A soldier in the unit snickered loudly. A Captain with maroon hair marching across the parade square stepped to the front of the unit, his voice snapping dryly in the air. "You, Private! You know better than to laugh at an officer of a higher rank than you! Step forward!" The Private's face sobered as he marched to the front. His black hair was in an unruly mess as he stood before the Captain, giving the latter a salute.
Captain Gourry placed his beret on and turned to the other Captain. "Aw, come on, Katsura, it's all right…"
"Nonsense, Gourry. We deserve respect." At this, the corners of the young soldier's mouth twitched slightly. The fiery-haired Lina observed the soldier curiously. She had never seen him around before, which would deem him to be a new recruit. How is it possible that a new recruit has already retained the rank of a Private and in the special unit, no less?!
Nodding at the soldier, Captain Katsura pointed at him. "Now Private, your-"
"Zell, Sir! Zell Metallium!"
The ranks parted to allow a dazed Lina Inverse to fall to the ground.
"Metallium?!"
* * *
The intercom buzzed. The silver-haired Dynast reached out to press the button on it. "Who is it?"
"Some visitors to see you, Dynast sama," rumbled the low voice.
"Akira, I presume?"
"In the flesh, Sir."
"Notify Sherra."
"I have, Sir."
The manager smirked. "Excellent, Grau."
Closing the door, the ex-Mazoku Lord headed down the corridor, hands in his coat pockets. Along the way, the beautiful Sherra joined him, with the bald Grau just behind her. At the reception counter, stood a large, pot-bellied man, a bottle of wine in his hand and an extremely muscular man at his side.
Spreading his arms out, the man came forward to meet Dynast, a jovial smile on his face. "Why, Dynast, how nice to see you again!"
The latter did not reciprocate, his face expressionless. "Likewise, Akira."
Dropping his arms, the other businessman coughed. "Of-of course…well, without further ado, I would-" Dynast snapped his fingers. "Grau…the money."
The gigantic man lumbered across and handed an envelope to the man who cowered slightly under the towering shadow of the former. Laughing nervously, the businessman accepted the envelope, flashing Dynast a grin. "How…how amusing, Dynast…you have a bodyguard who assists you in secretarial matters as well?"
Arching an eyebrow, the manager made a gesture towards Sherra, who had folded her arms across her chest, a scowl upon her face. "That, Akira, would be my bodyguard."
Silence reigned in the air, before Akira's henchman burst into gales of hearty laughter.
"You have a woman as a bodyguard! She doesn't even have the build! She should be at home, tending to babies and house chores like a good woman!"
The pig-tailed lady glanced over at her boss. "Dynast sama."
"You have my permission."
With a vicious swing through the air, Dynast's female bodyguard slammed her fist into the pompous fool's throat, crushing his windpipe. She watched the bulky man collapse to the floor, gasping and choking out blood. Akira backed away, eyes wide in terror. None of the staff batted an eyelid. It would appear that this happened rather often. Their boss, Dynast Grausherra, was not known to be a compassionate man.
Dynast pointed to the envelope. "Everything you require is in that very envelope, Akira. I'm sure you know what would happen if you forget to pay your debt again." Sherra smirked.
Just as the silver-haired man turned to go, he glanced back at the quivering Akira.
"Oh, and by the way…kindly remove your bleeding man from that Persian carpet…it's highly expensive."
Grau sniggered.