Zatch Bell: Kolulu Story
By:CleruSonofShintetsu
[Chapter 8: The Continued Search for Parco Folgore!]
An hour has passed since the group took their break from the search, and it seems they finally found a lead on Folgore's location, much to the visible joy of Kanchome.
"Oh," said the man behind the counter. "I think he said he was off to investigate the rumors of the ghost knights. They say there are knights of yore who come to haunt the modern day remnants of old medieval villages throughout England, and that they've been kidnapping women and others for some nefarious deed!" he said in a casual manner.
Kanchome, taking this with utmost seriousness. "Don't worry sir! The great Parco Folgore can vanquish any evil! Even the dreaded ghost knights, for he is..." he said, before raising his arm and doing the motions.
"Iron man Folgooooore! Invincible Folgooooore! Great and strong Folgoooooooore, he aaaaaaaaaaaalways wins the daaaaaaay!" he sings. As he prepares another loop, Kolulu, in her curiosity, starts doing the movements too, enjoying the song he sang.
Once the next lyrical loop came in, Kolulu began singing it with him, with a bright smile on her face.
Kiyo was more than surprised, but put those feelings aside for now, smiling at how happy the two looked.
Lori was giggling at the sight, but decided to approach the counter and whisper to the man behind it. "In all seriousness, sir, do you know the exact place he went? Did he say at all?" she asked.
The man scratched his head and thought for a moment, trying to remember if Folgore said anything specific. Then it hit him, and his expression lightened up. "Ohhhh right! He was headed for..." he said, giving her the name and general directions of the village.
Lori put her hands together and nodded, "Thank you so much sir, truly!" she said, turning to face the two Mamodo children who had finished singing.
"Alright you two, let's head out, I think we finally have a lead on Folgore's location!" she said, Kanchome reacting with an exaggerated gasp.
"Oh my gosh really!? Then we have no time to waste, let's go let's go let's go!" he said, with all four leaving the shop shortly after.
[Meanwhile...in a lone castle in the English Countryside]
The ghost knights return to the castle with their newfound plunder, including an assortment of jewelry and valuables, and a handful of women and potential manservants. One of the human crooks that were with them was carrying the unconscious body of Kiyo's father, and all would enter the main hall, bowing before the giant mech being controlled by Baltro.
Baltro addresses them immediately. "How did the day's raid play out? Were there any complications?" he asked, preferring to get the bad news out of the way first, if there was any.
One of the criminals spoke up, "No sir, it was a total success with minimal resistance. The ghost knights and us did our part in the raid!" he said with a chuckle.
Another criminal asks a question to Baltro, "Oi, Lord Baltro, when can we get to loot division?"
Baltro's mech's eyes glow, before stomping once, shaking the room slightly and startling the group that knelt before him. "You will earn your pay when my master and I tell you, your incessant greed will do you no good, you impatient monkey!" he said sternly, effectively shutting the crooks up.
"Now," he continued, "report to your assigned rooms, enjoy your well-earned respite from the raid, Lord Streng will be addressing you soon enough. Begone with you lot!" he ordered.
Streng, meanwhile, in another room, was drinking a glass of wine, freshly poured by a woman in a loose and low-cut dress, the attire making her most uncomfortable. "Ahh...the taste of kingship will taste twice as sweet if Baltro ever ends up winning this little battle of his. For such a youngster he's smarter than most geniuses I know..." he said, glancing down at his spell book.
"You and that Baltro are the best things to happen to me. Boxing was always a bigger pain than I wanted to deal with, good as I am at it...so I thank you two from the bottom of my raging heart. Heheheheheh..." he laughed darkly. "More wine, I'll have a little more!" he ordered.
However, when the woman went to pour it, she accidentally spilled a little on his hand, the one holding the glass. He snarled, "Oi you blonde buffoon! Watch where you pour! God forbid you spill it on my pants next time!" he yelled, causing the women around him to flinch in fear. "Now now...it's a minor thing, I'll forgive you if you clean it up...with your tongue that is." he said, holding his hand out and presenting the dripping wine that continued flowing down his hand.
"Go on, tart-for-brains, clean it off, leave not one drop..." he said with a sadistic smirk. However, before she would be able to do this, he received a call from one of the criminals in the castle. "Hold on, tart-brain, 'ello?" he asked.
"Hey boss!" the crook said with excitement. "You won't BELIEVE what the knights dragged up! One of their captives was some fool playing the superhero, he kinda managed to knock a helmet or two square off the heads of the thinner knights..." he explained, Streng nodding along with a simple "mhm" every now and then.
"But this captive...this captive if the real, prime article himself, Parco Folgore!" he said, cackling over the line.
Streng wildly grinned. "Oh THAT is a jackpot of the ages! I'll be down in the dungeon in a hot second! You lot wake him up for me, and if he's not in a special cell by now, put him in one if you have the room!" he said, before hanging up and rising from his seat.
The man makes his way downstairs and into the old decrepit dungeon. This old, crumbling underground dungeon had some skeletons left over, and a stench that, while not too horrid, was bad enough to cause discomfort. Streng walked past several guards and approached the cell where Folgore was locked up. Folgore still seemed to be unconscious, so he kicked the cell bars.
"Oi superstar! Wake up this instant! I want a good look at you standin' up! Hey! You dead or somethin'?" he questioned irritably.
Folgore slowly rouses from unconsciousness, rubbing his forehead as he looked through the cell bars. "Mama-mia...am I in a film shoot right-a now or...?" he asked, still a bit disoriented.
Streng chuckled, "Not at all mister Folgore! You're in the humble castle abode of the great King Streng! Now be a good superstar and stand up, I wanna see you dance for me." he ordered, clicking his fingers twice to get the message across.
Folgore sighed, getting up and already regretting his situation. "Okay...if you-a say so. Uhh...where's the music?" he asked, Streng face palming with a sigh in response.
"We don't have- oh whatever, just know that I'll be makin' you my court jester! You'll be at my beck and call and with no choice to refuse! But since you're THE Parco Folgore, I'll make sure you get the best meals in the palace...minus the ones I eat of course." he offered, grinning at him.
"Well...it could-a be worse." said Folgore, who decided to just sit back and appease him for the time being. ("Where are you Kanchome...? Are-a you okay out there? I sure-a hope so...") he thought, sitting against the wall as Streng walked away. The last thing he overheard before Streng's voice vanished was...
"Oh great, that dressed-up fool and his monster are back to talk finances again..."