C8: The Two Guards!

The night came, and, for the whole day, no one disturbed their apartment. The security measures of the apartment complex were quite good so the goons had no way to infiltrate it and forcefully abduct his mother. 

This made him sigh with relief that his mother was safe, but only for the meantime. He needs to plan out more comprehensive ways to remove the threat that was being imposed on his and his mother's lives. Sadly, he lacked time, and even if he wanted to hire someone, it would also take time to process everything and it would be too late by then. 

As he sat on his bed, his skill [Intuition] activated. He quickly looked around his room and didn't find anything suspicious, however, when he thought of the calls he made earlier, he made a relieved facial expression and smiled. He then continued by uttering "So, are you two here?" 

After that, he looked at his room's veranda and saw two men in black shirts and pants walking inside. "Hmm... so you're Alfred Garrido...?" 

Issmari talked first while Terrence just looked at him blankly. "Yes, how were your travels? I presume they were quite... boring." he made a small gesture with his hands signaling that the two may sit on the available seats. Issmari smiled, sat while Terrence stood, and then laid his back on the wall. Issmari shrugged and returned the gaze to him. "So... what is this about?" he said interrogatively. 

Alfred smiled at the two contrasting contractors he contacted, then positioned himself comfortably and answered "I want to hire you two to protect me and my mother. One year 2 million credits each. Please state your answers right now." 

The two contractors' eyebrows twitched a bit when they heard the kid tell them what he wanted, and they were quite surprised by the offer as well. "Two million credits? Now that's tempting... but how are you gonna pay us?" Issmari asked with doubt. However, Terrence butted in, "Stock trading... right?" 

Alfred smiled when he heard Terrence's answer. "Hehe, yes you're right Mr. Crowley. I trade for stocks and I know you already investigated me while you're on your way... so... how many people in the stock market are interested in me?" 

Issmari had a surprised expression all over his face while Terrence smiled back at Alfred's words. "A lot." 

"A lot, huh?" Alfred smiled. "So... what do you two think?" 

Issmari slouched a bit and made a serious gaze at Alfred. "Heh... what if I force you to give that 2 million credits instead?" 

Terrence, on the other hand, didn't react to his words and just remained expressionless. "If you were to do that, I would not have contacted you, Mr. Kenya. I know both of you have integrities to uphold in the mercenary world, plus, it is not like I have a fail-safe plan in case you become someone who threatens me." Alfred said in his most childish voice.

"Heh~ spoken like a professional... despite having milk in your mouth eh?" Issmari mocked. 

"That's true, Mr. Kenya. But I have more in store in case you both betray me." Alfred smirked a bit when he thought of how he could trace these two professional killers using the system's information exchange. 

"Is that how you were able to contact us?" Issmari asked.

"You can say that... but I won't expose my contact, for that 'person's safety." Alfred lied. 

"What an evil kid you are. You're just a little less than 10 years old and you're already this cunning... I'm wondering how you would become when you're older." Issmari said.

"You could see it... if you keep being my contracted bodyguard." Alfred teased and continued with "So... please answer... I won't accept any later decisions from you two. If you don't accept that's fine and be assured no one will know your contact information from my side."

The two contractors closed their eyes for a few minutes and then, Issmari opened his eyes first. "God damn it, I'm truly short in cash now so... I accept but... it still depends on the contract that I will be signing with you." 

Terrence followed and just uttered the word "Same". 

"That is great! I will not hang you for the contract so..." Alfred stood up from his bed, went to his drawer, and pulled out two pieces of paper. 

He gave each paper to the two prospected contractors. Upon reading what was in the contract, both Issmari and Terrence's gazes went from incredulity to seriousness. "Are you fucking kidding me!?" Issmari reacted first and looked at Alfred with a shocked face. 

"Yes." Alfred answered immediately.

"2 million credits for a year plus you will supply us any weaponry and other devices that we need to secure you and your mother's safety? And if you wanted us to do a job different from the scope we're hired with, you'll pay a separate price, the same as our normal contract price!?" Issmari couldn't believe what he was seeing in the contract. "How could you do this!? Where's your confidence that you could pay us and find us what we really need!? Who are you at all!?" 

"Well, let's just say that I matured earlier than my peers. And I learned something from the underground society. I can't say much to you both though. But I will adhere to everything that is written in those contracts you're holding right now." Alfred shrugged and smiled when he answered Issmari's questions.

"So?" Alfred added.

The two contractors, again, did some thinking. The first one to grab the pen was Terrence, which made Issmari surprised, he said "Woah brother, are you really going to be a lackey by some kid in an Asian country just like that?" 

"Why not? It is not a bad deal... any at all. The kid got potential." Terrence answered flatly.

"For real?" Issmari couldn't believe what he heard. He didn't know this "Mr. Crowley" personally but he knew from the way this guy moved, that he was sure "Mr. Crowley" was a professional like himself.

Terrence passed the contract to Alfred and returned to his previous position. As for Issmari, he was still in his thoughts, but after a few more minutes he signed the contract. "Well... if that dude signed it, then I'll sign it too." 

He passed the contract to Alfred and returned to his seat. As for Alfred, he pulled out his phone and transferred the contract fee, 2 million for each contractor, to their respective secret accounts. As soon as he did that, the two contractor's phones rang. They received automated notifications from their secret banks about the said transfers. Alfred's act made both of them shocked and scared. 

"What the fuck!? Just like that!?" Issmari sweated.

"Just like that." Alfred smiled. He walked back to his drawer, placed the contracts there, and pulled another paper from it. He handed each paper to his contracted bodyguards and told them to write what they 'needed' to properly guard him and his mother for the next 365 days. 

Both were very careful at first but when they heard Alfred to list the necessary equipment they needed, no matter how expensive it would be, would be provided to them the next day. As for their lodging, he recently bought the next-door apartment secretly from his mother, he arranged for it to be his guard's base for the meantime until he could buy a big-ass mansion somewhere more provincial, such as in the Visayas region. Though rampant criminality was present in such a region, with proper defensive measures, he and his guards could protect his properties there more efficiently. 

//

A day passed, in the morning.

//

After he said his goodbyes to his mother, he stepped out of their apartment and quickly walked towards the next-door apartment. He rang the bell and the door opened. It was Issmari who opened it and let him in. After taking a seat in the living room, the two guards handed out the papers they were given the night before. He looked at them and nodded. He said the equipment would be delivered later today after school. 

The two guards nodded. Issmari changed his clothing to a regular civilian one. He will be the one to guard Alfred outside while Terrence will be responsible for Alfred's mother.

Alfred nodded, he went out of the apartment with Issmari and closed the door. 

And so, a new day has arrived.

//

Back on the goon's side.

//

"Fuck! Total failures! How the hell am I going to explain to the boss that we failed to abduct such a kid!" The leader of all the goons inside the warehouse looked down, shamed, and embarrassed by what happened the day before.

"Fuck! We only got one chance today! You better fucking get your shits up today!" The leader said.

"Yes, sir!" the subordinate goons answered. 

//

Back to Alfred.

//

The classes were finished and he was stepping out of the school gate when Issmari met with him. Although he has no car yet, he asks Issmari to find and buy one. Issmari has an international 'license' for driving, obviously faked, so being a driver and guard for him would be much more efficient. Thus, Issmari bought one immediately at the local dealership and paid for all the necessary paperwork as well as the license plate. It cost Alfred a total of 1.7 million credits. 

The dealership just needed a few hours to process everything, and before Alfred's class ended, the car and license plate had been completed. As per Alfred's instruction, never open the door for him as this may affect the student's view of him. He still wants to remain as an ordinary student. 

As soon as Alfred went inside the car, the goons waiting on him felt a jolt and shock in their nerves. the goon's leader cussed badly "What the fuck was that!? Fucking go after that fucking car idiot!" 

The van's driver quickly revved and tried to follow the car. However, Issmari, who was driving the said car, already noticed the goon's van and drove fast and went to unexpected routes. The goons lost Alfred and the car after a few corners. 

This caused the goon's leader to slap each subordinate in the face. "Idiots!" 

[TO BE CONTINUED]