"Kid... I can't be seen by humans... Can you check? If there's any danger, I'll intervene," Trugoy said, reassuring Jeff with a pat on the shoulder. Jeff nodded and went down the stairs, then arrived at the small entrance door of the house. He peeked through the peephole.

It was a rather tall man, about 2 meters, wearing a leather jacket. Jeff couldn't see anything else about the adult. After blocking the door from the inside, he opened it just a crack, enough to step out and talk to the guy.

"G-Good morning! How can I help you?" he stammered, peeking out with suspicion.

"... Besides... you... in... there... someone...?" the man whispered, covering his eyes with the hood of his jacket.

Jeff asked him to repeat, not having heard the first time. The man grabbed him by the hair, lifting him to eye level:

"IN THERE... IS THERE A THIEF WITH YOU?!" he exclaimed.

The boy, very confused, replied: "Uhm, what??????"

Suddenly, a spear was thrust into the man's neck, throwing him out of the doorway. Jeff fell backward onto the welcome mat. He looked up, noticing the Village Chief.

Trugoy, proud of having prevented the boy from being harmed, referred to the man's body impaled in the tree, along with his spear: "Don't touch the boy! Do you understand me, vile villain?!"

The man's body lay lifeless, covered in his own blood. "OH, FOR ALL THE WHALES! I DIDN'T MEAN TO KILL HIM IN ONE SHOT!" Trugoy said, almost regretful... Almost.

Then he composed himself: "Well, too bad. I'd rather have killed a person than have you dead, kid," as he approached the body to retrieve the spear.

Jeff wondered where the Village Chief had kept the spear all this time, but chose to let it go. Suddenly, from a tree, an old man in a wheelchair appeared, shouting at the top of his lungs: "THIS IS... SPARTA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" and began to force the wheels of the chair to move forward as fast as he could.

The old man stopped when he noticed his grandson and the aquatic being in front of him. "... Did... the hitman...just died?" the old man said.

Trugoy looked very uncertain: "Sir... Your face is... familiar..."

The old man interrupted him: "... YOU, KID! HOW DARE YOU?!"

Jeff felt a shiver down his spine, and with a bit of fear, asked: "G-Grandpa, it's me: Jeff... Your grandson! Do you recognize me...?"

The old man, getting irritated, replied: "I have no grandchildren, nor children, you scum! Get out of my house and leave the aquatic man alone!"

Trugoy, perplexed and confused, stated: "Kid... Did you really just tell a bunch of lies-" and the little boy knelt down, shouting: "I promise! I didn't lie! I swear on anything! Please! I think I understand why Grandpa doesn't recognize me!"

So, the little boy and the Village Chief took refuge behind a conveniently shaped tree to reorganize their thoughts...

<Chapter 21 will be revealed on 01/25/25>