16 Is This Too Much To Ask? (1/2)

Agatha hugged Kiba from behind to denote he was no longer alone in this world.

She thought perhaps his parents have a reason for discarding him in slums, but she couldn't think of any reason which would justify the act.

No! There was nothing in this world which could justify discarding a child in a slum. The slums are the true hell on Earth. Agatha knew the true conditions of the slum.

After the arrival of Evolution Comet in the year 1900, the era of mutants started. The new era was crueler than the previous era as far as the people at the bottom of society were concerned. The governments around the world started taking poor people for experiments as they tried to study the mutation around the world. Conditions of poor only got worse as the entire resources were spent on decoding the secrets of Evolution with them being forced to become a slave for the powerful mutant.

While the formation of the World Government in the year 1935 did stop the atrocities on poor in the open; the truth was even the World Government sacrificed more than a million people in their experiments. It was in the guise of employment overseas or mining incidents which would be used to justify the mass disappearance of people.

In the present year 2024, the weak and poor are forced to live in the slums with next to zero support from World Government or any other organizations. On paper, the World Government has given billions of dollars for the benefit of slums but in reality, those funds were embezzled by the officers.

To develop goodwill and increase publicity, the corporate would host annual charity events for slum people but that money was also embezzled. In this case, the money was embezzled by the powerful few in slums who are almost like overlords of the slum.

The lack of resources has made the slum a place of living hell. People would kill each other for a grain of food much less entire bread. Man would sell away their daughters or wives if it could bring food to their table. If one is orphan then the best case would be working for an overlord and the worst case would be used in human trafficking with a fate worse than death. The only chance of survival is having strong powers but even that require resources and hence making the life in slums a vicious cycle.

”I'm sorry for what you have suffered but now you are no longer alone,” Agatha said while continuing to hug Kiba from behind. She could feel his tears on her hands.

Kiba left her hug and turned his face towards her. He took a deep breath to calm his emotions.

”A few minutes ago, I couldn't stop hugging you but now you are same as me,” Kiba said with his signature flirtatious smile.

Agatha gave a smile at his words. Her smile was more beautiful than any flower he has seen.

”If you continue to smile like this then I won't be able to control myself,” Kiba said while thinking it felt good to open his heart with someone.

It was the first time he has shared his past with anyone in his identity as 'Kiba'. The only woman who knew he has other identity is Eva but even she isn't aware of his past in slum.

He felt something familiar from her when she hugged him but then he thought it was just his excitement for having someone who cared about him.

The words Agatha has spoken has planted a seed in his heart. They might be just plain words but for him they were special.

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”Agatha, if you want to leave... I will help you,” Kiba said.

”Leave? Where would I go then?” Agatha asked.

”Anywhere you want to go,” Kiba answered.