Locci had lived as a pokésol for so long that he had forgotten he was once human. Hearing about what happened to Earth triggered memories of his human life. Back then, his existence was filled with hardships. He was poor and struggled daily just to survive. Often, he didn’t have enough money for food, forcing him to fish in the river.
For some reason, today he was reminded of an incident that happened by the river. At that moment, he noticed three people approaching the river, carrying a large casket. Curious about their suspicious behavior, he left his fishhook behind and stealthily crept closer to observe them.
As he hid behind a pillar, he watched them open the casket. Inside was a large fish called an Arapaima Gigas. Locci's eyes widened at the sight. This fish had been all over the news lately. It was an invasive predator that didn't belong in these waters. When someone had released it into the river, it wreaked havoc on the ecosystem.
Locci hadn't expected to discover the culprits behind the reckless release of the Arapaima Gigas. He immediately wanted to stop them, but he was too late. The men had already set the fish free into the river.
"Boss, are you sure we won't get jailed for this? We've been in the news a lot lately. I'm afraid we'll get caught," one of the men said.
The boss, a fat man, waved his hand dismissively and said, "Ah, it's okay, it's okay. Nobody saw us. I didn't know where else to throw this fish. Who cares if the cheap fish die in this river? People should be grateful I'm filling it with expensive fish."
Based on his expensive outfit, Locci could tell the fat man was wealthy, and it infuriated him. How could a rich person be so irresponsible? Homeless people often fished in the river, and the presence of the Arapaima gigas had drastically reduced the local fish population. This thought fueled Locci's anger. He rushed at the man and shouted, "You stupid fool!"
As the fat man turned toward him, Locci landed a punch on his face, sending him sprawling backward. Locci then glared at the other two men. He leaped at the nearest one and kicked him in the solar plexus. Without missing a beat, he jumped again and punched the third man.
The fat man immediately stood up from the ground, rubbing his aching cheek. He glared at Locci and said, "You fool! Don't you know who I am? You'll regret doing this to me!"
Locci shouted back, "I don't care who you are, but you've committed a crime. However, I won't report you to the police because I want to deal with you myself."
"You stinky homeless!" said the fat man. "Bodyguards, teach him a lesson."
"I don't care who you are, young man, but you have offended the young master. Don't blame me for being ruthless," one of the bodyguards said. The two of them immediately charged at Locci.
As the first bodyguard threw a punch at him, Locci swiftly stepped aside, evading the attack. With a fluid motion, he pivoted his waist and delivered a powerful punch to the solar plexus, sending the man flying.
"What power," said the second bodyguard in surprise. As he momentarily let his guard down, Locci seized the opportunity. He leaped at him and delivered a swift uppercut to his chin, defeating him with just one punch.
The young master's face twisted into a panicked expression as Locci defeated his bodyguards. He scrambled to his feet, desperate to flee, but he tripped on a pebble and tumbled onto his back. Crawling backward, he pleaded, "Don't come any closer, please don't hurt me! I'll give you money, just spare me!"
Locci kept his hands in his pockets as he looked down at the young master. "Oh, you'll give me money?" he mused. "Fine, I'll consider sparing you if you pay up."
The young master hastily threw out the money from his pocket, saying, "Here, here, just take it. Please, just don't hurt me."
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
Locci picked up the money from the ground and counted it, while the young master quickly stood up and fled. Locci watched him go for a moment before smirking. "I said I would consider sparing you if you gave me money. However, upon consideration, I've decided not to spare you."
With just a few leaps, Locci swiftly arrived behind him. He kicked the young master, causing him to fall onto his stomach. Locci then pulled the young master to face him and began slapping him repeatedly. "This is for releasing a dangerous fish in the river," he said with each slap. "And this is for being an irresponsible man. And this is for annoying me."
Locci continued beating him until he passed out. Afterward, he stripped off his clothes and approached the river. He bit his finger, drawing a bit of blood. As he let a drop of his blood fall into the water, the river started rippling. The Arapaima gigas surfaced, drawn by the scent of the blood.
Locci then jumped straight into the river, where the hungry predator awaited him. They engaged in a fierce fight. The predator fish charged at him and bit his arm. However, Locci deliberately let it bite him so he could launch a swift stab into the fish's eye.
The fish thrashed wildly after Locci stabbed its eye, attempting to escape. However, Locci clutched the fish with one arm, while his other arm relentlessly stabbed into its gill.
Locci endured the fish's relentless thrashing, holding on despite the intense struggle. With determination and strength, he continued stabbing until the fish's movements slowed and finally ceased. Victorious, Locci emerged from the water, carrying the massive predator.
Coincidentally, the young master and his two bodyguards had regained consciousness. They saw the drenched Locci emerging from the river, carrying the massive predator fish. Their faces turned to shock and disbelief as they took in the sight before them.
"No, no way! How could a human win against a beast? He is a monster," the young master exclaimed, his voice trembling with fear.
"Hey Fatty," Locci called out. "If you repeat your crime in the future, I will find you. And you won't like the consequences."
The young master's feet trembled at the threat. He scrambled to his feet and fled from Locci, his bodyguards calling out to him as they chased after him.
With the young master gone, Locci sighed in relief. He hoped that now, with the water predator dealt with, the homeless people in the area could fish in the river without difficulty.
As he gazed at the spot where the young master had stood moments ago, Locci contemplated. It struck him how some people could live in this world without ever worrying about hunger, yet they remained indifferent to the destruction they caused to the ecosystem. Meanwhile, others struggled just to survive, resorting to fishing in polluted rivers for sustenance. This incident served as a poignant reminder for Locci to appreciate life and its complexities more deeply.
Locci shook his head resignedly. "I can't change the world," he muttered to himself. "I'll just do what I can to survive." With that, he hoisted the predator fish onto his back and departed from the scene.
---
That night, Locci grilled the entire fish and shared it with the homeless people he knew. They gathered around a bonfire, eating and chatting together, enjoying each other's company.
"Wouldn't that young master seek revenge against you?" one of the homeless people asked.
"He wouldn't because he also committed a crime. Besides, if I'm caught for committing violence, I guess I'll enjoy free food in prison," Locci said with a shrug.
"Didn't you get accepted for a job?" one of the homeless men asked.
"Yep, a nice one. They will even provide me with an apartment to stay in," Locci replied.
"That would be a waste if you got caught because of your reckless behavior. You should be careful, Locci," a homeless man advised.
"Having a job or getting caught is the same for me. I can still survive and eat either way," Locci said with a nonchalant shrug.
"Don't be like that, Locci. You have the chance to live a normal life, unlike us. You should live like a normal person in our place," another homeless person said earnestly.
Locci smiled. "You're right. I was too complacent about it. I'm sorry," he said.
Locci and the others chatted a bit more before settling down to sleep under the bridge.
That night, Locci tried his best to sleep, but he found himself feeling excited about his first job the next day. Though he tried to act indifferent, deep down, he was eagerly looking forward to it. Clutching onto the hope that his life would change for the better with this job, he couldn't wait for the morning to come.
As morning arrived, Locci headed back to his apartment. Although he had been provided with the apartment a week ago for his job, he had decided to spend that time with the homeless people. Their support during his lowest moments had left a lasting impression on him.
Locci took a refreshing bath and donned his police officer uniform. With determination in his stride, he left his apartment and made his way to the nearest police station. Standing before the imposing building, he drew a deep breath. This was the start of his new life as a police officer, a decent job he had secured. He promised himself that he would excel in his duties, motivated by the support of the homeless people who had cheered him on.