I Am Genie-Chapter 99: Win?
Now Raphael and six years ago are like two different people. Beard and hair tidy, clothes are still made of that local fabric but much cleaner.
Looking at how he looks now, he totally fits being a young handsome guy. Michael and Leo now both feel awkward using the term 'old man' when talking about him.
Right now, it's not like he's free so he came out to meet the three of them. He's been thinking about some proposals for them for quite a while now. But before he could propose anything, Leo excitedly spoke up.
"Raphael, you lost the bet!"
"Lost what?"
Suddenly being told he lost a bet made Raphael pause for a moment. He doesn't seem to remember taking part in any bet during these past few years.
Leo doesn't give his dad any face at all. His index finger points straight at his dad's face while he yells loudly, full of confidence.
"Don't even try to weasel out of it. Six years ago, you bet with me that if I broke through to level ten in six years, then I would win. I won, and you still want to deny it?"
He feels a 'big victory' of his in this world is coming. Raphael joining the force will make the overall strength skyrocket.
Iris once told him that thanks to the holy herbs she gave, Raphael had already broken through level ninety-five. His strength compared to before is much, much greater. The time he can fight has also skyrocketed because of that.
Raphael scratches his head, trying to remember if this happened or not. His memory isn't bad. He just temporarily overlooked it, not that he actually forgot. He just needs to try and remember and he'll recall every detail.
Remembering the details of the conversation back then, the corner of his mouth lifts slightly. So what if Leo won?
"Haha, I thought it was something. Losing is losing. Now you quickly fulfill one request of mine."
???
No, the script's not right. Wasn't this line supposed to be for Leo to say?
All three of them were stunned by this shocking statement. Eyes wide, looking at each other as if trying to find a proper answer.
"No! What the hell are you talking about? Did you really forget what we bet?"
Leo's eyelid couldn't help but twitch non-stop. Looking at Raphael's current attitude, ninety-nine percent chance he wants to weasel out of the debt. And on top of that, using the shameless method of turning things around.
"No, no, no. The one who forgot is you, you stupid brat."
Raphael shakes his head while shaking his index finger. His face is totally smug, as if everything is under control.
"Liar! How could I… forget?"
Originally meant to yell loudly but now thinking back, Leo feels like he himself has forgotten a lot of details. He only remembers there was a bet, but the specific terms and the rules—he's long forgotten them.
Is it because a six-year-old kid's brain doesn't remember well? Or is it because during training he got hit on the head too much and lost his memory?
Suddenly a deep sense of unease rises in his heart. His eyes glare at Raphael warily.
"Haha, if you don't remember clearly, let me recount it for…"
Raphael shows a smug smile, knowing that Leo is about to taste the bitter fruit. This is a rare occasion, can't help but find it funny.
"Good. But three years? Are you trying to make me laugh? I'll give you a full six years. If within six years you reach level ten, consider me the loser. The winner must fulfill one request of the loser. Do you agree?"
"Feel familiar with these words?"
Raphael still remembers every word of the conversation six years ago. The only difference from the time of the bet is there's no feeling of anger.
After six years of more contact with these god-level talents, he feels life hasn't reached a complete dead end yet. His strength has grown a lot and the chance to avenge his wife has increased by a huge margin.
Leo's whole body stiffens as if he's been turned to stone. His mouth hangs open like he's paralyzed, unable to close it.
Michael, standing nearby watching the fun, also tried to remember but it seems back then he didn't pay attention so he doesn't remember clearly. To him, that matter was just father and son talking nonsense, no need to remember.
"Ha ha ha ha, I didn't expect you to be this stupid, Leo."
He couldn't help but hold his stomach, laughing hard. Kids really are easy to fool. Even if it's an adult soul in a kid's body, still easy to fool.
Iris rarely agrees with Michael. She's also holding her stomach, laughing so hard tears come out at this hilarious bet.
"Ha ha ha, are you an idiot? A 'reward' that weird and you still tried hard to win? Besides, looking at Raphael like that, he clearly forgot about this thing long ago. This is clearly you walking right into eating bitter fruit. Ha ha ha…" 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞
Leo's face right now is changing colors super flexibly. Sometimes red, sometimes green like a traffic light, then turning black like a burnt pot bottom.
So humiliating! Since being born on this continent until now, he's never felt this humiliated and stupid like today.
"Why so quiet, Leo? Weren't you just now still talking loudly? You won the bet. Now quickly fulfill one request of mine."
Opportunities to mock Leo without him being able to do anything like this aren't many. So Raphael absolutely has to seize this chance to tease Leo a bit more.
Leo's mouth twists. On his face, the word 'disappointment' might as well be written clearly. He originally thought he could get Raphael to join. Who knew he'd make such a stupid mistake?
What the hell was wrong with him back then? How the hell did he go all in without hearing the bet details clearly?
"Hmph, fine then. I'm not the type of person who says things but can't do them."
Though he says that, this statement isn't one hundred percent true. He dares to say it because he knows Raphael won't make any request that crosses the line.
If he promised something to an enemy, then it would depend on the situation to consider whether to keep his word or not.
"Good. Then I want you… to stop actively looking for death."
Raphael says his request without any hesitation. Sounds simple, but that's exactly what he wants Leo to do the most.
