The Adventures of Gerry

At the same time Jino returned to his sprawling family castle, attended by countless servants.

In an ignored patch of woodland, a small figure slowly came to.

"My head..." Gerry clutched his neck in pain as he got to his feet.

After his brain briefly rebooted, panic filled Gerry's pockmarked face.

"How did I pass out?"

"Where's my camera?"

Gerry rubbed his dry, irritated eyes and looked around, but he couldn't find his camera anywhere.

"Where the hell did it go?"

Gerry's thoughts were a tangled mess. If anyone saw what was on that camera, he would definitely end up in prison—and get a bellyful of ink from the Black uncles while he was there.

He desperately wanted to find the camera, but the dimly brightening sky overhead interrupted that thought.

A flash of panic crossed his face.

"Damn it, I slept the whole night. That old woman's going to curse me to death."

His fear of his mother overwhelmed his urge to search for the camera.

Gerry hastily picked up his backpack and ran deeper into the woods.

Pushing through the dense brush, he darted out of the forest along a familiar path and found his little green Beetle on the dirt road.

"Vroom!"

Gerry started the engine and drove the old car toward home.

Click.

The white wooden door was gently pushed open. Gerry slowly opened the door and cautiously poked his head inside.

Through the reflection in his glasses, Gerry saw his mother sitting on the living room sofa.

On the television in the living room, a clip of Lana Lang laughing and fooling around with her boyfriend was playing.

Bang!

Hearing the movement behind her, Gerry's mother—a slightly plump middle-aged woman—turned cold-faced and glared furiously at Gerry, who was hiding in the corner.

"So this is how you usually spend your time? Secretly filming a girl without her permission?"

Seeing his secret exposed, Gerry flew into a humiliated rage. He rushed forward, snatched the tape from his mother's hand, and roared at her, "You have no right to enter my room!"

"And you think you have the right to talk to me about rights?" Gerry's mother glared. "Lana's aunt and I are even friends. How am I supposed to face her after what you've done?"

"That's between you two!" Gerry hurriedly shoved the tape into his backpack.

"You disgust me, Gerry."

The woman stared coldly at the son she had raised with her own hands and pressed, "Answer me. You didn't come home tonight—were you secretly filming Lana?"

"No!"

Gerry took a deep breath and turned to face his mother. "I was only collecting insects tonight."

The woman sneered, her eyes full of disgust. "Another disgusting obsession. Being interested in those bugs."

"Bugs aren't disgusting!" Gerry roared back, as though being louder meant he was right.

"Whatever."

Gerry's mother took a deep breath, suppressing her disappointment and anger toward her son. In an icy voice, she said, "Tomorrow, I'm sending you to training school. And those damn bugs you keep in your room are going to disappear from my sight too!"

When he heard that the old woman was sending him to a military training camp, Gerry's expression did not change. But when he heard that she was going to kill his bugs too, panic flooded his face.

"My bugs?!"

Gerry watched the woman enter her room to contact the school administrator.

Who would take care of his precious bugs after he left?

Thump, thump, thump!

Gerry rushed into his room on the second floor like a gust of wind.

He pushed open the door.

Before him was a room filled with glass display cases.

Inside the glass cases, countless strange insects beat their wings and wriggled their bodies.

"They're so beautiful."

Gerry gazed at the insects with infatuation. He walked over to a glass tank and stared eerily at the cricket inside.

Several greenish stones were embedded in the damp soil inside the glass tank.

"I have to send them away, these adorable little sprites."

Gerry's gaze was hollow as he picked up several jars and walked to the window, looking down at his car.

"Vroom."

The old car rattled with a "clunk-clunk" sound.

Gerry wore glasses, one hand resting on the steering wheel while the other held a jar.

"Don't worry, little ones. I'll take you somewhere safe."

Gerry muttered as he looked down. When he raised his head, a sharp bend appeared ahead.

"Shit!"

The man cursed, gripping the wheel with both hands and yanking it hard. The car swerved around the turn.

Bang!

The unsupported glass jar slammed into the car door and shattered.

"Oh, damn it!"

Several insects glowing green broke free, beating their wings as they darted and leaped around the car.

Every now and then, some of the insects used their mouthparts to bite Gerry.

"No, don't do this!" Gerry wailed in terror. The insects kept hopping and flying about, their sheer numbers blocking his view and leaving him unable to see the road.

"No!"

Under the pitch-black night sky, accompanied by a terrified scream, the Beetle swerved wildly and slammed into the embankment between the fields.

Bang!

As black smoke rose, green light flickered inside the Beetle as well.

Weekend.

Jino was gently shaken awake by the maids.

"What time is it?"

Jino rubbed his eyes and took a sip of the milk a maid handed him.

"Twelve o'clock, young master," the maid answered respectfully. "Your classmates have come to see you."

"You previously instructed Butler that they could be allowed into the castle whenever they came looking for you."

"They're waiting in the hall now."

"Classmates?"

Jino raised a brow, curiously pulling back the covers and stepping out of bed in his slippers.

"Who is it? Clark? Or Chloe and the others?"

Yawning, Jino draped himself in a robe and headed down from the second floor.

In the hall, the trio sat on the sofa.

"Good morning, everyone."

Jino glanced at Clark and Little Black Pete.

The two losers sat with their legs pressed together, looking as though they had no idea where to put their eyes.

It wasn't that they lacked self-control. The manor's maids were simply too alluring.

"Morning, Jino."

Chloe stood up with a smile and waved at Jino. She gave a light twirl on the spot, and her azure pleated dress spun with her.

The girl raised her brows and winked at Jino. "Does it look good?"

"Not bad." Jino shrugged with a smile, patting Chloe on the shoulder before turning to Clark and Little Black Pete. "Have you eaten breakfast?"

Clark nodded. "Yeah, but have you done your homework?"

"Homework?" Jino froze slightly, completely baffled. "What homework?"

"Uh, biology homework?" Little Black Pete leaned forward to pick up the thread. "Each of us needs to catch an insect and make a specimen. We wanted to ask if you wanted to come."

"Catching bugs?" Jino wasn't particularly interested. He had no interest in insects.

"Yeah, catching bugs." Chloe looked at Jino expectantly. "Want to come with us?"

Jino had originally intended to refuse, but when he glanced at the gloomy-looking Clark, a hint of amusement entered his eyes. "Of course. I'd be happy to."

He wanted to know why Clark was unhappy today.

Two days had already passed. Clark and Jonathan's relationship should have eased somewhat, so who exactly had made Clark unhappy?

Great Detective Sherlock Jino was officially on the case.

Thanks to Mr. HM Who Wants to Become Stronger for the 500-point donation. Thank you, boss! (bowing with a duang duang duang~)