Althon was shocked, rushing over to the trash can. He saw someone grimacing in pain in a pile of garbage. “Isn't this man the stranger I met at the food stall this afternoon? What happened to him?”Althon scanned the surroundings, hiding behind a wall when he saw several thugs running around brandishing knives, iron pipes, and wooden beams.“Don't let the thief escape!” shouted a punk running in front. He signaled his subordinates to spread out. “Those punks are chasing that strange man. What exactly has happened to him and those punks?” Althon approached the trash can, observing the stranger who was still twitching. “His abdomen is wounded badly enough that even the knife is still stuck. What should I do now? Should I help him?”The stranger looked at someone nearby, muttering a few times before Althon closed the trash can. “Asshole!”Althon hid behind a pile of wooden boxes as the punks approached. “Those punks are very angry. They said the man was a thief.”“That guy must be hidin
“I accidentally read the writing on your little bag,” Althon said as he walked towards the door. “Follow me now. I don't want you to keep spending my money.”“You asshole! You act like you're my savior! I never asked you to help me!” Brody clucked. “Whether you like it or not, I am your savior. Follow me now!” Althon pushed a wheelchair at Brody. “I don't want to carry you to your house. You'll have to use that wheelchair to move around.”“Damn it!” screeched Brody, ”You insulted me!”“Don't be stubborn! The punks are swarming outside. They'll recognize you instantly if you come out uncovered and injured.”Brody gave Althon a sharp look, snorting in annoyance. He painstakingly changed his clothes, putting on a wig and fake mustache. He sat in the wheelchair slowly, clucking. “I'll kick your ass, asshole!”Althon pushed the wheelchair, walking out of the room. “You can thank me another way, Brody.”Brody looked around, staring at the several doctors and nurses bowing to him. “Shit, yo
“I cooked that meal for you. I bought the ingredients after I saw your empty fridge. Eat well,” Althon said.Brody surveyed the room. “You cleaned my room well. Did you put poison in my food?”“If you wanted to kill me, I wouldn't have bothered to help you last night and spent my money.” “If you want to steal my reward money, you won't get anything.”“I don't need your money.” Althon opened the window, observing the scene outside. The punks seemed to be running around. He turned to Brody who was still silent. “I got a free place to stay. Unfortunately, it's not in a good location. I need to get a shop location in the city center while getting a place to live.”Althon opened the holographic screen. “I've gathered rental information, but it's quite expensive.”Brody stared at the food without blinking, gulping repeatedly. “I didn't put any poison in that food. I'm sure you're starving now.” Althon closed the window, sitting on the chair. “I'll finish you if I die.” Brody picked up a
Althon and Brody immediately turned to the door. Someone outside the room continued to yell as he pounded on the door harder.“Is the person yelling your friend, Brody?” asked Althon as he approached the door, peering through the small hole. “That man is the owner of this building. He must be angry that I haven't paid my rent for two months.” Brody chuckled. “If you want me to be your partner, you must pay my rent.”“Unfortunately, I can't fulfill your request, Brody.” Althon opened the door, rushing to hide behind the door. “What a jerk! What the hell are you doing? Why did you open the door?”“You son of a bitch!” An old man entered the room, gnawing at his waist while glaring. “You've been in arrears with your rent for two months! I can't give you any more time! If you don't pay the rent by this afternoon, you must leave this room! Do you understand?”“Get out of my room now!” Brody snapped. “Shut your mouth!” The old man surveyed the surroundings carefully. “I heard you brought
"You old bastard!" sneered one punk, "the bakery's owner refused to give us any money. He even went to the police so we had to spend the night in jail. We're lucky that our boss paid off those cops.""We have to get back at that old fart! The boss said we're free to do anything to the old man, except kill him," said another punk."He's going to close the bakery at nine in the evening. We can pretend to be customers and beat him up inside the shop. We can also take his valuables. The boss warned us not to leave a trace."The gang entered a small alley. Althon followed them, hiding behind a wall, listening intently to their plan. "I know what I have to do."Althon scanned the bakery, smiling. "You'll owe me a favor, old man."Althon visited several stores, returning home a few minutes later. "Brody's still asleep. I'll wake him up in a couple of hours."Althon paused when someone knocked on the door. "The owner of the building again.""I saw someone come into your room! Is he your frie
Ton was shocked, turning to face Althon, and watched closely. “What do you mean, asshole? How did you know they were going to attack me?”Ton grabbed Althon by the shirt, glaring. “I'd have guessed that you were part of the gang. Get out of my shop right now before I kick you and your brother out or report you to the police.”Brody was still pretending to be asleep. He wondered what Althon would do about this. “I'm not a punk. I'm just someone who wants to rent that empty building for my small business.” Althon gripped Ton's hand, smiling. “I saw the punks crowding in front of your shop. I heard they'll attack you tonight when you're alone.”“Let go of my hand, asshole!” Ton pulled his hand as hard as he could, but Althon gripped his hand even tighter. “I don't trust the word of a punk like you. Those punks did mess up my shop, and they're in jail now. They can't get out of jail.”Alhthon let go of Ton's hand. “I warned you because I was worried about you, sir. As they say, kindness
“Get out of my shop right now!” shouted Ton as he wielded the iron pipe at the punks. His hands shook so much that he almost dropped the iron pipe. Sweat poured down his body. He regretted not heeding Althon's warning. The ruffians burst out laughing. “How did you get out of prison?” Ton backed up until his back to the wall. He glanced at the phone on the table. “Our boss got us out of jail. Paulcity's police chief is a close friend of our boss. The police are nothing more than uniformed, state-funded punks. You won't get protection from the police as long as you're not an influential person and pay them off,” a punk said.Another punk added, “Even if you report all of us to the police, we will be free to return and come to you again for revenge.”Ton grew more and more frightened, watching the approaching punks. He turned off the power quickly, running to the kitchen. A punk threw a bread box at his back, knocking him. Ton crawled quickly, swinging the iron pipe as hard as he cou
Ton rushed out of the hiding place, surprised to see the punks lying unconscious on the floor. “Damn it! You destroyed a lot of my kitchen tools! You also made a mess of my kitchen! I canceled the deal!”Althon laughed. “You can't cheat, old man. You must abide by our agreement. If you cheat, I'll reawaken the punks and lock you up with them.”Ton immediately pointed the knife at Brody. “If you wake up the punks, I'll hurt your crippled brother!”“Who are you calling a cripple, damn it?” Brody gripped Ton's hand firmly. “I could kick your ass even if I was in a wheelchair right now!”“You two are such assholes! You must be working with those punks for me to give you such a low rent!” Ton tried to break Brody's grip. “Let go of my hand, cripple!”Althon grabbed a glass of water, preparing to drop it on the ringleader's face. “My brother and I are not part of those punks.”“Don't do it!” shouted Ton. “If you yell, those punks will get up and beat you up again, sir. You can't cancel the