"Hey, don't you watch where you're going?"
The cat-like girl with soft gray hair and a delicate appearance fell to the ground, rubbing her legs as if she had really hurt herself. She looked like she was around seventeen or eighteen.
"My little arms and legs can't handle this fall. I need compensation for damages."
She spoke in a cute voice, trying to sound injured.
"Wow, this is the first time I've seen someone use this trick on me," Orion said, smiling as he watched her.
The girl, Pardofelis, was pretending to be badly hurt, felt an invisible force helping her get up.
"Seems like you're feeling better now?" Orion said, offering his hand to help her up.
Pardofelis's hood shook slightly. Despite his kind smile, she saw him as a bit of a threat.
"Wow, you must be hungry if you're pulling stunts like this," Pardofelis thought. She was surprised Orion could see through her act.
"You just came to Sundown Alley, right? There are many people here who might be after you!"
Pardofelis warned Orion , "Your actions today are way too bold!"
"Oh? Should I thank you then?" Orion asked with a smile, genuinely curious.
"Yes! Why not thank me—I mean, um..." Pardofelis said, trying to sound confident but stumbling over her words.
Orion laughed, finding her act amusing. She reminded him of a kitten that looked sad and tired during the day but was full of energy at night.
Pardofelis blushed a bit, realizing her plan to make Orion leave quickly might not work as well as she hoped. Sundown Alley was a dangerous place, and Orion seemed like an easy target.
Just then, a group of tough-looking gangsters approached, with a bald man leading them. They had weapons and a rough demeanor.
"Oh no!" Pardofelis's legs started shaking when she saw them.
"Don't worry, boss. I'll capture him soon. Please give me another chance..." Pardofelis said, hiding behind Orion .
The gang leader, who was not pleased, threatened them. "You think my chance is just for you to fool around?"
Orion noticed Pardofelis trying to escape and heard her whispering to run. The gangsters surrounded them, blocking their way out.
"I'm not worried about these guys," Orion said with a smile. He wasn't intimidated and was ready to face them.
The gangsters expected a tough fight but were surprised when a cold female voice interrupted.
"Please, stop."
Everyone turned to see a woman in a nun's outfit, with an elegant and almost angelic presence, stepping out from a nearby building. Her name was Aponia, the owner of the sanatorium.
She stood calmly between the two groups, her presence bringing a sense of peace to the tense situation.