The big man was lying on the ground, nearly unconscious, rolling in agony while clutching his groin.
"My balls—! My balls…! Why did you—"
His voice broke as his eyes rolled back, and he finally passed out.
Ren looked down at him and clicked his tongue.
"…What a bummer."
"All that big talk just to get knocked out in one hit."
His tone was full of mockery.
Then Ren scratched the back of his head with an awkward smile.
I mean…
I did hit him pretty hard.
Who knows… I might've cracked those eggs in half.
Ren noticed a small pouch of money hanging from the man's belt.
He bent down and snatched it off.
CLINK
The coins jingled softly as he weighed the pouch in his hand.
"…Hmm."
It wasn't much.
But it was something.
Ren then glanced toward the boy.
The brat was standing a few steps away, trembling in fear, staring at the unconscious man on the ground.
Ren stared at him for a moment.
Then—
He tossed the pouch toward him.
CLINK
"Take it," Ren said casually.
"…and get out of my sight, you little brat."
The boy froze, staring at the pouch on the ground.
Ren turned away and stretched his shoulders.
It's not much anyway…
No point robbing some low-level thug.
He shrugged slightly.
"…After all, it's barely worth the trouble."
The boy stared at the pouch on the ground.
"B-but… but…"
Ren slowly turned his head and looked at him with a cold gaze.
"What but?"
"If you don't want it…"
Ren cracked his knuckles slowly.
"…do you want a beating instead?"
CRACK
The boy flinched.
"N-No!"
He quickly grabbed the pouch from the ground and ran away as fast as he could, disappearing into the crowded street.
Then he stretched his fingers lazily.
Ah… that feels better. My hands finally feel free again.
After a moment, Ren blinked.
"…Huh?"
He looked around.
The boy was already gone.
"…Where did that brat disappear to so suddenly?"
Ren scratched his head.
"I wasn't even finished talking."
He shrugged and started walking again.
"Whatever."
"Let's keep moving."
"I still haven't seen enough of this place."
But suddenly—
A hand grabbed his shoulder again.
Ren stopped.
Slowly… he turned his head back with an annoyed gaze.
His eyelid twitched slightly.
Oh! Didn't expected him to get up this soon after getting his eggs cracked…
Rule number 22.
Never mess with someone who's in a bad mood, Specially me.
Ren's annoyance disappeared the moment he turned around.
More than twenty men stood behind him, armed with knives, metal pipes, rusty machetes, and chains wrapped around their fists.
Ren blinked slowly.
…Ah.
I'm fucked for sure this time.
For sure.
Ren let out a hesitant laugh.
"S-So… what do you guys want?"
A man stepped forward from the crowd.
He was unbelievably thin.
Like a strong wind could blow him away.
Ren tilted his head.
"…Hmm."
"I asked for someone to talk."
"…not a walking piece of paper."
The thin man's face twisted in anger.
"What did you just say, you little insect?!"
"First you beat our gang member…"
"…and now you're mocking me?"
"Don't you know who we are?!"
The gang behind him shouted.
"WE ARE—"
Ren raised his hand.
"Sorry for interrupting, but…"
The thin man frowned.
"What now, you little insect?"
Ren scratched his cheek with an awkward smile.
"It's just…"
"…is this really all the guys you brought?"
The thin man smirked.
"Oh?"
"Getting scared already?"
Ren suddenly sighed in relief.
"Phew…"
"For a second I thought there were more of you."
He smiled.
"But this is it?"
"…That's all you've got?"
The thin man frowned in confusion. "What are you talking about? Are you already that scared you're losing your mind?"
He gestured to the crowd behind him with a mocking look. "Can't you see how many of us there are? And we even have weapons."
Ren's lips twisted into a grin. "That many?"
He glanced at the crowd. "…They just look like a bunch of nobodies to me."
Before anyone could react—
THWACK
His fist smashed straight into the thin man's face.
The man's head snapped sideways. Teeth flew. Blood sprayed as his body flew backward into his gang.
"BOSS!!"
Several thugs rushed forward at once with knives and metal pipes.
Ren rolled his shoulders slowly. Finally.
One thug swung a pipe at his head.
WHOOSH
Ren stepped aside and drove his elbow into the man's jaw.
CRACK
"That swing was so slow even my grandma could dodge it."
Blood burst from the thug's mouth as he dropped to the ground.
Another man lunged with a knife. "Die!"
Ren grabbed his wrist mid-air and twisted.
CRACK
"Oh?"
"That was supposed to be an attack?"
The man screamed as the bone snapped. The knife fell from his hand.
"Ahhhhh"
Ren grabbed his hair and slammed his face into his knee.
SMASH
Ren yawned lazily, covering his mouth with one hand. "Come on, bro… at least put in some effort, or did your mom forget to feed you milk when you were little?"
Blood exploded from his nose as he collapsed.
Two more charged from the sides.
Ren ducked low and punched one straight in the stomach.
THUD
"You third grade villains never learn your place, do you?".
The man folded over, coughing blood.
Ren spun and kicked the other across the ribs.
WHAM
The thug crashed into a wooden stall, breaking the planks behind him.
"Kill him!" someone shouted.
Chains swung through the air.
Ren caught the chain and yanked the man forward.
"Wrong move you weasel's."
THUMP
His fist slammed into the thug's throat. The man collapsed instantly.
Another knife came from behind.
Ren turned and grabbed the attacker's arm, twisting it behind his back before slamming his face into the stone road.
BAM
Blood smeared across the ground.
A thug tried to crawl away.
Ren grabbed his collar. "Running already?"
"P-Please—!"
SMASH
Ren slammed his face into the wall, leaving a streak of blood.
Within moments the street went quiet, bodies lying everywhere, men groaning in pain while blood spread across the stone road.
Ren wiped blood from his knuckles. "…Seriously?"
"All that noise…"
"…for this?"
Then suddenly—
WHIIIIISTLE!!
WHIIIIISTLE!!
Guards' whistles echoed through the street.
"CITY GUARDS!"
"OVER THERE!"
Armored guards rushed toward them with rifles drawn.
"STOP RIGHT THERE!"
Ren looked at them and sighed. "…Ah."
He scratched his head. "…Seriously?"
"…Why now?"