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After the young man ran off into the distance, the residents who had been hiding far away finally gathered around Zhe Fu. Their faces were etched with anxiety as they whispered urgently: "Zhe Fu, how could you take the money back? What you did will get you into big trouble!" others added, "We could have helped you raise the money, but if you don't pay the protection fee, they won't let it slide!"
Zhe Fu tucked the medicine money close to his chest, a sad smile touching his lips as he scanned his neighbors. "I appreciate the kindness, but we are all the same. Everyone has to pay a fortune every month. I know you live paycheck to paycheck; where would you find extra to help my daughter?"
A heavy silence fell over the crowd as they realized he was right. "What are you going to do next?" someone asked. "That kid must have gone back to report to Boss Kado." Zhe Fu gritted his teeth, his eyes filled with a grim resolve. "I will go and apologize to that adult personally and beg for his mercy."
Goku, who had been listening to the conversation with growing confusion, stepped forward. "Do you all have to pay that guy every month?" Zhe Fu nodded blankly. "Every month. Ever since Boss Kado came here with his men, they've extorted every household. If you don't pay, you're beaten—at best. At worst, you're paralyzed. No one has a good outcome."
"So, they are just a group of bad guys!" Goku's brow furrowed. "Why don't you ask the Marine for help? Grandpa Garp told me they exist to uphold justice!"
The crowd laughed bitterly. "Marine? We are in a remote area; they won't come here. The former mayor tried to report them, but he was discovered and beaten to death before he could even leave the island."
Anger suddenly flared in Goku's eyes, a heat that seemed to radiate from his small frame. "Hey! Where are this Boss Kado and his subordinates right now?"
"In the center of town," someone answered subconsciously. "By the fountain. A magnificent, luxurious house he built with our stolen money."
Without another word, Goku identified the direction and rushed out with a whoosh, leaving a trail of dust and a voice echoing behind him: "Leave it to me! I'll help you defeat those bad guys!"
In the center of Lotus Leaf Town, a luxurious mansion stood as a monument to greed. It was here that the young thug from earlier arrived, panting and desperate. He hammered on the iron gate, shouting: "Brothers, it's not good! It's bad!!"
A burly man in a suit opened the gate and immediately slapped the young man across the face. "Shut up! You're disturbing the peace!" The young man scrambled up, clutching his swollen cheek. "Big brother, I'm sorry! But someone refused to pay and said they'd never pay again! And a kid appeared—he was incredibly strong, and I couldn't beat him! They're going against us!"
The burly man's face darkened. "Brothers, come out! We have work to do!" Six or seven men in matching suits filed out, cracking their knuckles. "First we lose that thief woman, and now a brat is causing trouble? Let's teach them a lesson!"
Just as they stepped into the street, Goku arrived at the fountain. He looked around until he spotted the young thug who had kicked Zhe Fu. He rushed over and demanded, "Hey! Where do Boss Kado and his subordinates live!"
The young thug's eyes bugged out as he pointed a shaking finger. "Big brothers! It's him! He's the one who stopped me!"
The burly men frowned. "A child? Are you joking?" But a few of them recognized Goku from the encounter with the stolen money earlier that morning. "It's this kid? How could it be him?"
Goku recognized them too. "Huh? It's you guys."
The young man caught in the middle looked back and forth, cold sweat breaking out on his forehead. "B-big brothers... do you know each other?"
"We've met," one of the thugs replied coldly. He looked at Goku. "You stopped our money collection? Daring to interfere with our business... you must be tired of living!"
Goku's face changed, his jaw setting firmly. "So you are those bullying bad guys! Grandpa Garp was right, bad guys need to be taught a lesson!"
"Bad guys?" The men laughed mockingly. "So what? People still pay us. They still listen to us." One thug reached out an arm as thick as Goku's thigh to grab him. "You helped us this morning, but now you're an enemy. Come with me to see the boss!"
"I can't believe you're such people! I'm angry now!" Goku's eyes blazed. As the hand reached for him, he unleashed a lightning-fast flying kick into the man's abdomen. The thug's eyes bulged, and he collapsed to his knees, clutching his stomach.
"He's tough! Get your weapons!" The others pulled out iron rods and daggers, rushing Goku in a siege formation.
Goku pulled the Power Pole from his back. "Extend! Power Pole!" With a single, fluid sweep, he sent the entire group flying. They hit the mansion wall with a series of loud bangs, spitting white foam and falling unconscious.
Goku retracted his staff and walked through the iron gates with a serious expression. "You bad guys, give back the money to the uncles and aunties!"
Twenty or thirty more thugs rushed out of the house, glaring at him, but none dared to move after seeing their comrades incapacitated. Finally, the crowd parted, and Kado—the man Goku had thought was a "good person" earlier—walked out with a gloomy face.
"We meet again, little guy," Kado said, his voice cold.