"huh?"
The man became confused at the thugs' sudden appearance, and the word 'trouble' came to mind as he sized up the group of five in front of him.
"uh, sorry, what was that you asked just now? I was a bit distracted and wasn't paying attention for a moment there."
One of the thugs at the front of the group, who's grabbing his shoulder made a pissed expression.
"This bast@rd...what're you loitering in this place for? are ya part of those snakes and bringing trouble in our turf again!?" said the man as he tried to make a scary expression.
'They've been trying to talk to me long before one of them grabbed my shoulder it seems... And what are these snakes they're referring to? some kind of rival gang or something? Hmmm... ' the thug's attempt in scaring the man was met with a clueless expression.
"Sorry, but I don't know what you're talking about, I was just...*GROWL~~*" his stomach rumbled for a much longer time than the previous one's, promptly pulling the group's attention.
He felt quite weak as his stomach kept on asking for food. He then spun a lie to get out of the situation fast.
"haha~, apologies, I've just arrived at the station this morning you see, and I broke my hand brain by accident earlier as I was exploring the station. I'm also not sure where I'm at right now and seems to have lost my way back." He made a perfectly troubled expression as he strokes his stomach.
"Tsk. Do you think we're gonna buy such BS? Haha, I think this guy's asking for a beating." a black-haired man said menacingly.
"Right, even his clothes are the same as the ones commonly sold in the station." a stupid-looking red-haired guy added.
'Well, it seems like it wasn't a good enough of a lie, hmm. ' he began to think of something else that he could use for another 'excuse'.
'oh, right, I still have that.'
"no, no, I'm being honest here, see? I broke it after I slipped earlier this morning. " he pulled up his sleeves and showed them his broken hand brain.
""... ""
The thugs around suddenly became silent as they looked at his golden arm brain endowed with a sleek and fancy design. The grip around his shoulder suddenly became a bit stronger as the thug laughed.
"Ha! that's obviously a fake A~... Ack!" A punch suddenly struck him at the back of his head, almost knocking him unconscious.
The thug staggered as he dropped to his knee and slowly looked behind him.
"B... Big bro, why'd ya suddenly punch me for?"
A man more than two meters tall, with a monstrous amount of muscles, enough to be called meat mountain shocked everyone with his sudden appearance for different reasons.
"Shut the f*ck up... Don't drag us with you if you're seeking a death wish!" he cussed at the thug who's starting to shiver in front whilst murmuring"No way that things real right...? "
" Looks like there's been a misunderstanding here, this Grandel here would like to apologize for our rude behavior just now."
The muscle man introduced himself as he apologized and sent a deathly glare at the thugs to follow suit.
"" WE APOLOGIZE FOR OUR RUDENESS!! "" the thugs stood straight up as they shouted in unison, so laud that they gathered the attention of the people around the street.
" No problem here. Oh, the name's Alexander, by the way, you can just call me Alex. " Alex smiled from ear to ear as he covered the thing on his arm which is a model issued for the Golden Ring Army's members.
Fortunately, the arm-brains' external appearance didn't have any kind of details that would expose his identity and the officer's emblem on it gave an air of authenticity to his BS.
Although, he's not safe just yet. If anyone tries to look at the Empire's public database which doesn't have any information regarding his current identity... then he'll most likely be hunted down by the golden ring army and the Elysian Empire's authorities for fraud, If he doesn't change his face into a different one that is.
'Still, I don't know whether they have some kind of tech that can see through this farce. But exercising caution isn't really necessary as I would just have to vanish again shortly.' so Alex thought.
"Alex is it, once again, I apologize for the misunderstanding."
Grandel said and brought his hand forward for a handshake.
"No need to apologize to me twice. It is just some misunderstanding, after all, there's no damage done to most of us here." Alex smiled as he shook hands with Grandel while taking a glance at one of the thugs flat on the ground that appears to have fainted in shock.
Alex felt sorry for the man. The members of the Golden Ring Army with an officer rank are compromised with the younger generation of the Elysian empire's nobility after all. One could imagine the large sphere of influence the organization has in the Empire.
Grandel laughed, as he let go of Alex's hand. "Hahaha, you're a funny man Mr. Alex. By the way, you seemed to be hungry, I could've sworn I heard your stomach all the way into my shop!" Grandel gave him a grin that is close to a bloodthirsty warmonger.
"Well, that's embarrassing. With my arm brain's state, and my negligence in bringing any hard cash with my person has left me with an empty stomach in an unfamiliar place."
"Well, that's quite a problem you have there Mr. Alex. Then how about having a bite at my place as an apology for the trouble they've cost you earlier, and I don't mean to brag but, my wife and I are the best cook's in the station. I'll see to it that you are as fully fed as a Valk gahahaha!"
" I'm grateful for the offer, but I'm currently supposed to have gone back to base before noon after my business here in the station has been completed. Oh right, can I ask you for directions instead? I've no idea where I am right now. " His expression of regret is true this time.
He, who has been starving for a few days would've accepted the invitation. But showing the arm-brain made him a little bit worried and thought that it was probably not a good idea. Unfortunately, it's already too late to take back his impulsive decision.