After the commotion inside the restaurant, I decided to leave the place and return to the inn.
After observing the place and the people living here, I realized that this place is not as chaotic as it sounds, but it's not that safe either.
Dubious people are lurking everywhere due to the lack of proper supervision throughout the place, especially since this place is being ruled by people called faction leaders.
Abundances of conflicts can be expected to happen from time to time due to the problematic visitors coming here to cause problems.
Some people like Xin are willing to help in case the situation gets out of hand, but we can't expect them to always be there when trouble arises.
In conclusion, this place is not actually lawless; it has rules, but it is not official enough to make the violent-seeking visitors willingly follow them.
That's what you expect from an anarchy-governed town.
At least, that's my understanding as of now. There's still a lot of things I can't understand, but I'm pretty sure I will once I stay long enough in this town.
Plus, I finally realised, Cherubim can't imitate physical strength. I think this kind of ability would fall on me, relying on my strength. But could I even land a single punch to Xin if I do have some strength? Probably not; I was not into physical activities when I was on Earth. Maybe I could make Xin train me?
We walked down the alleyway but immediately stopped when four youngsters blocked our way while maniacally laughing.
"Looks like you are new here, hoody boy."
And speaking of.
"Yes, I am. Do you have a business with me?"
At once, they took out their rusty knives and waved while sticking their tongues out.
"Give us your valuables if you don't want to get hurt."
Really?
"Pardon me, but I don't have much time for this nonsense. Would you mind getting out of our way?"
Cherubim, run an assessment of these wolf-type beastfolk.
[Scanning...]
Well?
[They are harmless, hungry children]
I rolled my eyes at them.
The one with gray wolf ears went closer to me. "Do you know who I am? I am Leo the invincible! The leader of the most terrifying and vicious fang faction! So, if you're smart enough, you won't want to do it the hard way!" While exaggeratedly waving his knife.
Ugh, this bunch of thugs.
He doesn't look like Leo, the invincible to me.
He's doing his utmost best to intimidate me, right?
I looked at his lanky body and almost worn-out clothes.
Now that he moved closer, I realized that he really was thin; the bones in his face were already jutting out.
They're just walking back and forth while assessing me. That's not a gesture of someone willing to hurt somebody to get something.
And something is telling me they couldn't even hurt someone with those half-baked bad guys acting they're doing.
Maybe scaring them a little bit would be enough.
I shifted my gaze to Rafaela. "Raf, I need you to walk back for a second."
Rafaela immediately nodded and walked back.
I turned my eyes back towards the four and found them whispering to each other.
The one in front raised his shabby, rusty knife. "Have you decided yet, hoody... Mister?"
Did they just ask me if I had finally decided to give them my money?
"Consider this my warning: if you still want to fight after this, it's all on you." I raised my hand, showed them a common Fire magic, and covered my hand in a massive fire large enough to give a good scare. "I have valuables in me; who wants to take it? Take it if you can." I said while raising the size of the Fire in my hand.
I think it's enough because all four of them immediately fell on their knees while shivering in fear and screaming their lungs out.
I overdid it, didn't I?
Maybe it's enough, and I'm not planning to hurt any of them anyway. Each one of them is much younger than me, and I'm not into hurting children.
I let my Fire magic vanish and felt Rafaela's small hands grab my hand. She's looking at the four with pure innocence in her eyes. Thankfully, I didn't use Hephaestus; otherwise, these thugs might faint.
I exhaled. "Let's go."
We walked through the four lying on the ground when I heard a stomach growl that came from one of them.
The sound was so unmistakable that it instantly resonated inside my brain.
Of course, they are!
What a pain!
I unleashed a bigger sigh before facing them.
The fear in their faces was completely visible as they looked up at me.
I pulled coins inside my bag and threw some on them that they immediately grabbed the moment they realized what it was.
"Grab yourselves a meal, but don't expect me to be this kind next time."
I walked away from them.
But before I could even get far, the one proclaiming to be the faction leader earlier rushed towards me and leaned his face to the ground.
He's doing a freaking Dogeza!
"Thank you very much, Mister!" He screamed in his cracked voice.
I looked at the three behind me and found them in tears.
"You don't need to go that far; it's all good. I didn't do anything that great. Raise your head, if you want to thank someone, a simple thank you is more than enough."
He raised his head and brushed the tears running through his face.
I stared at him and got a proper look at his face.
Desperation that's the only thing I could see in his eyes.
I don't know what they're currently going through, but I know it's something extremely tough.
I couldn't do anything but shake my head.
Ah, I'm starting to hate how this place is like this and the fact that I can't do anything about it.
"Let's go, Refaela."
We walked away, leaving them behind, and reached the alleyway exit.
"Big bro Troy is very kind," Rafaela commented sweetly while looking up at me.
I shrugged. "Really? I just did it because I just felt the need to do it."
Hardships, poverty, and crimes that's what I saw in this place.
Some good people are around but don't expect them to save everyone.
This is the new life I'm into, and whether I like it or not, I have to live with it.