"William, did you get the money ready that I asked for yesterday? My brothers are waiting to take the money to get breakfast and drinks," Pynes sneered, spinning a silver chain in his hand as he approached with a mocking grin.
Peter, visibly upset, stepped in front of William and shouted, "Pynes, you're going too far! Even if your father is the boss around here, what gives you the right to collect protection fees!? He clearly said that those who don't run shops don't have to pay protection fees. Do you think we don't know that!?"
Pynes's father, Heinrich, was one of the notable gang leaders in the west district. This emboldened Pynes to collect protection fees without restraint. Hearing Peter use his father's name against him, Pynes's eyes flashed with a cold light, "Old man, who the hell do you think you are…? Do you think mentioning my father scares me? That's my dad, not yours! You should be grateful I'm even collecting protection fees from you! Don't mistake kindness for weakness!"
"You…" Peter realized he might have overstepped by mentioning Heinrich, considering the man was Pynes's father, but he couldn't swallow his anger. Just as he was about to argue further, William pulled him back.
Frowning, William rubbed his forehead in annoyance and pulled Peter behind him. He addressed Pynes calmly, "Your name is Pynes, right? I'll call you Pynes then. Stop causing trouble. I don't like complications. But I don't have the money today. I'll give it to you in a few days. Now, go away."
"Oh, wow!" one of the cronies laughed loudly, "Pynes, this guy thinks he's the boss here! Telling us to go away?"
The other thugs laughed wildly and even started shouting, "Let's rough him up!"
Pynes also seemed to find William's words hilarious, but beneath his laughter, he was genuinely angry. With a sinister smile, he said, "William… say that again if you dare, and I'll cut your tongue out…" His words ended with a menacing tone.
William's previously annoyed expression turned cold. He looked at Pynes with a complex gaze and said, "Do you know what I hate the most?"
"What…"
Before Pynes could finish, he suddenly found himself lifted off the ground! A sharp pain shot through his abdomen as his body was thrown into a nearby trash pile with a thud. Vegetable leaves and fish scraps covered him, his clothes soaked in foul-smelling liquid.
"What I hate the most is being threatened…"
As if casually pushing, William stood in Pynes's original spot, retracting his outstretched hand.
Dazed from the blow, Pynes tasted blood in his mouth and the stench of the garbage filled his nostrils, making him retch.
"How dare you hit our boss! Are you tired of living?!"
"Beat him to death!"
The thugs, not comprehending the situation fully, saw their boss being hit and, relying on their numbers, rushed at William with wild fists and kicks.
William, disinterested in the fight, casually deflected their attacks, catching and tossing them aside.
Each thug felt a massive force grip their limbs before being flung into the hard concrete ground, crying out in pain.
Seeing that William hadn't even broken a sweat, the remaining thugs, including the freshly risen Pynes, broke into a cold sweat. Pynes, who had seen his father's retired special forces bodyguards in action, knew they were unmatched fighters. Yet even they didn't display such power or speed, effortlessly tossing five or six people as if they were rag dolls. These thugs, although untrained, had grown up brawling. Ordinary people couldn't handle them.
"Let's go!" Despite his seething anger, Pynes knew they were outmatched. Seeing William's calm expression was like staring into the face of a monster. He quickly called for his cronies to retreat.
Peter and the onlookers cheered, thrilled to see the thugs humbled. These bullies had long been a menace, and William's actions were a satisfying reprisal. However, people still kept their distance from William. Pynes was one thing, but his father Heinrich was a formidable gang leader. If Heinrich sought revenge, they feared being caught in the crossfire.
Peter, elated, exclaimed, "William, I never knew you were such a skilled fighter! Did you train in martial arts?"
"Yeah… I learned a bit." William was reluctant to say more. If not for Pynes's blatant provocation, he wouldn't have fought in the busy marketplace. As he told Pynes, he hated being threatened. This quirk of his made it impossible to live a low-profile life.
Seeing William's reticence, Peter didn't press further but voiced his concern, "William, you've driven Pynes away now, but what if he brings his father, Heinrich? You know he's a key figure in the West Alliance, one of the two major gangs here. No one dares to cross him."
The West Alliance… William smiled indifferently, then asked, "Got a cigarette?"
Peter, seeing William's nonchalant attitude, was anxious but complied, "Didn't you say you were quitting smoking?"
"Forget it, I'm not quitting. I need a smoke after a fight." William sighed inwardly. Learning that Heinrich was part of the West Alliance complicated things. He'd avoided getting involved with gangs, but now he was right in the middle of it.
Peter handed over a cheap cigarette from a pack he bought off-temu, lighting it for William, "I'm poor, so I buy the cheapest ones. These are harsh, but they'll do."
"Perfect," William took a long drag, savoring it, "I like them strong."
"Young man, you should smoke less. It's bad for your health," Peter advised with a smile.
William returned the smile, thinking, If smoking could harm me, all my training over the years would have been for nothing.
After a brief rest, they resumed their work. William heated the lamb skewers, grilling fresh ones while munching on one himself as breakfast. Despite the grime, he enjoyed the work, smiling occasionally at the other vendors.
Not long after, a police car arrived. Two officers and a stern-looking man in a white shirt stepped out, walking directly to William.
The lead officer, with a cold expression, asked, "Are you William?"