Chapter 128: The Galiant Island (4)
5fj“Hey, stop that!” Shirone stepped forward and shouted.JdMwf3
pYyLbGamos turned to Shirone with a look of astonishment. It seemed a nobody had appeared out of nowhere, but it turned out to be just a boy not yet in his twenties, holding grocery bags in both hands.ADQf
bRoT6“What’s this? You little brat, where do you get off meddling?”ndwVaAa
0wG“Please let that lady go. Everyone is watching, and the guards will be here soon.”ci0
rJaUHYp“Gahaha! The guards? Do you even know who I am?”bLr6qZ2
koqb“Who you are doesn’t change anything. If you keep this up, I’ll go and call the guards myself.”V3t
Cc3uASI“Hmm…”XPQHag
950S47vAs Gamos loosened his grip, the woman quickly escaped and hid behind Shirone. Though he was just a boy, he was the only one in the crowd she could rely on.x17y
Hpois“Please save me. That man was trying to…”EkqiOQp
WIXGamos frowned and approached.gHae7i
nOji5y7“What a nuisance. Kid, I’m a trader on Galiant Island. This woman tried to steal from me. She even broke a valuable porcelain piece.”4WmS
YWA“Porcelain?”2VMrY
rPmuShirone blinked in confusion. If what the man said was true, then the woman standing behind him was a thief.p4GuC8X
Uf6“Right. I did demand her body as compensation. But since she damaged the goods, she must make amends, right? Calling the guards will only get her arrested.”biJFleg
gm5KTurning around, Shirone saw the woman avoid his gaze.mPdCY
bGjwj5P“Is what he’s saying true?”v7STEp
F7j“Yes, I’m sorry. But I really needed that porcelain. I’m telling the truth.”YgahK
4zCmo8s“Hahaha! There’s no situation where someone ‘needs’ porcelain that badly. You mean you needed the money. I was just trying to help her earn some. Now you see, kid? It’s best not to get involved with such women. Unless, of course, you’re looking for a one-night stand, right folks?”maYX6
HJuThe crowd laughed along with Gamos, though the situation hardly seemed funny. The tension that had built up among the onlookers suddenly dissipated.Gdk97b8
8CAyxWz“Just go enjoy your meal with your friends. Don’t meddle in adult affairs, or you’ll end up like this.”TKdfAfn
8VcThe woman clutched Shirone’s arm, pleading.f59UGl
QZr“Don’t go, please. If you leave, I don’t know what he’ll do to me.”se62D
qZWGq“Maybe you should turn yourself in? The guards can handle this.”XV2N
JK2k“I can’t! He has the entire island under his control. Please, trust me.”JdnIi
fB6“How much was the porcelain worth?”yof4Cn
ga2“I’m not sure, but it might be around 50 silver.”VFZ
aBkkShirone fell into thought. Paying 50 silver to help the woman wasn’t difficult for him. But was it right to pay off someone’s guilt just because he had the money? Just as he had no right to judge someone’s guilt, he also had no right to pardon it.Gtx
w4TVCsGShirone made up his mind and approached Gamos.Mip
kV72JW“I’ll pay the porcelain’s cost on her behalf. So please, let her go.”EgeRG
1zq1K7Gamos raised an eyebrow in surprise. To a noble, 50 silver wasn’t much. But what was the boy’s intention in standing up to him, Galiant’s mighty trader, for this woman?U6GSgvi
mu9qK“Oh, so you plan to take her for yourself? I suppose a young lad like you couldn’t find such a beauty for 50 silver anywhere else?”B6VOi6
iMwcmEShirone’s brow furrowed. Gamos’ insinuation that he had lascivious intentions annoyed him.2YnJ
EcJR“I have no such thoughts. Do you think everyone is like you?”Q1AmPnx
EaO“Then why step in? She’s a thief. Just hand her over to the guards, and it’s done.”dArLe0
1lgj“It’s not my place to judge what she’s done. I’m using the 50 silver because I believe the punishment shouldn’t exceed the crime. If you have any other intentions towards this woman, please accept this money and let it end here.”tPoyWe
MCIS7Moved by Shirone’s words, the woman’s eyes lit up. Gamos, however, scoffed. Why make such a fuss over just 50 silver?FjPm8dV
HBC7Uf“Here’s the 50 silver. Now, please forgive her.”5xv
t5RQoeGamos stared at the silver coins in Shirone’s palm.ZOp
P5xMKp8He wasn’t pleased. The woman was too good to let go, and he didn’t like Shirone’s attitude.RGoBhZQ
dVkzThere is no need for you to compensate. Money’s not important to me. I do have one condition though.e3c
oeZPUHt“A condition? What is it?”8pd
5AKBCNc“You seem to be playing the noble hero for this woman. Then you can apologize to me on her behalf, right? Bow to me, right here in front of everyone.”gkTzIS
u9GedThe crowd’s attention focused on Shirone. It was rare for someone to endure humiliation for another, but Shirone readily stepped forward.y2Ek
OgLarmC“Alright. If that will make you forgive her, I’ll apologize.”IqBYb9g
EPSq“Don’t just say it, bow. Offer your apology properly.”vEidt
JcjSShirone deeply bowed.tJMECC
6Ug“I apologize on behalf of this lady for the theft of the porcelain. Please forgive her.”Gug
2TrP4F“Hmm.”dquk
7Y4hXzThe man looked down at Shirone with arrogance, then suddenly burst into a sneer, stepping forward and swinging an uppercut.DOHp
N12WShirone reflexively stepped back, avoiding the fist that whooshed past his face, stirring the air.PnThM3
BtV4pPD“What are you doing?”Qexp9LZ
LNIM5AGGamos pointed at Shirone, chuckling.2hmr
OkCP“See? He dodged. He wasn’t sincerely apologizing to me. If he was truly willing to save this woman, he could have taken the hit. But he avoided it because he was afraid. Do you understand now? The world isn’t so simple. If you can refute, do so. You’re just pretending to be good.”5iiNk
B7j8The crowd agreed with Gamos. If Shirone really wanted to save the woman, he could have endured the punch. But he dodged, which meant his actions were hypocritical.g3KB
O6AWhispers of disdain filled the air.6SJyRg
QYHKkP“So it was all an act. You put on quite a show, only to reveal your true colors.”SiVKmAo
sq1DyPK“These days, kids are too presumptuous. They think they look so great acting all high and mighty.”wyyP
J9qs8Shirone couldn’t comprehend the crowd’s reaction.igHiyoQ
oiGs“What’s wrong with me dodging?”vbGFz
gdX“Still playing dumb! Everyone here is disappointed in you. You acted like some great hero of justice, but it was all a facade.”aNY2
M6VShirone was bewildered.PjiU5
6mWMIEx“What are you talking about? Even if it’s pretense, doing good deeds is far better than doing harm like you.”IRo
cabvIV“What? That’s…”26Pl
GpLgGamos was at a loss for words. Even those who had jeered were taken aback by Shirone’s response.m49h462
psd2j7lThe woman, who had been watching silently, reached her own conclusion.A6NTwv
2vCMl‘I was right. This kid… he’s a mage.’nImUkZ
Jr4DfMages don’t debate ‘who is right?’ They consider ‘what is right?’7tWHY3
NvBThis boy doesn’t justify himself. He acknowledges facts and deduces the truth, a thought process common among mages.OhS
vlppPThe crowd, humiliated by Shirone’s retort, was left speechless.DGX
lrbU‘Just as I thought. They didn’t lift a finger to help, only eager to criticize someone else’s good deeds. That’s why they fail.’T91AaRA
0F4It was time to move. While the crowd’s attention was focused on Shirone and Gamos, the best course of action was to slip away.6iF5ij
uHOThe woman slowly moved along the wall, then quickly turned the corner and disappeared.MP9S
ArEGamos’s face was flushed with anger. From his entrance to this moment, the boy had been nothing but a thorn in his side, even challenging his worldview in front of everyone.0Hvc
jJ3P“Kid, you’ve messed with the wrong person.”Cjb3e8
5VYJ5Gamos’s voice turned grave, shedding his trader’s guise for his true, harsh tone. The alert bodyguards unsheathed their swords, the presence of the sharp blades alone enough to invoke fear of death.12xl8xT
ZJgyn“Waiting for what? Go on, give him a good thrashing!”HA1QU2N
qpkpzAt Gamos’s command, the bodyguards charged from both sides, not intending to kill but ready to strike if necessary.EHIMI4n
8TlbjQESuddenly, dust kicked up in the eyes of one bodyguard, followed by a stone hitting the other’s forehead.YBiFQJ
2vX8BKShirone turned to see the woman, who had vanished earlier, standing at the entrance of the alley, armed with a pile of stones.n5Uu9t
CcE3mShe launched a barrage of stones, causing the bodyguards to hesitate. Seizing the moment, she grabbed Shirone’s wrist and pulled him into the alley.S0Yj
8v2“Let’s run! Follow me!”zQnsw
3Tz2p“Uh, but…”53jTaE
nj1liA3Shirone had been aware of the woman’s absence but chose to ignore it, believing it was for the best.1yujQ
2HONsko“Why did you come back?”nUhmzsl
GK4S6“Hurry! We don’t want to get entangled with them!”qthDIeF
lpH3lk7They raced through the maze-like alleys, quickly losing the bodyguards thanks to the woman’s familiarity with the area.FjtR4L3
1E4oFrom the market, Gamos’s voice echoed.tmw
894“Chase them down! I’ll make them pay!”ViG
OSEsG***uNX
hdzDUfThe warehouse was thick with the air of violence. As Zis lay curled up on the floor, Falcoa’s relentless kicks landed on his ribs.qk96EVP
qGo8Each blow felt like his heart would stop. Overwhelmed by fear, Zis couldn’t even remember where he was hit, feeling only pain and numbness.eMJzoHG
SkIZw4“Like that, you worm. Feels good, doesn’t it? Huh? Enjoying it? So keep taking it.”Ivuwyn
hziVZis’s friends kneeled in a corner, tears swelling their eyes, yet unable to stop crying.tQe
YMZQEh“Please, have mercy! We’ll go out and earn for you! We’re going to die at this rate!”MlTof
ax4HY“Oh, is that so? Then would you like to be the ones getting beaten?”6Cqrmd
S96The friends froze at Falcoa’s fierce glare.rJr
jzQFalcoa could easily kill Zis if he wanted, but he deliberately avoided the face, which only added to their terror.8Gd8
M806Falcoa yanked Zis up by his hair. Despite being limp, Zis stood up at the pull.2UnqM
F9spHis eyes were glazed, not from a blow to the head but from the shock. He felt paralyzed by fear.0f5GI02
gsbP“Please, I’m sorry… I was wrong…”k3uS
gMmB47“Does it hurt? Tell me, does it?”r0a3rp
e1Nn3Falcoa slapped Zis repeatedly, each hit causing Zis to convulse, though the strikes weren’t particularly strong.hG1Bj
YnNSpSeeing Zis’s condition, his friends burst into tears again.hyyDwVx
dkCOc‘God, this lunatic’s going to kill someone.’jscN
h2S9vFalcoa threw Zis to the ground. There wasn’t a specific reason; perhaps the effect of the lufa he was chewing on was wearing off.xNr
SMsQ“So you returned the 5 silver because of your pride? You think you’re something, Zis?”oGRhz
SYtOoz“I’m sorry! I won’t do it again!”SWO
Qg2OCv4Zis felt unjust. He wanted to fight back but was too scared. In front of Falcoa’s madness, his pride was worthless. If only he could escape, he was willing to do anything.s4yM
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