A happy ‘ding!’ rang out as Liam crossed the threshold. It sounded from a tiny bell pced above the door.
Even in this age where humaraveling the stars the owner of this pawn shop still liked his old gimmicks.
Liam had a soft smile on his face as a bit of warmth engulfed his body. He carefully put his sister down, leaning her back against the wall.
Taking a short look at the tris pced in the shop he approached the ter, his eyes fog on an old man half dosing off.
Only when Liam appeared right before him did the owurn his head towards him.
“Oh? Liam? What a rare guest. Did you find something good?”
“Ben.”
Liam looked at the old man before him as reted memories appeared in his mind.
Ben looked harmless but he was basically a bck-market dealer trading stolen goods. However, he had a good reputation among the homeless as he gave them retively fair prices.
Thus, many of Liam’s acquaintances regurly ‘found’ some valuable things t them here.
However, the old Liam never dared to do so despite the terrible situation he was in.
“I found something, yes. Want to take a look at this?”
Liam didn’t know what to feel as he took off the ring around his finger and ha to Ben.
“A ring? Not bad. I already tell that this will be quite valuable.”
Ben showed a toothless smile as he took Liam’s championship ring.
He fished out a magnifying gss from below his ter, expertly studying the ring.
Liam could tell that the old man’s face quickly grew solemn.
“How did you get your hands on this, boy? Do you have more?”
“Unfortunately not.”
“Pity. This is the work of a master, I tell you. Marvelous. Even I ’t tell what gem this is…”
Ben pyed around with the ring. Liam stared at him closely, making sure the old man didn’t show some unreasonable greed.
Fortunately, Ben did his reputation justice as he put the ring on the ter.
“This is really…”
“…Impressive.”
“What you give me for it?”
Silence fell in the room as Ben pondered. A few mier he spat out a number.
“4k.”
Liam had to ponder for a sed to put this number into perspective. Ben offered four thousand credits, the official currency sihe United Human Federation was established.
In the lowest part of Red Oak City this was enough to live for about two years. In the highest parts it might barely st a week.
Liam looked at the ring, openly dispyiation.
For a few seds no oalked, a silent price war going on.
Eventually Ben gritted his teeth as he relented:
“Four thousand five hundred. My st offer.”
“Alright. Deal.”
“Good.”
Both Ben and Liam were satisfied with the price. The old man put away the ring, handing a bck card over to his young er.
“This is a Bck Credit Card. It has your money on it.
But it’s best to only use it in the lower city si’s nistered. You better don’t get caught with it. And if you do, don’t tell anyone where you got it from.”
“Thanks.”
“Mhm. As for y, the same rules as always.
You have the right to buy it back for six months. I is fifty pert per month.”
Liam was shocked. He never heard of a fifty pert i rate. But unfortunately, those were Ben’s rules, and he could only ply.
At this moment the old man suddenly turned around, taking something from a box behind him.
He handed a thiket to Liam.
“Here. For your sister.”
For a moment Liam was surprised before letting out a warm smile.
“Thank you, Ben.”
“Don’t mention it. We all have to survive somehow. Just don’t fet this old man when you find something else iure.”
“I won’t.”
Liam carefully ed his sister in the b before nodding goodbye.
He left the pawn shop, the bck card in his pocket providing him with some fidence.
He turned around, returning the way he came from. His memories told Liam to ght at the earlier crossing to reach the friendly doctor.
But just as he reached the crossing, a few men suddenly blocked his way.
Dressed in rags and with thin bodies, these were obviously beggars as well. The man in the middle put on a threatening expression below his dirty face as he spoke in a hoarse voice:
“Boy! Hand over everything you have!”
Liam was staring ahead in shock, having never experienced such a se.
“Is this a robbery?”
“Of course it is! What do you think?!”
“But I don’t have anything…”
“Bullsh*t! We saw that ring on your finger!”, excimed another man, lig his dry lips.
“No, no! You must be mistaken. I don’t have a ring!”
“You…!”
As Liam shoved his hand out from below the bhe three thieves showed fused expressions.
“There really is n.”
“Did we mistake him?”
For a moment the beggars didn’t know what to do. But suddenly one of them came up with a clusion:
“Didn’t he e from over there? He must have goo Ben’s pce!”
“Ha! Right, right! You’re a genius, Harry!”
The man called Harry smiled foolishly, revealing his bck teeth.
“Boy, I won’t repeat it again. Hand over everything on you!”
“I…”
“Stop talking!”
Finally, one of the men lost his patience. He took a step forward, trying to grab Liam.
The young man gritted his teeth as he jumped backwards. The floor was slippery beh his feet, almost causing him to stumble.
“Ok. You only bme yourself!”
Liam spoke with anger as he carefully id his sister down. Taking a deep breath, he took on a fighting stance.
In Liam’s old life it was on to practice the moves from Fate of aboul even in real life.
Although one’s body within the game was able to perform the skills on its own, additional practisured smoother movements, something which could make a big difference among the top pyers.
Thus, Liam often trained in real life, leading him to develop an i in martial arts. Although he never participated in tours, Liam eventually became a master. This was only natural for the athleti who seemed to find success in whatever he touched.
“Kid, what is this? Want to resist?”
“Just hand over your money and we let you go!”
“Right, don’t get injured or…”
Liam suddenly let out a scoff, having heard enough. He made quick steps, reag the talking man and plunging his elbow into the man’s kidney.
“You little!”
The man took a few steps back with pain on his face.
But Liam wasn’t happy. He didn’t expect the man to remain standing.
This body is too weak.
“Harry! Grab him!”
The other me anxious as they clumsily attacked.
Liam was qui his toes, dang around their hands.
Finding the perfeent his fist suddenly delivered a vicious blow. The oppo mao raise his arms, but Liam abruptly ged trajectory.
“Ah!”
A scream rang out as Liam’s fist hit, followed by the crag of a rip.
“B*stard!”
Liam felt a cold breeze on his cheek. He hastily turned his head, barely avoiding a blow. His knee immediately terattacked, ndiween the oppo’s legs.
Critical hit!
Harry’s eyes bulged as he went to the floor.
“We… we…”
The other two men grew uled. They didn’t uand how Liam could hold on in a 3v1. But they khat getting injured out here lead to terrible sequences.
Thus, the beggars hesitated. They stared at Liam, waiting for aion from him.
But as the young man didn’t move, they hastily reached out for Harry before esg into the alleys.
Only as the three men disappeared from his vision did Liam let out a deep breath.
As the tension fell off, his body trembled. He felt incredibly exhausted, having used up all his energy in the short fight.
At this moment a feeble voice reached his ears.
“You’re amazing, brother.”
Liam stared at Serena in surprise. Clear blue eyes looked back at him with admiration and dependence.
“Serena? You’re awake?”
“Y… yes.”
“How are you feeling?”
“I’m feeling good.”
Liam felt something stu his throat as he looked at the young girl putting on a brave front. At this moment his heart was moved.
If so far he took care of Serena mainly because of the challenge issued by C, then now his attitude subtly ged.
“Don’t worry Serena. Brother will bring you to Doctor Hearley.”
“Doctor Hearley? That’s good.”
Serena stopped speaking, smiling tiredly at her brother. Liam ighe state of his own body as he picked up his sister again and hastily jogged down the alley.
Soon the duo reached an inspicuous door only setting itself apart by the red cross painted on it.
As Liam pushed it, the metallic door opened with an ominous creak, revealing a dark staircase.
Pressing Serena tightly against his body Liam quickly went up.
