Back Alley.
"That old hag was an easy target," a young, innocent-looking man chuckled.
His laughter echoed through the alleyway as he counted the stolen money in his hands.
"Hey, share some of that dough with us." A bald man, wearing a polo shirt, joined in the laughter.
"How about we hit the karaoke joint today?" Another guy with green hair and multiple piercings chimed in.
"Alright, alright," the innocent looking man replied, eager to indulge in their ill-gotten gains.
This was their modus operandi; he used his innocent-looking face to fool old people and then snatched their wallets.
"Hey, how about you share some of that money with me?"
While their cheerful banter echoed around them, a voice unexpectedly interrupted, disturbing their conversation.
They turned their heads to find a tall boy with black hair, and a bored expression on his face.
"Who the hell are you, punk?" the bald man asked.
"No one special. I just want my share of the money you've stolen."
The trio's confusion quickly turned to annoyance.
"Are you fucking serious?" they were offended by the newcomer's insolence.
"Do you even know who you're dealing with, punk? We're members of the Tiger Gang," the bald man warned, flexing the tattoo of a tiger's head on his shoulder.
"I don't have time to waste on your ugly tattoos. Just give me my money so I can get out of here," the newcomer insisted, gesturing for them to hurry up.
"Do you want to die?" the bald man snapped. He walked forward and raised his right fist.
"I'm just asking for my share," The newcomer shook his head. He was disappointed that it had come to violence.
"Shut the fuck up!" The bald man yelled as he swung his fist.
The newcomer noticed the punch coming but stayed calm. He just tilted his head slightly, effortlessly dodging the blow.
In the same motion, he clenched his right fist and delivered a quick counter jab to the bald man's chin.
THUD!
Though not particularly powerful, the blow on the chin disrupted the bald man's balance entirely.
But, what followed next was on an entirely different level.
As he fell, the newcomer struck his face with the knee, causing blood to spray and a tooth to fly.
He staggered back, his hands instinctively reaching for his face as if to cradle the throbbing wound.
But he did not last long. After a few more futile attempts to stand, his resolve crumbled. His legs wobbled, and his vision blurred as the effects of the hits took their toll.
Finally, he staggered back, then collapsed onto the pavement, unconscious .
"I was just asking for my share, but you guys decided to attack me,"
He spoke as if he were the one who had been wronged, emphasizing his position as the victim .
The situation grew tensed as the remaining two individuals witnessed their strongest companion being knocked out in an instant.
It wasn't just a regular knockout; it was a one-sided beatdown.
The green-headed man instinctively backed down.
"Get up, you idiot!" he roared, his voice trembling with panic as he gave the bald man's leg a harsh kick. But there was no sign of movements.
"I still don't see my money." the newcomer remarked, advancing slowly and rolling his shoulders, indicating he was just warming up.
"Wait...., maybe we can work something out. We don't want any trouble either." The green-haired man spoke, his voice trembling slightly as he attempted to defuse the situation.
He could sense that the newcomer was a seasoned fighter, possibly associated with another gang.
As for using their gang's name again? He doubted that would work.
"Alright, give me my share," The newcomer stated firmly as he approached them, showing no signs of fear or hesitation.
He looked unconcerned by the possibility of them attacking with a weapon, showcasing his confidence in his abilities.
Only seasoned gangsters could exude such a badass aura.
"How much do you want?" the innocent looking young man asked. He wasn't a fighter, more of the brains of the group.
Trying to act tough would only get him beaten up.
For now, he chose to play the submissive role, but he silently vowed to remember the newcomer's face and seek revenge later.
"How much did you steal?" he asked.
The innocent looking young man hesitated, unsure of the other party's intentions.
"1000 credits," he finally answered, intentionally understating the amount.
In reality, he had stolen 3000 credits , but he wasn't about to reveal that information so easily.
"Then give me 5000 credits," The newcomer demanded firmly, opening his palm to show them the amount he expected to receive. His tone allowed no negotiation.
"Are you kidding us! I only stole 1000 credits," the innocent looking young man protested
5000 credits was a huge amount, equivalent to a month's rent for an average apartment.
However, before he could continue, the newcomer suddenly delivered a quick jab to the green-haired man's chin.
BAM!
It was so quick and unexpected that, in an instant, he found himself lying on the ground.
"10,000 credits," The new comer repeated, his voice now cold and threatening. He made it clear that there would be consequences if his demand wasn't met.
The innocent looking young man was stunned, completely taken aback by the aggressive show of power.
The person standing before him seemed like a complete psycho, leaving him no room to even speak or defend himself.
"I still don't see my money?" The newcomer started flexing his bloodied knuckles, a sign that he was getting tired of waiting.
"I'll give you the money... just don't hurt me," the young man conceded defeat. He realized that trying to fight against someone like this would be futile and potentially dangerous.
Reluctantly, he retrieved the bag containing the 3000 credits that they had stolen and added their own money to complete the sum of 10,000 credits.
The newcomer observed silently as they handed over the cash. His expression remained impassive, showing no hint of satisfaction or remorse.
He took the bag, verifying the contents briefly before tucking it away.
"Next time I catch you guys stealing in this part of town, I will collect my share again," he warned sternly.
"Yes," the innocent-looking man replied with a defeated tone.
That was 10,000 credits. It took him a lot of effort to accumulate that amount.
'Just you wait, fucker!' he gritted his teeth in anger, silently vowing to seek revenge in the future.