The carriage stopped outside the slums, and Kael stepped out, ignoring the concerned looks from Baret and Gare.
The streets were filthy and reeked of piss and rotting garbage, with narrow alleys lined with crumbling shacks.
The ground was muddy, littered with broken bottles and scraps, and the air buzzed with the stench of unwashed bodies and cheap alcohol. Hollow-eyed children ran barefoot, dodging drunkards and beggars, while won with sunken faces leaned against walls with their gazes empty.
As Kael walked, hands in his pockets, he noticed a burly man beating a teen boy in the middle of the street.
The crowd around them wasn't horrified; rather they were cheering, laughing, and betting on the boy's pain.
Kael's lips curled in irritation. Baret, sensing his mood, muttered, "Life in the slums is miserable, Lord. People take joy in anything that distracts them." But Kael knew better. He had once lived in the slums for days after running away, only to have his gold stolen along with his sword.
Just thinking about it made his blood boil.
Spotting a scrap seller, Kael strolled over and plunged his hand into a pile of junk, fishing out a bottle. Without hesitation, he hurled it straight at the drunken bastard's head.
BANG!
The bottle shattered, and the man staggered back, howling in pain. The crowd fell silent, stunned.
Even Baret and Gare froze, wide-eyed at Kael's sudden outburst. The thug spun around, roaring, "Who the fuck did that?!"
Co out if you have the guts, you little shits!"
Kael just grinned like a lunatic and stepped forward. "Are you challenging ?"
A murmur spread through the crowd. People noticed Kael's fine clothes, polished boots, and confident stride.
Whispers began to erupt one after another
"A wealthy guy?"
"Why is he here?" rippled through them. Fear crawled up their spines, and heads lowered instinctively
In the slums, everyone knows one thing.That is challenging wealthy individuals was a death wish. But Kael didn't care.
He strolled up to the thug, his face twisting with amusent.
"YOUU!"
"YOU DID ITTTT!"
The man then barely opened his mouth to curse before Kael's fist smashed into his face.
BANG!
Blood splattered from his nose, and before he could recover, Kael slamd another punch into his jaw, knocking him.
Slim staggered around and looked at Kael.
"I will kill you," roaring in fury he pounced onto Kael who just threw his knees.
CRAACKK!
Sothing broke but it wasn't an egg.
"EEWEEEEE!"
"M…My…Balllll"
Slim hissed in pain and terror feeling his ball crushed by a huge force and quivering down falling on the ground.
Dusting his hands, Kael turned to the beaten-up teen and smirked
"Boy, what's your na?" The kid, bruised and filthy, lifted his head, his eyes burning with defiance.
"Chris." Kael raised a brow, amused.
.
"Your eyes... I like them." On instinct, his left hand moved toward his eye where he wore his monocle used to be, a tool from his war days, crafted by his mad genius friend, Steampunk. It let him analyze people, but alas… he lost it. His fingers twitched in irritation.
Shaking the thought away, Kael narrowed his gaze at Chris.
"You are an orphan?" Chris scoffed, "Yeah, so what?"
Kael sighed and muttered, "Aren't orphanages supposed to take care of you? Teach you skills? Give you work?"
Chris's expression froze before twisting with anger.
"Are you mocking ?" His voice rose, sharp and bitter, and before Kael could answer, Baret and Gare reached for their swords, furious at the insult.
Kael raised a hand, stopping them. "Are you both brain-dead?"
His voice dripped with annoyance and his eyes were sharp and cold.
"He said sothing to , not you. So why the hell are you offended?" His gaze flicked between them. "Tell —do you actually respect , or are you just pretending?"
The two n flinched, their faces twitching in embarrassnt.
Kael turned back to Chris and reached for his hair, curiosity flickering in his gaze. The boy jerked back, scowling.
"Don't touch !" His voice was filled with venom. "Are you playing so noble saint? Trying to win people's favor? I won't fall for that!"
He clenched his fists as he spat, "You nobles are all the sa! You suck the life out of us, take our money, and call it taxes! And orphanages? What orphanages?! You don't donate a single damn coin!"
Kael's grin widened, but his eyes turned cold.
His head slowly tilted as he looked at Baret and Gare. "Is he lying?" His voice was calm, but the two suddenly felt a chill.
The two n exchanged glances before Gare hesitated. "As far as I know... orphanages receive regular funds."
Chris snorted and shouted loud enough for the whole slum to hear. "LIAR! We never got a damn thing!"
The crowd murmured uneasily,"Could that be true?"
Kael let out a low, twisted chuckle, his lips curling into a devilish grin. He leaned down, eyes gleaming with wickedness.
"I see… Looks like I just stumbled upon sothing interesting."
Kael then laughed out and looked back at his two n.
"Gare, go and call every orphanage director out here. I want to et them."
"Ok. Okay!"Gare's voice stuttered, bewildered by the sudden turn of events.
"Baret!"
"Yes Sir!"Baret stepped forward with a salute.
"Go to the City Lord and call him. "
Baret blinked for a few monts and then asked with hesitation.
"If he didn't co or allowed to et."
Kael's smirk widened and his eyes turned ghostly," Then tell him."
"The Heir of Veydrin is here so he better run here with his ass or else…."
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