111 Chapter 111 (1/2)

Matt looked at the mother and son duo, were they doing some kind of comedic routine?

The boy was still almost naked, at least they didn't remove his underwear before the procedure. The youth in question looked at the old man beside the bed he was getting bear-hugged by his mother. He instantly knew that this man wasn't simple, his disposition and sharp stare could only be attributed to experts. But in reality, it was only Matt squinting and trying to keep his elder act together.

\”P-please... my friends are going to die... we offended someone that we shouldn't have...\”

The boy replied to the question, his voice trailing off at the end.

\”Oh, who did you offend? Could you tell this friendly grandpa?\”

The workers faces contorted at the 'friendly' part, who was the person that threw that one worker at the wall. The poor guy then was slapped awake only to get lectured and then only get teacups thrown at him.

\”Ah, bow your head boy, this Senior Uncle saved your life!\”

The woman immediately pushed her son's head down, making him bow to the man. The man in question just moved his hand upwards trying to signal to the two that this act was unnecessary.

\”That's fine, just doing what I was hired for by the Zhang Clan. I'm not sure if you have heard about the Zhang Clan, but they are quite the magnanimous people, yes they are.\”

He made it sure to mention the clan whenever he could, he liked to spread awareness, branding was very important. They weren't sure why this elder was mentioning that clan every other sentence, but not like they could ask him. The boy had some tears in his eyes which he was able to wipe after his mother finally let him be, soon he started talking and told the two the full story.

\”Me and my brothers just wanted some coin for the little ones... the young master came out of the restaurant and he was already drunk so we thought he would be an easy snatch...\”

The boy looked at his mom, not really wanting to tell her that he was out in the streets and stealing. But he was doing it mostly for the younger children, they had even some four-year-olds in his group. They weren't abandoned but their parents died one way or the other, mostly offending some bigshots or getting in debt with the wrong people. He looked to his mother stuttering a bit as he saw her brows twitching.

\”A-anyway, we tried doing the usual routine... I fell in front of the young master and just started apologizing to keep his attention on me... that was when big bro...\”

Matt stroked his beard while listening, it was a regular stealing maneuver that you would see anywhere. Someone would bump into you then start talking loudly and shuffling about. While you were distracted their partner would move in from the back and quickly snatch your wallet or purse from your pocket.

\”But you got caught, right?\”

Said Wei Hung while glancing at the boy that lowered his head at the reply.

\”Y-yes, the guard next to the master was very vigilant he moved between the young master as my big bro was reaching into his robe. Luckily he managed to jump back before he got caught.\”

\”So, they grabbed you instead?\”

\”Y-yes sir, I was on the ground bowing so I didn't have enough time...\”

\”That's why I told you not to hang out with those brats!\”

The mother was fuming, she had told her son not to hang out with that riff-raff. They were a known band of little bandits that robbed and plundered the streets. She didn't want her only child ending up as those thieves, this was also the reason she was working so hard.

\”I'm sure the boy had his reasons... right?\”

The elderly man asked while trying to smile, but made the family duo flinch in fright instead.

\”Y-yes! We only did it to feed the young ones!\”

Matt went back to stroking his beard while the mom started reprimanding her son for being a little thief. He, on the other hand, was worried that they even had children on the streets below the age of five running around with no parents or supervision. Even more that they had to resort to stealing and burglary to survive.

\”And another thing!\”

The mom shouted out while smacking the head of her sun that looked disgruntled.

\”Hm, how about you show this grandpa where those children are? I'm sure I can 'talk' that young master out of harming them...\”

He couldn't let some young bratty young lord just beat up some pre-teen kids, he knew that those types would even resort to killing if they got offended enough. He stood up a bit straighter and tried striking a valiant pose complete with a bright smile so that the child would trust in this old uncle, but the only thing the kid saw was an old man grinning menacingly.

\”Um...\”

He looked to the side to his mother, not sure if he could trust this ominous looking elder. The mother looking between the two and finally speaking out.

\”Y-yes... uh... if Senior insists Zhu'er will show you where they are...isn't that right?\”

She looked at the young boy, a bit of worry in her eyes. She was grateful for the help that this man had given her son, but she didn't want him to involve himself further with those band of urchins. Her motherly instincts were telling her to take her son and run, but she couldn't offend the elder man that helped them out, he also seemed quite powerful.

\”Well, let's not dilly dally for too long, little one, if we don't hurry your friends might get hurt.\”