520 Chapter 520: The Strange Beggar (2/2)

Seriously, someone ought to do a quality check on this ridiculous manhua series. Did the artist just draw whatever without thinking things through?

As I rubbed the dust and and blood from my face, I caught wind of a conversation between the delinquent and his friend, who was looking annoyed at having his entertainment interrupted. The delinquent placed an arm around his friend's shoulder, frantically leading him away. He leaned over and whispered into his friend's ear.

”Never mind Rossetti Picket, Miura La Noir and Kufa Van Peer, we aren't a match for someone of Nan Gong Zhao Yan's caliber. I heard that apart from her beauty, she is a superb mage. If we fought her, we wouldn't stand a chance.”

It wasn't as if Zhao Yan would bother to fight ruffians like you…hell, even I could defeat the two of you. Actually, I had the ability to nuke the entire school from orbit. I considered doing that. It was the only way to be sure.

”Are you all right, Richard?”

Rossetti offered me a handkerchief to wipe off the blood and dust, which I accepted gratefully. Suddenly, Miura jumped between us, bristling angrily.

”What are you doing?!”

”Uh…helping Richard out?” Rossetti forced a smile, but she was unable to hide her puzzlement. Miura groaned in exasperation.

”Damn it! This was supposed to be my chance!”

”Your chance to do what, exactly?” Kufa asked, frowning. Miura glared at him, and then she glowered at me.

”Geez! You boys are always so dense!”

”Well, I'm fine. Thanks.” I nodded, returning to Rossetti and answering her question. She nodded, and then placed her hands on her hips.

”Ugh! I'm so pissed! What were those guys thinking, stoning you?! I'm reporting this to the teachers!”

”Bullies will always be bullies,” Kufa muttered darkly. ”No matter where you go, you'lll always find people who revel in the suffering of others.”

While we were conversing, I spotted Zhao Yan approaching the beggar. She took out a few coins from her purse and handed it to the beggar, who watched her calmly. She smiled to show him that she meant no harm.

”Here, this is for you. Go buy something to eat.”

The beggar studied her closely with such intensity that I couldn't help but feel a chill. Even Kufa raised an eyebrow in concern, and the girls looked uncomfortable. Was there a need for him to stare at Zhao Yan like that?

And then he accepted the coins with his right hand. As his hand slipped out of the dark, grimy cloak, I caught sight of a strange, red tattoo vividly etched into his skin.

Huh…that tattoo…that was quite the intricate design. I wasn't a big fan of tattoos and thus never got them, but they were pretty popular among the younger generation. Speaking of which, why would a starving beggar have a tattoo?

”They'll tell the guards, though. So it's best if you find some other place to beg.”

Zhao Yan, wasting no time as usual, was already turning away. As the beggar bowed his head gratefully, he studied the coins, a sinister smile spreading over his face. My eyes widened as I watched him. There was something suspicious about this guy.

”She's right, you know?” Miura approached the beggar and placed a dollar bill in his can. ”You should leave before the guards arrive.”

Then she gestured for us to follow.

”Let's hurry before we are late for class.”

”All right.” Rossetti followed closely, but not before she nodded at the beggar. Kufa sent him a suspicious gaze, having the same doubts as me, but neither of us could accuse the beggar of anything because we had no proof.

I was about to follow them when the beggar spoke up.

”Richard, right?”

His question took me by surprise. But then, when I calmly evaluated the situation, I remembered that Rossetti had addressed me by name when she asked if I was all right – in front of this guy. So it wasn't strange that he knew my name.

”That's right, sir.”

As I nodded in a manner that any good British butler would be proud of, the beggar grinned mischievously, his eyes still hidden by his hood.

”Yeah, Zhao Yan talks about you all the time. You've known her, her whole life!”

Uh…what? Really? And how would you know that? As far as I knew, this was the first time Zhao Yan spoke to him. And I was pretty sure I had not known her throughout her whole life. That was a total lie.

But I decided to humor him a bit, even though I was particularly disturbed by the words ”her whole life”, which were setting off all sort of death flags.

”Oh, not yet, sir.”

”Heh heh heh.” The beggar glanced at Zhao Yan's departing figure for a moment before turning back to me. ”Any psychotic ex-boyfriends I should be aware of?”

Now it was my turn to grin and shake my head slightly.

”Oh…you have no idea.”

And then I left him sitting on the pavement, chuckling to myself as I walked back through the school gates. Needless to say, I was stingy to the point where I didn't bother to give the suspicious beggar any of my money.

”What's the matter, Richard?” Rossetti was glancing back at me in concern. She, Miura and Kufa had stopped for a moment to wait for me, while Zhao Yan had long since disappeared into the school.

”Did the beggar want money from you?” Miura huffed. ”Even after Zhao Yan and I gave him a few dollars? How greedy.”

”No, that's not it at all. He was interested in Zhao Yan, for some reason.”

”Why?” Kufa asked curiously. I shrugged.

”Who knows? I guess it's because she's beautiful…ouch!”

For some reason, Miura had stomped on my foot, and I had no choice but to shut up for the moment.

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