Amaya

Alex's heart raced as he turned to confront the group of intimidating men who had closed in on him. Their large build and unfriendly looks left no doubt that they weren't looking for a friendly conversation.

The apparent leader of the group, a burly man with a scar across his face, stepped forward and sneered at Alex. "Well, well, what do we have here? A new face in the neighborhood, eh?"

Alex kept his composure, even though he could feel his heart racing. "Just passing through," he replied calmly, trying not to show any fear.

The scar-faced man grinned wickedly. "Passing through, huh? Well, it's not that easy. You see, this here is our territory, and anyone who wants to pass through needs to pay the toll."

Alex raised an eyebrow, not quite sure what the man was getting at. "Toll? What kind of toll are we talking about?"

The man's grin widened as he stepped closer to Alex. "Oh, just a small fee for using our streets. You know, for maintenance and cleaning the street. Five hundred credits should do it."

Alex knew he couldn't afford to part with such a significant amount of money, especially when it was meant to be invested in his pub. He had to negotiate, but he needed to do it carefully.

"Come on, five hundred credits is a bit steep, don't you think?" Alex replied, trying to sound reasonable. "How about we settle this with a hundred? That should cover your 'maintenance." Alex was reluctant to pay even a single credit, but he thought about the bigger picture this time. Even if he could beat them up this time, a bigger guy would come after him later.

The scar-faced man's expression darkened, and for a moment, it seemed like he might refuse. But then he must have weighed the options and realized that a hundred credits were better than nothing.

With a begrudging nod, he agreed to Alex's offer. "Fine, a hundred it is. But remember, you're paying for safe passage through our territory. Don't let us catch you here again without the toll."

Alex quickly transferred a hundred credits from his account to the man, who pocketed the money with a satisfied grin. As the thugs stepped aside to let him pass, Alex couldn't help but feel a sense of relief. It wasn't an ideal situation, but at least he had managed to avoid a confrontation and keep most of his money for the pub.

After successfully negotiating his way out of the alley, Alex decided to head to a nearby eatery to grab some dinner. The whole encounter had left him with a mix of emotions, and he needed to clear his head. The aroma of street food wafted through the air, and his stomach growled in response.

He found a small food stall with a friendly-looking vendor. The stall was adorned with various pictures of dishes, and one in particular caught his eye – a dish that reminded him of home. It was a specialty he used to enjoy with his family back when they were all together.

Approaching the vendor, he ordered a serving of the dish and found a seat at a nearby table. 

After finishing his meal, Alex used his phone to order supplies for the pub. He searched for the supplier on the internet, made a few calls, and began to negotiate the price. Eventually, they agreed to send the supplies the next morning.

Alex went to a busy drugstore and asked the pharmacist for a large box of Universal Toxic Remedy. The pharmacist nodded and fetched the box from the back.

The Universal Toxic Remedy was indeed a common drug in this technologically advanced world. It was designed to counteract a wide range of toxins and poisons, making it an essential item for anyone dealing with potentially hazardous substances.

He paid for the remedy and thanked the pharmacist before leaving the store. With the big box in both of his hands, Alex headed back to the pub, feeling a renewed sense of determination and anticipation for the challenges and adventures that lay ahead.

As Alex walked down the same alleyway, he couldn't help but feel a sense of déjà vu. The same group of thugs he had encountered earlier had once again gathered, blocking his path. It seemed that they had taken a liking to him as an easy target and were determined to make him pay every time he passed through this area.

Their ringleader, a burly man with a scar running across his cheek, stepped forward and leered at Alex. "Well, well, if it ain't the rich kid again. You know the drill, buddy. Fork over five hundred credits, and you can pass."

Alex clenched his fists, frustrated by the constant harassment. He knew that giving in to their demands would only encourage them further, and he couldn't afford to give away his (family) hard-earned money, especially after he spent much credit for buying supplies just now. Taking a deep breath, he decided to stand his ground.

"I'm not giving any credits," Alex said firmly. "I have a right to walk through this alley like anyone else."

The thugs exchanged glances, seemingly unimpressed by Alex's resolve. The scarred ringleader chuckled darkly. "You've got guts, I'll give you that. But you're in our territory now, and we make the rules."

As tension thickened in the alleyway, just when it seemed the confrontation was about to escalate into something physical, a stern voice from behind the group of thugs cut through the air like a blade.

"Stop, you bastards! Since when is this your territory?"

The thugs turned around in surprise, and their faces went pale as they recognized the voice. Stepping forward from the crowd was Amaya, the bakery owner whom Alex had met just yesterday. She had a confident look on her face and didn't seem the least bit intimidated by the thugs.

"Amaya, just run! It's not safe here," Alex warned her, worried for her safety.

Amaya shook her head defiantly. "I won't stand by and let these bullies harass you, Alex. This is my neighborhood, and nobody should have to pay a toll to walk through here."

The ringleader, clearly taken aback by Amaya's unexpected interference, stammered, "F*ck, Femme Fatale is here," and he didn't forget to use the catchy line familiar to thugs all around the world, "This... this isn't over!" He and his gang reluctantly dispersed.

As the thugs retreated, Amaya turned to Alex with a reassuring smile. "You alright?"

Alex nodded gratefully. "Thanks to you, Amaya. I really appreciate your help."

Curiosity getting the better of him, Alex turned to Amaya and asked, "So, what's this 'Femme Fatale' that ugly guy mentioned earlier?"

Amaya hesitated for a moment, her expression reflecting a mix of emotions. She was worried that Alex might judge her or be afraid of her involvement with the gang. After a deep breath, she decided to explain.

"Femme Fatale is my big sister's gang," she began, her voice carrying a hint of reluctance. "It's a group of women who have come together to protect others. You see, in this neighborhood, many women have been harmed or molested, and my sister wanted to create a safe haven for them."

Alex listened intently. He couldn't help but admire Amaya's sister for taking such a proactive stance to protect those in need.

Amaya couldn't help but feel a bit self-conscious about her involvement with Femme Fatale, so she decided to address her concern with Alex directly. She looked at him and asked, "Alex, are you... afraid of me because I'm involved with the gang?"

Alex paused for a moment, surprised by the question. He met Amaya's gaze with a reassuring smile. "No, Amaya, I'm not afraid of you. In fact, I admire what you and your sister are doing to protect others in the neighborhood."

Amaya let out a sigh of relief, her worry dissipating. "Thank you, Alex. It means a lot to me that you understand."

Alex continued, "It's important to judge people based on their actions and character, not just their associations. You've already proven yourself to be a kind person, and that's what matters."

Hearing that, Amaya felt reassured and nodded with a smile. Then, she crossed her arms and shot a playful yet slightly reproachful look at Alex. "Why didn't you show up at my bakery for the past this morning as you promised?"

Alex, feeling a bit sheepish, scratched his head and offered an apologetic smile. "I'm really sorry, Amaya. I didn't mean to miss out. You know I promised to come and taste your amazing bread. It's just that, well, I've been caught up cleaning my pub, and it turned into a bigger task than I anticipated. I was exhausted and decided to take a much-needed rest for a whole day."

Amaya crossed her arms and gave Alex an amused yet slightly skeptical look. "Cleaning your pub, huh? Well, I hope it was worth skipping my bakery for," she teased with a playful glint in her eyes.

Alex chuckled nervously, feeling a bit embarrassed for missing out on her bakery. "I promise, Amaya, it had nothing to do with your bread not being amazing. Your baking is top-notch; I wouldn't lie about that."

Amaya's expression softened, and she smiled warmly. "You're forgiven this time. Just remember to drop by soon and try some of our new pastries. You won't be disappointed."

Alex nodded eagerly. "Deal. I'll make sure to visit your bakery tomorrow. It's a promise."

Amaya appreciated Alex's kind words about her bread more than he could have imagined. You see, her bakery had always been a special place for her, a way to remember her late mother who had taught her the art of baking.

Because of her sister's gang connections and the neighborhood's bad reputation, not many people visited Amaya's bakery to praise her bread. Usually, only her sister's subordinates came to her bakery.

After another delightful chat with Amaya, Alex reaffirmed his promise to visit her bakery the following day. With a heartfelt goodbye, they parted ways, each carrying a sense of warmth from their encounter.

Upon his return to the pub, Alex made a note in his phone as a reminder, ensuring he wouldn't forget to keep his word and visit Amaya's bakery.

With the box containing the Universal Toxic Remedy in hand, Alex made his preparations to re-enter the other world. 

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