Street Thugs Can Fight (3)

Aragon's bodyguard sighed inwardly, realizing they were about to lose this time. Dealing with thugs like these was usually easy for him, as he could handle dozens of them effortlessly. However, he didn't expect that the decisive factor in this conflict would come down to these two thugs.

Chris felt both excitement and surprise. He could sense that this fight was different from previous ones. The feeling of having precise control over his strength was incredibly clear. What surprised him even more was something else entirely.

As he swung the wooden chair, for a brief moment, the opponent's movements seemed to slow down, as if in slow motion. Without even thinking, he easily struck that unfortunate student. It was an entirely new sensation—strong and vivid—but just as quickly as it came, it vanished without warning. In the blink of an eye, the world before Chris returned to normal. If it weren't for the fact that this was an academy and that guy was a student, not some thug, that strike could have been lethal. Chris and Ray had long learned the harsh realities of life: never give your opponent any chance—something everyone who has lived on the streets knows well. 

It seemed that the recent training had some effect. Chris was both puzzled and unsure, as he could feel his control over his strength had become more precise and natural. In the past, he could never have executed such a clean and decisive move. The world that briefly slowed down, though only for a fleeting moment, had completely captivated him. He felt excitement without a trace of fear. Now, he hoped these people would rush at him, so he could once again enter that magical world.

Aragon caught a fleeting glimpse of fear when seeing Chris and Ray's eyes. These two were different from Zoe.

No matter how intense the conflict between him and Zoe, neither of them would suffer physical harm. The only losses would be the strength of their subordinates, a sort of unspoken rule at East Guard Academy. The rumors about him being mistreated by Cindy's brother at the Security Bureau were entirely fabricated; all that had happened was a warning.

This was likely the nature of conflicts among the elites.

As they grew older, they might become mortal enemies, locked in a struggle where only one could survive. But for now, before they were fully independent, they had to exercise restraint—this was a hallmark of the upper echelons of the Sky Federation. Never before had anyone made him feel the way he did now. Aragon was certain that if, in a few minutes, everyone else was either beaten down or had fled, those two fierce guys wouldn't hesitate to swing their chairs at him.

His gaze involuntarily shifted to his bodyguard, but hope quickly faded. The bodyguard and Hunter were glaring at each other like two roosters, locked in a standoff.

The memory of the poor guy who was knocked down earlier, still writhing on the ground in pain, his body curled up like a shrimp and his pitiful cries unceasing, made Aragon's heart tighten. He swallowed hard, his forehead now covered in sweat.

A wise man knows when to retreat—he quickly weighed his options. Though the Disciplinary Office was intimidating, the worst he would face there was a loss of face, not any real harm.

But here, it was different. His eyes followed the movement of the chair in Chris's hand, and his anxiety deepened.

Taking a closer look at the two, Aragon noticed that one was dressed flamboyantly, with all sorts of shiny trinkets that were clearly cheap. The sharp glimmer in this person's eyes revealed a keen intelligence. The other seemed even more ordinary—average height, plain clothes that, to someone like Aragon who enjoyed the finer things in life, appeared downright coarse. In terms of appearance, he was completely unremarkable, the kind of person who would disappear into a crowd, never to be noticed again. 

Yet, it was precisely this utterly ordinary individual who now stirred a sense of fear in Aragon. He couldn't figure this person out, something that rarely happened to him. Coming from a family of merchants, Aragon had a natural talent for reading people and situations, a skill honed by constant practice. But today, he encountered someone who eluded his understanding.

Deciding to temporarily concede, he said, "Fine, I'll go to the Disciplinary Office."

Aragon's words brought a collective sigh of relief from his group of companions. With that, the confrontation came to an end.

Chris and Ray were the first to leave, and no one dared to stop them. Left alone, Zoe wanted to call out to them, but seeing how they left without a word, both his and Hunter's expressions turned sour.

Zoe and Hunter's expressions were, of course, not something Chris concerned himself with. Ray had initially considered greeting them, recognizing that even a blind man could see these two wielded considerable influence at East Guard Academy. The camaraderie shared in today's skirmish could easily have paved the way for a friendship that would be beneficial for their future endeavors. After a glance at Chris, Ray decided to hold his tongue, though he did feel a twinge of regret.

Ray quickly shook off that small regret, excitedly exclaiming, "Hey, that was a blast! There's nothing like beating up on weaklings!" But then, a thought struck him, and he asked curiously, "Chris, did you eat something strange today? Why did you bother getting involved in this mess? That's not like you at all."

"That girl helped me out once," Chris replied simply.

"Oh," Ray was surprised, his interest piqued. "I thought it was weird that you stepped in today when you usually don't care about stuff like this. So, tell me, what did that girl do for you? But from what I saw, it seemed like she didn't even recognize you—didn't even say hi."

"It was something related to card-making," Chris explained, recounting the incident from the other day.

"Ah, that makes sense," Ray nodded in understanding.

Having experienced the harsh realities of life as drifters from a young age, they were all too familiar with the coldness of the world. Rarely had they encountered help from others, so when it did happen, they cherished it deeply. Although this time the help Chris received was just a small, unintended favor, he felt compelled to repay it. That's why he stood up today without hesitation. They didn't dwell on how much of a difference their help would make; they simply believed that when someone helps you, you should stand up for them. This straightforward mindset was what motivated Chris's actions. 

To an outsider, this might seem a bit laughable, but Ray, who had gone through similar hardships, understood completely.

To Chris and Ray, this incident was just a minor episode. However, the memory of the confrontation lingered in Chris's mind. As for the woman, once the favor was repaid, their paths would no longer be entangled. This was their way of dealing with the world—no greed, no lofty expectations, just survival. When it came to debts, if they had the ability to repay, they would; if not, they would simply carry it in their hearts.

They were unaware that during this time, Aragon and Zoe had already turned the school upside down, but still couldn't find them.

...

Chris and Ray were busy working hard on creating card plays. This effort not only carried Ray's aspirations but also represented Chris's livelihood.