An offer

The cold night breeze swept through the narrow alley, carrying the smell of garbage and wet asphalt. But Ryder only felt the heat burning his chest. The two men in black suits advanced in unison, their steps echoing through the dull brick walls full of graffiti.

One of them threw a quick punch towards Ryder's face. Ryder lowered his head, felt the wind blow pass through his hair, then returned with a single uppercut to the man's stomach.

Bugh!

The man lifted up slightly before falling backwards, crashing into the alley wall, groaning in pain. But his friend didn't give Ryder time to breathe. A hard fist pointed at Ryder's temples, too fast to dodge.

Dug!

Ryder's head was twisted to the side, heat seeping from his temples, blood flowing from the corners of his lips again. His gaze flashed, but his gaze remained sharp, full of anger and determination.

'I can't fall. If I fall, Mom will be alone.'

Ryder forced both of his legs to stay upright. He wiped the blood with the back of his hand, then took a deep breath, stabilizing his body.

The first man she hit got up with a blown red face, then attacked Ryder with repeated punches to the chest and abdomen. Ryder dodged one, two, three blows, but one devastating blow hit him in the stomach, causing him to cough hard, blood dripping onto the cold asphalt.

"Ryder! You're going to die here!" the man shouted, his breath catching his breath.

"Stop your chatter."

Ryder twisted his body rapidly, releasing a single spinning kick towards the man's head. The kick hit his jaw hard.

Bak!

The man fell to the asphalt, fainting instantly.

The other man who saw his friend fall, growled and pulled out a folding knife from his coat pocket. The sheen of its blades bounced faintly under the dim street lights, adding to the chill in the narrow alley.

"You think it's just a normal fight, huh?! You think you can just hit our people, Ryder?!"

Ryder didn't answer. He took a slow breath, setting his horses on the wet asphalt. His eyes stared at the gunman without the slightest fear.

The man lunged with a raised knife, aiming for Ryder's stomach. Ryder moved to the side, dodging in a split second. The knife only ripped off the bottom of his red hoodie, while the man struck back with a wild swing.

Ryder fended off the man's hand, then hit his wrist hard. The knife came off, falling onto the asphalt with a sharp ringing sound.

Before the man had a chance to react, Ryder pulled the collar of his suit and threw a hard punch into his face.

Bugh!

The man fell to his knees, his nose bleeding, his eyes wide with fear.

Ryder lowered his head, picked up the fallen knife, then threw it at the end of the alley, the sound of his clinking echoing between the narrow walls. He looked at the man with cold eyes.

"Next time, tell your boss. I will pay off my father's debt, but in my own way."

Ryder turned around, walking through puddles of water and piles of cardboard, leaving those lying in that narrow alley. Blood was still dripping from the corners of his lips, yet his eyes were staring straight ahead, as if nothing could stop him.

In his mind, there was only one thing:

"Mom, wait a little longer."

As Ryder walked out of the alley, someone suddenly gave him a round of applause.

Ryder narrowed his eyes. He did not know the person who was applauding.

He did not yet know whether the applause meant praise or contempt.

Ryder walked over to the man.

When he arrived in front of him, the man appeared to be wearing a green plaid T-shirt and short training pants. He took a pack of cigarettes from his pants pocket, lit it, and smoked it deeply.

The cigarette smoke was deliberately directed at Ryder's face.

"Huk, huk, hey man, do I have a problem with you?" said Ryder as he waved his hand to push the cigarette smoke away.

"Take it easy, young people. You have no problem with me. But I'm interested in the way you fought just now," the man said as he returned to smoking his cigarette.

"Thank you for the compliment, but I don't have any more time today."

"Come on, give me a little time to chat."

Ryder looked at him, a little curious. "Alright, what do you want to talk to me about?"

The man smiled faintly, looking at Ryder as he puffed on the cigarette smoke. "Are you interested in becoming my partner?"

"What did you mean just now, man?"

"Introduction, my name is Duke Smith. I'm also a street fighter, just like you."

The man's name was Duke Smith. He claims to be a street fighter, just like Ryder. However, Ryder had never heard of Duke's name in the Iron Street Vale area. Right now, Ryder just wanted to be alone and had no intention of joining anyone.

"I'm sorry, Duke, but I'm not interested in your offer."

Ryder walked away from Duke casually. However, Duke did not give up on making him a partner.

"I know you want to get more money for your mother, right?"

Ryder's steps stopped instantly when he heard Duke's words just now.

Ryder turned around, looking at Duke with a look of disbelief. "How did you know that, Duke?"

"I have a vast network of information, Ryder. If you become my partner, you can get the money you need." Duke took another casual puff of his cigarette, then exhaled smoke into the night air.

The offer sounded very tempting to Ryder. He swallowed a spit, looking at the Duke smiling face as he raised both eyebrows.

The word "money" kept ringing in Ryder's head. Right now, money was the most important thing to him. He would do anything for the money.

"How, Ryder? Interested?" asked Duke, continuing to tease Ryder with his smile.

However, Ryder was still hesitant. He still doesn't believe Duke, a mysterious man who suddenly appears.

"May I think for a moment?" he asked.

"Go ahead. But make your choice tonight too, because I'm only offering this opportunity tonight."

Ryder frowned, confused. Duke gave him a time limit only tonight, making his mind even more chaotic. He closed his eyes, imagining the debts of his father and mother who were lying weak in the hospital.

A few minutes later, Ryder took a deep breath, then looked at Duke steadily.

"Alright. I agree to be your partner, Duke," Ryder said, smiling faintly.

Duke laughed with satisfaction at Ryder's answer. Finally, he has the partner he has been looking for. Duke himself was once a street fighter who always fought alone, and he knew how lonely it was to fight without a partner.

He had seen many street fighters, but none of them suited him. Every night, he came to Club Harlem, watching fight after fight. Until one night, his eyes caught a new fighter who fought calmly, not rash in making decisions.

From then on, Duke's eyes had only been on Ryder. He believes that Ryder is the right partner for his future.

And that night, unknowingly, Ryder had just sold his soul for his mother.