The Raid hasn't ended yet
Just as Xiang En was standing there, lost and bewildered, the sound of loose footsteps reached his ears.
The sound came from all directions. Judging by the sparse pattern, there were about seven or eight people. Xiang En had a rudimentary grasp of Observation Haki.
He could faintly sense a few malicious presences gradually closing in on him from behind.
As the footsteps drew nearer, Xiang En could sense the auras radiating from their bodies. They were weak, worlds apart from Rayleigh, and nowhere near the level of Drake or Law.
Compared to myself, I feel like I could fight a hundred of them.
Clang!
A spiked iron club heavily struck the wall. The metallic echo reverberated through the alley for a long time.
Xiang En turned his head to the sound, noticing that he was now completely surrounded by eight thugs.
They stood around him at various corners of the alley mouth, sealing him in. Another figure wielding a large sword stood at the opposite end of the alley, cutting off all potential escape routes.
Xiang En understood immediately: this was a planned ambush.
It seems that over the last few days, my face was not only memorized by local merchants but also attracted the notice of some shady figures, making me a 'fat sheep' in their eyes.
"Kid, we've been watching you for days. Going back and forth to the market buying huge amounts of stuff. You're loaded, aren't you?"
The man holding the spiked club, who appeared to be the leader, looked at Xiang En with naked greed, treating him like a lamb ready for slaughter. As he spoke, he repeatedly struck the wall with the club to exert intimidation.
His accomplices timed their cruel smiles perfectly, creating a textbook scene of robbery and extortion.
This was clearly a professional group of extortionists who often preyed on newcomers. They had likely spotted him and Kagura the moment they arrived and had waited several days before moving, showing a degree of caution.
After all, as the Sabaody Archipelago was the last island before the New World, most outsiders who navigated here were not ordinary folk.
However, based on appearance alone, he and Kagura had zero deterrent effect. Xiang En was barely six feet tall, a "shorty" in this world of seven-to-ten-foot giants, and the five-foot Kagura was even less imposing, looking like an easy target.
It was no surprise that two people who looked weak yet spent a lot of money were targeted. Xiang En had expected this day, but not so soon.
If he had faced this situation before transmigrating, he would have been shaking in fear and handed over his wallet immediately.
But today, Xiang En was not only calm but excited. How many chapters has it been? Has an opponent I can actually fight finally shown up?
Hiss... The leader of the thugs, holding the spiked club, noticed the excitement surging in Xiang En's eyes. His heart tightened. This guy isn't scared; he looks eager for a fight. Is he some kind of hidden master?
Years of robbery experience told him that anyone who showed this kind of expression in this situation was absolutely not someone he could afford to provoke.
Then, the leader suddenly raised his spiked club. Just as Xiang En thought he was about to swing it, the leader angrily threw the club to the ground instead.
Eh?
This sudden action bewildered not only Xiang En but also the leader's own subordinates.
The leader looked genuinely furious. He pointed a finger at Xiang En and began shouting:
"I absolutely detest people like you who don't know how to economize! Don't be so extravagant with your money from now on! You have to negotiate prices before you buy anything, you damn fool!"
"Huh?" Xiang En was stunned. Wasn't this supposed to be a robbery? Why is he lecturing me about finances?
"'Huh,' nothing! Listen to me, kid! You have to haggle when you buy things! Those merchants might look kind, but every single one of them is greedier than we are behind the scenes!"
The leader added a few more stern words, then clapped Xiang En on the shoulder like a long-lost brother. His earnest demeanor made his own subordinates nearly question reality.
Did the boss change his extortion strategy today?
Is this the 'friendly approach'?
Should we cooperate with him?
Moments later, as a few more "sensible" lackeys joined in, the atmosphere in the alley inexplicably became harmonious. Several thugs draped their arms over Xiang En's shoulders, exchanging pleasantries, as if they had been close friends for years.
The scene made Xiang En so awkward he couldn't bring himself to strike first. He couldn't figure out what these guys were up to.