'Yeah, I kinda deserved that one...'
Kael was being too hard on himself. This entire situation was as bizarre to him as the deaths of those future chosen heroes. It was simply not his day.
"Still got a mouth on you, huh?" The leader growled, fuming from the disappointment of not getting anything substantial. "We've been too lenient on you. Let's see how you survive with both arms and legs gone."
"Haha..." To that, Kael simply laughed, raising his head to look at the leader. "Y-you'd be doing me a favour. Give it your best shot."
"..."
These men had dealt with many people over the years. But never had they encountered a man who had just given up on life. He didn't try to defend himself, and all his words aimed to provoke a reaction from them, as if he wanted to be beaten.
"Something is wrong with this man..." the man to Kael's right muttered, looking at him with a bit of sympathy. "Just what the hell has he been through?"
"Who knows...?"
The leader sighed, the fire burning within smouldering to a halt. This was no longer fun. Their target appeared to want to be beaten, if not straight-up killed.
"Since you're so hell-bent on dying, why don't you do us a favour and wire your money over?" The leader realised he couldn't get what he wanted if they threatened him with his life. "We'll be kind enough to send you on your merry way."
Kael did not immediately respond. His head hung low, appearing almost unresponsive and lifeless. But the men knew Kael was fine. Sure, he had a few broken ribs, but it was nothing to an awakened person.
A few days of rest and he would be as good as new. Of course, that was if he made it through the night.
"What if I say no?" Kael whispered in a low voice, his words barely echoing.
"What did you say?" The leader asked, stepping in close. "I didn't hear you the first time."
"I said..." Kael dragged the syllabus, slowly lifting his bloody face to look at the man before him. "What if I sat no...? Hehe, just kill me and get it over with."
"You really want-"
The leader began, his composed demeanour turning back into a scowl. However, before he could get the words out of his mouth, all four men turned their heads over to the junction, where they heard footsteps approaching.
"What's going on here?"
The thugs heard the man ask, gradually closing in on them. With most of the place dark, they could barely make out the physical appearance of the person approaching.
They, however, could tell it was a man, a tall one at that. With the frame of an athlete, it wasn't farfetched to say he was a hunter.
When he finally appeared under one of the street poles that was flickering with a bit of light, the thugs saw the stranger. Barely ten meters away from where they stood, the man's visage screamed strength and power.
Dressed in a brown leather jacket, the man had short, dark hair, sharp hazel eyes, and clean stubble. Aside from his impressive physique, he was also quite the looker.
Kael managed to turn his head over, taking in the calm features of the stranger, who looked at him and then at the thugs. "Why don't you let him go, and we can call this a night?"
"And you are...?" The boss stepped away from Kael, facing the stranger.
"No one of significance," The man calmly shrugged, not bothered by the mean looks he was receiving. "I'm not sure what's going on here, but that man has suffered enough, don't you agree?"
"Weren't you ever taught to mind your own business?" The leader replied, looking over the man's shoulder to see if anyone else was there.
What they feared was someone calling the authorities on them, not an idiot trying to play hero. The stranger was one man; they could take him.
"Don't worry, I'm alone." The stranger replied to the leader's gaze, smiling softly. "Back to what I said, let the man go."
"Don't bother..." Kael suddenly muttered, attracting everyone's attention. "Your actions, while commendable, will only get you into trouble. I'm not worth it."
"..."
The stranger furrowed his brows, surprised to hear what Kael said. Looking back at the thugs and then at the man facing him, the stranger closed his eyes for a moment, mulling over Kael's words.
"I hear you," the stranger replied, opening his eyes. "But my job won't allow me to overlook this nonsense."
"Your job?"
"I'm a detective," The stranger added, seeing the thugs flinch for a second. "Now you're worried? Where's your confidence now?"
The smirk at the end of his taunt irked the leader, making him frown. He looked over at his men, then at Kael, and finally back at the detective. Thinking for a few seconds, the leader tilted his head and asked,
"What shows that you're a detective? And why would someone like that be in a place like this?" It didn't make sense; something wasn't adding up.
"I have no reason to explain my whereabouts to thugs like you." The stranger retorted. "So, what is it going to be?"
"..."
"How about this?" After a moment of silence, the leader laid out his terms. "You walk away quietly, and you don't get beaten up."
They might be afraid of the authorities, but not someone who claimed to be. Even if there were a chance that the stranger was telling the truth, it still wouldn't change anything.
He provided no evidence to support his claims, and he was interfering in their business. The stranger had no proof that this was a crime, and no one bothered with these parts of the city.
Why would a detective be roaming around in these parts of the city at this hour? Moreover, violence among hunters was a common occurrence.
"Hmm..." The self-claimed detective smiled stiffly, having no words to say. Suddenly, however, he dashed forward, closing the barely ten-meter distance in a second.
Taken off guard, the leader tried to back away, but it was too late. The detective was agile, appearing before the thug and delivering a high kick that sent the leader flying.
"Boss...!"