Chapter 11: Tom, Don't You Think About the Setting Before You Speak?

The Wu Orphanage was not exactly close to the Broken Kettle Bar; in fact, it could be said to be rather far away. However, both Tom and Riddell were quite short on money. Thus, they had no choice but to walk all the way to the district where the Broken Kettle Bar was located.

By this time, they had changed out of the orphanage’s uniform robes and each put on a somewhat worn jacket. Tom also wore a slightly oversized newsboy cap. Of course, these were all donated old clothes from the orphanage—they had no money to buy new garments.

“I think maybe we should ask Mrs. Cole for some money and take a carriage or something,” Tom said, feeling quite exhausted after walking for over an hour.

Riddell shot Tom a sharp look. “Did you forget that we sneaked out this morning? And if I recall correctly, it was you who suggested we sneak out quietly.”

“Hmph… I just didn’t want to explain everything to her,” Tom said, bending over to rub his legs. “Besides, you didn’t object either, did you?”

“I didn’t object for a reason,” Riddell said, suddenly placing a hand on Tom’s shoulder. “Don’t look back. Let’s keep moving.”

“What’s wrong?” Tom asked, confused.

“Don’t you realize someone is following us?” Riddell said calmly.

“What? Who is it?”

“Don’t look back, Tom… We’re going this way.” Riddell said as he suddenly turned into a narrow alley.

Tom, puzzled, followed Riddell and hid around a corner of the alley.

“Who exactly is following us?” Tom asked suspiciously.

“I guess it’s human traffickers,” Riddell said. “After all, a boy as good-looking as you would fetch a good price.”

Tom glared angrily. “How do you know they’re not after you? You’re so ‘pretty’ you even have that old cat arranging your room!”

“Shush…” Riddell signaled for silence.

At that moment, a man and a woman hurried into the mouth of the alley. The man looked tall and strong, dressed like a laborer. The woman’s face was tightly wrapped in a scarf.

“Where did they go?” the man asked roughly.

“They just turned in here a moment ago,” the woman’s voice was hoarse.

“This alley is a dead-end. If they came in here, they have to still be inside!” The man walked in cautiously, his eyes scanning coldly.

The woman followed closely behind, pulling out a grimy handkerchief and a brown glass bottle, sprinkling some liquid from the bottle onto the handkerchief as they walked.

Tom stealthily glanced at the man through a crack in the wall and frowned.

“I say, there were police patrolling not far ahead just now. Why don’t we go to them? Even if we just walk past the police, those traffickers wouldn’t dare follow us! Why turn into this dead end?”

Riddell looked at Tom in shock. “Good heavens! Tom wants to seek the police when in danger? Since when did Tom, who would bash someone’s nose with a rusty crowbar at the slightest provocation, become so cautious?”

Tom glared angrily. “I’m just not sure if my magic can control him; he’s too strong… You don’t think I’m scared of him, do you?”

“It’s okay, I understand, Tom. You’re still young…” Riddell patted Tom’s shoulder comfortingly.

“I told you! I’m not afraid of him at all!” Tom’s neck veins bulged with anger.

“Oh yes, of course… How could the great Mr. Riddell be afraid of an ordinary man? So… you take care of that woman, and I’ll handle the man.”

“Bastard! Are you deaf? Giving me the woman and you take the man still means you’re scared of him!”

“Tom, why are you so angry? I’m fully agreeing with you!”

“You! Bastard!”

Their voices grew louder and soon attracted the attention of the man and woman.

“Aha! You little brats, so you’re hiding here!” the man exclaimed excitedly.

This was a secluded dead end; these two kids hiding here were practically walking into a trap.

“Hehe, come with us, I’ll take you to some good food,” the woman said with a smile, looking at Tom and Riddell as if they were two lumps of gold.

Two handsome boys, with no adults in sight! This was practically free money!

The greed in their eyes made Tom feel disgusted and furious. The anger that Riddell had stirred in him just moments ago suddenly erupted.

“Get lost! You filthy scum!” Tom shouted furiously as he charged forward.

“Boom!”

The man and woman were thrown back as if hit by an invisible carriage, landing several feet away.

Riddell watched from behind, eyes shining brightly.

Emotions really are the key to enhancing magical power! His efforts to provoke Tom had not been in vain.

Tom stared at his hands in surprise, shocked that he managed to wield such powerful magic.

Then he looked at Riddell, a dangerous gleam flickering in his eyes.

At that moment, the two had just rolled and landed; the woman fainted instantly, but the man struggled to get up.

He looked at Tom in terror and tried to flee toward the alley’s entrance as if a demon was chasing him.

But the next second, he froze in place—standing motionless like a statue.

Riddell slowly stepped out from behind Tom.

“Don’t lose focus in battle, Tom.”

Tom watched the man silently turn to stone and his gaze cleared again.

The confidence that had surged earlier from his extraordinary performance was now suppressed by Riddell.

‘No… I can’t beat Riddell yet… I can’t turn against him now!’

“We should go; we’ve wasted too much time,” Tom urged.

“Wait a moment, Tom, it’s not over yet,” Riddell said as he approached the man.

He snapped his fingers in front of the man’s face, and the man’s head instantly reverted from stone. However, his body remained as immobile as a statue.

“You… demon! Demon! Spare me! Don’t eat me! I don’t want to die!” the man sobbed, tears streaming down his face.

Just moments ago, Tom had blasted him away from a distance, and now his body was frozen like a statue…

Such a supernatural phenomenon would have driven anyone mad on the spot—he was brave not to have lost his mind.

“Shut up, or I’ll keep you a statue for life!” Riddell said coldly.

The man immediately shut his mouth. During his petrification, all his senses remained intact.

The sensation of feeling everything but being unable to move was terrifying beyond words!

He had no desire to endure that sensation again, let alone for a lifetime.

Riddell asked expressionlessly, “Tell me, where is your hideout? Who is the boss? How many children do you have? And… where do you hide your money?”

Tom suddenly understood. “So you want to rob robbers!”

“No, I’m here to save people—this is a good deed!”

“You’re talking nonsense! If you want to save people, why ask about the money? You just want to rob them!”

“Tom… don’t you pay attention to the occasion when you speak?”