Chapter 298: You Can Compensate Him   Chapter 298: You Can Compensate Him                              They looked like the ones you called when peace had already died.


    “Did I hear…”               The voice cut through the tension like a de through thick rope.


    “…that someone punched my little brother?”               The man at the front of the ck cloaked group spoke calmly, but there was iron in his tone.


    A cruel, quiet fire beneath every word.


    He did not shout.


    He did not need to.


    The ruffians who had just been licking their wounds snapped to attention like loyal dogs.


    They rushed to speak not minding the pain from their wounds.


    “Boss!


    He did it!”               “Yes sir!


    That’s the guy who hit your brother!”               They pointed without hesitation, straight at Abuchi.


    Their faces were smug, triumphant.


    They could already taste revenge.


    But the man in ck did not respond right away.


    He turned to Abuchi slowly… and stared.


    His gaze was sharp, calcting.


    His eyes took in everything, the bruises, the blood on his lip, the ripped clothes.


    But more than that… he saw the way Abuchi stood.


    Not hunched.


    Not scared.


    Not groveling.


    Tall.


    Unbent.


    Like a tree refusing to bow to the storm.


    His brows furrowed, just slightly.


    “No… he is not one of these street rats.”               He could tell at once.


    From the bearing… the confidence… the stillness in his eyes even after a fight like that.


    This was not just a spoiled rich kid.


    He carried himself like someone forged, not pampered.


    Someone dangerous.


    A man with weight.


    But why was someone like this here?


    Where were his bodyguards?


    His servants?


    Why was he even buying goods himself?


    It didn’t make sense.


    Still, the man raised a brow, tilting his head slightly.


    “You punched my little brother?” he asked, no anger, just curiosity.


    Behind him, his little brother was still sitting on the stool, blinking in confusion.


    He hadn’t even noticed his older brother had arrived.


    The punch had really rattled his world.


    Abuchi didn’t flinch.


    He looked the man straight in the eye and nodded once.


    “Yes.


    I did.”               The crowd held its breath.


    Karen tensed.


    Ekene shifted forward a step, ready to defend.


    Even John clenched his fists again.


    The man in ck raised a single hand and waved his own men back.


    Then he chuckled.


    A small, dryugh.


    “Interesting,” he said.


    His eyes narrowed, not with rage, but intrigue.


    “Not many people dare to admit it like that.”               He turned and gestured at his dazed brother.


    “This one… gets into fights almost every week.


    Always starting trouble, always crying for help when it turns around.”               He looked back at Abuchi.


    “And yet you, clearly outnumbered, didn’t run.


    Didn’t beg.


    You stood your ground.”               Abuchi said nothing.


    Another chuckle.


    “What’s your name?”               Abuchi paused, then answered, “Abuchi.”               The man nodded.


    “Abuchi, huh?”               The air was thick with silence.


    The leader of the approaching group stood calmly, arms behind his back, eyes locked on Abuchi.


    He spoke, his voice cool andposed, yetced with something heavier.


    “From the way you stand… the way you carry yourself,” he began slowly, scanning Abuchi up and down, “I can tell my brother must have done something to provoke you.”               He nced at his still dazed younger brother sitting slouched on a bench nearby, clearly nursing the memory of Abuchi’s fist.


    “My brother is usually all bark, no bite,” the man said with a sigh.


    “He talks too much, that’s always been his issue.


    I’ve told him countless times, watch your tongue.


    Words are more dangerous than fists.”               He turned back to Abuchi and gave a shallow nod.


    “You must’ve been offended.


    Most likely by something he said.”               Gasps rippled through the crowd.


    Was he… defending Abuchi?


    Was he not going to retaliate?


    Even Abuchi and his crew were taken aback.


    Karen blinked, John frowned, Ekene raised an eyebrow.


    The tension in their shoulders loosened just slightly, but only for a second.


    “I apologize,” the man continued, calm as still water.


    “I apologize on his behalf.”               The onlookers “..?”               Nnenna “…”               Ekene “…”               John “.??”               Karen “???”               Abuchi “…”               The entire street fell into stunned silence.


    People turned to one another, whispering in disbelief.


    Even the ruffians who had hoped to watch a beatdown were thrown off.


    An apology?


    From him?


    Was this some kind of trick?


    Abuchi didn’t move.


    He just stared at the man, reading his face, trying to decipher his motive.


    Could it be genuine?


    Or was this the calm before the storm?


    The man’s lips curled in a half smile.


    “Yes,” he said softly, as though reading their thoughts, “It’s sincere.”               But then… his eyes sharpened like des.


    The softness vanished.


    The smile faded.


    “…However,” he continued, tone dropping like thunder behind the clouds, “that doesn’t mean I won’t defend my family.”               A cold chill ran down Abuchi’s back.


    Here we go.


    “If I possess power, yet can’t protect the people closest to me… then what use is that power?”               His voice was firm now.


    Amanding tone that cut through the air.


    “Young man,” he said, stepping forward, “You have two options.”               “One…” He pointed toward Abuchi without flinching.


    “You stand still and let my brother punch you…ten times.


    With the same force you used on him.”               “Or…” he motioned, and a massive man beside him stepped forward, cracking his knuckles.


    “If my brother can’t deliver those punches himself, someone else will do it for him.”               Shock.


    Outrage.


    Disbelief.


    Karen took a sharp step forward, fists clenched.


    “What kind of twisted logic is that?!”               Ekene gritted his teeth.


    “So this is the kind of justice you believe in?”               Even the crowd murmured now.


    Some were amused.


    Others were unsettled.


    “Or…” the leader said smoothly, his voice sharp like a de in silk, interrupting their thoughts and words of rage “you canpensate him.”               He paused, letting the words settle like dust after a storm.


    “I heard you’re from a rich country,” he added with a knowing look, his eyes casually scanning Abuchi’s clean outfit, his smooth skin, the quiet but strong aura around him.


    ————————————–               Guys, the gifts have arrived!


    Who’s ready?


    This code can be redeemed by 10               different readers with 10 FPs/reader.


    The code number is               <ABDHY9X92C6XR5V5A> and you can find the redeem center at               Profile Redeem.


    This is one of NovelFire’s heart warming way of rewarding my hardwork for the past two months, and giving it all to you guys is one of my ways of saying none of this would be possible without your support.


    Thank you to NovelFire for being generous and awesome ??                And               Thank you for loving and supporting “They Hated Me In My First Life But Now I Have The Love System” ??               Happy Reading!


    I love you guys ??