?Chapter 843:


    “M-Mr. Cloud…” they stammered, their voices barely above a whisper.


    Stopping in front of them, the young man regarded them with a cold, unyielding stare. His voice cut through the air like a de. “And who, exactly, do you think you are, stirring up trouble in this town?”


    The gang leader, clearly desperate to save face, tried to muster some courage. “We… we work for Mr. Harrison! If you act like this, Mr. Harrison won’t take it lying down!”


    The young man’s lips curled into a scornful smirk. “Mr. Harrison, is it?” he echoed, his tone dripping with contempt. Without another word, his sword hissed from its sheath, catching the light with an icy gleam. A sickening momentter, the gang leader’s handy severed, blood spurting in a vivid arc as he writhed on the ground.


    “Ahh—” he howled, clutching his stump in agony.


    The young man’s gaze was as frosty as winter’s bite. “You dare bully a child and challenge me?” he said, his tone as sharp as his de. “Consider this a warning. Losing your hand is mercypared to what you deserve.”


    Warm, sticky blood sttered onto my clothes, and I stumbled back, my heart pounding like a drum. My hands shook, and though I managed to hold my ground, I couldn’t hide my unease.


    The young man turned his attention to me, one eyebrow arching in faint amusement. There was a flicker of interest in his eyes. “You’ve got guts,” he remarked.


    I swallowed hard, forcing myself to reply evenly, “I couldn’t just stand by and watch. What kind of men pick on a kid?”


    Without waiting for a response, I knelt to help the trembling child to his feet. Pulling a few coins from my wallet, I pressed them into his grubby little hand.


    “Don’t steal again,” I said gently, patting his shoulder. “Next time, you might not be so lucky.”


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    The boy sniffled, his wide, tear-filled eyes glistening with gratitude. “Thank you,” he murmured before clutching the coins tightly and stumbling off. I watched his small figure disappear down the street, a sigh of pity escaping my lips.


    The young man’s gaze lingered on the child’s retreating form. “You’re wasting your time,” he said tly. “That boy will be back to stealing the moment he’s broke.”


    I shrugged, offering a crooked smile. “Maybe. But doing something, even if it’s small, is better than standing by and doing nothing. At least for today, he won’t go hungry.”


    The young man let out a short, bitterugh, as though I’d told the most absurd joke. “How naive can you be?”


    His condescending tone sparked a fire in my chest. I met his piercing gaze head-on, refusing to back down. “You seem to be someone important around here. If that’s the case, tell me—how is this still happening under your watch? Isn’t it your job to make sure kids like him don’t end up in the streets in the first ce?”


    The young man seemed momentarily taken aback by my words, his body stiffening slightly.


    His face darkened as he clenched his jaw and said bitterly, “You have no idea what I’m up against.”


    I pressed my lips into a thin line. “You’re right, I don’t. But I can see you’re not a bad person, and I hope you’ll work to make sure things like this happen less often around here.”


    With that, I felt no urge to continue the conversation. Tugging gently at Jett’s sleeve, I turned to leave.


    We had barely taken a few steps when the young man’s voice rang out again behind us, softer this time, almost curious. “My name is Alden Cloud. What’s yours?”


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