The journey from the Wool Orphanage to the Leaky Cauldron was not short; in fact, it could even be described as sowhat distant.
However, both Tom and Wade were strapped for cash.
So, they had no choice but to walk all the way to the district where the Leaky Cauldron was located.
By this ti, they had changed out of the orphanage's standard robes and put on worn-out jackets.
Tom also wore a sowhat oversized newsboy cap.
Of course, all of these were donated old clothes from people, as they didn't have money to buy new clothes.
"I think we should have asked Mrs. Cole for so money and take a cab or sothing," Tom said.
After walking for about an hour, Tom felt quite exhausted.
Wade glared at Tom. "Did you forget that we snuck out this morning? And, by the way, it was you who suggested we sneak out."
"Hmph... I just didn't feel like explaining so much to her," Tom said, bending down to rub his legs. "Besides, you didn't oppose it either."
"I didn't oppose it, and of course, I have my reasons," Wade replied, suddenly placing his hand on Tom's shoulder. "Don't look back, let's keep walking."
"What's wrong?" Tom asked, confused.
"Didn't you notice? Soone is following us," Wade said calmly.
"What? Who?"
"Don't look back, Tom... Let's walk this way," Wade said, suddenly turning into a small alley with Tom.
Tom, completely confused, followed Wade and hid around a corner of the alley.
"I said, who is following us?" Tom asked, puzzled.
"I guess it's a trafficker," Wade said. "After all, a good-looking boy like you could fetch a nice price."
Tom, annoyed, replied, "How do you know they're not after you? You're 'pretty' enough to have that old cat arrange a room for you!"
"Shh..." Wade signaled for silence.
Just then, a man and a woman hurriedly walked into the alley.
The man appeared tall and strong, dressed like a laborer. The woman, on the other hand, had her face tightly wrapped in a scarf.
"Where did they go?" the man asked in a gruff voice.
"I just saw them turn into here," the woman's voice sounded hoarse.
"This alley is a dead end. As long as they've co in, they must still be here!" The man walked deeper into the alley, his sharp, nacing eyes scanning the surroundings.
The woman followed closely behind him. She took out a dirty handkerchief and a brown glass bottle, sprinkling sothing from the bottle onto the handkerchief as she walked.
Tom quietly peeked through a gap in the wall at the man, his brow furrowing slightly.
"I say, just a little further back, there were so cops patrolling. Why don't we go to them? Even if we just walk past them, those two traffickers wouldn't dare follow us! Why do we have to go down this dead end?"
Wade looked at Tom in shock. "My God! Tom, when you're in danger, you want to go find the police?! Where did the Tom go who would knock soone's nose with a rusty poker at the slightest provocation?"
Tom glared at Wade angrily. "I just wasn't sure if I could control my magic on him. He's too strong... You don't think I'm afraid of him, do you?"
"Aww~ It's okay, I understand, Tom. After all, you're still young..." Wade patted Tom's shoulder, offering comfort.
"I told you! I'm not afraid of him at all!" Tom's neck veins were bulging.
"Ah, yes, yes, of course... How could the great Riddle be afraid of an ordinary man? So... you can handle the woman, and I'll take care of the man."
'Bastard!'
"Can't you understand what I'm saying?!"
Tom was about to explode with anger. Giving that woman to himself, and then Wade going after the man? Wasn't that just implying that he was afraid of the man?
"Tom, why are you so angry? I totally agree with what you said!" Wade replied.
"You! Bastard!"
The argunt between the two grew louder and soon caught the attention of the man and woman.
"Aha! You little brats, so this is where you've been hiding!" the man shouted excitedly.
This was a hidden dead-end alley, and the two little brats hiding here were practically walking into a trap.
"Heh, co with us, we'll take you sowhere nice to eat," the woman said with a smile, her eyes gleaming as she looked at Wade and Tom, as if they were two little gold nuggets.
Two good-looking boys, and no adults around! This was basically free money!
The greedy looks from the two of them made Tom feel disgusted and angry. The fury that had been building up from Wade's teasing earlier was now fully ignited.
"Get away from ! You two filthy scumbags!"
Tom erupted in rage and charged forward.
Boom!
The man and woman were sent flying, as if struck by an invisible cart, and instantly slamd into the ground!
Wade watched from behind, his eyes shining with excitent.
It was true—emotion was the key to amplifying the magic's power! All his effort in provoking Tom hadn't been in vain.
Tom, equally stunned, looked at his hands, seemingly shocked that he had just used such a powerful magic.
Then, he looked at Wade, his eyes gleaming with dangerous intent.
At that mont, the two had just rolled and landed. The woman fainted on the spot, while the man struggled to get up.
He stared at Tom in terror, then desperately tried to run toward the alley's entrance, as if a devil was chasing him.
But the next second, he froze completely! He stood motionless, like a statue.
Wade slowly stepped out from behind Tom.
"Don't get distracted during a fight, Tom."
Tom looked at the man, who had silently turned into a statue, his gaze clearing up again.
The confidence that had risen from his unexpected performance was imdiately suppressed by Wade.
'No... I still can't beat Wade... I can't turn on him yet!'
"We should go, we've already wasted too much ti," Tom urged.
"Wait, Tom, things aren't over yet," Wade said, walking over to the man.
He extended his right hand and snapped his fingers in front of the man. Instantly, the man's head was freed from the petrification.
However, his body remained frozen, still as a statue, unable to move!
"You... demon! Sir Demon! Spare ! Don't eat ! I'm not ready to die!" The man was crying and begging, tears streaming down his face.
Just a mont ago, Tom had sent him flying with magic, and now his body was frozen like a statue...
Such supernatural phenona, if they hadn't driven him mad, could only an he had quite a bit of courage.
"Shut up, or I'll keep you a statue for the rest of your life!" Wade said coldly.
The man imdiately shut his mouth. When he had been petrified earlier, he could still feel everything.
The sensation of being able to feel everything but unable to move at all was terrifying!
He didn't want to experience that again, let alone be stuck like that for the rest of his life!
Wade asked expressionlessly, "Tell , where's your hideout? Who's your boss? How many kids do you have? And... heh~ where is your money hidden?"
Tom suddenly understood. "So you want to rob them, huh!"
"I'm trying to save people. This is doing good deeds!" Wade replied.
"You're talking nonsense! If you wanted to save people, why ask about the money? You clearly want to rob them!" Tom retorted.
"Tom... Do you ever pay attention to the situation when you speak?"
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