At this point, it wasn’t a matter of social class, but of who seed more approachable.
And Baron, who looked like a vagrant, was undoubtedly the most approachable (i.e., easiest to bully) target.
Baron got up. The pregnant woman gave him an apologetic smile, but just as she was about to sit, soone else snatched the empty seat.
A young man, dressed in the fine, expensive clothes of a wealthy scion, sat down in the chair.
"Standing all this ti was killing . I was about to tell this vagrant to scram, but you saved the trouble. Not bad. Here’s a reward."
The young man casually fished a Silver Coin from his clothes and tossed it to the pregnant woman. "One Silver Coin for the seat. We good?"
The pregnant woman failed to catch it, and the Silver Coin clattered to the floor.
She struggled to bend down and retrieve it, but the little boy who had been bouncing around snatched it up first. He ran to his grandparents and announced proudly:
"Grandpa, I found a Silver Coin!"
The grandfather chuckled and ruffled the boy’s hair. "Attaboy, already learning how to earn money. It may only be a single Silver Coin, but hey, that’s enough for a first-class ticket... Hahaha..."
"Can’t bla if you don’t catch it. I paid my due," the wealthy young man sneered, leaning against the train window.
Baron’s brow furrowed. He was about to step in and demand justice for the woman, but she just gave an awkward smile. Cradling her child and her five-months-pregnant belly, she moved to another car.
The young man shot Baron a sidelong glance. "Thinking of playing the hero? The lady herself didn’t say a word. Besides, I paid. This is the city center. I’d advise you to watch your step."
A whistle blew. Baron didn’t bother tangling with the rich brat. Confirming it was his stop, he got off the train.
The young man raised an eyebrow. ’He’d expected the vagrant to argue, trying to squeeze so money out of him. That’s what all these paupers did.’
He hadn’t expected...
He glanced out the window, and his expression suddenly froze.
’Looks like this is my stop.’
He shot to his feet and tried to push through the crowd, only to be forced back by the stream of people boarding the train.
The doors were closing. In a mont of desperate inspiration, Piero yelled, "I’m infected with Mad Blood!"
The boarding passengers scattered, and Piero managed to get off the train.
Ignoring the chaos erupting behind him, he hurried off in a specific direction.
His master, Master Michael, had said that soti this afternoon, Demon Hunter L—the man he idolized—would be visiting the Alchemy Workshop.
Piero planned to ask him what exactly the "Periodic Table of Elents" was.
But he was only halfway there. As he rounded a corner, a figure blocked his path.
It was the vagrant from the train.
Piero grew wary and pulled out his Magic Staff.
"What do you want? This is the city center! I can summon the Guard Post with a single spell!"
He simultaneously began chanting a Magic Spell.
"It’s nothing, really. I was going to let it slide, but I’m in a foul mood. The more I thought about it, the more it pissed off. And what a coincidence, running into you..."
"Let’s just say that One Silver Coin bought you a lesson."
The vagrant tossed a Silver Coin at Piero. The instant it hit the ground, he was on him.
’So fast!’
Piero’s pupils dilated. He rolled away to dodge, finishing the last verse of his Spell as he moved.
His Magic Staff, charged by the incantation, had already gathered Spiritual Power. As the Curse Technique completed, the streetlights outside the alley began to flicker and tremble.
His [Magic Iron] spell would draw all tal within a ten-ter radius to him, ready for his control.
A glint flashed in Piero’s eyes. ’Just three more seconds,’ he thought, ’and all that tal will converge into a torrent of iron right here.’
But the next second, still mid-roll, he felt his back press against sothing yielding.
He looked up and saw the vagrant’s face—filthy and bloodstained, but unable to hide its striking handsoness.
"Sorry. No Magic here."
The vagrant gave him a small smile, his teeth startlingly white.
Then, he reached out, snapped Piero’s Magic Staff in two, and dragged him deeper into the alley for a thorough beating.
Fist t flesh.
Baron felt he had vented enough of his frustration. Just as he was about to leave, a squad of guards entered the alley.
Battered and bruised, Piero—who, for a Wizard, was surprisingly durable—spat out a mouthful of blood.
"The mont I saw you, I secretly used a Magic Card to call the Guard Post for help... You’re finished! Attacking a Wizard in Fude City is a huge cri! You can rot in jail!"
He cackled weakly.
But Baron paid him no mind, instead clapping the Guard Captain familiarly on the shoulder. "Sorry about grabbing your spear earlier today."
This Guard Captain happened to be the very one from the Hunting Competition, when Baron was accused by Allen’s parents of grabbing a spear to stab the body.
The Guard Captain replied with stern formality, "Not at all, sir. It was my honor to have you use it."
Piero, still sprawled on the ground, went pale. "Damn it! They’re in on it together!"
...
Having dealt with Piero, Baron felt his mood improve considerably. He made his way to Master Michael’s Alchemy Workshop.
An Alchemy Apprentice answered the door.
He looked Baron up and down with curiosity, assuming he was just another vagrant looking for a handout. As he started to close the door, Baron blocked it with his hand.
The apprentice’s expression changed, thinking the vagrant was about to force his way inside.
But the vagrant simply said, "Tell Master Michael that L has co to call."
"L..."
The Alchemy Apprentice repeated the na doubtfully, then his eyes lit up. "You’re the L from the newspapers? The one who solved the Mundra Blood Case, single-handedly bested the Glorious Knight Order at the Hunting Competition, and invented the [Periodic Table of Elents]? The legendary Demon Hunter, the ’Glory of Feinan,’ L?"
Baron thought, ’Have the papers gotten this sensational? I can understand the first few parts, but what the hell is this ’Glory of Feinan’ supposed to be?’
’Sounds like there ought to be a ’Sha of Feinan’ too... Don’t tell that’s King Feinan.’
Baron nodded. "If I’m the only L in Fude City."
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