Chapter 109 Melissa's Trouble
Two days later, Blackthorn Security Company.
"Captain, I'm asking for a day off for Lu Ze."
As soon as he entered the company, before he even had a chance to take off his coat, Klein rushed into the captain's office and said this to Dunn.
"Asking for leave? What happened to Lu Ze?"
Dunn put down his pipe and asked, astonished.
"Lu Ze is fine, it's not him, it's his sister."
Klein shook his head, "His sister, Cecilia, is the little girl we've all met. Because she's too pretty, it seems she's been targeted at school and is feeling sad, so she doesn't want to go to school."
However, it seemed a bit too coincidental that Lu Ze started asking for leave just as Klein discovered there was something wrong with him. But he had divined several times on the gray fog, and the results all showed that Lu Ze had not lost control, and everything around him was normal.
"Someone is bullying Cecilia?"
Dunn frowned, "Why didn't Lu Ze come to me?"
"Well, it doesn't seem to have reached the point of bullying yet. Lu Ze doesn't want to trouble the team with such matters," Klein sighed, "He has already asked the school for a week's leave for his sister and plans to stay home with her for a while, so he won't be coming in today."
"...I see, I understand."
After listening, Dunn nodded slightly, "Klein, you and Lu Ze are neighbors. Pay more attention to him. If his family has any difficulties, inform me promptly."
"Yes, Captain."
Klein thought, a little touched, that the Captain was truly a good leader, even though he didn't have much hair.
Bidding farewell to the Captain and leaving the office, he coincidentally thought of his own sister.
Because she liked machinery, Melissa attended the local Tingen Technical School. She usually had two good female friends, so she wouldn't be ostracized at school.
Speaking of which, she went to the shopping street with her friends today. A lady indeed needs to buy a good dress and some good jewelry before going to the theater. The money I gave her should be enough, right?
Standing in the sunlit company hall, this young Nighthawks suddenly felt a little worried.
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"What do you mean by this?!"
Lower Street, in front of a simple apartment building, Klein's sister Melissa was shouting angrily. Like Klein, she had black hair and brown eyes. Recently, with improved nutrition, her young face had gained a few touches of youthful vitality.
A middle-aged lady sat collapsed on the ground, her hair disheveled, her face covered in tear stains.
Beside Melissa stood two girls of the same age, her two friends, Serena and Elizabeth.
Elizabeth was a girl with naturally curly brown hair and a baby-fat face, while Serena's hair was wine-red. The two of them didn't look as brave; instead, they appeared somewhat frightened.
Because outside them, a circle of rude men surrounded them.
These men were shabbily dressed, with savage demeanors. They merely chuckled when Melissa scolded them, completely disregarding the three young girls. Clearly, they were all hooligans who loitered in the Lower Street.
"Little girl, I've already said it. Mrs. Rochelle owes me money, and it's only right that I get it from her."
The leading ruffian spat without grace, pointing to a bloodstain on his hand, "You wanted to stand up for her and even injured me. Alright, pay me the money this old hag owes us, plus my medical expenses, a total of 5 pounds. If you're unwilling, you three little girls can keep us company for some fun."
Hearing their leader say this, the group of ruffians immediately burst into laughter, their voices utterly unrestrained. Their gazes towards the three girls also became less decent, constantly scanning their young and vibrant bodies.
The residents of the nearby slum merely watched in fear, none daring to step forward to help the three delicate young girls.
Melissa couldn't help but grit her teeth, her heart filled with regret.
It was all my fault for being too reckless, putting myself and my friends in danger.
To save money and help her former neighbor, Melissa entrusted the making of her dress to Mrs. Rochelle, a neighbor in Lower Street. This lady was a struggling tailor but had excellent craftsmanship. Mrs. Rochelle had already successfully made a dress for Melissa once, and the result was very good.
So this time, to go to the performance, holding the money her brother gave her, she came again to ask this lady. Originally, she planned to go shopping with her two friends after ordering the goods, but unexpectedly, they encountered a group of hooligans who came to demand payment from Mrs. Rochelle.
Mrs. Rochelle didn't owe the hooligans any money at all, but they insisted on extorting her in a thuggish manner. Melissa, acting out of a sense of Justice, stepped forward to stop them, but accidentally injured the hand of the leader, which in turn led to him extorting her as well.
"Let us go, and don't bother Mrs. Rochelle again!"
Melissa tried to make her tone firm, "I warn you, my brother's company has connections with the Tingen City police department. If you don't want trouble, leave quickly!"
"Is that so? That's truly terrifying, hahahaha!"
Although Melissa was speaking the absolute truth, unfortunately, the hooligans didn't believe her at all. One by one, they made faces, pretending to be scared, and then burst into laughter.
They slowly tightened their circle, their smiles growing more unbridled. The three girls were forced to retreat continuously, and soon they backed into an empty alley. The exit was blocked, leaving only these hooligans and the three of them.
"Get lost, what do you want?!"
Melissa could feel her two friends trembling beside her. She was also very scared, but she still tried to muster her courage and reprimanded them, "We're calling the police! You'll all go to jail!"
"Little girl, let me tell you something good."
The leader said with a sneer, "This is Lower Street. It's normal for a few people to go missing every day. Even if the police come, they won't be that dedicated. If you're well-behaved, once we've had our fun, we might even be kind enough to let you off."
As he spoke, his hand, stained with wine and mud, reached out towards the girls' brightly colored dresses.
Klein.
Melissa clutched the amulet her brother had carved for her, her heart filled with despair.
"Melissa? What are you doing here?"
Just then, a somewhat familiar voice rang out from outside the alley.
Melissa couldn't help but look up. Over the shoulders of several hooligans, she saw the excessively beautiful face of Cecilia Longdaoer, her neighbor who lived on the same street.
Her brother and her own brother both worked at the same company, but because their schools were different, they rarely interacted, only occasionally greeting each other when they met in front of the Door. However, this neighbor's overly beautiful appearance left a deep impression on her.
Although she didn't know why Cecilia would appear in Lower Street, she was saved!
"Run! Call the police quickly! Save us!"
After realizing what was happening, Melissa immediately shouted loudly. If Cecilia was also caught, this only chance would truly be gone!
"Catch her."
The leader, seeing someone interrupt his good deed, and it being a delicate and stunningly beautiful girl, couldn't help but light up, and he called out to his subordinates.
Melissa watched in despair as Cecilia stood frozen in place, as if scared senseless, watching as several hooligans surrounded her.
However, in the very next second, those men suddenly all clutched their throats and collapsed to the ground.