Chapter 4 Low-key or Showy

Zeke and Brogan walked shoulder to shoulder along Nance Street. They were interrupted by a commotion coming from the roadside. Zeke glanced in that direction and noticed several vicious dogs cornering a dirty stray cat. The kitten appeared to be only a few months old, huddled in fear, as if it would be torn apart by the dogs at any moment.

Brogan pulled Zeke's arm. "Let's go, those dogs are just looking for food, preying on weak stray cats. It's nothing unusual."

Zeke sighed. "It's so similar to the human world, where the weak suffer from bullying. This cat seems to have lost its mother at a young age. It's pitiful. How about I take it in as a companion? After all, I live alone."

He stepped forward, and the dogs turned their heads towards him, growling threateningly with lowered heads. But with just a slight change in his gaze, all the dogs suddenly trembled and became motionless, even appearing to urinate out of fear.

Approaching closer, Zeke picked up the frightened kitten, gently stroking it. The cat remained unsettled despite his comforting gestures. The kitten was quite dirty. As Zeke walked, he started to clean it up, and upon closer inspection, he realized that the cat was actually very beautiful.

Covered in dirt and filth, the kitten's fur was originally snowy white, except for the reddish hue on its four paws. Its eyes were also peculiar, as if they contained the stars.

Carrying the cat, Zeke continued walking while caressing it. Gradually, the cat calmed down, lifting its head and expressing gratitude through its beautiful eyes, displaying a touch of human-like understanding.

Brogan kept observing Zeke attentively throughout their journey, his eyes filled with curiosity. Zeke, glancing around, surveyed the surroundings of Nance Street. He would be staying here for quite a while, at least until he regained his strength. Zeke noticed Brogan stealing glances at him and couldn't help but smile. "Are you admiring me?"

Scratching his head, Brogan replied, "Zeke... are you really Zeke?"

Zeke reached out and playfully put his arm around Brogan's neck, continuing to walk forward. With a smile, he said, "Should I disclose the fact that I carried you while you were peeking at Clay's mother bathing?"

Clay's mother was a widow. Raising her child on her own in a place like Fantasy City should have been difficult. However, no one dared to provoke her on Nance Street. Even the members of the Nine Cook Brothers treated her respectfully. Rumor had it that she was a reclusive cultivator seeking refuge here.

In any case, the matters of cultivators were distant from them. All they knew was that Clay's mother was exceptionally beautiful. Along Nance Street, no one compared to her. Her figure, waistline, perky buttocks, and the slightly seductive face made her look nothing like a woman who had given birth. Clay, at the age of four, had a childish voice and a porcelain-like beauty.

Hearing Zeke's words, Brogan burst into laughter. "You better not say anything, or if Mrs. Yates finds out I peeked at her bottom, she'll skin me alive. Everyone on Nance Street knows better than to mess with her."

Mrs. Yates was the nickname people on Nance Street gave to Clay's mother. At first glance, one would think she was an elderly woman, but in reality, her age shouldn't exceed twenty-five. Mrs. Yates owned a small tavern on Nance Street and had a good business due to her beauty and outgoing personality. However, everyone knew that her drinks were mostly diluted with water. Still, most people visited the tavern just to catch a glimpse of Mrs. Yates herself, and the quality of the drinks became secondary.

Zeke looked at the coins in his hand and said, "This money should be enough for us to have a good meal at Mrs. Yates' place. Let's quickly think about what we want to eat. We can't appear timid later."

Brogan pursed his lips and asked, "How can we pretend it's not our first time go to a tavern? And how can we look like we're well-off?"

Zeke looked at his own clothes and then at Brogan's clothes, feeling somewhat helpless. He said, "You're overthinking... I think it's better if we just observe what others are eating when we get there. Whatever everyone is eating must be delicious."

Brogan raised his thumb approvingly and said, "Getting knocked out once seems to have opened up your mind. But you really scared me earlier. You're my only friend on Nance Street, and if something happened to you, I'd be all alone."

Zeke felt touched and patted Brogan's shoulder, saying, "Don't worry, I'm not that easy to die. From today onwards, we're brothers. If you have a mouthful of food, I'll have half; if you have a piece of clothing, I'll have half too. Rain or shine, we'll be great brothers for the rest of our lives."

Brogan nodded vigorously and then realized, "Your words sound so awkward."

Zeke chuckled, "Oh come on, don't nitpick. We're not scholars. As long as the meaning is clear, it's good enough."

The two of them arrived at one end of Nance Street. The small shop at the corner was Mrs. Yates', without a name, but a flag hung at the entrance with the word "win" . Brogan could read, but he couldn't discern anything special about the word. However, he felt that the word looked domineering.

Upon reaching the entrance of the tavern, Zeke couldn't help but exclaim at the word. The previous Zeke wouldn't have been able to see anything extraordinary about it, but now things were different. There was a fierce and dominant aura within the word, as if it were alive and could fly off the flag at any moment.

Brogan didn't believe Zeke could judge the quality of word and said, "You can't tell if it's good or bad!"

Zeke became serious and said, "I can't tell if it's a good or bad fart, but I can only smell it."

Brogan was momentarily stunned, then burst into laughter. He realized that today's Zeke had a particularly interesting way of speaking, no longer the submissive and indecisive person he used to be. In Brogan's eyes, the old Zeke would always follow others without expressing his own opinions. He was like a ball being kicked around.

Zeke pushed aside the curtain and walked in, while Brogan, feeling nervous for the first time in such a tavern, walked behind cautiously. Today, their roles were reversed.

After entering, Zeke looked around and saw that it wasn't yet mealtime, so there weren't many people. Three tables were occupied, and everyone was staring straight ahead at Mrs. Yates behind the counter. Mrs. Yates was wearing a dark purple dress that, though not revealing, accentuated her alluring figure.

Especially her towering bosom, which was like a lamp, attracting the attention of all the customers.

When Mrs. Yates heard someone enter, she initially paused, then bent down and squinted to speak, "Two young gentlemen, there is no candy here, only alcohol."

Her gaze was now more drawn to the kitten that Zeke had already cleaned up in his arms. She couldn't help but exclaim, "What a beautiful cat, it doesn't seem ordinary."

When she spoke, it seemed as if she cared more about the cat than Zeke and Brogan.

Brogan, usually confident at school, trembled at the sight of Mrs. Yates. He instinctively hid behind Zeke. Zeke, on the other hand, didn't have any particular reaction and appeared calm. However, his eyes couldn't help but scan Mrs. Yates' bosom, glancing back and forth.

Mrs. Yates had encountered many men who coveted her beauty, but it was the first time she saw such a boy with such lecherous eyes. The chubby guy behind Zeke clearly had thieving intentions but lacked the courage. On the other hand, the seemingly frail and thin boy in front of her didn't look like a child at all. His gaze was more akin to that of an adult who had experienced numerous hardships. Mrs. Yates was slightly taken aback by this observation. She initially thought Zeke was a little pervert with wandering eyes, but upon closer inspection, she realized that there was not a hint of wickedness in his eyes.

How could this young man possess such eyes?

While Mrs. Yates was momentarily lost in thought, Brogan thought he was being looked down upon and stretched his neck from behind Zeke, saying, "We're not here to buy candy! We've stopped eating candy a long time ago! We're here to drink... yes, we're here to drink! Just bring out your best drinks, don't think we young ones can't handle it."

Mrs. Yates squinted her eyes, her beautiful eyes forming crescent moons. "Drinking sounds good. Do you have money?"

Brogan puffed out his chest and pointed towards Zeke. "He does!"

Zeke smiled and said, "Hello, Mrs. Yates. We're here for meat, but let's skip the alcohol."

Mrs. Yates, with a knowing look that she already knew they wouldn't dare to drink, glanced at Brogan and rested her chin on her hand, leaning forward on the counter. "I thought two little gentlemen had arrived, turns out they're just two little gluttons. Are you stealing money from home to buy meat? Be careful, your parents might find out and give you a good scolding."

Zeke responded, "Look at us, do we look like we can steal money from home? This money was a reward from Mr. Bernard Cook for our good performance at school."

Mrs. Yates exclaimed, "Well, you make a valid point. Judging by your appearance, you don't seem to come from a wealthy family. Since that's the case, be frugal. After you've eaten your fill, remember to take the remaining money back home to support your parents. You both seem to be in your teens. Perhaps it's just extreme cravings that brought you here."

"No!" Brogan shouted loudly as if feeling insulted. "We're here to drink!"

Mrs. Yates glanced at Brogan but didn't say anything else. Brogan felt disrespected and his chest heaved as he breathed heavily. Zeke pulled him discreetly and sat down at a table near the window, lowering his voice as he said, "Why are you arguing with adults when you're just a child..."

Brogan slammed the table, "I want to drink!"

Zeke turned to Mrs. Yates and smiled apologetically, "Could you bring us a bottle of wine, please?"

Again, Brogan slammed the table, "One bottle is not enough! I want ten!"

Mrs. Yates laughed, as beautiful as blossoming flowers. She swayed her waist as she walked into the kitchen. Soon, she returned carrying a large plate of cooked beef and a bottle of wine. Placing them on the table, she said, "Obtaining this meat was not easy, so no bargaining. This bottle is on the house. You two are so handsome; when you grow up, you'll surely captivate everyone."

Brogan's face grew even redder, intoxicated before even taking a sip. He grabbed the bottle and was about to pour it directly into his mouth but then thought it would be impolite to do so. Instead, he poured a glass for Zeke and lifted the bottle to take a big gulp himself. Choking a little from the first sip, he coughed a few times, trying to impress Mrs. Yates, "Great wine!"

Zeke thought to himself that this guy would definitely fall prey to women in the future; he seemed utterly defenseless against pretty ladies. Smiling, Zeke raised his glass, took a sip, and then his expression changed, "This... truly exceptional!"

Mrs. Yates, who had been walking away, couldn't help but pause and turn back to look at Zeke, asking, "What do you mean?"

Zeke earnestly replied, "The alcohol was added to the water. Most taverns wouldn't be so generous!"

Mrs. Yates glared at him fiercely, "Do you believe that I could twist your ears off right now, cook them, and sell them?"

Zeke smiled, "Could you sell them to me at a lower price, please..."

Mrs. Yates felt that this young man is unique, and his way of speaking didn't resemble that of a child. Moreover, she sensed an extraordinary power hidden within him. Subconsciously, she took another glance at Zeke. Just then, a commotion erupted outside as Darby, with one ear missing, led a group of seventeen or eighteen-year-olds running towards them.

"Boss, it's the kid sitting by the window who cut off my ear! He even said the Bully Association is just a bunch of kids playing make-believe, disrespecting you!"

Zeke lifted his wine glass and took another sip, squinting his eyes as he looked outside.

It seemed that surviving peacefully in this insignificant place wouldn't be easy. Originally planning to recuperate quietly and unnoticed, it appeared that it wouldn't work... If he wanted peace, he would have to confront these ruffians openly, so they wouldn't dare to provoke him again.