Gun Shop

Sally's surprised reaction was clearly because of the word "friend."

She had grown up lonely, bullied year-round. Even after entering an aristocratic school like St. Thorn High School, she had been disliked by nearly every student and given the nickname "Unlucky Sally."

Friends were a luxury to Sally.

Who would have thought that at the very start of the school year, she would make a new friend—her only friend.

Though strictly speaking, that friend was her junior.

Yet from their first encounter to that heart-stopping scene just now, no one would have thought they were senior and junior. Sally was the one being completely protected.

Everything Sally had experienced today was something she had never felt in all her years before.

Even now, she still felt as though she were floating in midair, unable to truly touch the ground. She hid her excitement and joy very well.

If possible, she even wished it could continue. This was the brightest moment she had ever experienced in her dull, miserable life.

But unfortunately, before she could savor it for more than a few seconds, a rough, hoarse voice interrupted her thoughts.

"Sally, is that you?"

"What are you doing outside so late? Get your ass home already."

The voice came from the second floor. It was distinctive, accompanied by the clattering sound of footsteps on a wooden floor, immediately conjuring an image of a plump woman walking over with a dark expression.

Sally jumped in fright, then quickly came to her senses and shouted, "Mom, it's me! I'm coming up right away!"

After shouting that, she anxiously said to Tang Qi, "Cross this street, then go past Central Avenue, and you'll see the bus stop. Don't stay here too long. There are a lot of dangers around here."

"I'm going home. See you tomorrow."

After saying that, Sally seemed worried that her mother would lean out the window and spot Tang Qi downstairs. Without waiting for a response, she turned, took out her key, opened the heavy iron gate, and deliberately stomped up the stairs with loud thudding footsteps.

The abrupt farewell made Tang Qi shake his head, but he said nothing. He turned and followed Sally's directions toward the bus stop.

Although he now possessed an offensive method like the Chaga Combat Technique, that did not change the fact that Tang Qi was still a high school student with a weak physique. He could indeed handle unarmed hoodlums.

But if he came up against vicious gangsters, Tang Qi would be in trouble.

To avoid becoming another corpse on the street, Tang Qi needed to leave quickly.

But just as he turned around, an incredibly strange feeling suddenly arose. The hairs on his arms immediately stood on end.

"Hm?"

"Was I being watched? Targeted?"

Tang Qi turned around in surprise and looked toward the end of the street in another direction.

That was the way Tang Qi and Sally had come from.

But when he looked over, apart from swaying streetlights, deserted streets, and darkness untouched by the lights, he could see nothing else.

He focused on the Special Interface, but found nothing unusual there either.

At that moment, the strange sensation of being watched vanished as well.

Tang Qi froze for an instant, then turned and left Without Hesitation.

After taking a few steps, Tang Qi unconsciously employed the techniques of Combat Techniques. Like an agile cheetah, he silently and swiftly crossed several streets and arrived at a stop on Central Avenue.

The lights of several late-night buses arriving at once made Tang Qi relax slightly.

After identifying the buses corresponding to the many destinations listed at the stop, Tang Qi quickly chose one. Once aboard, before the conductor could speak, he took out six Weller copper coins and handed them over. "Midtown Avenue!"

Copper coins were the most basic currency in the Divine Eagle Federation. A single coin was called a Weller; one hundred Weller equaled one Nal silver coin, and above that came Divine Eagle Gold Coins, called Divine Grace. The name was clearly a remnant of church influence.

Of course, gold coins were not made entirely of gold. They were merely alloys mixed with a tiny amount of gold and other metals.

Tang Qi had sold the inheritance and obtained a large sum of Divine Eagle Gold Coins.

Compared to others his age, Tang Qi was extremely wealthy.

Originally, Tang Qi had planned to visit several destinations he had already picked out during the weekend and buy the things he wanted.

But after what had just happened, he changed his mind.

After night fell, the bus moved quickly. Just a few minutes later, it left the Bronx District. With a screech, Tang Qi had arrived at his destination.

Pushing open the door and stepping down, Tang Qi saw a broad avenue.

Crisscrossing streets stretched in every direction. Bright streetlights stood everywhere, signs flashed in every color, modern high-rises towered overhead, and beautiful streets were lined with a dazzling array of shops.

If not for the Hazy Purple Moon still hanging in the sky, the sight would almost have made Tang Qi think he had Returned To his hometown.

"Whew."

He let out a long breath, steadied himself, and did not linger over the prosperity of this foreign world. After getting his bearings, he drilled into a street that did not look particularly bustling.

Compared with the other streets, the lights here were colder, and there were fewer shops.

But the items displayed in every shop were more or less the same.

Weapons!

More precisely, guns.

This was Gun Street in Messer City.

Although the Gun Control Wave kept sweeping through the Divine Eagle Federation, progress remained difficult Even If in more progressive states, let alone a stubbornly conservative place like Mihuang State.

The region's tough folkways were no exaggeration. Steel and industry were the mainstream here.

If that had not been the case, Tang Qi's parents would not have chosen to establish Steel Company in Messer City.

At that moment, Tang Qi was like a curious high school student, passing one gun shop after another, utterly captivated by the many firearms inside.

But he only looked from outside. Tang Qi did not enter any of the shops.

It was not that he did not want to.

He simply could not.

Although banning guns was unrealistic in the Divine Eagle Federation, all Federation residents supported the rule that anyone under eighteen could not own a firearm.

So although Tang Qi desperately wanted and needed a gun,

the age of this body limited him.

His parents' inheritance must have included firearms, but they had not appeared in Tang Qi's memories at all. Clearly, after the accident, they had been directly confiscated by the Messer City Government.

Even knowing this, Tang Qi still came here.

The reason was simple. Although he could not directly defy that rule, there were ways around it.

For example, At This Moment, Tang Qi suddenly stopped in front of a somewhat unusual gun shop.

"Ding-a-ling."

Tang Qi pushed open the door and entered. Looking up, he saw bulletproof glass display cases arranged in the center and along both sides of the store. Inside were all kinds of firearms, from pistols to submachine guns. A handful of customers were slowly walking around, apparently making their selections.

"Welcome... Kid, this isn't a place you should be. You're definitely not old enough to own a gun. Go home."

A White Burly Shop Owner walked over. He had just begun to welcome Tang Qi, but immediately changed his words upon seeing him.

The few customers browsing the shop also noticed Tang Qi. One Fat Black Man laughed outright. "Hey, Richie, don't be so cold. Maybe this kid just wants to personally experience the charm of firearms. Look at that perfect shape, that irresistible feel. Oh, she's more charming than my wife."

The Fat Black Man stroked an extravagantly designed black pistol in his hand as he spoke in a tone that gave people goosebumps.

The other customers all smiled.

The White Burly Shop Owner was amused as well. Turning back, he mocked, "Wake up, Freeman. Your wife ran off with a soap salesman ages ago. Either get those disgusting fat paws of yours off that thing, or buy that Black Falcon and take her home. Maybe she can't replace your wife, but if another soap salesman comes knocking, you can blow his brains out with one shot."

"Hahaha..."

Other people's suffering was their own joy. The customers in the shop all burst into laughter.

Amid the laughter, the Shop Owner turned back. His serious expression had softened, but his decision had not changed. He still refused. "Listen, kid. Until you turn eighteen, neither this place nor Red Oriole Street is somewhere you can come. Go home."

Being treated as a thrill-seeking teenager did not anger Tang Qi, nor did he blush and argue.

He merely gave a "shy" smile. Instead of looking at the cold firearms inside the bulletproof display cases, he pointed at the various old and worn guns hanging on all four walls.

"You misunderstand, sir. I'm not here to buy a gun. I'm here to buy my Father a birthday present."

"He likes those things."

Tang Qi spoke with a sincere expression.