"We don't have any money..." Tommy backed away step by step, facing the thugs as he tried to placate these poor yet dangerous pieces of trash with words.
"No money? Siracusa doesn't care whether you have money or not." The thug leader spoke theatrically, and his lackeys burst into laughter. "If you have money, hand it over. If you don't, be ready to hand over yourselves. Hahaha..."
The thugs closed in, pressing closer and closer.
Tommy realized that even if he really had money to give them, these thugs would still seize them and sell them to traffickers...
Yesterday's questioning had merely been a test by the gang, to see whether the destitute pair had anyone backing them.
Now that they saw Tommy and his sister swallowing their anger and living alongside a stray dog, these thugs, long accustomed to bullying the weak and fearing the strong, understood everything.
As for the police and the law?
The nights in this new city had no use for such things. Everyone knew the police were a bunch of cowards who could not muster their courage without sunlight. Expecting them to uphold justice was less realistic than dreaming of joining Grey Hall, the center of Siracusa's power, tomorrow.
"I'd advise you not to resist. It won't look pretty if you get hurt." The thug threatened them as he drew a short club. Its tip was wrapped in rubber to keep it from directly beating someone to death. Corpses were worthless.
Tommy bit his lip, sweat beading on his forehead. At that moment, he had no idea what he could do to get himself and his sister out of this predicament.
As the thugs' malice drew nearer, the lame yellow dog let out a low growl and charged forward. It clamped its jaws around