"Alive, right... uh!"
The unfamiliar young man answered almost instinctively.
Then he froze.
He turned to look at Arthur's resigned expression, and his face immediately twisted into a vicious scowl.
"Get lost! I just want to take a few things. I don't want trouble!"
As he spoke, the young man pulled out a small knife-the blade was about as long as an index finger. Normally, it could be used to cut butter or peel apples, but it could hurt a person too. A strike to a vital spot would most likely be fatal.
The knife in his hand seemed to give the young man boundless courage. His earlier apprehension vanished, leaving nothing but viciousness.
A moment ago, he had only intended to drive Arthur away.
Now, he changed his mind.
He swung the knife and stabbed at Arthur.
Arthur sidestepped and stuck out his right foot.
His thrust missing its mark, the young man fell flat on his face, his head narrowly missing the shop door.
After taking two seconds to recover, he scrambled back up. He neither looked at the shop door right beside him nor chose to flee. Instead, he turned and roared at Arthur.
"Anyone who stops me from winning back my losses deserves to die!"
Then he charged at Arthur again.
"Compulsive gamblers are the ones who deserve to die!"
Arthur answered coldly and kicked him in the lower abdomen.
The young man instantly flew backward even faster than he had charged.
This time, he was not so lucky. The young stranger smashed through the door of Tate's Cane Shop and collapsed on the ground, groaning, with shards of glass embedded in his body.
Arthur ignored him completely and headed for the lounge at the back of the cane shop.
Only when he pushed open the