The One Who Controlled the Rope Snakes

In the dim alley, even a little further away, the area is already shrouded in shadow, just like at this corner.

Uraraka Shige stood between the three homeless men who had collapsed and fainted. In front of him was a woman in her early twenties dressed in a neat outfit. Her clothes were somewhat disheveled, but they had not yet been completely removed.

This woman was the same victim from before.

Her expression was somewhat fearful and incredulous, her eyes filled with joy, clarity, gratitude, a hint of inexplicable self-reproach, and lingering resentment.

She stared straight at Uraraka Shige, then suddenly realized what was happening. She hurriedly stood up, tidied her clothes slightly to make herself look a little neater, and then bowed deeply to Uraraka Shige.

"Thank you for saving me!"

Unlike the muffled groans she could only make when her mouth and nose were covered before, her voice, like Uraraka Shige's, was somewhat hoarse. However, while hoarse, it also possessed the full characteristics of a feminine voice, and even gave people a strange feeling that she was seducing them.

Uraraka Shige, waiting quietly for her to tidy her clothes before watching her bow and express her gratitude.

Uraraka Shige did not dodge the bow, because the three homeless men had already hinted at their intention to kill the victim, JS. Uraraka Shige's act of saving the victim was nothing short of a life-saving grace.

Furthermore, Uraraka Shige did not intend to say anything like "you're welcome".

Firstly, if you don't even allow others to express gratitude for saving your life, how lowly do you consider the name of the person you saved to be?

Secondly, Uraraka Shige didn't intend to waste time with the victim, engaging in endless polite back-and-forth. After all, his main reason for rescuing the victim was to take advantage of her kindness and get her dinner.

And if we have to include a third point... Uraraka Shige is currently extremely hungry... He can't wait to fill his stomach as soon as possible.

That's why, when faced with the victim's gratitude, Uraraka Shige chose a very straightforward and direct response.

Don't say thank you, be more practical.

The short sentence, consisting of only six words, caused the victim who was thanking Uraraka Shige to look up in astonishment, scrutinizing Uraraka Shige's face as if trying to determine whether Uraraka Shige had truly responded to her gratitude for saving her life.

She wondered if she was hallucinating.

However, her final observations led her to a disheartening realization: the man who had saved her wasn't the prince charming she'd read about in fairy tales, but merely an impolite child...

Yes, even though Uraraka Shige had saved her life, this kind of response to her gratitude was, in her eyes, proof of a lack of manners.

As she sized up Uraraka Shige also kept an eye on her, waiting for her next reaction, while inwardly considering whether he should directly tell the victim to treat him to dinner.

Therefore, when the victim he had saved showed a complex mix of gratitude and inexplicable disappointment, this change did not escape Uraraka Shige's notice.

This change also gave him a slightly unpleasant premonition.

And this less-than-pleasant premonition soon came true.

"Oh, um..."

The victim hesitated for a moment, then took a deep breath, seemingly making a decision. She looked at Uraraka Shige seriously, counted the coins in the small bag she had just picked up, took out two coins, and handed them to Uraraka Shige, saying:

"Little brother, thank you for saving your sister. Here's a thousand yen for you to buy some snacks and ice cream. But I have to go home soon, so I can't thank you any further~"

Uraraka Shige blinked, reached out and took the two 500-yen coins. Then she stared blankly as the victim bowed to her again, then quickly ran away as if avoiding some plague. At the same time, she felt a little amused and annoyed, and the irritability caused by hunger suddenly surged up, which took a long time to suppress.

"Shh... Never mind, 1000 yen is enough for a meal, and if you're careful with your spending, you can even have several more meals..."

Suppressing her agitation, Uraraka Shige carefully tossed the two coins in her palm, which were beginning to warm slightly, then nodded in satisfaction.

Although the woman he rescued treated him like a spoiled child, which annoyed him greatly, the thousand yen he received was actually more worthwhile than what he had initially planned to do with just dinner.

Uraraka Shige then carefully put the two coins into her pants pocket, then turned her gaze to the three homeless men lying on the ground, still unconscious. After hesitating for a moment, she finally reached out her sinful hands to the three homeless men.

A moment later, after thoroughly searching the three homeless men, Uraraka Shige Rizhong, who had also become covered in their unpleasant odor from not bathing for a long time, looked at the stained banknotes and a dozen coins in her hand, frowned and sighed.

"Sigh... 7,369 yen... I never thought doing a good deed would bring in money so quickly..."

"Pfft..."

Before Uraraka Shige could even put the looted money into his pocket, he suddenly heard a sneer behind him, which startled him. He instinctively turned around and looked around, but found nothing but darkness and shadows.

"Who's there! Show yourself!"

Uraraka Shige shouted nervously, and even though her voice was a little hoarse, it still echoed in the narrow alley.

Immediately following Uraraka Shige's tense shout, several slender, snake-like shadows suddenly began to writhe in the shadows beneath the outer wall of a house beside him, accompanied by a rustling sound as something spread and climbed on the ground.

"Oh dear... he's been spotted! This little brother is quite vigilant!"

A gentle and melodious voice rang out, unconsciously evoking images of beautiful things, yet it carried a hint of youthful innocence, making the owner of the voice seem not much older than Uraraka Shige.

However, the mocking and derisive tone that accompanied such a beautiful voice completely ruined it all.