Chapter 163: [162] Blunt fangs (2)
Ren looked at the boy in front of him, then gently took the small hand and guided him to sit on an empty wooden barrel lying in the corner of the narrow alley. The air was filled with dampness and a thin layer of dust, but the boy seemed indifferent. His eyes still carried tension and guilt.
"Listen, kid," Ren began in a calm but firm tone, "no matter the reason, stealing is still not the right thing to do. Even if your intention is to help someone else."
The boy bit his lip, then looked down in silence. "... But my brother really needed that bread," he mumbled, barely audible.
Ren stared at the boy’s thin frame, noting how the oversized shirt hung loosely on his shoulders, revealing sharp shoulder blades. At that moment, his stomach let out a quiet growl—proof he hadn’t eaten in a while either.
"If you ask me..." Ren leaned in and spoke more gently, "the person who needs a piece of bread the most right now... is you."
The boy clenched his fists. "You don’t know anything..."
Ren raised an eyebrow, not offended in the slightest. "Okay, you’re right. I don’t know anything about your situation. But I can see. And what I see is a starving, skinny kid trying to save someone... while ignoring himself."
He stood slowly, then extended his hand. "So, why don’t you start by telling me? Who knows, maybe I can do something to help."
The boy stayed silent, staring at the hand for a moment. But eventually, he nodded slowly and accepted Ren’s offer.
"Alright," said Ren with a faint smile. "If you’re not ready to talk yet, that’s fine. But at the very least, let me give you a decent meal first."
They walked out of the narrow alley and headed toward the market district of Eks. Though the city was notorious for being harsh and discriminatory toward minority races, the market remained the most neutral place—because money talked there. Ren bought various food items: bread, dried meat, some fresh vegetables, and clean water. He also slipped two shiny red apples into his bag.
About fifteen minutes later, they walked back toward the original alley. Ren glanced over his shoulder to make sure the boy was still following him. The child looked confused, as if he still couldn’t believe kindness could come without a catch.