YM778.TV Chapter 111 Trying To Convince
"Sigh!" Alex couldn\'t help but sigh as he witnessed a familiar phenomenon unfolding within the child\'s body.
A small lump of flesh, resembling a wriggling worm, was moving around near the child\'s navel. It emitted a steady stream of mana, attempting to assert control over the surrounding cells.
It aimed to mutate and alter the cells around the navel, completing its parasitic infection of the child. Once accomplished, its purpose would be fulfilled: to completely dominate the child.
Witnessing the sight, Alex didn\'t require further explanation to understand what was happening.
The worm-like thing was the same thing that transformed many warriors into monsters right before him. And it was trying to attach itself to the child. Once it accomplishes its goal, the child would become a ticking time bomb with the possibility of turning into a monster.
However, the energy within the child rebelled fiercely against the influx of energy from the worm. The clash ravaged the child\'s vitality and cells, subjecting him to unbearable torment in his fragile body.
Alex marvelled at the child\'s resilience in enduring such pain. A parasitic worm was devouring him from the inside, destroying his cells while striving to control them. Even Alex himself doubted whether he could bear such agony.
Now, he understood why the burlier of the two thugs had prevented the other from taking action against the child.
"It appears that the burly man was warned about attacking the child. Otherwise, he wouldn\'t protect the child from the thin guy."
"I believe the child is the result of one of their reckless experiments. After all, this is not the first encounter I\'ve had with this parasitic worm. However, it is the first time I\'ve seen a worm fail to fully take over the host body and its mana channels."
"Nevertheless, it doesn\'t necessarily mean the child is special. It might simply imply that he is unfortunate. The clash of mana inside his body is gradually destroying him from within. Although the worm tries its best to avoid destroying the host, fearing for its own survival, the child\'s safety remains uncertain."
"The current stalemate could worsen at any moment."
"If the situation persists, with neither the worm nor the child relenting, the child will continue to weaken until an unfortunate demise awaits him. No one would be capable of preventing it."
Alex speculated as he closely observed the child.
\'Helping the child appears to be an insurmountable challenge in the current scenario.\' Alex concluded after careful deliberation.
Realizing that hasty intervention could potentially escalate the danger for the child, Alex resolved to refrain from immediate action and maintain his composure.
He understood that exercising patience and waiting for an opportune moment, even if it meant enduring until the thugs departed, would be a wiser course of action.
"Let\'s depart for now," the burly man finally declared, effectively halting the thin man\'s assault on the child. The commanding tone in his voice left no room for argument, and the thin man complied without hesitation, aware that the burly man was not to be trifled with.
"Fine," the thin man grumbled, casting a disdainful glare at the street vendor who had been making his way toward the child.
"Don\'t waste your money on the kid anymore. Settle your debts before attempting any more tricks like this. Otherwise, both of you will meet your demise at our hands," the thin man warned, before turning away from the street vendor and his son.
Witnessing this scene, Alex finally felt a sense of relief. Although he refrained from intervening, his nerves had been taut with tension. He had been prepared to take drastic measures to protect the child if the situation had taken a turn for the worse.
Unlike the corrupted adults he had encountered, those willing to collaborate with the evil organisation and become hosts for the parasitic worm, the child before him was innocent. Incapable of making such a decision, he was a kind soul who should not be lost to the machinations of evil organisations.
After the duo left, heads poked out from other dilapidated houses nearby, trying to see what was happening outside. But none helped the father or the child. They left after taking a cursory glance.
The street vendor limped towards his son, who was still frozen in fear. He enveloped his child in a tight embrace, his heart heavy with the realisation that he couldn\'t shield his son from the clutches of the nefarious Spider Gang or his disease, no matter how much he desired to do so.
Tears cascaded down the street vendor\'s face, landing on the child\'s cheeks, rousing him from his state of shock. The child\'s legs gave way, weakened by the ordeal, as he reciprocated the embrace, tears of his own streaming down his pale, anaemic cheeks.
The street vendor\'s profound anguish at his inability to safeguard his child was a sentiment that resonated deeply within Alex. While he was not a parent and had not experienced comparable emotions from his own parents, he could discern the unwavering love and care that the street vendor held for his son.
—--
The child, completely drained of energy both physically and mentally, succumbed to unconsciousness after enduring the harrowing ordeal. The street vendor, despite his own injuries and weariness, had to lift the child\'s limp body and carry him back to their dilapidated dwelling, each step accompanied by a painful limp.
As he navigated the path with great effort, his mind raced with thoughts of desperation. Seeking ways to survive and acquire money rapidly, even if it meant resorting to theft or scams again. The burdens of life weighed heavily upon him, pushing him to consider drastic measures to secure the resources needed to provide for himself and his child.
The door closed behind the street vendor as he placed the child on a sleeping mat. He swiftly brought some rag-like quilt to cover the child.
Meanwhile, Alex stealthily made his way into the house. Unaware of the presence behind him, the street vendor tended to his child. And Alex didn\'t bother him either.
After a while, when the street vendor turned, he was shocked by an unknown individual wearing white robes and a mask.
"Who are you?" The street vendor\'s voice trembled with panic, his eyes filled with uncertainty.
"I am someone who may be able to assist you in escaping this hell you call life," Alex replied, his presence enshrouded in the white robes he wore.
"The white-robed man?" The street vendor\'s voice wavered, his doubt evident. The white-robed man was renowned throughout the city for battling against evil. He was also the heir of the primal chaos tribe. If this individual truly was the white-robed man, it would be unwise not to place trust in him, especially if he offered aid.
However, before placing his complete faith in this stranger, the street vendor needed to ascertain his true identity and the purpose behind his visit. He yearned for clarity and understanding, seeking reassurance amidst the uncertainties that surrounded him.
"Yes," Alex replied confirming the street vendor\'s doubt. However, he continued slashing the hope of the street vendor. "Obviously, I am the white-robed man. But not the same one you know of."
"Why are you here?" Cautiously, the man asked while cowering his child behind him.
"To help!"
"Why should I believe you?"
"Because I know what you are going through." To convince the street vendor, Alex began explaining.
"You are correct in your assessment to doubt me. But, without my assistance, your chances of escape are bleak. You find yourself trapped in the clutches of the Spider Gang, burdened by debt. Moreover, your child is unwell and afflicted by an unknown illness.
"And more importantly, the reason for all that is the people behind the Spider Gang, the real villains that I am after. They would not let you escape even if you slip through the hands of the spider gang. The same could be said for your child. After all, they are the reason for your child\'s ailment."
Alex casually revealed the presence of the evil organisation and the reason for the child\'s disease.
"I am after the evil organisation that works behind the Spide Gang. To get to them, I need your help. That is why I am willing to help you." Alex stated emotionlessly as if everything is a transaction to him.
The street vendor paused to think. He had heard rumours about the white-robed man. What he had done in Thira clearly showed that he was not a villain. He was challenging a mysterious organisation that was working behind the scene in the central continent.
But, he had never heard that there were two white-robed men. Can he actually trust the man before him? His thoughts were muddied by his worries preventing him from rationally considering everything.
Suddenly realisation dawned on him. "What do you mean by saying some people were the reason behind my son\'s illness." He asked with anger blazing in his eyes.