Before Kai could respond, two burly men ran toward them, their faces twisted with anger.
"COME BACK HERE, YOU LITTLE THIEF!" they shouted in unison.
Kai let out a sharp tsk and, without hesitation, grabbed the trembling boy, yanking him to his side. With no time to spare, he darted into a shadowy alleyway, pushing through the darkness with quickened steps.
"Help me!!" the little beggar yelled, voice cracking as he struggled in Kai's grasp.
Jiang Wei, watching from a vantage point, took in the scene with sharp eyes. While encounters with street thugs and frantic chases were all too common here, something about the mysterious man with the thick veil—who had just snatched up a kid and disappeared into the shadows—felt off. It was reckless. Too out of place.
Without hesitation, Jiang Wei leapt out of the window and followed.
"Stop flinging around and shut up, kid," Kai huffed, running through the dark alley, his breath ragged but determined. "I'm just trying to help you."
The panicked boy, overwhelmed and breathless, didn't hear him. Fear had drowned out any sense of reason.
The two men were closing in fast. The alley narrowed, ending at a tall cement wall.
Kai skidded to a halt, gently setting the trembling boy down just as the men drew near.
The short one cracked his knuckles, sneering.
"No way for you to run now," he growled. "Hand over the little thief."
Kai's eyes flicked around, quickly assessing the surroundings.
"Look, I can pay for what he stole. Just tell me how much," Kai said, catching his breath behind the veil. His voice was steady, but exhaustion lingered in his eyes.
"That little brat's been stealing from us dozens of times," the short man spat. "Money's not gonna fix that."
"He's just a kid. Name your price," Kai insisted.
The tall man, muscles bulging and eyes blazing with rage, took a threatening step forward, fist clenched.
Kai pushed the boy aside gently. "Get out of here!"
With nowhere left to run, the boy curled into a corner, trembling.
Kai moved swiftly. In a blur, he grabbed the tall man's arm, twisting it and forcing him to the ground.
"Let's be civil about this," Kai said calmly despite the tension.
The short man, watching his comrade subdued, pulled a braided leather whip from his waist. He flicked it toward Kai.
Kai quickly stepped back as the whip cracked past him, its braided leather snaking through the air. With a sharp, sudden tug, it caught onto his veil and tore it away. In the dim moonlight, Kai was revealed—his long, golden hair cascading down his shoulders and his piercing blue eyes shimmering with intensity, almost surreal against the darkness of the alley.
A slow, mocking smile spread across the short man's face as he took in the sight. "Well, aren't you a beauty?" he drawled, voice dripping with flirtation. "Why don't you come with me instead?"
Fury flickered in Kai's gaze. "You really went and done it," he muttered, pulling a black towel from his sleeve and wrapping it around his lower face, leaving only his eyes visible.
"Fucking fools," Kai hissed, anger bubbling beneath his calm exterior.
In a split second, the two men were on the ground writhed in pain, their faces twisted in agony.
Kai stood protectively in front of the little beggar, who sat trembling in the corner, eyes wide with awe and excitement.
Breathing heavily, still wrapped in his dark towel, Kai looked down at the trembling boy and spoke softly but firmly, "You alright now? That was close."
The boy nodded hurriedly, eyes shining with a mixture of fear and admiration. "You... you're so cool! Like a hero! I've never seen anyone fight like that before!"
Kai chuckled softly, brushing dirt off his clothes. "Just trying to keep you safe. You shouldn't steal from others. If you need food, come find me."
The boy looked up at him, trembling but with a new sense of respect. "Thank you... I didn't mean for things to get so bad. I just wanted a little food..."
Kai's expression softened slightly, but he remained cautious. "You're lucky I came along. Next time, stay out of trouble, alright?"
The beggar hesitated before nodding again, a small smile breaking through his fear.
Suddenly, the boy blurted out, "Mister! Please, tell me who you are!"
"I'm Xi—" Kai about to respond, then stopped himself. He wanted to sound cool.
"I'm Luffy—the king of Pri—" he mumbled, then immediately cursed himself. That was even worse.
In the shadows, with his towel hiding most of his face, Kai blurted, "I am the leader of the Shadow of the Sun,"
Just as the words left Kai's mouth, Jiang Wei arrived, his eyes falling on the two men writhing on the ground, clutching their injuries. His eyes immediately shifted to the figure standing in front of the boy.
Kai sensed another presence and quickly backed away from the little beggar, glancing at the man who had just arrived. It was a bit dark, so he couldn't see Jiang Wei's face clearly.
They sent out another one that fast? No... he doesn't seem like them, he thought to himself.
"You okay, kid?" Jiang Wei asked gently.
Upon hearing this, Kai realized the little beggar was safe. He swiftly scaled the wall and vanished into the shadows—making his escape to avoid exposing himself further than he already had.
Jiang Wei's eyes followed the fleeing figure as he climbed atop the wall—golden hair shimmering beneath the moonlight—an almost otherworldly silhouette in the darkness.
He approached the boy cautiously.
"Who was that?" Jiang Wei asked, curiosity evident.
The boy, eyes wide with admiration, gushed, "He... he was so cool! Like a hero! He said he's the leader of Shadow of the Sun, and he kicked those guys' butts so fast—like lightning!"
Shadow of the Sun...? Jiang Wei repeated silently, puzzled. He had never heard of such a group or figure before.