1 Too lovable

Tapper walked along side the large thug after leading him away from Ink. This way, they can get meat buns as well as save up the money for their future school dreams.

Meanwhile, he was busy showing unlimited amounts of enthusiasm for the coolness and dashing thug walking next to him.

The thug was busy bragging.

".... the cop caught my leg with a chain! I thought I be done for. But! Heh. It was no match for the way I spun. Look Taps… spin like this and you'll get out of their bindings! Hahaha!"

"Whoa! I never knew that! Did anybody else do it?"

"Nope. Just me! Hahaha! Oh right. There was this other time…"

If Tapper remembered clearly, the thug name was the 'Buster' George from the North River Road gang. He was especially known for being brutal towards cops. Liked to 'bust their brains' as he called it.

But currently, the 'Buster' was blabbing all his accomplishments thanks to a little nudge from Tapper's honey like words. He has always been very good at sucking up to others.

It was a necessary skill to like in the dark and dangerous AlleyWays of Market Area in Spectrum City.

Tapper was able to make his words sweet in the most unnoticeable way. He didn't sound like a fake flatterer but was more or less like an admirer of truth.

That was why he was often well liked by even brutal thugs such as George.

Once, he even succeeded in earning a pat on the head from the Angler House Gang's most dangerous assassin, Nightshade, thanks to his agile tongue.

Nightshade even patted his sister's head after that before leaving in the same cold and silent manner that he appeared in. As if to demonstrate his smooth stealth skills that Tapper had complemented.

George suddenly rounded a street corner. The meat bun stand was a bit in the front. Waft of the delicious smell made Tapper take in a deep breath.

'Ah. My precious…'

Tapper still smiled and spewed out nonsense flattery but his mind had already begun to zone out George's latest cop bashing story. He weaved his eyes through the crowd searching for dangers (and possible fat wallets).

But George had suddenly paused his story telling.

His eyes were on the figure of a man some distance in front of them.

The man that had caught the attention of the Buster had his back turned towards George and Tapper and was busy counting out the money for the toy teddy in his hands. He was an everyday typical Market Area shopper.

But Tapper had been used to memorizing the postures and statutes of people.

He was a thief and pickpocket. It was crucial to understand what a certain posture or body language said about a person.

He was certain that this man was a cop of a sort. And not just any cop. The man was a very very dangerous cop.

Tapper's mind began to run nonstop.

'Crap.

' It seems that George is in his mood to demonstrate his nickname! This is not good. He can't beat that man.'

Simultaneously, George let out a low chuckle.

"...This is the scent of a cop….. my my… a plainclothes cop!"

It was spoken in a low voice but Tapper heard that too.

'Ah. Double crap.

'It seems that I might be dragged into trouble!'

Slowly, while George wasn't paying attention, Tapper behaved as if he didn't notice that George had paused and walked as naturally as he could into the flow of the crowd.

George had already gone after the mysterious plainclothes cop.

But he suddenly paused and dragged the forward strolling Tapper along with him.

Tapper gasped as his collar suddenly tightened around his neck as the cruel face of the Buster suddenly came into view.

"Heheheh…

"Tapper… you were interested in my busting skills right?"

George licked his lips and in a somewhat crazed smile, he said

"Lemme give you a live example."

With that, he picked up the much smaller Tapper. Tucked him under his arm and he swaggered towards the man.

Tapper was stunned.

How did the situation change so quickly?

He didn't want to get in trouble with either of them. Especially the weird cop.

But he couldn't exactly fight back against the thug either. The size difference was much too large.

After struggling a bit in a futile manner, Tapper gave up.

'I might as well just bolt when he is distracted.'

George wrapped his other big arm around the plainclothes cop and began to pull him into one of the side alleys.

The man didn't resist either.

He let himself be pulled.

Both of them had completely ignored the existence of poor Tapper stuck in the Buster's other armpit.

They reached a corner where the passersby could no longer hear or see them.

"Well well well… my my… you sure look confident!" George sneered.

The man unflinchingly faced the thug that was gripping his shoulder from behind and said,

"Please unhand me. I am just an ordinary shopper. We have no enmity."

Tapper continued playing dead but inwardly rolled his eyes.

'I aM juSt An oRdiNaRY sHoPPer, he says!'

The man's voice was calm like the eye of a storm. This made the 'dead' Tapper instantly have cold sweat pour down his back.

Yet George was completely oblivious. He continued to threaten his victim.

"You don't look ordinary to me.

"In fact you stink!

"How about you offer me something for stinking up the street?"

"Please unhand me. I believe I have somewhere to be at. And this is considered extortion. It is against the law."

"Ooooh!

"Against the law is it?" George mocked and violently shoved the man forward.

However, contrary to George's expectations, the man was like an unmovable boulder. He neither stumbled nor moved.

The man just patted his clothes and ignored George.

He walked around him.

George had been momentarily stumped at how the man was unaffected by his shove. It had cooled his violent desires. But the man's act of complete disregard of him has rekindled his rage.

"You!" George roared and ran forward to punch the man.

The arm gripping Tapper loosened and he dropped onto the floor. He hit his head and lost track of the directions for a moment.

But, when Tapper looked up again...

The man had blocked the Buster's infamous cop busting punch.

George had also realized that the cop might not have been so easy to deal with as he had thought. He jumped backwards.

But the hand that blocked his fist simply tightened and refused to let go.

Alarmed, George poured every ounce of his strength into breaking free.

It was no use.

"Well… it's my one day of celebration. Why must I start my new job so early?"

The man reached into his pocket without letting go of the struggling George.

He pulled out a cigarette pack and took out a cigarette.

He put one in his mouth.

"Sigh…."

Then he lit it up.

The brief flame from the lighter momentarily brightened the surroundings. It made the dark alley seem almost warm.

But Tapper, who was gasping for breath on the ground had stopped breathing for a moment when he saw the face of the person George had grabbed.

Recently one of the news that Ink had grabbed while she was scouting was that a new police chief had come into office.

Ink even pointed out the face of the man on one of the bulletins.

That was the reason that Tapper had instantly recognized the face of the man, was that of the new chief!

Wayde Tourey from the Tourey Family!

'Triple crap!

'There's no way I can run now.

' The only possible paths are; I am brought to jail, an orphanage, or I get killed.

'Quadruple crap! This means that the chances I can return to Ink are next to nothing.'

Tapper's mind spun with the speed of lightning. He knew that if Wayde kills George, then the possibility that he kills Tapper is also highly likely.

AlleyWays thugs and denizens were unregistered. They were considered outlaws.

Killing them is perfectly legal!

'It's best that I make him too bothered to consider taking me to jail and just leave.

'But what if it triggers killing intent?

' Haaahh… so the path left to me… can only be the orphanage?

'And I don't know what comes after quadruple!

'Five times crap!'

Tapper cursed. He had decided on a plan.

He will convince Chief Tourey with his harmless lovable self.

But if that doesn't work...

Tapper reached his hands into his pocket. In it was a pack of fishing wire.

Fishing wire was tough yet hard to see. It was one of Tapper's greatest weapons as all somewhat usable swords and guns all belonged to big gangs and mafias.

He often used it to 'fish'.

Tapper lay down in a seemingly non threatening manner that maximized launching power.

It was something Ink had invented. She could do it way better than he can.

George stopped tugging backwards.

He delivered a high speed knee attack towards Wayde's unprotected ribs.

Wayde simply released his grip on George's fist in a simple yet fluid motion.

It completely tipped George's balance.

The Buster George just kept on roaring and charging but Tapper could see that throughout the entire fight, Wayde had only used one hand and had barely moved his feet. He was literally toying with the ferocious thug.

'Ahh… he is so done for. Maybe me too…' Tapper decided to act his harmlessness with an increased dedication.

Soon enough, Wayde had gotten bored.

"Hmm… it seems you have got no other attacks. Why do you pick fights when you are so weak?"

His words had changed and it seemed to ring out from every direction.

At the same time, Wayde disappeared from sight.

Then…

Crack

The wall of the alley shook and Wayde now reappeared. The Buster's neck was in his hands. George still had an enraged expression.

It was as if he hadn't yet registered what had happen.

Not that he could do it anymore anyways.

His neck was broken.

Tapper watched this all occur and quickly closed his eyes still staying in the same lying posture. By now he had lost any desire to fight.

Tapper sobbed mentally. Why did he had to encounter such a monster at such an average location?!

He could only rely on his smooth acting skills to get out of this one. Now, he had to act like both a rock and a dead body.

'You are a rock. Feel the rock. Know the rock. Become a rock!!!'

Wayde had released the dead George and dusted himself off. He turned around and observed the 'dead' Tapper lying in an exaggerated posture on the ground.

Even the tongue was flopped out.

He was slightly curious.

It wasn't the first time he had dealt with AlleyWays denizens.

They either attacked him like the way George did or they bolted. Neither method ever worked.

He just killed them.

The surroundings sunk into a period of silence. Neither Tapper nor Wayde moved at all.

After around five minutes of waiting Wayde walked up to the 'dead' brat and nudged him with his shoe.

"Hey you.

"I know you can hear me."

Tapper knew that Wayde hadn't believed his act at all. He still played a fool and didn't react.

The voice came once more.

"Get up."

"Ahem. I was told it's disrespectful to disturb the dead." Tapper mumbles under his breath.

"Pfft- what?"

Wayde was amused.

This was the first time he had encountered such an action. Such a terrible method.

"I heard…. that possums play dead when they encounter tigers and such…. maybe it will work???" Tapper mumbled out.

The air froze. Tapper wondered if what he said was too far.

However,

"Hahahahaha…"

Wayde laughed.

He had never anticipated that a denizen of the AlleyWays would do or say something like that.

Wayde crouched down in front of the AlleyWays boy. He reached and ran his hands through the boy's gray colored hair.

'Mmmm… an unusual natural color… not dyed…'

Slowly, Wayde's act of stroking Tapper changed. He gently ran his hands down and touched Tapper's cheek.

And then lightly placed his hands on Tapper's neck.

"Why didn't you run then?"

"Running is… well… I can't outrun you."

Tapper replied 'calmly'. He tried to ignore Wayde's hand that was at his throat.

"Lord… Wayde Tourey?"

"Oh? You recognize me?"

Tapper exhaled.

"Yes. I memorize the faces and information about important people. And I saw you on the news." Tapper discreetly inserted a compliment.

'Ah. See? Lovable right? Dontkillmedontkillmedontkillme….'

Wayde on the other hand was surprised once more.

Since children the age of Tapper would not have been able to remain level headed when placed in such a situation.

Cleverness is common. Hard work and effort can be trained. But calmness is rare.

'Well… Well… I have always been searching for a suitable candidate. I think this one will do…'

Wayde thought while observing the boy.

Tapper had narrowly dodged a bullet.

Had Tapper tried to either escape, attack, or avoided the questions in fear, then Wayde would have done what his job decided and kill Tapper.

But Tapper had succeeded in gaining both the interest of Wayde as well as a good impression.

He was not going to die. Tapper was certain. It was time to move on to part two of the plan.

"Lord Tourey… are you going to kill me?"

"Child. I think you know."

"Right! I feel like you won't kill me. Thank you!"

Tapper smiled in a bright manner at Wayde.

"But… I also feel like…"

He paused and nervously glanced at Wayde.

"... that you won't simply let me go… right?"

"Hmm… that's right."

With those words, a smile had appeared on Wayde's face as well.

It wasn't a bright and pure smile like Tapper's but resembled a grin of a shark.

And that shark like smile was the only warning Tapper had.

Suddenly, Wayde's arm that he used to kill George flashed. Tapper felt a blow strike his neck.

Darkness quickly covered his remaining consciousness as he stared at the shark-like smile of Wayde.

'Ah.. I really can be too smart for my own good sometimes.

'Was I…

'Too lovable???'

Tapper fell unconscious.