"Yes, yes, yes, it's us showing our respect to you, sir!" The Bald Man didn't even know where he got the strength, nodding his head like a pecking chick, his hands trembling as he pulled a wallet out of his pocket, then quickly drew out five big red bills along with some loose change.

"How much did you want me to bring just now? And then how much did it go up to later?" Emily Clark stuffed the money into his pocket, then leisurely played with the small knife.

"What the hell are you all still standing there for? Do you want the boss to come over and take it himself?" The Bald Man shuddered all over, then turned and cursed at the gang of thugs on the ground.

Those thugs hurriedly put on tearful faces, scrambling and crawling to bring the money to Emily Clark.

Watching Emily Clark stuff the colorful bills—at least two or three thousand yuan—back into his pocket, David Sullivan rubbed his eyes desperately, muttering to himself, God, am I dreaming? What kind of world is this? Good students in college, researchers in institutes, are now collecting protection fees like gangsters!

After taking the money, Emily Clark still seemed unsatisfied, continuing to play with the knife, his gaze drifting over The Bald Man's thick necklace and the golden bracelet on his wrist.

The Bald Man shivered again, then obediently took off his necklace and bracelet. The little thugs didn't even need his orders now, hurrying to remove their own necklaces and bracelets.

When the bucktoothed guy handed over his necklace, he stammered, "B-b-boss, d-do you want to take our cell phones too?"

Emily Clark patted Bucktooth's shoulder, squinting as he said, "Out of all these people, you're the smartest. I'll let you keep your phone."

Bucktooth was so overwhelmed by the favor that tears streamed down his face as he cried, "B-boss, go easy, my leg hurts."

Emily Clark glanced at Bucktooth's thigh, grabbed his leg with one hand, and just as Bucktooth was so scared he nearly wet his pants and almost forgot about the pain, Emily Clark gave a forceful twist. With a crack, Bucktooth's scream echoed under the overpass, making everyone's heart pound.

"Huh? It—it doesn't hurt anymore!" Bucktooth put his foot down and was delighted to find it was healed.

Everyone stared eagerly at Emily Clark, hoping he would do the same for them. But Emily Clark didn't even spare them a glance, pulling the still-gaping David Sullivan away with him.

Chapter 9: Improper Thoughts

Watching Emily Clark and David Sullivan disappear into the vast night, the thugs finally breathed a sigh of relief.

As soon as they relaxed, the pain in their bodies was magnified infinitely, and their groans and cries blended into a chorus—only Bucktooth was doing relatively well. Seeing the miserable state of the thugs who used to look down on him, and Big Baldy, he couldn't help but show a trace of schadenfreude and pride.

See, no wonder you guys are just thugs. None of you realized how smart I am. Look at him, that's real class—he saw it right away. Now look, I got off the lightest. Why? Because I'm the smartest among you.

"Bucktooth, aren't you going to help me up?" The Bald Man's furious voice interrupted Bucktooth's daydream, and he hurriedly scrambled to help The Bald Man up.

"B-b-boss, we suffered a huge loss this time. S-should we call the police?" Bucktooth asked, thinking he was being clever.

"C-call the police, my ass! Did you forget what you are?" The Bald Man got angry seeing Bucktooth looking perfectly fine, and raised his fist to knock him on the head.

"Th-then what should we do?" Bucktooth didn't dare move, afraid The Bald Man would fall if he wasn't careful, and stammered.

The Bald Man glanced nervously at the darkness ahead where the people had long disappeared, and said, "Let's go to the hospital first!"

"B-but we don't have any money!"

Bucktooth's words earned him another round of beating from The Bald Man.

In the taxi, David Sullivan couldn't help but feel nervous as he recalled Emily Clark's cold and ruthless demeanor just now—especially when the knife stabbed into Baldy's palm, blood flowing out, and he didn't even frown, even pulling the knife out as if nothing had happened. His palms were sweaty. Only now did David Sullivan realize he never really understood his good friend; it turned out that beneath the gentle and refined exterior, there was also a cold and merciless side.

Suddenly, he felt both familiar and unfamiliar with Emily Clark. Just like in the books, the two were so close yet felt worlds apart.

"Why aren't you saying anything? Are you feeling unwell?" Emily Clark clearly sensed David Sullivan's tension and asked with concern.

With just this simple question, that feeling of distance instantly vanished, and David Sullivan once again felt the presence of his familiar brother.

That's right, he's my good brother—what am I afraid of? I should be happy!

"Damn, wasn't it you scaring me half to death with how fierce you were just now." David Sullivan raised his fist and punched Emily Clark, cursing.

"If you hadn't been so bold with your lust, would I have had to do all that? But when dealing with these thugs, if you're not fierce, if you don't scare them, they'll think you're easy to bully and keep pestering you like flies. You can never guard against them all." Emily Clark said.