Chapter 81 Coward
Thugs are afraid of the police.
No matter how defiant or vicious these so-called local bullies are, they are still no match for official armed forces.
Upon hearing the girl’s resolute tone and seeing the illuminated screen of her mobile phone, the blonde man and his subordinates immediately stopped their actions.
After confirming the familiar emergency police hotline number on the girl’s phone screen, they lost all desire to teach Kazumi a lesson. They threw Noyoru Yokota to the ground and hurriedly left in another direction.
The police force in this world is vastly different from the public security management departments in China, where Kazumi lived in her past life.
Due to the difference in social stability, in a world where crime is primarily superpowered crime, even the departments responsible for maintaining ordinary public order have become efficient and powerful. It’s not impossible for professional heroes to assist in maintaining public order when manpower is insufficient.
Just like that country full of freedom that many “public intellectuals” in her past life praised, only when this so-called freedom is pointed at their necks with a gun will they truly understand the taste of foreign air.
The police are clean, efficient, and even willing to use unconventional violent methods against criminals who may release unknown abilities at any moment. This is a responsibility to the public and to themselves, because you never know if it’s a common crime or a premeditated superpowered crime.
The thug behavior of the blonde man and his crew was certainly not a capital offense, but if they were imprisoned, they would definitely not have an easy time. This is why they hurried away after seeing Kazumi call the police.
“Are you okay?”
After watching the thugs leave, Kazumi lowered her phone and walked over to Noyoru Yokota, who was lying on the ground, covered in mud and blood. She initially wanted to help him up but then remembered that their relationship wasn’t that close. She stood still and looked at him coldly, saying.
“I’ll pay you the money…”
Noyoru Yokota glanced at the girl beside him, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, leaned against the wall, and shakily stood up. He looked at Kazumi and finally spoke with a frown.
Behind the stability brought by efficient and powerful law enforcement agencies is a greater expenditure by taxpayers. There is no such thing as a free call to the police in this world; almost every time an emergency call is made, it incurs a considerable expense.
Noyoru Yokota had not entirely dismissed the idea of calling the police, but the exorbitant fees for dispatching officers became a mountain blocking his path. While those people would certainly face significant punishment, this level of crime would not merit the death penalty. And by the time they were released, they would likely seek violent revenge on him.
If it were only Noyoru Yokota himself, he wouldn’t be afraid of anything. But if they were to hurt Manager Masamori because of him, Noyoru Yokota would probably regret it for the rest of his life.
“No need. I’m not wealthy either. This is just a recording.”
Kazumi, with a cold expression, looked at the boy who appeared to be so cold. A hint of amusement flashed in her heart. She took out her phone and canceled the call recording on the screen, then looked at Noyoru Yokota and said.
She probably understood why this brat had such a resentful demeanor, as if everyone owed him something. It was nothing more than being bullied but not knowing how to handle it, so he disguised himself as fierce and intimidating to prevent unrelated people from seeing his vulnerable inner self.
However, Kazumi was not mocking him; it was simply that his age and experience limited his perspective on things.
Kazumi, who had been extorted by thugs in the past, felt like the sky had fallen. She had no friends to help her and was too afraid to tell her family. At that time, she had thought about stealing and cheating, and even about dying and leaving this world where she couldn’t find a way out.
Because every time she slept, her mind was filled with the image of the thug who extorted her, and she didn’t even dare to go to school.
If it weren’t for a classmate passing by and stepping in to help solve the situation when she was being bullied, Kazumi wouldn’t know what she would have done at that time.
Actually, thinking back on those past experiences and thoughts now, they seemed like a joke. But only those who have truly experienced such things would know how dark the sky was during that period.
“…Thank you…”
Noyoru Yokota was stunned that Kazumi had solved the problem in such a way. After a moment, he slowly thanked her. Regardless, she had saved him. Although he didn’t like the cold girl in front of him, he still had to express his gratitude to those who had helped him.
“Why didn’t you fight back?”
Kazumi showed no intention of accepting his thanks. She put her phone back into her pocket and looked at the disheveled youth in front of her with a cold tone.
The boy’s situation was very similar to hers. Or rather, perhaps everyone has experienced being bullied or harassed to some extent in their lives. Regardless of how you deal with it, this experience will leave a deep mark on your life.
What Kazumi couldn’t understand, and even somewhat angered her, was that Noyoru Yokota clearly had the strength to resist such bullying but later gave up on his own, allowing himself to be humiliated merely for some so-called considerations behind him.
“I…”
Noyoru Yokota was surprised to receive such an answer after he had thanked her. He instinctively didn’t want to answer such a question, but seeing the girl’s bone-chilling gaze, he inexplicably started to speak.
“Shikoku High School Hero Department Rule Article 8…”
This question was naturally not difficult for Kazumi, a top student. She had memorized the academy’s rules long ago. As for Article 8: Hero Department students are not allowed to arbitrarily use their abilities on ordinary people without the permission of a teacher.
“Because of this, you don’t even have the courage to lay a hand on the people bullying you. How can you possibly be a hero?”
“And do you know how much money Uncle Masamori would have to spend to bail me out if I was sent to jail?!”
The girl’s cold tone seemed to hit a sore spot for the boy, and he yelled at Kazumi somewhat angrily.
“And then you just stood by and watched a thug bully you, eventually ruining everything you have?”
Kazumi quietly looked at the boy in front of her, who was speaking with a hint of childishness. The bit of higher regard she had for him earlier was retracted. Boys of this age are probably just like this.
“I… I just…”
Noyoru Yokota lowered his head. He understood what the girl was implying. If the blonde man had used his knife on his wrist just now, although modern medical conditions wouldn’t render him immobile, such an injury at this age would greatly affect his future growth.
“No, you are simply a coward.”
Casually delivering the final sentence, Kazumi turned and walked directly back the way she came, leaving Noyoru Yokota, covered in mud, staring blankly at the small receding figure in his field of vision.
