Stealing Spree

The next minute passed by in a blink of an eye. Unlike when a boxer was competing inside a ring wherein the three minutes of a single round felt like it was longer, brawling was the opposite.

The adrenaline rush would feel like your mind was moving faster than time and your body was keeping up with it. And with my physical fitness, that’s even more so.

I took down the first one I crashed into by headbutting his jaw. He was immediately down for the count. The remaining seven were surprised but that didn’t stop them.

Three immediately closed in on me, one at each side to restrain my arms and one at the front to throw the punch to my stomach.

I shook them off by focusing on my right, kicking him away before dragging the one who grabbed my left arm down. He was the one who took the punch.

With his hold loosening, I pulled my arm out and charged forward to the guy who dodged me earlier.

His eyes widened in horror at how quickly those takedowns went but he was prepared to face me.

Too bad for him, I tackled him down before sending my elbow straight to his nose.

I heard bones cracking but before blood could gush out of his nose, I stood up. I can’t have my uniform stained with blood.

I still have a date with Shizu! Also... my girls would be worried again if they saw stains on my clothes.

At this point, the last four were already wary of me and the two who tried restraining my arms stood up again.

The leader I conversed with earlier stood at the back with hands on his pants. He’s probably gauging my true capability.

For some, they would think I took them by surprise but it was all calculated, otherwise, it wouldn’t go down smoothly.

Ichihara was already stuck speechless from where he was. Stopping this was already out of his capabilities.

In any case, I’m also not going to stop anyway.

Acting like I was going after the ones at my front, my body swiveled to the two who were about to stand up.

Sending knees to their faces, they got taken down again.

Three chased after me and one managed to grasp my shoulder.

However, before he could pull on it, I locked his arm and used that usual technique in judo to sweep him off his feet and use that momentum to throw him down to the ground.

The sound of cracking bones along with the dull thud of his body rang out again.

With eight down to three, their cautiousness heightened. The leader also finally made his move, rolling his sleeves up and showing off his muscles.

It’s nothing to boast about but I could sense that at least he knows how to fight properly. He’s not just all brawns like the other seven.

He gestured with his head sending the other two on my left and right before charging in front of me.

Understanding that it was unavoidable to dodge his tackle, I faced it head-on.

I kicked the ground and sent myself charging towards him.

As he’s not expecting that, the leader thug accelerated himself further. He switched gears and decided to overpower me instead of throwing himself for a tackle.

Well, that’s what I was waiting for.

Since he’s not going to jump anymore, I immediately moved to the side, dodging him and while he was getting his bearings, I focused on the other one. The loudest idiot from earlier.

He raised his guard but I sent a punch on his stomach without holding anything back.

He retched and immediately kneeled on the ground. I don’t know if that’s enough to knock him out but for insurance, I held his head and sent another knee to his face.

Because that charging guy became like a dividing line between the left and right sides, the other one failed to come to the loud guy’s rescue.

Furthermore, fear began creeping along his spine. He trembled at his place and his eyes darted around me, Ichihara Jun, and everyone lying on the ground.

After weighing his choices, the guy immediately turned around and ran away to save himself.

Ignoring Ichihara Jun, I turned my attention to the last thug standing. He had just stopped himself and saw the other guy running away.

“You.” He said, “You’re not an ordinary guy.”

No shit... I was close to spitting that out but I reeled myself in.

I shrugged and dusted off my shoulder that was grabbed earlier.

“Yeah. Maybe. Will you also see yourself out or... are you going to make his money worth it?”

He didn’t answer right away. He turned to Ichihara Jun, pulled a clump of cash in his pocket, and threw it back to him.

“No. I can choose when to fight or not. I may be someone easily hired but I know how to figure out that the fifty thousand isn’t worth it. You took down six in that short amount of time. That’s not luck but skill.”

“Heh. It’s rare to see someone with a discerning eye. Alright, let’s be sensible and end this here. Take them with you and get out of this school. This is my territory.”

“May I know your name? Are you that rumored ‘Ghost’?”

“Ghost? Who’s that?”

This guy... That alias spread even in this part of the city, huh? But there’s no point in me claiming that name.

“Someone strong. I heard tales about him taking down an entire gang of delinquents alone. He sent them all to the hospital with fractures that needed to heal for a few months. And no one even managed to find out his real name or identity.”

“Sounds like an urban legend. I have a name though. I’m this school’s Disciplinary Officer, Onoda Ruki. I don’t care if that guy hires people again and ambushes me outside. Tell them to prepare properly. I won’t hold back my punches like I did here. I hate violence.”

I pointed at the dumbstruck Ichihara Jun who probably couldn’t take in the sight of us conversing like this.

The guy laughed at my last sentence before turning to Ichihara Jun again, “You hate it? Yeah, right. Boss, you can take your money back. I don’t need it. As for theirs, well...”

Upon saying that, he went one by one to the other six lying down on the ground. He picked their pockets, pulling out paper bills of ten thousand denominations. Obviously, like his, those were Ichihara Jun’s upfront payments.

He picked ten of them before approaching me and handing out the rest.

Of course, I readied myself in case he was just acting this out. However, like me, he was also seemingly very cautious.

As soon as I grabbed that bundle of cash, he stepped back and dragged those lying nearby away from me.

“They’ll be needing some medical attention so I’ll use these. There’s another fifty from the guy who ran away so... let’s call it compensation.”

“Mhm. You’re a smart guy.”

“No. I’m foolish enough to think that this is an easy job. Don’t go after us outside. I won’t accept anything that has to do with this school anymore.” He shook his head and sighed.

Without giving Ichihara Jun another glance, he woke up those who could still get up and told them to pick up those who couldn’t.

A while later, they started making their way out of the school’s premises.

Thinking about it, he’s probably just afraid to get as hurt as the others. I don’t mind that. It’s not like I’ll always be out for blood, especially against hired thugs like them.

“Alright. Now, what should I do to you, senpai? Should I let you off today?”

After their backs disappeared from my sight, I picked up the fifty thousand that the guy threw before approaching the pompous clown currently trembling on his knees.