"Even those guys from the famous Genei Ryodan are still just little kids…"
Moge shook his head lightly, deciding to temporarily put these thoughts aside. No matter when the time came, his priority was still taking care of himself first.
The most urgent matter right now was filling his stomach.
"I need to find someone who is also hungry, and have him issue a 'commission' or 'request' to me. Only then can I obtain an invention related to food…"
Fortunately, such people were abundant in Meteor City.
Most residents were constantly scrambling for food in order to survive.
But then again, how many of them could be trusted enough to issue a proper 'commission' or 'request'?
Moge felt that this might be even more difficult than snatching food directly from their hands.
"This is a bit troublesome…"
Moge frowned slightly.
And just then—
A sudden commotion outside his door interrupted his thoughts.
"What's going on?"
He stood up and walked toward the door, carefully opening it to create a narrow crack.
Before he could clearly see the situation, an angry shout echoed outside:
"You guys, you dare to steal things on my turf? You've got some nerve!"
Standing atop a hill formed from piled-up garbage was a tall, burly boy with an afro, wearing a tattered vest and shorts.
"You bastards, I won't let you off this time! Prepare to die!"
He crossed his arms, his face twisting into a ferocious grin.
"But if you hand over the stuff obediently, I'll let you die quickly!"
"If you still try to run away—"
He flexed his dark, muscular physique.
"I'll make your lives worse than death, and kill you ten times over!"
"…"
Beside him, squatting on a pile of garbage, was a small girl with pinkish-purple hair, resembling a wild humanoid ape cub.
She held a broken wooden stick, waving it in a mock display of force.
However, the calm expression on her face, whether natural or deliberate, weakened her deterrent effect somewhat.
Under the combined intimidation of the burly boy and the little girl, the group they were threatening scattered immediately.
"That guy is as stupid as ever!"
"We're going to die either way, so why would we go back?!"
"And talking about territory in a place like Meteor City? Is Uvogin really an idiot?"
"Unless he dies once, that foolishness probably won't change—"
As they fled, the group did not forget to sneer and mock him.
Of course, words were words, and mockery was mockery, but their bodies were honest enough to quicken their escape.
In a dangerous place like Meteor City, getting injured could easily make survival extremely difficult.
Clashing head-on with someone like Uvogin, who was slow-witted but incredibly strong in physique, was clearly not a wise choice.
There was no benefit in winning, and losing would be even worse. If they sustained any injuries, it would become even more disastrous.
"Stop right there, all of you!"
Seeing so many people flee, Uvogin roared again, no longer standing idly. He immediately rolled up his sleeves and charged toward the crowd.
"…"
The pinkish-purple-haired girl bounced lightly behind him.
It had to be said that although Uvogin was only thirteen years old, he already possessed a stature and physique comparable to that of an adult.
Such physical quality clearly indicated outstanding talent.
However, facing many experienced veterans of Meteor City, he was quickly worn down.
After exerting himself for a long time, he failed to catch even one person, only able to watch as they slipped away under his nose.
"Those bastards!"
Uvogin plopped down on a pile of garbage, panting heavily while angrily rubbing his hair.
"What are you looking at?!"
When he noticed someone watching him from behind, he immediately turned around and glared fiercely.
Couldn't this guy see that he was in a terrible mood right now?
And he still dared to approach—
If it weren't for the fact that the other party was younger and clearly unarmed, looking like a foolish kid…
Uvogin would have already punched him.
"I thought it was some idiot who hadn't escaped, but it's just a stupid kid, tch—"
Feeling bored, Uvogin waved his hand impatiently.
"Hurry up and get lost, do you want me to beat you up?!"
Moge looked at Uvogin, who was filled with irritation and possessed an exaggeratedly masculine physique, then glanced at Machi, who was still a child, standing beside him while holding her broken wooden stick upright.
He thought for a moment, then asked calmly:
"Are you hungry?"
Hungry, of course hungry, how could he not be hungry…
For Uvogin, it was already annoying enough that outsiders had trespassed on his territory and plundered things from it.
What made him even more furious was that he hadn't caught a single one.
All of them had escaped.
Now, while he was in a terrible mood, a naive child had come over and innocently asked if he was hungry.
Uvogin was practically laughing from anger.
"Hungry, of course hungry, how could I not be hungry…"
He raised his head and glared ferociously at the foolish boy, his lips slowly curling into a dangerous grin.
"Right now, I'm really tempted to eat you!"
"Oh, is that so—"
Moge was not intimidated by his bluster and merely nodded.
"If you're hungry, then follow me."
He turned around first.
"I have food that can help you replenish your Qi."
Hmm?!!
Hearing this, Uvogin raised an eyebrow and stared at the boy's back several times.
In thirteen years of living in Meteor City, he had never heard of anyone willing to share their own food.
Such a person was either foolishly naive or secretly malicious.
And foolish people rarely survived here.
Especially a kid he had never seen before, suddenly appearing and asking if he was hungry…
Uvogin's gaze gradually became sharp.
"What? Didn't you say you were hungry?"
Not hearing footsteps behind him, Moge turned around and met Uvogin's unfriendly stare.
"I know what you're thinking, but I have no ill intentions."
Moge spoke calmly and directly.
"If you feel it's unsafe, or if you're scared, then you don't have to come."
"It's all up to you."
After saying that, he ignored their reactions and walked toward his house.
"…"
Uvogin stared at his retreating figure, unconsciously clenching his fists.
In front of him, the broken wooden stick was slowly lowered.
"Although his invitation is strange, I don't sense any danger…"
At this moment, Uvogin's face showed a calmness completely unlike his rough appearance.
He turned toward his companion.
"What do you think, Machi?"
He looked at the partner with whom he had survived countless dangers.
If he were truly just reckless and foolish, he would have died long ago.
"…"
Machi's small, dusty face remained calm as she shook her head slightly and lowered her stick.
Despite the dirt on her face, the outline of delicate features was still visible.
"I see, you don't think there's any problem either."
Seeing this, Uvogin relaxed and grinned.
"Your sixth sense is always more reliable than my instincts."
"Then let's see what that foolish kid is really planning!"
"He's not seriously going to treat us, is he?!"
He patted his clothes, stood up, and swaggered in the direction Moge had left.
Machi remained silent, following closely behind him step by step.