Chapter 8: The First Strike

When Lin Xinghai told the young women that the security team had left, their faces turned pale, and they all looked at him in unison. After all, the reason they had brought Lin Xinghai on as a roommate was to seek protection during moments like this.

Lin Xinghai fell into deep thought. He was not actually afraid of this so-called Axe Gang. These small-time thugs had limited strength; if they had the capability to become gene optimizers, who would choose to stay in the Lower District as a hoodlum? Based on his estimation, as long as the number of thugs wasn't excessive, he was confident he could win. The problem was whether he should intervene. If he fought, he could simply walk away afterward, but Liu Miaomiao and the others would likely have to live here for quite some time.

"How much protection money are they asking for?" Lin Xinghai asked after a moment of silence.

"Three points per month," Shen Yimei replied.

The women breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this. Liu Miaomiao shot a glare at her, saying, "Yimei, you should have made that clear from the start. If it's only three points a month, it's not entirely unacceptable. After all, it's better to avoid trouble when possible." As she spoke, Liu Miaomiao kept a close eye on Lin Xinghai's expression. She was terrified that he might be stubborn and refuse to pay, leading to a conflict with the Axe Gang. Regardless of whether he could win, it would undoubtedly lead to endless trouble later.

Lin Xinghai did not object, and his expression remained calm. This surprised Liu Miaomiao, as in her impression, he was not someone who was easy to reason with. Since he didn't express an opinion, the women quickly reached a consensus.

Then came the anxious waiting. They could hear the commotion outside growing louder and drawing closer. Occasionally, the sounds of arguing and physical scuffles could be heard, clearly indicating that some people were attempting to resist, though such efforts were destined to be futile. The noise eventually reached their door.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The door was kicked, shaking violently. The old bolt rattled, making it seem as if it would snap at any moment. Lin Xinghai frowned at this, though he remained silent. Shen Yimei, who was closest to the door, pulled back the bolt, and the door was immediately kicked open by those outside.

Five young men with dyed hair and axe tattoos on their arms walked in, cursing, "Looking for a death wish? How dare you be so slow to open the door? Don't you know who we..."

The leader’s voice trailed off as he finished his curse. His gaze swept over Liu Miaomiao and the others, his eyes gradually turning hot and greedy. It wasn't just him; the thugs behind him shared the same look. In the Lower District, beauties were exceptionally rare. In particular, Liu Miaomiao and Wang Yao—one with a refined appearance and temperament, the other with a stunning figure—were enough to keep these thugs transfixed.

"Ahem!" The leader cleared his throat after a long moment, trying to adopt a polite facade. "Ladies, I'm here to collect protection money. Five points each."

"What? Five points each? Isn't it supposed to be three?" Liu Miaomiao asked, her face darkening. She sensed that things were taking a turn for the worse.

The leader smiled. "For ordinary people, it's three points. But since you are all beauties, protecting you isn't easy. It's only fair that the fee is a bit higher, isn't it? Of course, if you're short on points, you can pay in other ways." As he spoke, his eyes wandered over the sensitive parts of Liu Miaomiao's body, the implication clear. The other thugs wore lecherous grins.

The expressions of the women changed completely; this was far beyond their expectations. Realizing that the situation had escalated, Lin Xinghai stepped forward in front of the group.

"Five points each, is that right?" Lin Xinghai asked calmly.

Only then did the five thugs notice the man in the room. Jealousy flashed in their eyes immediately. Any man would be envious of such an arrangement.

"Sorry, the price has gone up. Ten points each," the leader said with a mocking sneer.

"Fine. Ten points each. Hand them over," Lin Xinghai said, extending his hand.

He had known from the way the thugs looked at the women that this wouldn't end peacefully. The price hike was merely a pretext. Even if they could pay, these thugs would inevitably find ways to harass the women later until they were forced to submit. Thus, he decided to intervene. He felt confident enough to act because he had used his "Scan" ability on the leader beforehand.

Name: Wang Damao
Physique: 15
Strength: 19
Speed: 11
Gene Optimization: 19%

With these stats, he could easily take all five. The others would only be weaker. Wang Damao and his men looked at Lin Xinghai as if he were a fool. Even Liu Miaomiao didn't believe he could win; she had read in the pamphlets distributed by the Jiyuan faction about the existence of "gene optimizers," and she knew these thugs could knock down a two-hundred-pound man with a single punch.

"Lin Xinghai!" Liu Miaomiao called out nervously.

"Don't worry, it's nothing," Lin Xinghai smiled, appearing entirely relaxed, as if the thugs posed no threat at all.

"But you're in my way," Wang Damao snarled, a vicious glint in his eyes as he swung a fist at Lin Xinghai's head. He couldn't tolerate a newcomer acting so arrogant in front of him.

"Too slow!" Lin Xinghai sidestepped the punch with ease. With his speed of 26, the opponent had no chance of hitting him.

"What!" Wang Damao’s pupils contracted as his punch missed. Before he could react, Lin Xinghai countered with a punch of his own. Wang Damao couldn't dodge, and his chest took the full force of the blow.

Bang!

A dull thud echoed through the room. Wang Damao felt as if he had been struck by a giant hammer. He stumbled backward, crashing into one of his cohorts before finally managing to steady himself.