Bailonz Street 13-Chapter 167:
Chapter 167. Carrots and Sticks (1)
Jefferson looked at us with a tired face.
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Rick Sloughton, now a battered mess, was being dragged into a police wagon. His ear was covered in blood from the bullet that had grazed it. But wasnāt he lucky that his earlobe wasnāt blown off? No, that his head wasnāt hit?
Of course, Liam had roughed him up a bit more, leaving his face mottled, and heād fainted once and now had seizures just from seeing Liam Mooreās face, but well, heād brought it upon himself.
Thanks to Liam shifting the gunās aim at the last moment, Sloughton had avoided death.
How he would face legal judgment remained to be seen, but at least weād managed to save the children heād purchased before they died.
Yard officers were rescuing and bringing out the children. Every one of them looked sickly. They couldnāt even remember who they were or why they were there. Their condition was horrific enough to draw involuntary sighs.
āFirst weāll send the children to a care facility for proper treatmentā¦ā
While Jefferson discussed the next steps, Liam maintained his silence. Then, after organizing his thoughts, he spoke.
āLend me some officers.ā
āWhat?ā
āStrong ones with intimidating faces.ā
āWhat are you thinking?ā
Liamās eyes had settled into a cold calm. However, I could see the emotions swirling within them. His grey eyes had darkened with anger until they appeared almost black. Liam answered through gritted teeth.
āWeāre going to raid an orphanage.ā
* * *
We really were heading to raid an orphanage. Along with the strong, intimidating men Liam had requested.
People on the street could be seen slinking away at the sight of the rough-looking group. Some quote about force, destruction, fear, and might being our only protection came to mind. Canāt remember where I saw it. Still seems true though, especially in this 19th century London.
āWhich orphanage are we going to?ā
There are clusters of orphanages here. Most areas have them.
Children with nowhere to go are entrusted to educational institutions or orphanages, but even with funding, there were few ways to save all these children. Protection ends at seventeen, and from then on, children must find their own way to survive. In orphanages outside the supervision network (like Stone Orphanage), abuse and neglect were commonplace.
The orphanage Liam was about to storm was exactly such a place. Fortunately, weād learned the name of the orphanage where the child had originally stayed before being moved.
āBernard.ā
āAh. There it is.ā
I examined Liamās face and flinched back.
It was Bad Liam Moore. I knew him from Janeās memories. Sometimes when dealing with the worst of the worst, Liam Moore becomes quite twisted. After seeing that side of him once, local thugs seem cute in comparison.
An officer asked.
āShould we knock?ā
āStep aside.ā
As Liam stepped forward, I began feeling strangely uneasy.
Bang!
With his hands stuffed deep in his pockets, Liam kicked the door hard. The closed door burst open noisily.
What reason was there to kick a door that wasnāt even locked? The officersā expressions became peculiar. Their faces said āWhatās this? Is he crazy?ā
I didnāt bother defending him. To be honest, he was crazyā¦.
People passing by could be seen quietly backing away.
Just then, someone came out from inside, shouting at the top of their lungs.
āWhat madman in broad daylight wouldā!ā
āFound your madman?ā
āYes! Mad⦠ā¦Liam Moore?!ā
The orphanage directorās face went pale upon meeting the madmanās friendly face, and he started running away like his tail was on fire.
Liam showed his teeth in a smile. Acting like this makes him look truly nasty. It made me wonder. Always polite, occasionally cynical, and then this thuggish side. Which was closer to the real Liam?
āIs it really the thug side?ā
Liam spoke.
āIāll consider being lenient if you return by the count of three.ā
Meaning heād only āconsiderā it.
āIād be mad to come back! Mr. Moore!ā
āYouāll have to.ā
āAbsolutely not!ā
āIf you donāt, Iāll shoot you.ā
He really just threatened to shoot someone in front of the police. I pressed my throbbing temples.
Unfortunately, Liam⦠knew a very effective threat heād recently learned. He fired his gun once at the ground where the man was running.
Oh good Lord Buddha Allah have mercy. Suddenly I wanted to call upon every deity.
āJonathan Osmond.ā
Well done. Brother-in-law and brother-in-law, eh? Exchanging such lovely gifts.
While I was burning with murderous intent toward Jonathan, Liam cheerfully opened and closed the magazine, seemingly checking how many bullets remained.
āThat was just a āblank.'ā
āMr. Mooreā¦ā
Seeing an officer fidgeting nervously while watching Liam, I stepped in.
I didnāt want to see such methods in front of children. But the children were watching the directorās predicament with relieved and satisfied faces!
āā¦Is London really okay?ā
The future of the 19th century looks dark.
I stepped forward with heavy sighs. Then I threw my heeled shoe at the back of the fleeing manās head. A perfect strike.
He fell forward with a shriek.
The children cheered and clapped.
Looking down at the middle-aged man clutching the back of his head, Liam whispered sweetly and kindly.
āShall we go to your office, or would you prefer to spend some quality time here?ā
āā¦T-the office⦠please.ā
His manner of speech immediately became respectful as the strong men began lifting and moving him. Liam picked up my fallen shoe with a satisfied face, came back to me, and helped me put it on.
With my arms around Liamās neck as he knelt, I whispered.
āYou know youāre really nasty, right?ā
Liamās eyes crinkled into a bright smile.
So he can smile like that. I already felt drained and wanted to collapse. Thinking weād caused enough chaos, I asked.
āFeel better?ā
āNot yet. Iām planning to pop the champagne after weāve cleaned out this rotten organization completely.ā
āAh. Not yet then.ā
Right, do whatever you want with the champagne.
I headed toward the directorās office, leaving him to his satisfaction. Liam watched me for a moment before following.