32

Plunged into an ice cave, as if facing an abyss, the gang members at this moment could profoundly experience the terrifying pressure brought by these two idioms.

At this very moment, even breathing required consideration of whether it would anger the other party, fearing that an angry outburst might lead to their demise.

Shirai Kuroko rested her chin on her hands, sipping juice, looking like she was enjoying a show. She didn't sense any Killing Intent from Rhode, and precisely because of that, she wasn't overly worried.

She thought Rhode would most likely just teach this group of delinquents a lesson, similar to her elder sister, and that would be the end of it.

Misaka Mikoto shared a similar view with Shirai Kuroko and also made no move.

However, what they didn't know was that these delinquents were like ants on the roadside to Rhode. Being disturbed by ants at this moment, while somewhat annoyed, he wouldn't show any so-called Killing Intent.

Could it be that after an ant bites you, and you casually swat it dead, you'd feel a sense of great revenge being exacted?

Precisely because of this, Killing Intent was out of the question.

'I'm going to skip work now! I've been a responsible person since I was little, and I've saved all my wages to support my four adopted sisters' education. But even I can't defy the survival instinct that tells me if I approach that table, I might glimpse the shadow I least want to see in this life.'

A passerby of ordinary appearance had his survival instinct frantically warning him to escape from this place, fearing that staying would cause intense psychological trauma.

Just as this silent atmosphere hung heavy, a sudden shout broke the tension.

"I'm sorry, Manager! I quit!" The passerby's words had barely fallen when he bolted out of the store at a hundred-meter sprint speed, giving the manager no time to react.

"Hey, wait!" The manager's words had just dropped, and the passerby's figure had already vanished.

The delinquents subconsciously looked towards the source of the argument, their tension easing slightly. One delinquent, suppressing his fear, managed to force a smile and prepared to apologize.

"Um..."

"Bone-Piercing Pain." Rhode joined two fingers and casually waved them, and invisible Curse Power clusters containing 'Idle Transfiguration' flew into the delinquents' bodies.

Immediately, sharp, ear-piercing wails echoed throughout the entire restaurant, shattering even the glass within, showing the unimaginable pain emitted by their voices.

The delinquents painfully curled into balls, like white maggots, their bodies convulsing violently, as if every nerve was ignited by flames, and their entire skeletons seemed to be struggling madly to break free from their skin.

If they could control their bodies, the delinquents' first thought would surely be to kill themselves, to no longer endure this suffering that felt like it came from the depths of their Soul.

That terrifying scene of struggling and twisting like Hell, frantically scratching themselves, and being covered in blood, made the manager recall what the previously resigned employee had feared.

Any normal person, upon seeing such a horrifying sight, couldn't stop their stomach from churning. Several employees, and even the manager, began to vomit profusely.

"You... what are you doing!?" Shirai Kuroko was no longer calm as before, standing up agitatedly and pointing at Rhode. Although her delicate body trembled uncontrollably, she still stood up to question Rhode.

"Can't you tell? I'm giving them a lesson." Rhode answered nonchalantly, as if the heart-wrenching wails and screams ringing in everyone's ears didn't exist at all. He casually placed the bitter gourd snail lasagna aside, sipped his juice, and looked at the struggling delinquents on the floor.

There was no hint of concern in his eyes, as if he were looking at an ant's nest filled with molten lead, without any sympathy or pity, but rather more interested in the complexity of the ant's nest structure.

"Q-Quickly stop!" Shirai Kuroko's beautiful eyes widened. The indifference of the person before her made Shirai Kuroko feel a chill run down her spine, utterly unbelievable!

The girl's kindness prevented her from standing by idly. Her hand instinctively slid towards the hem of her skirt. Before she could complete her next action, her raised wrist was grabbed by Rhode, her hands pinned, and her delicate body pressed against the sofa seat by Rhode.

At this moment, their movements were quite ambiguous, which caused Misaka Mikoto, who had been somewhat disconnected, to reconnect and hurriedly advise,

"Uncle, don't get into trouble because of these scumbags!" Although Rhode's approach seemed overly extreme to Misaka Mikoto, she didn't have much sympathy for these unscrupulous delinquents. She was more concerned that Rhode might get involved with Security Officers because of them, which would make things troublesome.

"Don't worry, it's only been six seconds. Their minds will just be traumatized; they'll be fine after a period of rest. Not chopping them all up is already me being merciful." Rhode's low voice and his close proximity made Shirai Kuroko, who had been a bit flustered, avert her gaze, a tempting blush coloring her pretty face.

The moment she saw Rhode looking at her, she instinctively turned her head away, not daring to meet his gaze.

'W-Why is my heart beating so fast! It must be because of what just happened.'

At this moment, the delinquents' wails in the store had vanished. They had endured six seconds of bone-piercing pain, which would hopefully make these thoughtless delinquents think twice before causing trouble in the future.

"W-What's going on?" A person dressed like a delinquent girl entered the restaurant and, upon seeing her subordinates sprawled on the floor, covered in blood, her expression suddenly turned grim.

Upon seeing this, Shirai Kuroko activated her Item to escape Rhode's restraint, appeared in front of the delinquent girl, and instantly teleported away with her, fearing that a moment's delay would cause the previous tragedy to recur.

"Seriously, my rare late-night snack has become unappetizing." Rhode clicked his tongue. Hearing this, Misaka Mikoto looked at the stacked plates, which were piled up like a small mountain, and her mouth twitched involuntarily.

"Manager, the bill, including the damaged glass tables and chairs, all together." Rhode called out, preparing to leave.

Upon learning that Rhode would pay for everything, the manager, who had just been a bit heartbroken, quickly became overjoyed and respectfully humble, no longer daring to demand compensation.

As for the delinquents who were limp and foaming at the mouth, they were thrown out of the restaurant like trash. Their actions had been clearly seen by the staff; they were undoubtedly scumbags. Selling Imagine Breaker was just one of their deeds; more egregious extortion was commonplace.

Reporting them to the police? Dream on. These people only deserved to be with trash.

"Wait for me, Uncle!" Seeing Rhode leave, Misaka Mikoto quickly got up and followed.

The shy girl silently followed behind Rhode, enjoying the tranquility of the night.