Chapter 85

Madelyn had to admit it genuinely was a little disorderly around these parts. Well, not exactly disorderly; it was just the cleanliness here was not as good as in the urban area of Ventropolis.

The buildings here seemed run-down. The place was filled with dilapidated residential areas and many street food stalls.

Madelyn wandered around and found that the food at these stalls was pretty cheap.

After she walked through the alley, there was even a large sea ahead.

This was the outskirts of Ventropolis. It was an hour’s drive to get to the neighboring city, Marisburg.

Madelyn ran to the beach in excitement. She closed her eyes and breathed in the crisp sea air.

She took off her flip-flops and stepped onto the sand. The seawater was a little chilly, but the sunlight above her head felt warm and refreshing.

Madelyn strolled barefoot along the sandy shoreline, her eyes fixated on the myriad seashells that adorned the beach. Their intricate patterns and vibrant colors enticed her, urging her to collect them one by one.

Just then, a voice, sharp and commanding, pierced the air above her.

“Hey! Who the hell do you think you are? Don’t you know this is my turf?”

Startled, Madelyn rose to her feet, her gaze drawn to a woman with braided hair and striking smokey eye makeup. The woman exuded an aura of strength, her arm tattoo accentuating her formidable presence. Her name was Alex York.

Still in a daze, Madelyn struggled to find her voice as Alex approached, swiftly snatching the seashells from her hand.

“Where do you come from, you country bumpkin? Why haven’t I seen you around? What’s in your bag?

Hand it over!”

“I…” Madelyn began, her words trailing off.

“Don’t you dare ‘I’ me!” Alex interjected.

With a swift motion, Alex seized Madelyn’s canvas tote and emptied its contents.

“All useless things. As expected of a country bumpkin.”

Alex had lost a card game. The group of men had the audacity to ask her-a woman-to come here and collect seafood for them as punishment for losing.

Alex was already filled with rage, and now she had the perfect outlet to release her anger.

Madelyn calmly picked up her canvas tote from the ground. She had no intentions of arguing with Alex and prepared to leave.

However, Alex did not plan on letting her go.

“Did I fucking say you could leave?”

‘Why does her tone sound so much like Forrest’s?’ wondered Madelyn.

“What do you want?” she asked.

Alex threw a shovel and bucket in front of Madelyn.

“Just your luck running into me. Dig up some seafood for me. Don’t even think of going home if the bucket isn’t full!”

Madelyn asked, “And why should I do that?”

“Because I don’t like how you look, got it?”

“Sorry, but I don’t have the time for that,” replied Madelyn.

“Hey, country bumpkin, don’t you know everyone here listens to what I say? Do you know what the consequences are if you don’t listen to me?”

‘Is she from some kind of local gang? Why do I keep encountering strange people like this wherever I go?’ thought Madelyn.

“Hey, Alex. Don’t tell me you haven’t even caught a single crab after this long.”

“Yeah! What’re we gonna eat tonight?!”

Madelyn saw a group of six to seven topless men walking shoulder to shoulder. They were covered in tattoos and clearly ignorant street thugs. Madelyn seemed particularly small and helpless when faced with the group of thugs.

“Oh! Where’d this little lady come from? She’s pretty good-looking. What’s your name? Got a boyfriend? Wanna go out with me?” a blonde-haired man who barely looked twenty said while giving Madelyn a sleazy look.

The group of men laughed.

‘How lewd. If I had known this would happen, I never would’ve come here in the first place,” thought Madelyn.