"Beichen, if I go sightseeing in the Imperial Capital, you have to show me around the Imperial Capital University. Without you, I wouldn't dare to go in through the gates!"
"I put down universities in the Imperial Capital as my second and third choices too. I wonder if they'll accept me."
"I really envy you guys going to school out of town. My parents insist I go to university here in our city. I can't even leave North Mountain."
"..."
On bus Eleven, Lin Beichen, Zhou Ya, Li Yang, and a few other students were chatting happily.
After their teacher appreciation banquet, since they were all taking bus Eleven to get home, they decided to board the bus together.
It was the time of the night when everyone was rushing home after the fun.
The bus was packed full of people.
There weren't even any seats left, and even standing room was cramped.
As they were still immersed in the afterglow of the banquet, they didn't notice a pair of sharp eyes staring intently at them from the crowded bus.
"Haisheng Hotel stop. Please gather your belongings and exit through the rear door."
At that moment, the bus pulled into a stop.
A few people boarded through the front door, while a few exited through the rear door.
The sharp eyes maneuvered through the crowd, pressing up against Lin Beichen and his friends.
It was a youth in his thirties, wearing a mask, short and slender, with dyed blond hair, dressed in a loose long-sleeved shirt and baggy jeans with many pockets.
Soon, the bus began to move slowly, the interior swaying.
His hand emerged from his sleeve.
And between his index and middle fingers…
There was a blade!
The advantage of his small stature was fully utilized at this moment, shielded by those around him. Barely anyone noticed him.
He looked left and right, seeing no one paying attention, a smug smile appeared on his face. He squeezed forward, ending up behind a man with a bulging back pocket. Then his fingers flexed and extended, slicing open the back pocket with the razor-sharp blade, revealing the wallet!
The entire action was smooth and seamless, without the slightest hesitation!
It was clear that this man was a thief, and an experienced one at that!
Having succeeded once, the thief didn't stop but turned his attention to Lin Beichen and the other students. He came over intending to target them; the man was just an unlucky casualty as his swollen pocket caught the thief's eye.
"Students, huh?"
"Graduates heading out for fun, even better!"
"Their families must have given them lots of money for their outings!"
The thief chuckled sinisterly, his gaze roving over to Lin Beichen, noticing a corner of a phone sticking out of his side pocket.
"Let's start with this phone!"
His fingers, with the blade wedged between them, moved stealthily to Lin Beichen's side pocket. Then using the same method, flexing and extending his fingers, the sharp blade precisely touched Lin Beichen's side pocket.
In an instant!
An electric shock from Lin Beichen surged through the blade to the thief's fingertips.
"Zap—!"
Damn it!
Suddenly jolted, the thief panicked, his hand trembling, dropping the blade to the floor. He quickly looked around to make sure no one noticed, then breathed a sigh of relief.
"Damn it!"
"Damn static electricity!"
"Scared the hell out of me!"
Unphased by the shock, the thief couldn't find his fallen blade.
"Students lack vigilance."
"Stealing from them is a piece of cake!"
"No need to rely on a blade!"
Determined to catch these "fat lambs," the thief opted to risk it and steal without his tool. He cautiously scanned the area, ensured it was safe, and reached for Lin Beichen's side pocket again.
Closer!
Even closer!
...
The thief watched in excitement as his hand neared the phone, but just when he touched it, that familiar shock returned!
"Zap—!"
Damn it!
What now???
Why does this kid have so much static electricity?!
Rubbing his shocked fingers, the thief glared at Lin Beichen. His annoyance turned into a personal vendetta.
"Today…"
"Even if I don't steal anything else, I must steal this kid's phone!"
Once again, his hand reached for Lin Beichen's side pocket.
"Zap—!"
Electrocuted again!
This time, prepared, he didn't jerk back his hand but continued reaching into the pocket.
However, as his fingers persisted into the pocket, the relentless shocks continued.
Damn it, damn it, damn it!
What the hell?!
Is this kid human?
Could he be a toy giving off constant electric shocks???
Through gritted teeth, the thief glared at the laughing and talking Lin Beichen, wanting to punch him, but he restrained himself, knowing he was close to the phone.
And just at that moment.
An angry voice erupted: "What the hell are you wiggling around for?!"
The middle-aged man behind the thief turned, irritation written all over his face as he looked at him.
All the thief's attention had been on stealing the phone and enduring the electric shocks, unaware that his arm, reacting to the shocks, had been twitching and constantly bumping into the man behind him!
Those bumps…
Annoyingly kept hitting the man!
Suddenly, the passengers' eyes turned towards him.
The thief knew it was over!
Under everyone's scrutiny…
He reflexively pulled his hand out from Lin Beichen's pocket!
"It's over, it's over!"
"I'm completely finished!"
The thief cursed his muscle memory!
Before he could even say a word in his defense.
The bus erupted.
"Oh my, did you see that? He pulled his hand out of that kid's pocket; he's a thief!!"
"Catch the thief, grab him!!"
"I knew from the moment he boarded, he was no good! He's a thief!!"
"Close the windows, driver, take us to the police station!"
"Let's all subdue this thief together!"
"Alright, I've always wanted to do a good deed, here's my chance!"
"..."
Watching the crowd closing in.
Considering the mask hid his face, the thief thought if he could escape the bus, he might not get caught by the police. Desperate, he rolled up his sleeves to reveal his tattooed arms, pulled out a 30cm dagger from his waist, brandishing it wildly: "Everyone back off and shut up, I warn you not to meddle!"
The passengers were stunned, retreating instinctively at the sight.
Just as he felt a swell of pride, believing himself to be the "king of the bus."
Suddenly!
A powerful voice roared.
"I'll handle you!"