Middle Child Syndrome - Chapter 318

Chapter 318: Ch 318: This is no joking matter!
“Come on! I will give you the first hit! All you need to do is hit me in the face hard once, and you will knock me out. Come on! Why don’t you try hitting me?”

The senior taunted Rika as he continued to jump from one foot to another. He was mocking Rika to fight him seriously by pretending to know how to fight.

His bluff would have worked against a noob person who knew nothing about protecting oneself. But Rika could see all the openings and flaws in his defense.

‘My opponent is not very secure despite moving around this much. Did he never learn how to protect himself?’

Most kids who ended up in the mafia were born into it or had unfortunate circumstances.

Like Rika’s, the second group was taught formally, and they knew the importance of self-defense.

It was not uncommon for the people from the first group to learn some self-defense, but no one in this group seemed interested in learning anything new.

The only thing this branch had going for it was the sheer number of people. But these people needed to look more skillful to hold their own against a stronger opponent.

“Come on! What’s wrong? Are you too chicken to attack me?”

The alpha taunted Rika, now trying to make her attack him. He likely thought he could counter her attacks because she did not weigh them.

‘Just how did this branch survive for this long? It is waiting to collapse under even the smallest pushes. For now, I should show this guy just how lacking he is.’

Rika was ready, and Zhu Li sighed from the sidelines.

“Don’t kill him, Rika. Remember, you must be gentle and ensure you don’t permanently harm him!”

Zhu Li wanted it, and Rika nodded back at him.

Their conversion pissed the unknown alpha off, and he decided that he was done being insulted by Rika and Zhu Li.

He made an attacking pose, but Rika was much faster than he expected her to be.

Before he knew it, Rika had punched him hard, and the alpha clutched his stomach in pain.

“Fuck! This hurts! What kind of coward attacks the other when they are not looking-”

Rika gave this man no time to control himself before she grabbed his hair and pulled his head back.

“What’s wrong? You can’t handle a beta you challenged to a fight? This is why you should check your opponent’s level before you ask them for a fight. Ugh, now I feel annoyed because I had to fight you.”

Rika glared at the man lying at her feet.

She had gotten him good, and her message was OK with others.

“Anyone else wants to fight me as well? If not, then scram. I don’t have time to be dealing with you all.”

Rika’s eyes were blank, but they also promised death and pain to anyone who opposed her.

It made people quickly run away from her in fear and respect. She had established her rule over this base that day, and no one could refuse her.

*sigh*

“What happened to keeping a low profile? All you are doing is making these people look up to you even more. Don’t you want to go back home? Then stop pulling such stunts!”

Zhu Li warned as he looked at Rika. He was also in awe of Rika’s powers but knew she was holding back.

“I would like to hold back and not pull such stunts. But your people keep pissing me off. Tell them to keep in their lane if they know what is good for you. Also, get them all some formal training.

Numbers might hold power, but what are they all when they fly like flies?”

Rika advised Zhu Li, and the older alpha only shook his head.

“I can’t tell if you want to join us or run away from here. You talk about going back all the time and then make such caring comments like these. It makes me confused about your attention.”

Zhu Li questioned, but he was not the only one confused.

Rika was sure she wanted to go home, but being in this gang was not bad either. The more time Rika spent here, the more she felt like she was losing herself to this life.

It had only been one day, and she had already broken her commitment not to avoid getting involved with this world.

“…”

Rika’s lack of answers was an answer enough to tell everyone what she was thinking about and how conflicted she felt about her choice.

Zhu Li did not press her for answers. He understood that Rika was going through a struggle.

When he thought he should give her time to sort her feelings out, his phone buzzed. His uncle called for him and Rika to head toward his office.

As soon as that message came, Zhu Li knew he would have a headache. His uncle’s orders were never something he wanted to carry out.

He was even more reluctant to bring Rika because he knew his uncle had planned something for her.

But what choice did the young alpha have when his uncle, the boss, was calling for him? All he could do was follow the order and return Lisa to his uncle.

“My dear nephew! Did you have fun with your friend? Are you helping Rika settle down nicely? Good! I am happy to see that you both are getting along so well. It will make the mission easier for you.”

The older alpha smiled at the duo in front of him.

As soon as that smile flashed across Zhu Li’s way, he knew he was in trouble. He could read his uncle like a book this time.

“Can I back down from this mission before you tell us about it? Someone would be coming to get me home soon. I would like to head back with them.”

Rika’s face was neutral when she said those words.

Her joke did not feel like a joke, and it scared Zhu Li. His uncle was not going to take this rejection well.