Sphinx Street was Newdale’s most chaotic stretch.
It was packed with low-end pubs, casinos, dance halls, and billiard rooms.
Naturally, such a place attracted gangs and street thugs, and violence was a nightly occurrence.
At that moment, a billiard room’s French window shattered from the inside.
A blood-soaked figure tumbled out, rolling across the ground in a miserable state.
A second figure stepped out right after.
He stood nearly two meters tall.
When his foot came down, it crushed a loose wooden panel with ease, showing just how much force he carried.
His body was not bloated, but solid and muscular, built like a wall of iron.
Under the flickering streetlights, his presence alone was enough to pressure anyone nearby.
He stepped forward and planted his foot on the man who had just been thrown out.
The lights revealed his face.
Sharp features, thick brows, and large eyes gave him a naturally fierce look.
Yet there was also a trace of something steady and composed beneath that rough exterior.
Ignoring the chaos still raging inside the billiard room, he stopped the rolling man with his foot, then casually sat down on him.
The impact forced the unlucky man to cough up more blood before going completely still.
Light did not care.
He picked up a discarded newspaper from the ground, brushed it off lightly despite the stains, and began reading.
“Sodis Rebels Defeated, Imperial Western Expansion Achieves Another Victory.”
“Imperial Capital Reopens Unknown Interdimensional Gate.
Vanguard Unit Annihilated.
Closure Expected Within Three Days.”
“Multiple Cannibalism Cases Reported in Vandir City.
Suspected Connection to Uncontrolled Interdimensional Gate Opened Six Months Ago.”
Light lowered the paper and shook his head slightly.
“This world is getting worse by the day.”
Light was the man people here called Thug, but he was not originally from this world.
Two weeks ago, he had transmigrated here without warning.
Every time he thought about it, irritation rose in his chest.
Back in his original world, with his looks, wit, and a few useful talents, his life had been going quite well.
Not long ago, he had even managed to win over his Sexy and wealthy Milf landlady.
He had just begun enjoying life in her spacious villa, free of worries, already planning his future.
Then he opened his eyes and found himself here, living as a street thug.
The body he now occupied was strong, far stronger than an ordinary person.
But that did not make up for the fall from comfort to survival on the streets.
The difference was too much.
Fortunately, Light had a steady mind.
After two weeks, he had already accepted his situation.
The original owner of this body had likely died in a street fight.
There was still a half-healed scar behind his ear as proof.
This body belonged to an ability user, officially registered as E-class by the Imperial Special Abilities Management Bureau.
His ability was simple, enhanced physical strength.
His muscles, bones, and overall physique were far beyond normal human limits.
Even so, he was only E-class.
The Empire had existed for a thousand years.
Countless ability users had appeared over time.
E-class users were not rare.
In places like Newdale, you could find several within a few streets.
Especially in recent years, the sudden appearance of Interdimensional Gates all over the world had brought unpredictable changes.
Strange powers and unknown forces were constantly emerging, shaking the old order.
So even with his strength, this body’s original owner had only managed to become a small gang leader.
“Not exactly a great start,” Light thought with a faint smirk.
Behind him, the noise from the billiard room gradually died down.
Soon, a thin man with a sinister air walked out, followed by several others.
He dragged along a bloodied man whose face was barely recognizable.
“Boss, we’ve collected the money.”
Another subordinate stepped forward and handed over a paper bag stuffed with cash.
Light took it without counting.
He glanced back at the wrecked billiard room, where bodies lay scattered across the floor.
Then he reached out and patted the head of the man being dragged.
“On Sphinx Street, no one owes me money,” he said coldly.
“Did you really think bringing a few useless outsiders would let you avoid paying?”
There was no response.
Light paused, then frowned slightly.
He leaned down and checked the man’s breathing.
After a brief moment, his expression turned annoyed.
“He’s dead.”
He looked up at his subordinates.
“I told you to hold back.
Now you’ve killed him.
People will start thinking I enjoy this.”
The group exchanged glances, but one of them shrugged.
“Boss, this is Newdale.
One death means nothing.”
Light shook his head.
“That was before.
The Empire just crushed the Sodis rebels.
The western front is stabilizing.
Newdale won’t stay a frontline city for long.
It will become a supply hub.
Once that happens, order will return.”
His subordinates looked at him blankly.
Light stopped talking.
Explaining further was pointless.
He reached into the bag, pulled out two bundles of cash, and tossed them to one of the men he disliked.
“This one’s on you.
Twenty thousand.
Lay low for a while.
If it’s not enough, figure it out yourself.
Come back when things settle.”
The man quickly grabbed the money, grinning.
“No problem, Boss.”
Then he hesitated.
“Wait, what do you mean by figure it out myself?”
Light did not bother answering.
He simply stood up and pocketed the rest of the cash.
He had already made up his mind.
This life had no future.
These past two weeks were only for understanding the world and gathering some money.
Now that he had both, it was time to leave.
After dismissing his men, Light walked away from Sphinx Street and headed home.
Yes, even as a gang leader, he had a place to stay in Newdale.
But not for long.
He planned to sell it, take the money, and leave this place behind.
Too many people here knew him.
Too many enemies could appear at any time.
There was no way to start fresh in such an environment.
As he entered the stairwell of his building and turned toward the steps, something changed.
A strange fluctuation spread from his chest.
His heart began to pound heavily.
At the same time, his strength seemed to drain away, as if something was pulling it out of him.
Before he could react, a shimmering gate appeared in front of him.
It twisted with shifting colors, unstable and unfamiliar.
Light’s eyes narrowed instantly.
“An Interdimensional Gate?”
==
‘Light’ might be a bad name choice, who wanna recommend ones I could use?