Before Alfred could descend the stairs, the comical pair had caught up with him.

“Kid, hand that over before we have trouble!". Hee-jin Choe, with her rotund figure and a face that seemed to have forgotten its youth, pestered him with a screechy voice. Her ample bosom, large enough to rival watermelons, seemed to have a gravitational pull of its own.

The man, in stark contrast, was short and skeletal. His lanky limbs were like twigs, and his protruding Adam's apple and chin gave him an odd, bird-like appearance. His scruffy hair stuck out in all directions, resembling a nest for small creatures. In the whorehouse, all the regulars had earned their nicknames, and he was Legless, a reference to his disproportionately lengthy arms and legs.

Choe, on the other hand, was tall and obese, she could hide 3 people behind her frame. She had missing teeth and moles all across her face and shoulders. The only redeeming quality was that her hair was long and silky.

'Beauty truly is in the eye of the beholder,' Alfred thought, casting a sympathetic glance at the man who had been christened "Legless" in this peculiar establishment. Shaking his head inwardly, he continued his descent down the creaking staircase, deliberately ignoring their persistent demands.

However, the scrawny man was determined to play the role of a hero. He dashed toward the kid and reached out, grabbing Alfred's collar firmly.

"Didn't ya 'ear the nice lady? She said, 'Give it 'ere!'" he growled with an odd blend of authority and desperation.

Alfred's eyes sharpened, and he fixed a menacing gaze upon the man. In an instant, an icy chill ran down the man's spine, causing him to release Alfred's collar abruptly. Dumbfounded and bewildered, the words "What the…" escaped his trembling lips as he took several steps back.

As he gazed into the boy's eyes, the man sensed something chillingly inhuman about them. It was as if he were staring into the eyes of a predator, and an overwhelming feeling of impending doom washed over him.

Alfred continued his descent down the stairs, his irritation growing with each step as the pair persisted in their harassment. He considered putting an end to their lives, but he decided against it. Drawing unnecessary attention to himself was the last thing he wanted.

The large woman exclaimed, "Wimp! Get out of my way!" as she forcefully pushed the tiny man aside. She couldn't comprehend why the man had released the boy and simply assumed he was a coward.

Hee-jin Choe rushed down the stairs with heavy, thudding steps, quickly catching up to the boy. She raised her voice intentionally, trying to draw attention to the situation.

"Oi, kid! Don't think you can just steal from me just because you're hungry. We all have to work!" she shouted at Alfred.

Alfred abruptly halted in his tracks. All eyes in the room were suddenly fixed on the unfolding scene, and the background music came to a sudden stop. Some men even stood up, positioning themselves to block the exit.

The plump woman's strategy had worked as planned. She had successfully drawn attention to the situation, and now any words the boy might say would likely be dismissed. She saw this as her opportunity to quickly grab the pouch from him.

Alfred let out a sigh of frustration, thinking, "Why does everything have to be such a hassle in this world?"

Alfred swiftly unsheathed his knife and dashed toward one of the men standing nearby, his movements enhanced by Accelerate. The men were caught off guard by his incredible speed, and before any of them could react, the boy had the knife pressed against one of their jugular veins.

The onlookers in the establishment erupted in a mixture of gasps, murmurs, and whispers.

"Did you see how fast he moved?" a worker muttered in disbelief.

"That kid must be insane!" exclaimed a shocked customer.

"Wasn't Lianfu said to have been defeated by a kid?" shouted another, recalling a recent rumor about a young boy's confrontation with Lianfu.

The shocked whispers of the onlookers quickly escalated into a chorus of disbelief and astonishment.

Legless and Choe felt their hearts racing, their faces paling as they processed the situation. They began to retreat up the stairway, attempting to slip away unnoticed.

However, amidst the cacophony, a skeptical voice rose above the rest. "No way, it can't be him," a man interjected, casting doubt on the unfolding events. "He's too small for something like that!"

The woman with the rotting teeth, who had earlier confronted Alfred, suddenly had an epiphany. Her eyes widened, and she began to tremble slightly. While most of the people in the room were still speculating, she was growing increasingly certain of the boy's identity.

Her memory raced back to that fateful day when she had been present in the room with Shizu Lianfu during the failed assassination attempt. With newfound conviction, she turned on her heels and made her way toward a back room. Once inside, she frantically searched through drawers, looking for something of great importance.

Meanwhile, the men guarding the door reluctantly stepped aside, allowing Alfred to pass through. Even if he wasn't the murderer of the boss, the presence of a child his age who possessed combat abilities raised suspicions. They assumed that there must be a powerful force backing him up, possibly from a noble family.

As Alfred exited the establishment, the woman with rotten teeth finally located the magical device she had been searching for in one of the drawers. Without wasting a moment, she pressed a button on the device.

Ring Ring!

Gacha!

A hologram flickered to life, revealing a man dressed in black on the other end. His voice was low and deep as he admonished, "You better have more information for me. We didn't give you that device for friendly conversation."

Interrupting, Lily, a staff member at the whore house, urgently reported, "The boy came here!"

Despite her less-than-ideal dental situation, Lily was considered one of the more attractive women working at the establishment. She possessed a curvaceous body and maintained a youthful appearance that had earned her favor with Lianfu.

In the early morning, intimidating men had visited her, bombarding her with questions about the death of her boss. Lacking substantial information, she did her best to answer their inquiries to the best of her knowledge. However, she was one of the few who had gotten a close look at Alfred that night.

If she had paid close attention to Alfred's outfit and reported it precisely, the Shadowguard would have identified him as the Vesperan creature. Yet, witnesses characterized him as being without pants. This detail hindered the Shadowguard from connecting Alfred to the strange beast.

The men had supplied her with a device and promised her a reward in exchange for assisting them in locating the boy. Fearing the consequences of refusal, she reluctantly agreed to help. Even now, her motivation wasn't the reward but the fear of reprisal.

"When did he arrive?" the man inquired, relaying signals to his companions.

"Just a moment ago! I'm not sure if he's still here," Lily replied before the man abruptly ended the call.

"Go look for him and stall him!" the man ordered before hanging up the call.

To Lily's dismay, the boy had already departed. Despite questioning everyone in the diner, she couldn't gather any information regarding his current whereabouts or the direction he had taken.

…

Alfred walked down the street, absorbing the sights and sounds around him. It was the first time since his transmigration that he didn't feel overwhelmed or under pressure. Thanks to Lianfu's memories, he could compare the inner city to the slums.

He was left utterly speechless as he marveled at the stark contrast in the quality of life. In the inner city, buildings were constructed using advanced materials like metal alloys and magical components. They were more technologically advanced than anything he had witnessed in his past life.

The utilization of magic has driven scientific innovation in this world. Mana had effectively replaced traditional batteries, and the boundaries of technological development had been shattered.

In stark contrast, the homes in the slums were constructed from crude materials and rough stones. Alfred couldn't help but sense that there was a mysterious conspiracy at play, something he couldn't quite grasp yet.

With a calm demeanor, he strolled toward the black market, weaving his way through the labyrinth of streets and narrow alleyways. Despite the chaotic environment, the thoroughfares were alive with activity. Children engaged in games, men tried their luck at gambling, and women gathered outside their homes, sharing gossip with their neighbors.

Alfred paid no heed to the filth and debris scattered along the paths. In its unique way, the slums exuded a vibrant and bustling energy.

Alfred reached an inn nestled deep within the bustling markets. The establishment sported a narrow entrance, with a dimly lit stairway descending into the shadows below. The only indicator of its nature as an inn was the sign suspended above the door.

He proceeded cautiously, descending the stairs with a discreet check to ensure his knife was securely nestled at his waist. The stairway eventually opened up into a dimly lit room with a well-worn bar at its center. A strikingly beautiful woman stood behind the counter, her gaze fixed on him as he reached the final step.

"Oh my," she purred, her voice dripping with admiration. "What a handsome young boy you are."

Alfred couldn't help but feel a tinge of pleasure at her compliment, an unusual reaction for him. It seemed that she was the first woman in this world to catch his eye and elicit such a response.

She wore a sleek, jet-black jumpsuit that clung tightly to her body. The short sleeves showed off her toned arms and the deep V-neckline revealed a tantalizing glimpse of her curves.

At the waist was an eye-catching blood-red bow which further drew attention to her enviable figure. The fabric hugged each silhouette as if it had been tailored just for her, fitting snugly at the legs and buttocks in an almost uncomfortable way.

"Can you speak, little boy?" she giggled.

He composed himself and replied calmly, "Hello, madam. I'm looking for someone and was wondering if you could help."

"Oh, what manners!" the lady exclaimed, clearly impressed. She rarely crossed paths with anyone who displayed such decorum. Observing the boy's worn-out clothes and oversized pants, she couldn't help but wonder where he had learned such manners.

Alfred was dressed in some of Henri’s clothes, as the harem thief had burned his pants. He had never owned shoes to begin with, so he made do with whatever he could find.

“I’m looking for the Black Orchid,” Alfred spoke.

The lady's countenance immediately transformed, emanating a deadly aura. Initially, she had exuded a seductive charm that drew people in, but now her demeanor resembled a snake lying in wait.

"And who's asking?" she inquired in a monotone voice.

"I have a message," Alfred replied calmly.

She continued to scrutinize him without responding.

"The black knight wipes his sword with a red cloth," he added.

Silence.

The following text is the continuation of chapter 12, revised for clarity, grammar, and enhanced drama:

The woman then turned around and pulled a lever that revealed a hidden door, all while saying, "You may enter, valued customer," with a broad smile that sent chills down Alfred's spine.

'I guess she must have been The Viper,' Alfred mused. Although Lianfu had known about the existence of The Viper and the correct password, he had never visited this branch before.

Alfred had intentionally come here, seeking to avoid the Hocus family's influence until things settled down. For that, he needed a few items that could only be acquired on the black market.