Chapter 400 The Child is Young and Pitiful
"Take this for self-defense," Barbara said, handing Pearl a black metallic object.
Pearl hesitated, remembering when Donald had tied her and Haley up.
"I don't know how to use a gun," Pearl admitted, feeling its weight.
She had never used one before and was afraid of accidentally hurting someone.
Barbara got it. Without weapons, they were easy targets. "It's okay if you don't know how to use it. Once we reach the Eldorians, I'll teach you."
"But this one, you should..." Pearl started, but Barbara cut her off, "Take it. It's the smallest gun I could find."
"Alright," Pearl agreed reluctantly.
Pearl then shared the address she got over the phone.
Barbara thought for a moment. "You shouldn't go alone, and I can't leave you. I'll have someone else pick it up."
It was safer to head straight to their destination.
"Okay," Pearl agreed.
They left the hotel. Barbara had arranged for a car to pick them up, but it didn't show. Instead, they were surrounded by a group of children.
The kids were small, thin, and some were barely clothed. They chattered and blocked their way.
"What are they saying?" Pearl asked July, sensing they wanted food or money.
Their eyes showed no fear, just desperation. Pearl felt a pang in her heart.
July scolded them in a foreign language, but they ignored her and focused on Pearl and Barbara.
Barbara's martial arts skills kept the kids at bay, but Pearl was different. She felt for them and momentarily forgot to act. The kids crowded around her, pointing to their mouths, one even kneeling and crying.
"Barbara, give them some food. And my clothes to these girls," Pearl said.
July looked stern. "Ms. Harris, I get your kindness, but there are many refugees here. If you give to these, what about the others?"
These people were targeting foreign tourists, exploiting their kindness for food, money, and other things. Some extreme refugees even lured tourists to remote areas, drugged them, and harvested their organs for money.
Pearl had researched Eldoria before arriving and knew the surrounding countries were poor and war-torn, leading to many refugees. She couldn't ignore these children, since she had already encounted this situation..
She did charity work at orphanages not because the kids were from her country, but because they were children in need. She wasn't overly compassionate; she just felt these kids were young and pitiful.
"I know. We don't have much food and clothing," Pearl said, giving Barbara a look.
Barbara understood. Fearing the children would start a frenzy, she brandished her gun. The kids scattered in fear.
Pearl hadn't expected them to be so frightened. The car still hadn't arrived, and she saw the children watching from a distance, their pitiful eyes, especially the girls with exposed chests, lingering in her mind.
She couldn't just stand by. Barbara had already taken out the clothes and food. Pearl gave Barbara a look, and Barbara called July to follow Pearl.
July translated for the children in real-time behind Pearl.
"Here's some food, and these clothes are for the girls. Put them on," she said, handing out the items. "I wish I could do more, but this is all I have."
The children, sensing the authority and potential danger of Barbara's gun, fell into a quiet, orderly line. But as soon as they got the food, they devoured it ravenously.
One child, Alejandro Sanchez, accidentally choked on the bread, his face turning red and contorted in pain, collapsing in convulsions.
Seeing Alejandro in such a state, Pearl immediately performed the Heimlich maneuver. She had patted twice when suddenly, a force hit her waist hard. She was caught off guard and fell heavily to the side.
Fortunately, Barbara caught her in time, preventing her from hitting the ground, but Alejandro had already collapsed. Still choking, he couldn't even cry.
Pearl was about to get up when she saw a dark-skinned woman in tattered clothes, Guadalupe Sanchez, glaring at her fiercely.
Guadalupe was saying something. July said seriously, "This is bad. She blames you for giving Alejandro something he shouldn't have eaten. She says she wants to kill you!"
The next second, Guadalupe lunged at Pearl. With Barbara there, she wouldn't let Guadalupe harm Pearl. Barbara immediately brandished her gun, and Guadalupe stopped in her tracks, terror in her eyes.
Pearl urgently said, "July, hurry and translate for her. Tell her I can save Alejandro and not to worry."
"Hello, your child just choked. Ms. Harris has a way to save him!" July tried to translate, her voice trembling slightly.
Unexpectedly, Guadalupe seized the moment and lunged at Pearl like a ferocious beast. At that moment, a military vehicle drove up.
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