Chapter 116: Scammer
’So, the show is over, and now it’s time to settle the bill,’ Dhruv thought as he glanced at the people.
Vexar’s face was still full of blood, and he was doing his best to wipe it off by licking, but stubbornly enough there was still some left. Then, one of the water mages from the group stepped forward, deciding to lend a hand.
A sly smirk crept onto Dhruv’s face as he observed this scene unfolding before him. He decided to cast an apologetic look at everyone and said,
"I suppose this is where we part ways. As I’ve mentioned before, there’s a man safeguarding your friends or family members in the sleeping area. After you’ve reunited with them, we can each go our separate paths from there. Good luck."
Dhruv intentionally emphasized the words "Good luck," as if he were subtly challenging them, suggesting that their chances of survival in this unforgiving land, especially under these circumstances, were slim.
Without waiting for any reply, he started walking toward the gate. Except for the crew, no one was following him. Even when offered the opportunity to reunite them with their relatives, they remained rooted in place, each having the same thought in their minds.
They all have the same idea of following the man and his group to the very end. This choice wasn’t solely based on this recent incident; No, in fact in front of the massacre they had witnessed this was just the tip of the iceberg. And, they had been somewhat relieved by the protection they received from the gang.
So, why this sudden change of heart, you might ask?
It was because they had finally witnessed the true extent of power. They had seen that a mere three-man group had effortlessly killed the entire gang, the very gang they had relied on for protection. After witnessing this, how could they not be shocked? If the man in front of them could achieve such a feat, who could guarantee that some other group wouldn’t take advantage of them after eliminating their so-called protector, or worse, that a monstrous entity wouldn’t devour them?
After realizing all of this, how could they simply sit still and watch everything unfold without taking action?
Dhruv came to a halt when he "noticed" that nobody was following him. He turned around, gazing at everyone else, and asked,
"What? Aren’t you going to reunite with your family or group members?"
From Dhruv’s expression, it was clear that he was very shocked by their actions. He lifted one of his eyebrows and gestured with his hand, signaling for them to head in the direction of the sleeping port.
While Dhruv was turning, he stopped abruptly as he noticed a man walking in front of the group with a determined expression.
’Gottcha there,’ Dhruv thought to himself as he tried his hardest to maintain a composed expression.
The man, who was in his twenties, with jet-black hair and a single earring adorning his left ear, walked up to Dhruv and said,
"Uh... My lord," the man shuddered, his voice filled with a mixture of awe and determination. "You’ve shown me what’s possible. I... No, we want to be like you. We want you to train us, to lead us."
The man addressed Dhruv as "my lord" because he had only heard everyone else refer to him in this same respectful manner and never by his name. Not wanting to appear rude, he followed suit. Additionally, the man hoped that his politeness might have an effect on Dhruv.
Dhruv looked at them with a genuinely shocked expression, as this whole turn of events had caught him completely off guard. Before he could even reply, a woman stepped forward and said,
"...M-my lord, we’ve witnessed the power of your group. You’ve revealed a strength we can only dream of. So, please share this strength with us, pleease. We believe and promise that we won’t come in your way and will only help you."
"Yes!"
"Please train us..."
"We..."
As the woman’s words concluded, almost everyone in the group began expressing their support for her words.
Dhruv’s expression shifted from shock to a mix of disbelief and exasperation as he stared at them, he made an expression as if he was telling them, "Are you really serious?" He once again attempted to speak but was interrupted when a young man stepped forward and began speaking,
"We’re willing to put in the work. We’re not seeking shortcuts. We crave your guidance, your wisdom, your experience. Please don’t..."
While the man was still in the midst of his plea, a thought emerged in Dhruv’s mind, and he thought with a pained expression, ’I want you too, but at least let me speak.’
When the young man noticed Dhruv’s pained expression he stopped speaking, he gazed at Dhruv with a hopeful expression and was eager to hear his response.
Seizing the moment, Dhruv quickly opened his mouth, fearing that someone might once again step forward and disrupt the conversation.
"Listen," Dhruv said in a deep and measured voice, "I’m not a teacher or anything like that. I’m just a man who has spent ye.. Uhmm! days honing my skills and body. Strength is not something that can be given; it must be earned through your own sweat and blood."
Dhruv repeated the same lines he had read in a novel. This kind of conversation often occurred when the main character tried to persuade their master to teach them, and it had been repeated so many times that he had it memorized.
A murmur of agreement rippled through the crowd, but Dhruv’s words hadn’t managed to deter their resolve. As he looked at their faces, he felt that one more push was needed so, he once again opened his mouth and spoke with a determined expression.
"Strength is not just about physical prowess," he began, his voice softer now, more reflective. "It’s about discipline, about understanding your own limits and pushing past them. It’s about finding balance in all aspects of life."
As Dhruv spoke, the group listened intently, hanging on to his every word. They could sense that he was opening up to them, sharing not just his strength but his philosophy, and his way of life. It was a rare and cherished opportunity for them.
Little did they know that all he was doing was scamming them...
