The sudden threat scared Bang out of his wits. He hadn't even spoken and the guy was already trying to kill him.
'Uhhh.... system, help?!'
As if granting his request, the system relayed instructions.
"Supreme leader, I came here to plea for our lives."
The system was strangely polite in this occasion. Maybe it was because they were surrounded on all sides and had nowhere to go?
'System, why couldn't you be that nice to me?'
'..........'
Like always, the system kept quiet until it needed to intervene.
"Hmmm....the mighty Sabik pleading for his life? Interesting."
The supreme leader spoke to him with a bit of smile and ridicule on his face
'Sabik?? Oh! My previous name!'
Sabik had a confused face while thinking that. He truly forgot that there was previous owner to this body. It even looked like the supreme leader and that guy knew each other.
"I am a changed man, supreme leader."
Bang bowed while putting his hand on his chest. There was respectful tone in the system. The system doesn't want to offend this guy? Looks like even the system can't get out of this by offending the leader.
All the better that the system wasn't offending everyone left and right. He would take this respectful system over the previous one in a heartbeat.
"Hohhhh.... is that why you've come to the Steel Muscle on your own?"
Steel Muscle. Finally, he knew their name. But he will still keep on calling them muscle heads because that's what they are.
The curious selective words of the leader implied that Bang came here on his own instead of being a captive. Unfortunately, Bang didn't notice those subtle words.
"Yes, supreme leader. I have come with critical information that you would appreciate."
The supreme leader only looked at Bang without any expression.
"That I, the mighty lkli, would want? Interesting..... then tell me!"
It was then that Bang looked directly at the eyes of Ikli. He was nervous doing that, but it was the system's commands.
"The location of a nesting Limaw."
The carefree expression of Ikli now turned into something serious. He looked at Tarim for confirmation and a bit of background.
He also noticed the essence in Tarim's hands but paid it no heed. He was too prideful to take his subordinate's belongings.
"Supreme leader, here is what happened...."
Tarim then went to narrate the circumstances leading to this conclusion. He didn't forget to add some praises for himself.
"Hmmm......"
The supreme leader kept silent for a while. He put his hand on his chin as if he was contemplating.
"The question still stands, why shouldn't I kill you right now. We could get to this nest without your help."
Bang kept sweating. What will the system do now? Looks like the information wasn't enough for them to live.
As if to shut him up, he received commands from his system.
"You'll need my help in finding the nest or else the Hunter's Quest will get there first."
The mention of their rival elicited some reactions from all the muscle heads in the throne room.
Some frowned, some flexed their muscles, but it was clear they all hated the Hunter's Quest.
"Why would they get there first?"
Only the supreme leader kept a cool head and continued asking questions.
"We met some hunters that I shared the same information with."
Bang was so nervous that his voice was feeble when he said that. As far as he could remember, the hunters didn't know about any information. The system was bluffing. He was nervous that the leader was going to find out.
Ligi flinched at the sudden bluff. He couldn't stop himself from reacting and it was immediately noticed by the supreme leader.
"Looks like this is the first time your friend here has heard about it. Are you bluffing?"
'Fxxx, what the hell Ligi? Because of you he called out the bluff!!!'
Bang wanted turn to Ligi and curse him out but the system had other commands he had to speak out.
"Supreme leader, I'm not bluffing. When we first met, Ligi was being harassed by the cowardly hunters. I didn't want to trigger him, that's why Ligi did not know about my conversation about the hunters."
The system's words pandered to the audience. It clearly worked because they were silently agreeing to the insult he made to the hunters.
Ikli smiled mysteriously. Did he believe me or did he call my bluff? Bang didn't know.
"Okay Sabik. We'll go to the nest that you've discovered tomorrow morning. You'll follow my guards and lead them to it. You both will be wearing handcuffs. Guards, lead them to an empty room."
Ikli gesture to the guards at his side with a commanding tone. He then turned to Tarim and spoke.
"Tarim, use that essence and breakthrough. We'll need your strength tomorrow."
At the command of Ikli, Tarim saluted and grinned. His whole teeth were now showing in delight. This was his most awaited moment. He will finally advance. And the cherry on top was the words of Ikli. His strength was acknowledged.
Tarim quickly disappeared from the door while looking at the essence in his hands.
Without waiting for a second, Ikli turned to another guard and spoke.
"Bring me a candidate. Now that Tarim will breakthrough to a senior, we need a new veteran to replace him."
Ikli turned to Bang and smiled mysteriously
"Hope you enjoy your stay here. Hopefully, our treaty stays intact by tomorrow."
Bang just ignored Ikli's words and turned away. He was still salty that Tarim had the essence and is now breaking through. He thought that the system would somehow steal it back, but it looks like it won't happen.
At least tomorrow they will be able to have more essences, right?
'Don't worry owner. Essences are useless to you.'
'What????? It's useless to me?? Why did I even go through all that trouble???'
'.........'
The system's silence really infuriated him. He felt like he was just a passenger because the system always keeps him in the dark.
As Bang dejectedly followed the guard to lead him out, they saw the door opening.
It was a man in his late thirties. He had dirty, unkempt brown hair. His face was sullen and dehydrated with his cheeks without any volume. He wore a bloodied white t-shirt and black shorts.
The bags under his eyes was very prominent. It was only looking at the man on the throne and ignoring everybody in his way.
"D——d———-Dad?"
The sudden revelation by Ligi surprised everybody.
———————————
Ligi had always been alone in their house. His father would spend most of his time away from home. The only evidence that he was on the house was the breakfast of bread and soup on the morning. He didn't know where his father was going because they rarely spoke.
At night, his father would come home and berate him for no reason. When he was a kid, he didn't know why his father would scold him and could only guess that he did something wrong.
As he grew older, the scolds became curses and the curses became physical. He would get shoved and lightly punched. It didn't hurt, but it was mentally devastating.
As time went on, he just accepted the fact that he was born to be useless. He was only born for the purpose of someone having to vent their angers to. He had accepted his fate and lived life without any care to what happens to him.
Then he met Bang and chaos ensued. The rollercoaster of emotions that he felt allowed him to have hope. A hope that his life will forever change.
Then he suddenly met his father in an unexpected place.
'Why is he here? Was he working here all this time?'
Ligi could only stare at his father's back. His father didn't even bat an eyelid when they crossed paths and only had his attention to the leader.
He only felt shocked for a moment and realized that this was normal. Of course his father would ignore him. He's useless. That was proven throughout this whole ordeal.
Ligi fell deeper into depression as met his father.
——————————
'What??? He's Ligi's father? What kind of coincidence is this?'
'........'
Bang's jaw was in the floor. Looks like even the system was perplexed at this coincidence.
He stopped walking and looked in the direction of where Ligi's father was going. He looked at Ikli and he also had been shocked, judging by the raised eyebrows.
Regaining his composure, Ikli looked at Ligi's father and spoke.
"What's your name?"
Ligi's father bent down and kneeled in prostration. He looked happy even just looking at the supreme leader's ground.
"Tubo, your honor"