Rick couldn't help but give a step back this time as he heard what the boy said.
"How?" He asked in disbelief. His voice was weak at first. "How can a freaking slave get so strong in this short span of time!? Are you f*cking kidding me!?" He shouted.
Dean stood on his ground and maintained his eyes locked on Rick's. Of all times, that was the one when he would show to him that he wasn't just a brat, nor a shitty slave. He had a name, and he had power. Also, he wanted to remember them that, if they avoided their gaze from him just for a second, he would get stronger without them noticing it.
Just a couple of hours was enough for him to raise his power. His restless and harsh training schedule was what made him get so far in two months. He had a long way to go as an Ascendant yet. However, he wanted to show Rick that he would climb the highest mountain of that world if it was needed.
"I am not here just to confront you, Master. I am not here just to get beaten and ordered as well. I am utterly serious when warning you about something: watch out, because I am no weakling. Every second that passes is one step closer to my victory. I can be a slave now, but in the next month, or week, or day, I won't be anymore. When you less expect, I will show it to you."
Rick grabbed him with his two hands by his collar, shaking him as if he was a cloth doll.
"I would like to see you trying, piece of shit! I'd like you to give me one reason to cut off all your limbs and kill you slowly!"
Despite being threatened like that, Dean laughed again. He was trying to put Rick at his limit there.
"And I would like to see you trying to kill me, Rick. After all, I am your most profitable Ascendant by far, right? I heard you saying it several times in the past. And now, I am getting even stronger and turning into a money-maker machine! You can't kill me, because you need me. You need the money that you are getting now and cannot afford to receive less. That's why you are so desperate to keep a stubborn slave like me, don't you!?"
Rick couldn't hide his flabbergasted expression. He nearly lost the grip on the boy's collar.
That alone was enough for Dean to be sure that his investigation was worth it.
"Hahahaha! So I was right!" He celebrated sarcastically. "Even a competent leader like you have greater reasons for everything you do!"
Rick indeed needed that money. Until then, his slaves only gave him enough profit to pay for Clay, Hector, and Kevin's expenses and salaries. However, Dean was giving them more money than anyone, enough for him to accomplish his goals and survive.
The man could punish him as much as he wanted, but couldn't kill him.
"I am saying to you. Every day I get more and more dangerous, Rick. In truth, I was a fool for trusting you all before, but I am becoming a different person. In the future, I won't be the only one regretting to have met you and your group!" The resolution on Dean's eyes would surely haunt Rick and the trio in their dreams.
His determined expression showed to them that he was not just guessing those events. He was sure that he would be able to accomplish it no matter what.
He seemed more like an oracle predicting things than someone threatening their lives.
"Believe in me..." He pointed at Kevin, then at everyone else. "Believe in me when I say that my sword won't stop the next time! I will kill you! I swear for the name of my homeland that I will do it!"
As they felt a chill run down their spine, the group remained silent for some seconds.
Rick seemed just too angry to speak, but he was bottling his feelings. In truth, he was the most perturbed by those words.
'I already have a deadline to keep alive, but now you come at me with this shit!? What the hell...' Internally, the guy was suffering.
He forced himself to glare at Dean again.
'This boy is going to do it. I can't change this fact. Now, it is some kind of race. It will only depend if I will be able to gather the money I need just in time or if Dean or the others will be able to kill me before...' Rick's face got grim. "I have only until my fifty. Also, this crazy boy is trying to find ways to kill me all the time. Let alone the Dreads and all the shits that happen to me...'
Rick felt a strong headache and rubbed his face.
'Well, for now, I can only enjoy myself while he is still under Emperor's Touch influence!'
Suddenly, he stepped in and unleashed a kick to Dean's chest.
The boy wasn't prepared for that and fell to the ground.
"D-Dean!" Paul tried to reach him but got slapped hard on the face, stumbling to the side.
Rick turned to the others.
"Hey, you scums. Don't keep standing in shock like this. Do you really believe in the words of a shitty brat? He won't be able to lay a finger on any of us while I am still here."
The trio seemed to get out of their previous state.
"Well, yeah, there is no way that he can overcome Emperor's Touch just by will," Hector said as if trying to convince himself.
Kevin and Clay agreed with him nodding their heads.
"Come here and tie him. I am not in the mood to punish him now. We need to find another refuge to go and make some money as well, so it's better that you do it fast. Paul, disassemble the tents. If you do so, maybe I won't kill you."
They began to move under Rick's commands as if that previous scene never happened.
'Good...' The leader sighed. 'As long as I can keep this facade, things will keep working out for the time being.'