Max went towards the settlement and saw that it was a small town with around 1000 citizens. It was day time and this little town looked not good at all. He saw that people did not live well here. They were in a survival mode. People quickly recognized the fact that he was not local. In settlements like this everyone knew all the locals and you could not hide from detection in a place like this. Max tried to be friendly but it didn't help because most people were wary of him and the other part looked at him like a walking wallet. The houses looked old and disheveled. Max did not want to stay here. He wanted to find a map and some food and just go to a better place. He did not see any shops near by, but soon he found out that he was there for some trouble. Some of the villagers came forward with knifes and other weapons.
One of those people came forward, it looked like he was the leader. The guy did not look very big and strong. It looked like he was the brain of the group. This person came and few more steps forward and said: "Yo, take out the money and all valuable things. Put them here and leave".
Max looked at those guys. None of them was even an apprentice knight. He used appraisal everyone and then on the leader and saw the next information:
Name: Derek. Age:30. No talent for warrior or magic training.
Max was little disappointed from the information the skill displayed. He knew that this data meant that Derek was not even an apprentice in terms of power level. Still he wanted more information to be displayed. Then he sighed. It was still better then nothing. He could not use the appraisal on himself for some reason. Still Max knew his power level so it was not a big deal.
After ending his speech Derek looked at Max with a meaningful look. Derek wanted to show that he was a good enough person to let Max leave with his life.
"Sorry but I'm not interested in all of this. I'm looking for a map and basic ingredients for food like meat, potato's and vegetables. If you have some other product to sell I will be sure to take a look." I'm ready to pay with cash." Max took a silver coin from his pocket that materialized there by using the spatial ring in secret. If those guys will know about his secrets they will have to die.
When the silver coin appeared it did not get the reaction Max have expected. The greed in the eyes of the potential attackers as well as Derek's increased by a lot. Max saw the change in the atmosphere and was starting to lose his patience. He was not a young man anymore from the inside. He maybe looked young but generally he was almost 400 years of age grumpy old man with a bad temper. After speaking only with himself and the system Max was socially awkward person. He tried to act nice but it backfired on him so he will act to those guys like bots from the simulation. After a total change of character in a moment he said: "Give me a map of this region and move out of the way. I'm not going to say it twice."
Max did not have the bonus power buff from the gaming club that elevate his power level to the grand warrior and high mage levels but he did not need it. To kill or immobilize those foes with no knight or mage abilities was a joke for him.
Derek's face changed as well and he yelled: "Attack. Kill this shit and take his belongings."
The other people that were around roared with delight. They were waiting for this instruction for some time now. The reaction from the stranger enraged them. They were showing good will by letting this guy live and he insulted them. It was time to die for the stranger. They all ran forward with a battle cry and swung different weapons to kill the stranger. Then all Derek's group stopped abruptly. The person that was the closest to Max was punched in the face with a speed those guys could not see and his head exploded. Brain matter and blood flew all around and fell on some of the villagers. Those people did not really saw much death and it was a shock to them. Some of them started to puke and the others were cowering in fear. Derek was covered in a cold sweat. He did not expect this and he was sure that this guy was at least a powerful apprentice knight. He knew that they were doomed if they will offer any kind of resistance and because of that he yelled: "We surrender! Drop your weapons!".
One of the villagers said in anger: "But boss. He killed Terry!"
"You can go and die as well if you really want to. I'm trying to save your life." Derek said with a dark face.
'You stupid retard! If you will enrage this guy we are all dead!' Derek yelled from the inside. He knew that their fate will be decided by this stranger. Even if he will kill them all no one will really care for a faith of some small and insignificant settlement. Even if the authorities were here they will most likely will offer the lives of Derek and his men as compensation.
Derek was regretting not showing good will towards the stranger. The person that showed dissatisfaction dropped his weapon unwillingly. Max was also covered in some brain matter and blood. It made his mood even worse. He cleared himself with flames. His clothes were defended by a small layer of water that was invisible for the naked eye and it did not let the blood and brain matter to dirty his clothes. If it would happen Max may really go on a rampage. It was his only set of clothes and they looked fine. He did not want to look like a beggar.
Derek's face changed again. A mage! This guy was a magic caster as well. Now Derek was horrified. He travelled the Marsh country for a lot of years and saw a lot of things but mages were not one of them.
After this realization Derek knelt down and said in a very humble and fearful voice: "Honorable sir mage please tell us your instructions. We are under your command."