I saw them stupefied especially the bandit trio. Probably they never would have expected that from me.
"Five times as much, Are you kidding me? Do you even have a thousand coins on you, kid?" Scott replied mockingly.
I ignored him, keeping my eyes locked with them. I don't have to say anything to him, all I have to do is focus on the main players who will play a crucial role in my plan.
"oh then, let's assume you have that much but we can always take it after killing you," said the other Bandit.
Scott smiled at him.
I remained calm. I must stay calm to follow my plan if I show even a slight bit of hesitation then my plan will lead me to a disaster.
"Hear that kid, you are still too green to make that kind of offer" Scott chided. "No matter how much money you have, you cannot possibly compete with me."
"That's right, I don't have money let alone compete with you," I said softly, keeping the same smile on my face. "Second point to be noted"
Scott began giggling as if he had already succeeded but little did he know that was what I wanted. I wanted him to paint a wealthy guy.
"Then how can you offer us five times as much as him?" Asked Celia, her tone was solemn like her face.
I guess my earlier act had worked pretty well on her. What can I say I am an awesome performer.
"Because I can still give you least that much or maybe more"
They went silent.
Scott hesitated. He was getting comfortless by their silence, I could tell from a glance. It was comical.
"You cannot give them shit. You can't, you have nothing. You hear me." he shouted.
"I have nothing but you have a lot, my friend" I replied with a slight smile.
He balked, the hand that held the sword shook slightly but was visible to the eyes. Now now my friend you will see what I am capable of.
I turned to look at Rex and Amelia who were also captivated by my words.
"Let's be realistic shall we?" I continued. "You guys are four and we are only three not to mention I am just a useless guy. The outcome is fixed, we cannot win but it's not like you guys will be completely unharmed."
I noticed the uncertainty in my group's eyes, they knew winning was not an option but we had to fight.
I pointed at them. "Axe Master Rex can at least take one down with him and the same goes for Amelia, she is a mage after all and you will be Victor in the end but at what cost? There will be only two survivors, one will be Scott, and sadly one among you"
I said the last line directly aiming at bandits. They wavered, giving each other worried glances.
"oh my, don't tell me you were considering Scott will die in any way. Nope, he is the strongest not to mention he will throw anyone under the wagon for his own sake just like you saw here, he's nobody's friend" I pretended to be surprised.
"shut the fuck up. He is trying to break our deal, don't listen to him." Scott replied. "Just kill them, enough talk-"
"wait... Wait let me finish, trust me. We are going nowhere but if we die then this offer will be invalid, and you will lose your friends as well as your fat purse" I blurted instantly.
Shit, I have to hurry up before this dude loses his cool. I need to make a point.
"That's bullcrap, if you think you can sway Dan with your useless words then-"
"Oh shut up you dog, you have no say in this." I interrupted him, and his reaction was quite fabulous after hearing me say dog. He was missing one point here as far as I witnessed Celia was the one who gets the final say, not Dan.
I looked at her. "My lady, if you allow me to speak I want to make a huge offer. Let's Kill Scott and take his belongings, I promise We do not want a penny all we want is his head."
"This! Dan, why are you even listening to him? Let's go attack him" Scott ordered, his eyes red. "I will allow you to kill that brat-"
"Did you not hear what Noah said," Rex spoke, his tone serious. "This is between us, the sheep didn't get a say when she was about to get slaughtered"
I felt visible killing intent from Rex. That dude was pissed off and wanted to take down the traitor named Scott as soon as possible.
Scott hung back, sweat ticked down his forehead.
"Noah's second point, Scott has a lot of things on him. Just imagine the wealth he had stolen when he robbed this tomb as well as when killed his friends. I bet it's nearly ten thousand, right Amalia?" Rex mentioned in a rather thoughtful manner.
I had never taken Rex as a man who could think of anything besides fighting but he surprised me.
Amalia smiled.
"That's right, on another hand killing us will not be beneficial to you but dangerous if I have to say" I pointed again. "I still have that precious sword to mention. Did you not hear, it can make you powerful like Acropash, I mean Scott himself agrees with it"
Scott flinched as he slowly moved away from the Bandits. His gaze became cautious.
"Even a lord of a mansion won't have something like that with them," Amalia spoke again.
"I get it. You are all planning to turn us against each other right? That won't happen, I will not let it happen" Scott mumbled, his face dulled.
I saw desire in bandits' eyes, they treasured our offer. They wanted to take hold of it but were doubtful.
"What if they go back to their word? I brought you here so it's natural that they will kill you. They are people who follow the path of righteousness, they will certainly kill you without batting an eye and will take everything for themselves" Scott lets out, selecting his words more carefully. "You guys have no friend other than me, I am no different than you. I understand you."
"so you are telling them to trust you but not us? Did they not see what happened to that girl." I indicated at Rena. "he killed her on the spot when he thought she was no longer useful to him, his ally, and what are you guys for him... A bunch of bandits, not to mention after the fight you guys will be weak and alone against a wolf like him. I damn sure to dispose of all the proof he will kill you. Today or tomorrow"
Scott stifled as Bandit's expression grew heavy.
"We know we cannot trust him but the same goes for you" Replied Celia. "we do not know what your motives are"
I stood silent.
"That's right, why should they trust you? They should stick with me because I fucking hired them, not you but me. They will follow my lead" Scott said uncertainly but did not get any resistance from the bandits. His confidence serged as he spoke. "if you can't trust me then certainly you cannot trust them either,"
"Right, they cannot trust any of us" I shook my head.
Rex and Amalia both looked at me baffled. All this time we were making an effort to persuade them but now I said they could not trust us.
"but that does not mean you stay with him. Don't forget the first point, he said he will kill anyone and everyone as long as he wants" I said again feigning to think.
Scott visibly bit his tongue.
"Then what should we do? Just leave this place?" laughed, the other bandit, "That's not going to happen, kid"
"Even if the job is risky, we have to do it because profit is always worth it" Dan replied.
"Yep, profit always outweighs the risks" Scott gave a wary smile. "Enemies all gears will be yours as well as I raise the pay. Five hundred per person. No thousand per person"
Bruh, are you perhaps dropped on your head?
"Why are you laughing Scott? Even if you offer that much it still lacks compared to my offer. It's legit" I winked at him.
"you cannot include what's mine in your offer. Do you hear that you bastard" he shouted.
"..."
Bruh! He lost it. He finally lost it.
"Why not? You are offering our gear to them" said Amalia.
"That's different because you are going to die anyway" His chest heaved up and down not realizing what he had said.
We watched him silently as he came to his senses. The rules are the same, my friend. I guess, playtime is over. I had a lot of fun and Now the final offer... they can't refuse...