"It's not a robbery! It's not a robbery... it was bought by Lord Bloodstone, bought..." The guard quickly explained, but his voice was getting softer.
"Where did you buy it from? How could something like this be sold at the border?" Kent asked.
"Yes, yes... it was..." The guard's voice was like a squashed frog.
"What? Speak up!" Kent ordered.
"It was from the Tiger Tribe, Lord..." The guard's face turned red.
The guard team exchanged glances. The Tiger Tribe, the mortal enemies of the Highland Alliance, secretly doing business with the Highland Alliance's tribes? And it's with a top-level magical armor that rarely appears on the Red Earth Continent?
"How could the Tiger Tribe have something like this? How many gold coins did you spend on it?"
"Lord, I really don't know. We're just the caravan's guards, and matters like this, Lord Bloodstone wouldn't let us know."
"If I send you back to the Raging River Camp, how many gold coins would your master give me as thanks?"
"Uh... this..." The guard was stunned. Such a strange question?
"Ah, let me rephrase." Kent coughed lightly. "Is your life worth two thousand gold coins?"
Laughter came from behind.
"Lord, you..." The guard's back was covered in cold sweat. "Please don't make fun of me."
"Mm." Kent nodded, then pointed to the woman and asked the guard, "Who is she?"
"She? Lord, our caravan was robbed by her and her men, but we almost killed her, Lord!" He gritted his teeth as he glared at the woman, saying fiercely, "She's worth quite a bit. The Black Guard Camp issued a bounty on her, the leader of the Blood Rose Marauding Group..." The guard seemed to find his chance to redeem himself, pointing at the woman, his gaze full of fervor as he shouted.
"The Hidden Killer Assassin, Water Flow."
Behind him, the guard team was in an uproar.
"Water Flow? Is she famous?" Kent asked, somewhat confused upon hearing the surprise from behind him.
"Hey, boss, she's the only woman in the top ten of the Northern Wilderness Power Rankings." Udo replied. "Her Blood Rose Marauding Group has robbed quite a few caravans. The combined bounties from several tribes add up to over ten thousand gold coins."
"Top ten? Sounds pretty impressive." Kent muttered. "But this bounty is still not worth as much as the magical armor."
Another round of low, amused chuckles sounded.
"Hey, Water Flow," Kent smiled at the woman kindly. Of course, he hadn't realized that his covered face was the biggest obstacle to releasing his male charm. "Do you have any reason to persuade me to take you with me?"
The woman looked up, her gaze seemingly piercing through his armor.
The pain from the wounds on her waist and legs had already numbed her. If it weren't for saving her companions, with her abilities, those caravan guards wouldn't have been able to hurt her. The swords of the guards had been coated with venom from the Snake Kiss Grass, which, although not fatal, would keep the body paralyzed and bleeding for an extended period.
Now, the effects of the poison had long passed, and the wounds had been blocked by mud to stop the bleeding. But the pain had become excruciating, and without timely medical treatment, her body had started to run a low fever. She might not survive the next few days.
Her lake-blue eyes shone with the ferocity of a wild beast. Though her restraints had been removed, even in her current state of injury, Water Flow's body was slightly crouched, as if ready to strike a fatal blow at any moment. She wasn't sure where this heavily armored figure came from, or whether he was an enemy or a friend.
But she clearly heard the two words.
"Leave."
This gave her a glimmer of hope in her otherwise desperate heart.
A reason to persuade? Water Flow smiled inside. It was just a man who wanted to take advantage of her body.
Hmph, men.
The satisfaction from Water Flow: +1.
Kent almost spat blood. What does this mean? I offer to take you away, and you give me only 1 satisfaction point?
"As you wish, Lord," her voice held an irresistible charm, like a wild rose with thorns. She knew it would prick her fingers, but still couldn't resist picking it.
Her soft voice reached Kent's ear like a hundred delicate tentacles, irresistibly entangling his heart. Kent felt an inexplicable tingling in his chest, and some power within him was stirring.
After all, he was still a seventeen- or eighteen-year-old young man.
Splitting Blade's giant sword, unfortunately, swept across the ground again. "Boss, this woman has some strange ability. Be careful."
The heavy sword thrust into the ground with a thud, as Splitting Blade's booming voice sounded, "Water Flow, if you want to live, stop using these underhanded tricks."
"Underhanded tricks?" Water Flow sneered, and at that moment, her entire body radiated charm. "You men can use your own means to get everything, but I use mine to exchange for a chance at survival. Is there something wrong with that?"
The two captives beside her, who had initially been full of hostility, were now staring with wide eyes.
Splitting Blade didn't expect Water Flow's rebuttal to be so sharp. For a moment, he was at a loss for words, only letting out a heavy grunt.
"Well, a chance at survival," Kent lightly clapped his hands. "Just for that sentence, I'll take you with me."
Water Flow, crouched on the ground, didn't react at all, but Kent saw a flicker of light in her eyes.
Satisfaction from Water Flow: +2.
"However, I have one condition..." Kent's face darkened.
"I accept," Water Flow replied decisively.
"Huh? You agree before I even say it?" Kent was taken aback.
It turned out to be the same trick. Water Flow laughed inside.
But in the hands of the foreign tribe, her life had been almost sealed, and now there was a glimmer of hope. As long as she could survive, what could she not accept?
"Can you give me..." Kent's voice trailed off.
Bastard, does he want to humiliate me publicly? Water Flow closed her eyes, suppressing the discomfort in her heart.
"Do a dance?" Kent laughed inwardly. He had noticed Water Flow's strong sense of pride earlier and thought to make her pay a small price. At least this way, she would be saved with peace of mind.
Water Flow opened her eyes, staring at Kent as though he were a lunatic.
Her expression was full of confusion, chaos, and frustration, as well as a trace of anger.
A dance? What the hell is this condition?
I can dance anytime, but I wonder if you'll live to see it.
As the most famous Hidden Killer Assassin on the Red Earth Continent, Water Flow's entire skillset in assassination was mastered by only five people. No one knew that her teacher had once taught the royal dancers of the super tribes.
The Dance of Assassination is a deadly performance with daggers.
Water Flow's expression was unpredictable. Her reaction made Kent's little prank exceedingly satisfying.
He opened his mouth to speak, but before he could, an unexpected event occurred...