บท 32: Bandit?!

The figure standing before Lucien resembled more of a bandit than someone who had been robbed. Three individuals stood before him: one woman and two men, one tall and one short.

The tall man was imposing, with unruly brown curly hair and a face marred by scars. His attire was shabby, and he carried a cutlass sword at his side.

The shorter man wore a hood, his thin and pale frame draped in worn-out brown clothes. The woman, Jena, wore a colorful, flowing dress that gave her the appearance of a fortune teller.

"They look so pitiful in those shabby clothes. Robby here even has scars from the bandits," Zane remarked, tapping the tall man's shoulder.

"And Lewis here is practically skin and bones. Jena lost everything she had," he continued, wearing a sympathetic expression.

"Please, just give us a place to rest. We've lost everything," Jena pleaded, tears streaming down her cheeks as Zane tried to comfort her.

Lucien was confused if Zane actually brought them purposely here or out of pity. But looking at how he looked genuinely sad and sincere, he knew that Zane was serious about them.

But how come he didn't realize that the 'pitiful' people that he brought were scammers?

Gibson approached, so Lucien whispered to him, "Is he oblivious? He's an engineer, right?"

"He's... a bit odd and empty-headed at times," Gibson sighed. "My Lord, those people are bandits, I'm almost certain from the way they're dressed."

"Yes, Village Chief, please help us. Look at the scars they left us with, and all I could do was fight them with this useless sword," Robby pleaded, brandishing his blade and pointing at Lucien. Of course, still acting desperate.

Lucien gazed at him without a sweat. He was used to being pointed with a gun or katana in his face, he didn't have any fear left. While Gibson cowered behind him.

But Lucien sensed something amiss. The woman had merely asked for a place to rest, without mentioning any demands for valuables.

Moreover, the villagers know they were bandits and it means that the bandits were usually robbed near here and probably know how poor the village was.

Why didn't they just blatantly attack them? Or do they know Lucien and his family were a threat? Or the dragons? How much do they know?

What did they actually want?

"My Lord, please retreat. They are undoubtedly bandits," Auden urged, appearing behind Lucien with his sword drawn.

Lucien acknowledged Auden's warning but remained composed.

"As you can see, we are very poor here. We can't give anything to you."

Lucien shrugged with ease, he was merely honest with his words. The village had little to spare, let alone for bandits.

While he spoke, Lucien scanned the area, searching for his parents, Brigantiea, and Lithira. He noticed Lithira attempting to approach him, only to be held back by Brigantiea.

'Well, I'm not in danger yet anyway,' he tried to reason why his woman was just standing there doing nothing.

"We don't want that-" Robby's words were cut off by Lewis's crude interruption.

"What about the bitch over there with that," he pointed at Lithira and Brigantiea, "We can do something fun with whores like them, can't we?" His lewd chuckle sent shivers down everyone's spine.

Lucien felt his temper flare, his muscles tensing with rage. Without a moment's hesitation, he lunged toward Lewis, his grip tightening around the man's throat with an iron grip.

Caught off guard, Lewis attempted to strike back with his dagger, but Lucien swiftly deflected the attack, his hand delivering a stinging slap to Lewis's wrist.

"What did you say about my woman? Say it again if you dare!" Lucien's voice was a menacing growl, his eyes ablaze with fury as he pressed down on Lewis's neck.

Insults directed at him he could endure, but not when they targeted his loved ones. His patience had its limits, and anyone who dared to insult his family and his woman would face his wrath.

"Argh... Ughh..." Lewis struggled to form words, his throat constricted by Lucien's vice-like grip while his hands scratching Lucien's hand.

The aura emanating from him was one of impending danger, instilling fear in those around him.

Robby, startled by Lucien's sudden attack, raised his sword in defense, preparing to strike back.

However, before he could launch his assault, Auden swiftly intervened, deflecting the blow and protecting Lucien from harm.

"No one can attack the back of My Lord while I'm still here," Auden declared, a confident grin playing on his lips as he faced off against Robby.

Impressed by Auden's skill, Robby acknowledged his opponent. "Not bad," he conceded, readying himself for a confrontation.

Meanwhile, Zane watched the chaotic scene unfolding before him with growing confusion. He couldn't comprehend the situation, aside from the fact that Lewis had clearly crossed a line by insulting the chief village's loved ones.

He couldn't understand why Jenna had drawn a dagger to his neck, nor why Lucien seemed unmoved by his plea for help.

"Let go of Lewis! Or I will kill him!" Jenna's desperate shout finally drew Lucien's attention.

"Go ahead and kill him, I don't care. This man will die in my hand." Lucien said, didn't give a shit about Zane.

They just met and Zane dared to bring whatever this bandit wanted to and they cursed at his woman, they deserved to die.

Lucien loved peace, but today was not the day.

"What?! Help me, Gibson!" Zane pleaded. He was just an engineer that didn't know anything and couldn't even fight.

"My Lord! Have mercy on him!" Gibson's voice trembled.

But Lucien didn't even flinch. Lewis's struggles grew more desperate as he gasped for air, his face turning blue and foam bubbling at his lips. Lucien's anger would not be sated until his enemy lay lifeless at his feet.

"Stop it, Lucien!" Cassius's voice boomed suddenly, breaking through the chaos as he approached his son with haste, intent on quelling the violence.

Startled by his father's intervention, Lucien faltered for a moment, his grip on Lewis loosening slightly but still maintaining its pressure.

As Cassius reached his side, he placed a firm hand on Lucien's shoulder, his touch grounding and reassuring. Leaning in close, he whispered urgently, "Calm down, son. Just do as I say."

He continued, "I know what this bandit wants."

Listening to what his father said, he finally started to calm down and let go of Lewis. He knows he needs to follow his father's lead because Cassius was the one who killed everything in his way.

The fact that he didn't want to kill them meant he had something on his sleeve.