“What kind of help do you want?”
The bandit stared at Ron with terror written all over his face.
His experience told him one thing.
There’s no such thing as a free lunch falling from the sky.
If Ron was willing to let him go, the favor he wanted in return was probably anything but easy!
Under the terrified gaze of the other man.
Ron leaned in close to his ear and whispered a few words.
…
At the entrance to the Beast Market.
A faint purple smoke drifted through the air.
The stall owner had a wet towel wrapped around his face, struggling to move an iron cage holding a magical beast.
“Damn it, damn it!”
“How could I be unlucky enough to run into a Poison Gas Attack at a time like this?”
“And of all things, the cargo I brought today is so important!”
The stall owner’s face was grim.
If he weren’t a merchant who always carried a storage pouch with Universal Antidote Potion, he’d probably be passed out on the ground from the purple smoke by now!
“Hey, you lot—can’t you put your backs into it?!”
“I gave you all precious potion, not so you could slack off!”
“Hurry up and get these magical beasts out of the cage and moved!”
“These things must not fall into the hands of the bandits!”
The stall owner shouted angrily at his workers.
They also had towels soaked in potion tied over their faces.
It wasn’t that they wanted to slack off.
But the iron cage and the magical beast inside were just too heavy!
Just the specially made cage alone weighed several hundred jin, and that was before adding in the magical beast.
No matter how hard they tried, it was impossible for a few of them to move it quickly!
Not to mention the air was thick with poison.
If they pushed themselves too hard and took a few more breaths, the cheap antidote their boss gave them would be useless!
Luckily.
They’d already managed to get the cage onto the wagon.
All they had to do was secure it with ropes and chains, then they could ride out of here!
“Quick, quick, put your backs into it!”
“Losing the rest of the cargo is fine, but we absolutely cannot lose this one!”
Just as the transfer was nearly complete.
A black shadow suddenly landed in front of them!
The man was none other than Kato’s accomplice!
Right now, his face was twisted with malice as he glared at the group trying to move the cage.
“Leave that thing behind, and you can all get lost.”
At his words.
The workers all froze in fear.
There was no need to ask.
This was definitely the bandit who released the poison gas!
Faced with the bandit blocking their way.
The stall owner cursed furiously!
“I told you all to hurry up, damn it!”
“If you’d moved faster, we wouldn’t be in this mess!”
After venting, he waved his arm.
“Don’t be scared, he’s only one man!”
“We’ll take him together—”
Before he could finish.
The workers threw down their ropes and bolted!
Any fool could see this black-clad man wasn’t ordinary!
They were just normal people, with no magic of their own!
Why risk their lives for a few thousand Silver Coins a month?
Watching his workers scatter in every direction.
The stall owner was so angry he nearly exploded!
“You, you guys?!”
“Heartless scoundrels!”
With only the stall owner left in front of the cage.
The black-clad man drew a strange, curved blade.
“Are you planning to die with your cargo?”
The stall owner gave his answer with his actions!
“I’m leaving, I’m leaving right now!”
He turned and ran without looking back!
As a merchant, of course profit was his goal.
But as a person, he knew his own life was the most precious thing!
Seeing his cowardly boss.
The black-clad man sneered, then quickly fastened the last few clasps and drove the wagon away from the scene!
After driving the wagon out of the market.
On the street, Perica and Ron blocked his path.
Seeing them.
The bandit immediately jumped off the wagon and bowed respectfully to the two.
“I’ve brought you what you wanted!”
At these words.
Ron walked to the wagon and lifted the Red Cloth covering the cage.
Inside was indeed the Blue Crystal Skeleton Horse (Juvenile)!
“Oh~”
“Thank you, thank you.”
“You can go now.”
After confirming the cargo, Ron contentedly put the Red Cloth back over the cage.
The bandit was overjoyed to hear this.
“R-really?”
He glanced tentatively at Perica.
Seeing she had nothing to say.
He was over the moon and ran off at once!
“Let’s go, Perica.”
“Today’s shopping is a complete success!”
Ron climbed onto the wagon.
Perica, however, was a little embarrassed.
“Isn’t this taking advantage of the chaos?”
Ron waved his hand.
“No, no, this isn’t taking advantage.”
“This is… acting bravely for justice!”
With a snap of his fingers, Ron declared,
“Apprehend the evildoer!”
The rope in his pocket suddenly came to life, flying toward the fleeing bandit!
“Uwaaah!”
With a miserable cry.
The rope bound him tightly, sending him tumbling to the ground!
Watching this magical scene.
Ron couldn’t help but marvel.
“Wow, this thing is amazing.”
“It doesn’t even need magic to work—just a snap of the fingers and a spell, and it’ll grab any villain you’ve previously controlled!”
Hearing Ron’s amazement.
Perica smiled lightly.
“Well, it is a Master-Grade Magical Artifact.”
“On the market, it’s a priceless treasure.”
Listening to their conversation.
The bound bandit began to shout angrily!
“What’s the meaning of this?”
“Didn’t you say if I helped you steal the item, you’d let me go?”
“You’re not keeping your word!”
Faced with the bandit’s curses and accusations.
Ron chuckled lightly.
“Trust?”
“Trust is for good people!”
“There’s no need to talk about trust with the likes of you!”
“Let’s go, Perica.”
“We should return the cargo to its rightful owner.”
Once Perica was on the wagon.
Ron snapped the reins, driving the wagon toward the market gate.
The unlucky fellow and Kato were both tied up behind the wagon, being dragged along.
They’d only gone a few steps.
When a squad of mounted riders in gas masks rushed over from the intersection ahead!
“Stop! Pull over the wagon!”
“Who are you people?!”
The riders shouted, surrounding Ron and Perica’s wagon at once!
At first, Ron thought they were backup for the bandits.
But when he saw the armbands and uniforms they wore.
His suspicions vanished instantly.
He knew these were the Gendarmerie who kept the town safe.
The reason they’d stopped Ron was probably because they thought he and Perica were bandits trying to move stolen goods.
Faced with the intimidating riders.
“There’s been a misunderstanding.”
“We’re just good people acting bravely for justice—we caught two bandits and were planning to deliver them to the Gendarmerie.”
At these words.
The leader gave an “Oh?” of surprise.
He glanced at the two bound men behind the wagon, then looked Ron and Perica up and down.
“You two didn’t run when there was a Poison Gas Attack, and instead helped us subdue the bandits?”
Under his gas mask, the man eyed Ron with suspicion.
Those gem-like blue eyes, and that noble-looking golden hair…
Suddenly, as if realizing something, he hurriedly jumped off his horse!
“Are you—could you be the newly appointed Lord Ron?!”
“Forgive me for my rudeness!”