Chapter 111: Trouble
Elena’s face paled as she realized the nature of their discussion, her grip tightening on her bow.
The other subjects shifted protectively around her, but everyone understood the brutal truth—their combined strength was irrelevant against Gold-rank opposition.
’Animals. All of them.’
The leader raised his hand, silencing his subordinates’ crude argument with casual authority. His gaze fixed on Ethan with the calculating intensity of a merchant evaluating merchandise.
"Your barrier is up," he stated, his voice carrying the confidence of absolute power. "You’re a new Lord. That makes this simple."
’He knows the system. He is Experienced.’
The man’s smile was all teeth and malice. "Surrender to our Lord’s will, and we’ll spare your pathetic lives. Join our territory as subjects, and you might even keep some dignity."
Ethan’s subjects tensed at the ultimatum, hands tightening on weapons that would prove useless against such overwhelming force. The barrier hummed between them—temporary protection that highlighted their vulnerability.
"Otherwise," the leader continued, his tone conversational despite the threat, "we’ll hunt you down and stop you from expanding this place. Camp outside your little bubble until the barrier drops in a few days."
His eyes swept across Ethan’s subjects like a farmer counting livestock. "You have so many subjects... must be at least four days of protection remaining. Plenty of time for us to gather reinforcements."
’He’s done this before. Knows the tricks.’