Chapter 399: Another One? Really?
Lyan leaned back against the cushioned seat of the grand carriage, letting out a deep sigh, his gaze shifting toward the ceiling. He spoke aloud, though mostly to himself, his voice dripping with mild frustration. "How did it end up like this?"
His words hung in the air for a moment, then he pushed himself forward, lifting the curtain slightly to peek out of the carriage window. The sight that greeted him was a sprawling chaos of bandits, far more than what he’d encountered earlier—their numbers close to 120 now. The men were armed, most of them bearing crude swords or rusty axes, their eyes filled with greed as they eyed the elegant carriage.
Lyan frowned, his eyes narrowing in disbelief. "What are the royal knights or feudal lords even doing, leaving such a massive group of bandits unchecked?" he muttered, his voice edged with annoyance. He let the curtain fall back in place, rubbing his temples for a moment.
Outside, a larger, more imposing figure stepped forward, the leader of this ragtag gang. He stood taller than the rest, his broad shoulders clad in mismatched armor that looked like it had been pieced together from several unfortunate victims. His face bore a jagged scar running from his left ear down to his jaw, giving him an intimidating appearance. He puffed out his chest, glaring at the carriage with a twisted grin.
"Alright, listen up!" the bandit leader bellowed, his voice loud enough to echo through the forest path they occupied. "You lot in that fancy carriage—you want to leave here alive, you do as I say! All your valuables, every coin, every piece of jewelry, even the fancy upholstery of that carriage—it all belongs to us now! Surrender, and maybe we let you keep your lives."
The bandits cheered at their leader’s words, their crude weapons waving in the air as they jeered and taunted. Some even began to move closer, emboldened by their superior numbers, already imagining the wealth that awaited them.
Lyan let out another sigh, this one carrying a hint of amusement as he heard the bandits outside. He settled back in his seat, casting a sideways glance at the group of women sharing the carriage with him. The expressions on their faces ranged from mild interest to downright excitement—they certainly weren’t worried about the threat waiting outside.
Belle, lounging comfortably across from Lyan, caught his eye and grinned, pulling out the familiar bag of stones that had already seen use earlier in the journey. "Well, looks like we have another chance for a bit of fun," she said, her voice teasing as she shook the bag, the stones clinking inside. "Who’s up for another lottery?"
Wilhelmina’s eyes lit up, a confident smile spreading across her lips. She held out her hand without hesitation. "I’m in," she said, her tone filled with eagerness.