Chapter 400: Proof of Potential Trouble
Surena’s eyes narrowed slightly as the bandit leader raised his trembling hands in surrender, his voice stuttering out a plea for mercy. He stood there, stripped of his earlier bravado, looking at the four women who had reduced his once proud group of bandits to nothing more than a bunch of cowards. Around him, the remaining bandits had also dropped their weapons, their eyes filled with a mix of fear and shame.
Surena glanced over at Wilhelmina, her lips twitching into a small smirk. Wilhelmina caught her gaze and nodded, a silent agreement passing between them.
"Alright, listen up!" Surena called out, her voice carrying authority. She turned her gaze back to the cowering bandits, her sword still held loosely in her hand. "You’re lucky we’re feeling merciful today. You get to walk away with your lives, but you’re not taking anything else with you."
Wilhelmina stepped forward, her expression stern as she addressed the group. "Strip off your weapons, armor, and any valuables you have. Everything. You’ll leave here with nothing more than the clothes on your backs," she said, her voice calm but firm, leaving no room for argument.
The bandits hesitated for a moment, glancing at each other as if hoping someone would object or come up with a plan to turn things around. But one look at the four women standing before them—each one of them radiating a confidence that said they wouldn’t hesitate to cut down anyone who resisted—made them realize there was no other option.
One by one, the bandits began removing their weapons, their swords and axes clattering to the ground. The armor followed, the pieces falling with dull thuds as they were stripped away. Rings, coins, and even a few trinkets were thrown into a pile, the bandits’ expressions growing more and more dejected as their possessions were taken away.
Wilhelmina watched them with a steady gaze, her eyes never leaving the bandit leader as he reluctantly removed his own armor, his face a mask of anger and humiliation.
"Consider this a warning," she said, her voice carrying over the sound of metal hitting the ground. "If we catch any of you trying something like this again, you won’t be so lucky. Now get out of here."
Surena nodded towards the guards who had been watching from the sidelines, their weapons ready. "Make sure they leave," she instructed, her eyes still on the bandit leader.
The guards moved in, gathering up the disarmed bandits and herding them towards the edge of the forest. The bandits moved slowly, their heads hanging low, their shoulders slumped in defeat. The guards watched them closely, their eyes never wavering until the last of the bandits disappeared into the forest.
Surena let out a small sigh, sheathing her sword and glancing over at Wilhelmina. "Well, that went better than expected," she said, her lips curving into a smirk.