Chapter 137. Boss Fight
As promised, the man led them straight through the woods. They didn’t even grow close enough for Rhys to sense any other booby traps, which was unfortunate; they’d been an empowering experience. The badger walked along at his heel, his earlier hesitation forgotten. Now that they were travelling together, it seemed that he had accepted his fate. Was travelling together his holdup? Rhys laughed quietly, but he got it. Social engagements were hard work. Back in his homeworld, he much preferred to spend all his time in his room. He probably still would here, if not for the fact that he couldn’t get stronger or use magic if all he hid away all the time. That wasn’t the path for him, not in this world, anyways.
Ahead, Rhys sensed life: heat, mana signatures, and lots of trash, thrown thoughtlessly aside and lying all around on the ground. His hand twitched, wanting to absorb it all, but he held himself back. There was no need to alarm the boss. They could have a civilized and convivial meeting, and then Rhys could absorb all the camp’s trash, after they came to an agreement about the dealers ceasing their production of worthless drugs and instead turning to the truly profitable market: potato farming.
He turned to the criminal. “You’ve done enough. You can stay back, now… though if a fight breaks out, and you join it, I won’t—”
“Sir is too gracious! I will never forget my debt to sir!” the criminal exclaimed, backing away. He looked like he wanted to flee, but a glare from Sable, and he instead set down his friend and sat beside him. “I’ll just sit here next to this tree, why don’t I? Wait for your luminous self to be done?”
Rhys snorted. Not knowing what to say, he simply nodded and walked away. He didn’t really care if the criminal stayed or left, but on the other hand, the farm needed good, hardy workers, and this dealer was nothing if not hardy, given how quickly he’d woken up and how fast he moved with his unconscious friend on his shoulders. He wasn’t going to turn the guy away, but if the dealer decided to hoof it, he wouldn’t be too surprised.
He strode forward, putting his hands behind his back and a serene smile on his face. Sable and Mouse followed, Sable at his shoulder, Mouse hanging back and cringing a bit, eyes darting back and forth. The criminals’ base was simple, a series of ramshackle wooden buildings that blended into the woods, mixed with a few semi-permanent canvas tents and a large stable currently occupied by a few horses and a hearty-looking wagon. A few toughs stood up from the campfire and approached Rhys, touching their weapons or cracking their knuckles in anticipation.
“Got lost, kid?” one of them asked.
“Not at all. I heard of an opportunity to acquire a logistics network and put it to much better use. Is your boss around? I’d like to discuss my acquisition of your criminal society in a civil manner,” Rhys said evenly.
Mouse cringed harder. Behind him, Sable let out an amused chuckle. She’d sensed the same thing Rhys had: none of these men were above Tier 1, and the boss’s mana signature wavered somewhere between Tier 2 and 3. They were no threat to her or Rhys alone, let alone the two of them together with Mouse. Mouse wasn’t much of a fighter, but it didn’t matter when her stealth skills were as good as they were; she didn’t need to fight, when all she had to do was sneak up and one-hit ko the enemy. He felt a vague pang of guilt at the memory of Bast doing exactly that repeatedly to poor Mouse, but put it to the back of his mind. That was just proof of how good the technique was!
The thugs met one another’s eyes. The biggest of them chuckled, taking the lead, his smile showing off his missing teeth. “I don’t think ya understand what’s gonna go on ‘ere.”
“Do I not? Illuminate me,” Rhys said, unable to resist the urge to exchange some trashy pre-fight dialogue.
“Nah. I’m gonna crack yer head, then that pretty girl’s head, and if there’s anyone else here, I’m gonna crack their head open, too,” he declared.