Chapter 42

**Acacia Point of View**

"This - Milady -" Eelk whispered lowly as he blocked my way.

The group of outlaws that had surrounded us was leading us to their den and other companions that were coming along with me wore a distressed expression.

I blinked at Eelk in reassurance and silently asked him to follow but still be vigilant. Receiving my signal, he did not say anything more but he still hesitated every step he took. He raised his guard and followed us wordlessly.

"Aye, young lass, who is that puppy in the bundle?" The Boddie guy who seems to have a habit of being very nosy asked as he glanced at the bundle in my arms.

"My son." I answered briefly yet politely.

He called my son, a puppy. This debt, I shall pay him back on the later date.

As the words came out of my mouth, Boddie and his men grinned maliciously, definitely making hundred and one plans in their minds.

I only smiled to myself and walked and walked for nearly forty minutes until we came to a sudden halt. I raised my eyebrow in question and looked around to see no establishment anywhere in the near vicinity.

We were standing in the middle very large clearing situated between two mountains. The whole clearing was covered in dry soil with no vegetation at all. But once you look around, you can see that the vast area of clearing was surrounded by dense forest. Although the vegetation was pretty far in the eye sight, the area still looked like there was inhabitation here.

However, there was not even a single hut or a tent here.

What is the meaning of this?

"Are we in the premises of Oudad region?" I asked Eelk in a low voice and received a nod of confirmation from him.

Well, good!

Before anyone of us ask Boddie guy why we stopped in the middle of nowhere, he whistled loudly like some kind of animal and soon the ground beneath our feet started to tremble.

Immediately Circe and the other maidservants ran close to me and held me tightly to make sure I don't fall face down on the ground.

In the next moment the trembling stopped and the dry sand that covered the ground blew away, revealing a small entrance.

An underground den!

Fascinating!

There a small gate to the opening and as the gate was opened, a bunch of untidy outlaw with long hair and unclean everywhere, stepped out.

"Grr, what have you got us this time Boddie?" The person who spoke seems to be the leader of the whole bunch seeing how he was walking in the front in such a festive mood.

These outlaws, they really know how to live grandly but they don't know how to wash up and clean themselves.

Where is all the silver and gold that they robbed going?

But this again, isn't this an advantage to me? For something I have in my mind, their situation proved to be a fortune to me.

Boddie jumped to the leader guy and whispered something in his ear, probably how he got beautiful ladies for him and how robbing us can benefit him a lot.

The leader's festive mood soon turned sour and even doubtful as he glanced down at us. When Boddie was still whispering something, he pointed his finger towards me and the leader guy's face turned even darker as he sized me up.

I stared back at him, neither challenging him nor being submissive.

Then his eyes landed on my son in my arms. With no particular reaction, the leader rubbed his chin roughly as he contemplated about something.

"Gyrd, rush them inside." The leader finally ordered and soon we were led inside towards the opening to the den. Although the gate was small, the area inside was spacious.

After climbing down a series of stairs, we reached another gate, this time it was a very large one. Going past the second gate very silently, we reached a large gathering hall.

The gather hall was very big with tables and chairs arranged without a proper order. There were ceramic containers that are used to store alcohol in ancient days.

Precisely, the gathering room looked exactly like that I've seen in several movies and dramas.

The leader walked to the stone chair like throne and sat unceremoniously on it and waved his hand without saying any word.

Taking the lead, I walked to the nearest available chair and sat down. Following, other people of crew too sat down close to me.

"I have been robbing for centuries now and this is the first time someone took the initiative to meet me. A fine lady at that." The leader laughed out, taking a gulp of ale from his bottle.

"If you have no love for your life, you came to the right place." He continued making the other outlaws laugh.

Keeping my calm, I did not respond and waited for him to say whatever he wanted to.

"I say, chick, want to be my woman?" The leader asked directly although I could see a tinge of hesitation in his eyes.

He knew something was not right.

Well, his instincts are good.

"I don't go to coward men. I prefer my man brave and kind." I shrugged and not even a second later, I heard the sound of something breaking.

It was the leader who broke his ale bottle after he heard my words.

"Coward? You call me coward?" He roared as he stood up like an animal on steroids. Eelk and the other stoop up immediately to hide me behind them but I pushed them away and gave them a warning glare telling them clearly not to intervene.

Eelk did not budge and so I stood up and pushed my way out and took a seat in the front row chair.

"If not coward, why are you hiding here? That Boddie guy said your gang is cruel and killed all your opponent gangs and you still hide yourself in a place like this." I continued to say as I waved my hand around the place to show them how pathetic this place is.

"Of course you are coward." Hearing me, the whole gang of outlaws roared in anger in unison. The sound vibrated throughout the place almost shook the whole place.

"You -" The leader breathed out fire and glared down at me dangerously. He expected fear from me but on contrary, I showed no such thing. I was sitting calmly, waiting for his next words.

"You come to my place and call me coward? Today, I will set an example to everyone here just why people call me vicious monster." He roared again and walked to me in large steps.

Just as he was about to reach me, I spoke lazily, "Coming to kill a weak woman, if not coward, what are you?"

His steps suddenly halted but the malicious glare from before intensified several folds. "This is not hiding, this is our safe den." I almost laughed at his explanation but however, I'm happy because he took the bait.

Ah, that's true." I nodded thoughtfully showing them how I understand their situation very well. "Criminals like you all cannot live freely with your heads held high. No wonder you have a safe den under the ground." I said as I looked around the hall.

"This place looks so poor. I feel so sorry for you people. To keep living at such a place, I don't know how you all are keeping up with this." I shook my head and let out a sad sigh.

All the while, the leader and his outlaws who were angry just stared down at me quietly yet angrily. My crew, on the other side, looked at me as if I lost my mind.

A few moments later, when I did not hear anything from the leader, I took the opportunity and continued to speak. "The spoils you earn isn't much, is it?" The silence that followed answered my question.

The leader, however, straightened up and glared down at me very suspiciously.

"Who are you?" Just three words from him and I know I reached my goal.

"Before that, I want to know something first." Seeing his inquisitive look, I smiled and proceeded to speak again. "Are you going to spend your whole life living like this or do you still want a better opportunity to live."

"Interesting." Like a chameleon, the whole demeanor of the leader changed. He was now very much laid back and open to talk terms with me. "I see you came here with a plan of your own. Let's hear it then."

With a smile of triumph, I leaned back and looked into leader's eyes with conviction. "This is why I appreciate smart people. What would you say if I give your gang the authority to collect entry fees to enter into Oudad region? Of the collected money, I get sixty percent and you can keep forty percent."

When I saw the stunned look on everyone, including my crew, my smile widened and gave them a proper deal.

"For that, I shall give you legal permission."

**~*~*~*~*~*~

Hello Sweeties,

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