The two bandits were already there. One of them seized Martha from behind, his arm tight around her neck as he pressed a knife to her throat. Derek was still in her lap. The other grabbed Arthur and Daisy, forcing both of them to the ground.
Then one of them shouted, "Release our boss, or we'll kill them all!"
The boss, still lying on the ground with a blade pressed to his throat, smirked. "Now… let's see what you can do."
Seeing the scene unfold, veins bulged on Rudeous's forehead in fury. What should I do? Even if I let this mage go, there's no guarantee of my family's safety. At least right now, I still have leverage to bargain with.
His voice rang out, firm and cold. "We'll exchange captives. I'll release your boss, and you'll release my family. We meet face-to-face and make the trade at the same time. What do you say?"
But the boss shouted as well. "Don't listen to him! Tell him to release me, or kill all of them."
The two bandits glanced at each other, uncertain of what to do.
Then Rudeous spoke again, his tone like iron. "Unless you do exactly as I say, I'll kill your boss right here..... and then I'll come for all four of you. You already know you can't win against me. So the choice is yours. Harm my family and die together, or walk away with every one of your members still alive."
Saying that, Rudeous pressed the blade a little deeper. The edge of his sword nicked the boss's throat, and a thin line of blood trickled down.
'Damn it! Who the hell is this madman? Instead of him being threatened, it's us!' The boss cursed inwardly. Never in his wildest dreams had he imagined that trying to rob a simple village family would land him in such a pathetic state.
The two bandits holding Martha, Arthur, and Daisy inside the wagon also swallowed hard. "What should we do?" one whispered anxiously to the other.
Meanwhile, Derek chuckled inwardly. 'Father sure knows how to handle things, even in a situation like this.'
He was truly impressed by his father's quick, decisive nature. Anyone else might have shown weakness or begged for their family's lives, and then they would have lost everything. Their belongings stolen, perhaps even taken hostage themselves. But with Rudeous's imposing look and unbending attitude, the bandits' confidence was crumbling.
Suddenly Derek's expression darkened as a thought struck him. 'This bastard still has his arm around Mother's neck… I wish I could just beat him to death.' His gaze burned with fury as he glared at the man restraining Martha.
His tiny fists clenched, nails biting into his palms. He hated how useless he felt, watching a stranger's filthy arm around his mother's neck.
At last, after pondering for a long time, the boss spoke again. "Fine. Do as he says," the boss barked, though a cold glint in his eyes betrayed a darker intent.
But hearing the boss's words, Rudeous finally let out a quiet sigh of relief. He moved the blade aside, grabbed the boss by the collar, and yanked him up to his feet.
On the other side, the bandit who had been holding Arthur and Daisy down lifted both children roughly by their arms and dragged them off the wagon. The one restraining Martha pulled her down carefully, making sure she couldn't slip away. In that moment, Martha quickly lifted Derek from her lap and held him tightly in her arms.
With that, the two parties began to walk toward each other. In the middle, the Auran and the cultivator stepped aside to make space. The two men who had already been beaten lay on the ground, still groaning in pain.
Rudeous kept his grip steady on the boss, forcing him to walk ahead with the sword still at his neck. His eyes never left the other men. 'I can't let anything go wrong. One slip and any one of them can get hurt seriously.' He looked confident, but inside, he was worried sick about his family.
Step by step, they drew closer… until both groups stood in the middle. The exchange was about to begin.
"On my count," Rudeous said coldly. His sword pressed tighter, making sure the boss didn't even think of turning. "One… two… three."
Everyone released the person they were grabbing. Martha and the children were pushed forward. At the same time, Rudeous shoved the boss forward. The exchange had started. But Rudeous's hand never strayed far from his hilt. His entire body was on alert. He would not allow even the smallest slip.
And just what he was afraid of happening, happened....
Just as the boss was walking past Martha, his eyes flickered. His smirk returned. Instead of moving on, he suddenly twisted his body and reached for her arm.
Even after three children and years in the village, Martha's beauty had not faded. Her face was still soft, her figure graceful. And the boss's lust burned too strong to let go. 'I don't care if I have to sacrifice my men. For her, I am ready to risk at least this much.'
Rudeous saw it in an instant. His instincts screamed. He lunged forward with all his strength, his sword flashing as he roared. But even so… he was a step too late. His body couldn't cover the gap in time.
Martha's eyes widened in fear. The boss's hand was just inches from her arm.
'This bastard really wants to die.' Derek didn't miss it either. His baby veins bulged in rage. His eyes glowed red with anger.
His palm shot forward without thought. He didn't even know what he was doing.
And then… something stirred.
A strange pressure erupted from his tiny body. It was faint, almost invisible, but it spread like a ripple through the air.
It wasn't big, not even strong enough to knock someone back. But it was enough to stop the boss's hand for the briefest of moments.
Not even a full second… yet that was all that was needed.
Rudeous's blade flared with his aura. He swung with all his might.
The steel sang as it cut through. The boss screamed. The hand that had reached for Martha flew upward, detached from his arm.
Blood burst into the air, spraying like a fountain. The boss staggered back, clutching the ruined stump. His scream echoed through the forest, raw and broken.