Good began the countdown.
"10-321!"
The countdown ended in less than two seconds. Babanuki had not even had time to react.
Good released Babanuki and quickly backed away to put some distance between them.
"Yamato, do it!"
"Got it!"
The girl instantly unleashed her aura, terrifying pressure radiating from her entire body as the Spiked Club in her hands slammed toward Babanuki's face like lightning.
"Thunder Bagua!"
"I'll lend them!!!"
His piercing scream nearly shattered the glass.
Babanuki knelt on the ground, staring at the Spiked Club right before his eyes, so terrified that he nearly wet himself.
I... I almost died!
Tears of anguish streamed down his face.
"Brother Good-no, Lord Good! I'll lend them to you! I'll lend them, all right? However many men you want, you can have them!"
"Oh, you should've said so sooner!"
Good hurriedly helped Babanuki up, beaming. "What are you kneeling for? Get up! We're all brothers here. There's no need to be so formal."
"Right, right! We're all brothers!"
Who the hell is your brother?!
Babanuki painfully played along.
Damn it! When Lord Queen gets back, I'm reporting you!
"Oh, one more thing, brother."
Good pulled Babanuki aside.
"Don't worry. I'll return the prisoners when I'm done with them. I just wanted to remind you-with so many prisoners leaving the quarry, if the higher-ups actually investigate, you won't get off the hook as Chief Warden!"
"..."
A chill ran down Babanuki's back.
He's right!
If this came to light, whatever happened to Good, he would definitely suffer too as Chief Warden!
Good's smile blossomed, and he deliberately lowered his voice. "Brother Babanuki, I'm sure you'll cover this up, right? You wouldn't want Queen discovering your dereliction of duty, would you?"
"..."
Babanuki nodded with difficulty.
A devil. This guy is definitely a devil!
Chapter 32: Winning Hearts
The quarry's plaza.
"Move faster!"
"If you waste our time, you'll all die!"
"Heh heh! You'd better look forward to this. I hear a big shot has arrived."
Driven by the jailers' whips, a large number of prisoners gathered in the plaza, every one of them filled with fear and unease.
Things like this happened often, especially when Queen, the quarry's tyrant, arrived. He always found ways to torture them for entertainment, and countless prisoners had died horrible deaths as a result.
At Queen's performance stage.
Vice Warden Daifugo stepped forward and reported solemnly, "Lord Babanuki, all 1,000 prisoners have assembled."
"Understood."
With a dark expression, Babanuki ordered, "Get the ships ready. I'm sending these prisoners over to Hakumai."
"To Hakumai?"
Sweat beaded on Daifugo's forehead as he forced himself to speak. "Lord Babanuki, sending away so many prisoners at once will probably affect the quarry's work."
"These are orders from above. We only need to obey!"
Babanuki answered coldly.
Of course he knew the quarry's work would suffer. But to save his own life, he not only had no choice, he also had to help cover up the truth.
"Get moving!"
"Yes, sir!"
Daifugo dared not ask any more questions and hurried away.
Babanuki breathed a sigh of relief, then turned and went to the preparation room behind the stage, approaching Good with a meek expression.
"Lord Good, everything you requested has been arranged. I'll personally escort these prisoners to Hakumai shortly."
"Good. Thanks."
Good nodded slightly, toying with a flintlock pistol. "Prepare some swords and firearms for me too. Enough to equip 500 men."
"Understood."
Babanuki breathed a sigh of relief.
He had been genuinely afraid that Good would make another outrageous demand. If it was only weapons, he had as many as Good could want.
All he wanted now was to get rid of the scourge standing before him.
"Oh, Babanuki."
Good put down the gun and looked at Babanuki with a broad smile.
"Hyogoro is here, isn't he?"
"Boss Hyo?!"
Babanuki's heart lurched.
Good nodded, smiling. "Yes, that Boss Hyo. Put him with the other prisoners and take him along too."
"Well..."
Babanuki's expression turned ugly.
This is bad. Of all the people this scourge could ask for, he had to want Boss Hyo-the most special prisoner in the quarry.
If he lost Boss Hyo, Lord Queen would never forgive him!
Good raised an eyebrow and picked up the gun again, casually pointing its muzzle at Babanuki.
"Is there a problem?"
"N-no problem!"
Babanuki stammered his response.
It's over. I'm dead!
Waaah! You utterly despicable Devil Muscle Man! When Lord Queen returns from his expedition, he'll never let you get away with this!
Good's expression darkened.
"Then get moving!"
"As you command, Lord Good!"
Half a day later, a full thousand prisoners arrived in God of Wealth Town. The sheer scale of the procession nearly scared the residents into wetting themselves.
In the village chief's thatched hut.
The four gang bosses knelt on one knee before Hyogoro, who had become a short old man, sobbing so hard with excitement that they could barely speak.
"Boss Hyogoro, we never imagined we'd live to see you again. It's wonderful that you're safe!"
"You lot..."
Hyogoro was dazed.
Even now, he still had no idea what had happened. All he knew was that he had boarded a ship and then been brought here.
Never in his wildest dreams had he imagined he would meet his four former underlings here.
"Did you rescue me?"
"We don't have that kind of power."
The four stepped aside with bitter smiles, revealing Good drinking tea behind them.
"It was Lord Good."
"A pirate?"
Hyogoro was stunned.
Judging by his clothes and the horned skull emblem printed on them, he was clearly a member of the Beasts Pirates.
What's going on?
Have Acho and the others joined the pirates?!
Hyogoro looked at Acho, the shrewdest of the four, and urgently demanded, "Acho, what's going on here?!"
"Boss Hyo, here's what happened..."
Acho hesitated, then explained in detail how they had agreed to serve the pirates for five years in exchange for a chance to save his life.
Hyogoro remained silent for a long time before letting out a deep sigh.
"I've really put you through a lot."
"Don't say that! We're truly overjoyed to see you again. Forget a mere five years-even trading our lives for yours would have been worth it!"
The four answered in a fluster.
For those who made their living in the underworld, loyalty and honor mattered above all else. They could never repay Hyogoro's past kindness, not even in a lifetime.
Their reunion brought joy, but they still had to face reality. All their fates now rested in the hands of the pirate drinking tea.
Hyogoro approached Good.
Short and frail as he was now, he was no longer the Hyogoro who had once commanded such power. He could not even control his own fate.
Hyogoro lowered his head.
"Thank you, sir."
"Thank me? I think you've misunderstood."
Good put down his teacup and looked at Hyogoro expressionlessly. "Hyogoro, I have no intention of giving you your freedom. I only brought you out so these gangsters would serve me without worry."
"..."
Hyogoro had no reply.
He knew very well that the Beasts Pirates could never let him go. With his influence, he could easily rally rebels from across the country, posing an enormous threat to them.
"That said..."
Good changed tack, leisurely sipping his tea before remarking offhandedly, "Letting you live isn't entirely out of the question."
"What?!"
Hyogoro was composed and did not waver at Good's words, but the four gang bosses behind him were nowhere near as calm.
The four immediately stepped forward in excitement.
"Lord Good, can you really spare Boss Hyogoro?"
"Of course. Your boss's life doesn't matter much to me. Besides, even if I release Hyogoro, he won't pose a threat to the Beasts Pirates."
Before you continue