Surprisingly, Siderius and Ashe knew these men. They were the cutthroats in the inn that Siderius had met.
Siderius recognized the man in the front. That was Big Snout Gert's right hand man but also the man that picked up Siderius' sword and killed Gert. He betrayed his leader without a second thought.
Siderius didn't ask his name then. But he remembered vividly what Gert had called him. Kraus.
The thugs froze at the door. They stepped back in unison.
"My lord!" Kraus was quick on his thinking and dropped down on his knees immediately. He slammed his head on the floor.
The others followed suit. They still thought that Siderius was a High Noble.
Siderius' footsteps echoed in the room, growing closer and closer to the group. Kraus didn't dare to speak, only sweating profusely.
"Who?" He said gently.
Siderius didn't say much but it was enough. It communicated to the thugs that he had learned everything and their only choice then was to spill.
Kraus didn't hesitate much. He feared for his life.
"It was Geobard. A food merchant in the market!"
Siderius slammed his sword on the ground, which made all the thugs shake in fear.
Kraus's heart pounded like a drum. He felt his death was coming. He already saw what Siderius did to Gert. This man was not to be trifled with and he would not hesitate to end their worthless lives right then and there.
Kraus spoke quickly, hoping his words could sway Siderius even a tiny bit. "Please forgive me, high lord! We didn't know it was Lady Ashe. We just took the job!"
"Tell me your name." Siderius rested his chin on the pommel, looking at Kraus.
Siderius was observing the man to determine his fate. If he performed well, Siderius might let him live. He needed someone useful, not useless like Big Snout Gert, a thug with no brain and no ambition.
Kraus was decisive and bold. He had a brain.
"Kraus, my lord! My name is Kraus!"
"You are very well spoken, Kraus. Who taught you how to talk?"
"No one my lord! I learn it from listening to others!"
"Hmmm." Siderius tapped his chin gently. The rhythmic sound made the hearts of the thugs pounded with fear.
He had an idea on how to test these thugs. Kraus would be a great henchman for Siderius, giving the right task. Because of that, he decided to give the thugs another chance.
Siderius drew the assassin's serrated knife and then placed it on the ground, close to Kraus' hand.
"Carve an X on the back of your right hand. Do not scream. One scream and I will take your life.
In exchange, you may have a chance to live. You have my word on that."
"Yes, my lord!"
Kraus didn't hesitate. He took the knife and immediately cut out an X on his hand. Blood gushed out like a water fountain. His shoulder trembled and he bit his lips to hold in the pain.
The other thugs shrunk in fear but did not dare to lift their heads. They only heard Kraus' hefty breaths.
"Here's your knife, my lord!" Kraus lifted the knife with two hands and presented it to Siderius. His right arm was still shaking but he succeeded. He did not let out even a squeak.
Kraus had proved himself to be worthy for Siderius' time. But the others were a different story.
"The same rule applies for the others. One scream and you're dead."
Kraus nodded and passed the knife to another thug.
"You can stand up."
"Thank you, high lord!"
Kraus went behind Siderius and lowered his head as much as he could. He caught a glimpse of horror on Ashe's face. She's covering her mouth and trying her best to not throw up.
The second man trembled even more with a knife. But with a nod of encouragement from Kraus, the man pulled through and sliced an X on his hand.
This man had resolve. He could be useful.
The thug then passed the knife to the next one.
Siderius gestured for him to stand beside Kraus. His eyes were a mix of relief and horror. He thanked the god that he survived and also cursed the merchant that paid him to do this damn job.
The third thug did not dare to cut his hand.
"Please let me go! Let me go, lord! I will be good from now on!"
Siderius shook his head and sliced the poor thug's neck. He collapsed on the ground. His opened eyes lost to the void.
The fourth one lost all his color. His face turned pale and he ran away. A futile attempt to only fall down face first on the ground because of the
The room shared a deep gasp when Siderius did his 'magic' again.
The man crawled on the ground, clawing his hands on the wooden floor to get away from his worst nightmare.
Siderius approached the poor fool without any hurry and stabbed him through the heart.
The fifth, knowing that there was no way out, braced himself and cut out his hand. He was not as smooth as Kraus nor determined like the second man and he even let out a squeal. But there was no scream.
And Siderius fulfilled his part of the deal.
"The three of you are free to leave."
The three thugs let out relieved smiles. They held their hands in pain.
"But with one condition.
Your lives are no longer yours. From now on, you work for me. You live for me.
I offered you a path back to life. And in return, you belong to me."
The thugs looked at each other. There was contempt and desperation in their eyes. They knew everything was too easy.
Kraus didn't speak up, he was too smart to be the suicide fool. He nudged the second man, encouraging him to say something.
"You want us to be slaves?" The man prolonged the last word.
Commoners had harsh lives. But that was leagues better than being slaves. At least you were free, you could decide your own fate.
Becoming a slave was choosing to become an object of ownership. These cutthroats knew better than that. They were fierce enough to defy this eternal servitude.
Their gazes told Siderius all of that.
Siderius squinted his eyes and continued. "Tell me. How much did Geobard pay you?"
"Twenty bronze coins, my lord!" Kraus said.
"And what did he want?"
"He wanted to know how my lady got her hand on those meats, my lord!"
"And… What would you do to the victim after?"
Kraus gulped. He carefully continued. "We… We'll kill them, my lord."
"Hmmm. You're being honest. Smart."
Siderius placed a silver coin on the table and sat down.
"You're my man now and you won't kill for less than a silver."
Kraus gulped again. He and the two survivors looked at each other. The silver coin spun on the table like their minds at the moment, undecided on which path they would take.
Siderius continued. "Joining me won't surrender your freedom. Joining me won't stop you from living your lives. Joining me means that you will become something much better.
You will no longer be low-life cutthroats with no dignity or purpose.
You will become something else. Something with extreme wealth, strength that you can never imagine and a purpose that this town has taken from you since birth.
But in return, I ask for absolute loyalty. Betrayal will result in a fate worse than death.
Of course. If you do not want this life. I'll respect it. Death is still an option.
To live is to kneel. The choice is yours."
Siderius slammed his sword on the ground and stood straight, waiting for their answer.