The God of Jesters
Chapter 368 - 6.09.1 I want you.

Chapter 368: 6.09.1 I want you.

They were guarded, fearful of any strange approach. So jumpy that even a bat scared them off. Which was interesting to watch from the side, as I wondered what their limit would be. Or would Paradi be considered a paranoid nut job if this went on for too long?

If only there was enough time, or I met them a tad bit earlier.

Now, I have to end them before they reach the location.

"Boss, would we get to join in on the fun?" A man asked among my team, who had come to the location with others a few hours ago. "No, just make sure no one runs away... and beware of curses," I said pointing toward the food in the distance, eating his food with his ears perked up.

"No need to worry boss, although he might be sharp enough to detect you, he will surely be no match for us." The three were Adept level Curse wielders.

Only people of such capability were given the right to operate in foreign countries. And after directing the three to adopt a certain position, I started to walk in toward the guards in an open manner.

"I was wondering if someone has been keeping an eye on me." Paradi was the first to notice, he got up and looked at me with curious eyes, before telling Reni, his second in command. "There must be others, so get ready for a fight."

"Such harsh words, did you wonder that I never intended to fight with you lot?" I asked, but Paradi just laughed it off. "Just tell me, who are you and how many others are with you. Maybe, I can go a bit easy on you."

"If you are wondering that I am from the government, then worry not. Just an individual that holds some interest in your products." I said as some old flintlocks were aimed at me. The very same bastards that dared to injure my skin before.

"For now, stay right there. Or we will shoot." Paradi warned me, before speaking. "As for my products, it’s still in the middle of transport and hence unavailable. How about you visit and give us your contact, we can send you details when we open our shop." Paradi’s words were still aimed at my identity.

He was wondering if I was worth the hassle or not.

To survive in such a dangerous business for so long, anyone would develop some self-preservation skills. And I am not just speaking about the ability to survive a fight. But more like, preventing a fight from happening to begin with.

"Oh, how I wish I could show it to you. But circumstances require me to remain tight in this situation." I say while taking a step forward, even after the warning.

Which earned me a bullet.

But this time, I just tilt my head and dodged it easily. "You were not lying," I said, looking toward the man named Reni.

"If you know, you should go back," Paradi warned again showing his intent to end whatever this exchange was without any bloodshed. He was close, why would he sabotage himself by making an enemy at random?

As for the man’s claim of being a nobody? Paradi didn’t believe it one bit.

This man knew who they were. This man even controlled a monkey to keep watch over them. Who knows what else kind of means this man can employ?

Not to mention, the biggest reason he didn’t wish for a fight to break out.

’No fool would expose themselves in such a situation unless they are sure of their success.’ An assurance that means that the opponent is either a fool or confident enough in his strength that they don’t need to hide anymore.

And considering where they were and the fact that the opponent knew of his trade, it was easy to know which one it was.

"But I can’t go back... as I said before, I want something from you guys, and I wonder if you would kindly hand it over to me," I asked with a kind expression, which was barely noticeable in the night. But my intent was perfectly carried over to Paradi and his men.

Some of them were itching to shoot me but were held back by Paradi’s enforcers, Reni and Jed, who remained callus in front of death, unaware of the danger that was in front of him.

"If it’s a product that you want, then name the price and which one you want. Depending on your offer, I might just open my shop right here." There was also one more thing Paradi was aware of when confronting a situation like this. Never show your back to your enemy, never let them take over the flow of the conversation.

Be adamant and forceful with each word. And Paradi did all of that. Glaring at the man as if he was going to eat him alive, all this time.

To which, the man laughed. "Good, good, this makes my work so much easier."

"Then I turned toward the slaves who were stuck in the cages above the trucks. "May I?" I asked, and after a bit of consideration, Paradi agreed. "I give you five minutes."

"Not enough time to assess the value of your product, nor enough light."

"Either take it or leave us." I turned silent, borrowing a small burning stick from the campfire under the watchful gazes of these slave traders, I did as I said, and gave each slave a deep look, including the two special ones I had chosen to take with me on a whim.

"Two barely alive ones and the rest.... I was correct the first time."

"Such a bad batch of slaves, Mister Paradi." As I mentioned the man’s nickname, the eyes with which he looked at me turned a bit weirded out. Paradi thought, for how long had I been keeping a watch on him?

Or was it a mole in his organization, that sold him out?

"If Sir didn’t find what you were looking for, why not just wait for our shop’s opening? I believe you will get what you were looking for then." Then he ordered his men to aim toward me again.

"This is bad business Mister Paradi. You won’t get repeat customers if you keep treating me like this." I said, with a laugh before stopping. "And who said I didn’t find what I was looking for?" With a smile that exposed my face to the fools that surrounded me, I said. "And I wonder if you would like to hear how much I would pay for the one I chose?"

"So you did find someone? Please speak sir, which one is it?" He asked, sighing with some relief that this strange encounter could be over.

The man in front of him was strange from start to finish. There was no fear on his face nor any disgust, that strangers generally have when looking at slaves. No, it would seem he was happy to see such a miserable sight and even intended to do business with them.

’Guess I would have another story to tell at the table.’ Paradi wondered as he saw the strange man’s fingers dance around the slaves for a bit, specifically the two injured ones that were treated as an example for other slaves before that finger oddly moved towards his men, which made already confused Paradi.

But this confusion turned into anger as the finger stopped at him. "I want you Mister Paradi. And my price is a perfect zero." The strange man said while making a zero with his hand.

"Just shoot him already." Jed was the first to order it. He was fed up with this man and how he had disturbed his sleep.

It was night, and it was time for him to borrow a slave for his own personal enjoyment. But this man has ruined all his buzz.

A screaming sound reverberated through the forest as the flintlocks struck my body one after another.

Barely scrapping my skin this time, as I was not a small weak monkey anymore.

"Oh, using hundred-year-old weapons on me?" My body twisted and expanded, turning into that of a cow.

"He is Master level." Reni was the first to scream, as bloodline abilities were signs of people approaching master level. So he was not wrong in a way.

And I was happy with this misconception. As I saw the feet of some of the slavers shaking in fear.

"Master level Knight?"

"Why us?"

"Shit, run.." Before the man could say run, smoke came out of his throat and his heart was burnt to a crisp.

"Fool," Paradi commented with a sigh. The curse he implanted in his men was much more severe than the one he put on the slaves. Any kind of betrayal would result in their death. If a Slave tried to run away, all they would get was stomach ache of the worst variety.

Though, there was no time to talk about the reasoning here.

"A master rank is still a human, don’t worry, we can handle him." Paradi consoled him men a bit. But in his heart, he knew that this was not a fight he would win today.

This man came with so much confidence, there is no way there aren’t others in the area aiming for his life.

’These fools, I hope they can last long.’ With a twist of his hand and using a small doll as a catalyst, various cruses flew through the air, striking the strange bull-like man’s body. Slowing him down and making it possible for Jed’s sword to graze the man a bit.

"It might work."