Chapter 196: Meet the Leader

The horses didn't go very fast, but my colonists had abrasions and cuts. Their bodies were dragged on the ground as they were pulled by the four-legged animals.

I know Rex might be hiding somewhere to attack, but I don't think the dog will be able to help with this many raiders.

Or maybe Kat sent him away because she didn't want her white dog to suffer the same fate as Rox?

The other raiders were sitting in the emergency shelter. Some of them were eating my colonists' supplies.

There is something strange. I don't see any women among them.

"So, this is the only occupant of this place?" One of them got up, speaking in a deep voice. He is the most different from the others. He wore a dark-brown mask, and clothes covering his entire body, combined with a long vest. The mask is decorated with two white patches that form eye patterns, instead of holes. "Only two women?"

[???, 33 years old (Raider)]

Ranged Attack: 8/100

Melee Attack: 83/100

One of the horsemen answered. "Exactly, sir."

"You know what happens when you lie and it turns out there's another female member?"

"Yes, sir!"

The man called sir looked at my colonists, lying on the ground covered in wounds. Almost all of them were there, except for Leva. The red-haired woman was left behind because she was thought to be dead.

She was still breathing, but would she still be able to survive? Unfortunately, this is not the time to mourn. I have to find a way for my people to be free.

"Is he still alive?" The man who seemed to be the leader of the raider group pointed at Miro, who was already unconscious.

"Surprisingly, he's still alive even though he's lost a lot of blood, sir."

"We can use him as a gladiator later." The leader crouched in front of Gwen, then lifted the blonde-haired woman's chin. "Oh, look. We got a good catch."

Gwen forced a smile on her lips. Then, in her signature teasing tone, she sighed. "You are very mysterious, sir. And that makes my heart flutter. Well, how about I give you a present, as long as you and your friends don't do anything bad to us?"

Oh, Gwen. I'm not sure something like that will help you and your friends now.

"Ah... The temptress. I quite like this one."

Gwen's smile widened, but it disappeared immediately as the leader slapped her hard. And it didn't happen just once, but many times. Gwen couldn't react, except to cry.

I couldn't help but clench my fists, looking at Gwen's face, which was swollen red from being slapped dozens of times. That must be very painful.

"Hey, stop it!" Finally, Manu got out of control. He no longer obeyed my orders to be quiet while I thought for a solution.

"If you speak again, I'll turn these slaps into fists." The leader was still slapping Gwen in the face, making a sound that continued to echo.

My other colonists couldn't help but be silent in horror at the cruel scene. Meanwhile, the other raiders just watched. Some of them laughed, some watched with enthusiastic expressions.

What the fuck. You all are sick.

Maybe ten minutes or so, the leader finally stopped, leaving Gwen's face already so red and swollen. The blonde-haired woman continued to cry.

The leader rose to his feet, looked up slightly, and took a deep breath.

Are you enjoying all this? What a sick bastard.

"Then how about this bitch?" The leader came to Kat, who had been faced down. Her face is not visible because it's covered by hair.

"This is also a good catch, sir."

The leader raised Kat's face harshly. Nothing has changed from the amber-eyed girl's face, apart from being decorated with wounds. Her expression is still blank.

The leader studied Kat's face closely, and a few seconds later, he held his breath. "Katherine?"

Kat just tilted her head.

"Y-you don't remember me? I'm Jia!"

My chest felt like it was hit by something burning. My mind goes back to a few months ago when Manu and Kat went on a mission to Redtooth. At that time, I was stupid and carelessly made Jia join my colony. Turns out that bastard is a psychopath who likes to hurt women. And Manu was almost killed by this asshole.

How did he survive the fire?

Jia looks at Manu. "Ah, I'm no stranger to you either."

Manu just looked at Jia with disdain.

The masked man pressed his palms to Kat's cheeks, then hissed with quivering lips. "Turns out our psychic girl's predictions were right. By camping around here, we'll be able to find you, darling."

Darling?

"You are different from other women, Katherine. When other women could only cry in fear, you beat me. Yes, there are some who dare to go against me, but in the end, only you that could really make me helpless, Katherine!" Jia continued his nonsense. "I hated you so much at first for that. However, after a while I realized one thing, there is no other woman like you. You are special. You deserve to be my life partner!"

The other raiders exchanged glances, probably confused by their leader's behavior. I also can't understand what this madman is saying.

"Are you saying you love me?" Kat responded, still with a blank expression.

Jia's breathing started to get heavy. He nodded.

"Then let go of my friends, leave this place." Kat's tone grew colder.

Jia shook his head. "That's not how it works, darling. We've been traveling around while raiding other groups that happen to be in our path... I'm gathering people who want to come along...."

"Then I will reject every inch of you. You can force me, you can torture me, but you can never have me." Kat's lips began to tremble. "If you want me, obey me."

I hastily spoke into the girl's ear. "What did you say, Kat? Take it back."

"Hey, you're not serious, are you, Kat?" Seb asked with lips that were also trembling. "You can't..."

"Silence!!!" Jia snapped. "Or I'll rip your mouth out!!!"

"If one of my friends gets hurt even a little more than this, I really won't accept you."

No, Kat. What are you really thinking? Why are you going rogue like this? You don't usually ignore my orders.

"And leave all this behind. Don't touch and take anything from us. Don't destroy our farms too. Let my friends live in peace." Kat added.

I'm getting frustrated. My brain is getting stuck.

Taking a deep breath, Jia began to untie Kat's body.