Chapter 677 - Servitude Or Death?

"[Reptilian] Now then…" The hooded robust figure raised its attention to the now lonesome little draconic skink thug boss. A smirk emerged in his hidden expression as he looked at his small, fragile and shivering, trembling stature. "Care to tell us what we should do with you?" 

Just as the sole survivor, who somehow was granted this unexpected mercy and his blood still coursed inside his veins rather than joining the growing pond of vermilion that gradually claimed more and more of the surrounding territory of its own, submerging the unholy mixture of hardened rock and dry soil.

The helpless skink trembled with fright, his orange scales turned several gradients brighter as more and more of his blood accumulated around his rapidly pulsating heart and small crystal core. 

He was scared, no… terrified as he was now facing not just one of these brutal, heartless and merciless killers. He knew that his life, whatever puny and unjust it may be, was in their hands. They could come and claim at a moments' notice and there was absolutely nothing he could do to fight against it.

Well… actually, he did feel he had one tiny, minuscule chance. A miracle, as one could say. Taking a few extra seconds to gather his wits and willpower, the now rather small-looking draconic skink thug leader loudly gulped a couple of times as his gaze slowly wandered first to the left before traversing the horizon towards the far-right only to meet the same hooded, violent monsters looking at him on both ends. 

Their hands still dripping with the copious amounts of blood of his now-deceased gang painting of them quite a grotesque scenery. Though he didn't turn around, he didn't really need to. He could feel the piercing gaze of the fourth creature gazing at his back, nigh boring a hole at his collar with its fierceness.

The first large figure that stood just a dozen steps in front of the draconic skink didn't move or react despite almost a full minute having passed in silence. He, just like the rest of the other three seemed to be content allowing the little skink to gather himself and wasn't in a hurry to end this little episode.

As the bandit leader's eyes darted all around, he suddenly spotted a unique-looking silhouette at the far corner of the alleyway. It was hunched back, but nevertheless, its frame resembled that of a skink.

Confused at the sight, the first thought that came to the bandit leader's mind was to raise his arms, wave, and call out for the shadowy silhouette for help. However, as he thought about it a bit more, he realized that there was absolutely no way these monsters hadn't noticed him. 

What did that mean then? That figure was somehow related to these fearsome, terrifying monsters, or perhaps had some sort of deal… A deal, he too could perhaps make!

"[Reptilian] M-Mighty sirs…" Taking a gulp of the stale cold air, the draconic skink bandit leader forcefully calmed his mind and stuttered a response. "I… I wholeheartedly apologize for the misunderstanding! Please if you would be generous to spare my life, I would be honored to serve you in any manner!" 

"[Reptilian] Interesting…" Sneered the figure before the bandit leader with a deep crashing sound. "And pray tell… why would we do that? What makes you think that whatever service you can offer would be worth our time?"

"[Reptilian] What could you offer that could top the enjoyment of slicing you up, little one?!" The figure on the right chimed in, a sinister sneer resounding from under the hood as he spoke.

The little skink shivered at the questions, his figure quivering as if it was a weak, fragile leaf under the assault of the heavy autumn wind. He took several more seconds to quell the raging storm inside his mind and force himself to respond.

"[Reptilian] M-my name is Tocyl-kekko, I-I am well known around these parts of the town!" The bandit leader gulped as he hurriedly raised his right index finger into the air. "I-I used to be a well respected g-guard c-captain… b-before… before…" There were tears in his voice from the overwhelming grief and sorrow that suddenly began to ooze out of every fiber of his being. 

Surprised by this reaction, as it wasn't caused by his instinct, his fear of them, the central hooded figure, Draghan hummed thoughtfully. He looked at his brethren, whom all seemed to have come to the same realization. With a shared nod towards each other, they have all lowered their aggressive stances, and whilst still keeping their position to keep the little draconic skink from suddenly finding a path of escape and bolting away, they no longer radiated the pure killing intent they did just a moment ago.

"[Reptilian] Tell us, what happened to you? What is your story? What made you venture to the path of taint, and become a criminal from one serving justice and keeping order?"

However, despite the question, the little skink could not respond as the painful memories mixed together with the overwhelming fear and trepidation he was put under have cracked his mental barriers. As if a dam was broken, his tears were flowing like rivers, the man was crying miserably as all the suppressed memories resurfaced. 

The four hooded saurus captains shared another conflicted look with each other, suddenly feeling that the atmosphere got rather awkward, they had no idea what to do. Whilst killing the man would have certainly resolved the situation it would have left a bad taste in their mouth. They would be turning against their own beliefs… their newfound lord's teachings…

Not sure of what to do or how to react to the strange situation, they could only look for their eldest, Draghan for guidance.

However, just like them, Draghan was also just as much clueless as them. Letting the figure go away was certainly not something they could allow. It would create a risk, exposing them and causing unwanted complications to their mission.

Yet, killing him was also not a suitable and tasteful resolution to the cause. 

The only path in that case, was to accept his offer and force him into servitude… However, that also wasn't something they could decide themselves. 

Heaving a heavy sigh, Draghan shook his head. He was about to speak up when suddenly the weak and raspy tone of the elderly skink hiding behind them suddenly stepped forward and spoke up whilst tugging on his long silver beard.

"[Reptilian] Apologies for the interruption… B-but w-would the great sirs' mind if I would suggest something that could help you out of this predicament?"

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