It was a gruesome scene, as they watched the silver-haired man impassively holding the severed arm with bloodstains all over his white shirt and body while his victim was screaming right before him. He looked nothing less than a devil.
"Sh… s-shot him down!" Samuel shrieked with bloodshot eyes as he suppressed the appalling pain.
The Tiger's Den Mercenaries snapped out of their stupor, and their faces were ghastly pale. They all hesitated because Jacob was more powerful than Samuel. No, he was too powerful!
What if he decided to kill them all if they retaliates? Right now, Jacob only tore Samuel's arm and didn't kill him, which he easily could. No one doubted it anymore.
But if they really went on this road, there will be no return for them anymore.
Furthermore, when everyone saw the 'Devil' was just standing there calmly and looked at them with his icy eyes without any hint of panic, they all felt palpitations in their hearts.
But if they didn't shoot, didn't Samuel won't let them off?
Just as some of them collected their courage and starts raising their firearms, Alice's crisp voice rang, "Stand down!"
Her face was paler than anyone on the scene because she had this astonishing yet impossible proposition in her mind, 'He's an A-Rank!'
Because of her background, she was far more informative than anyone, and she heard lots of legends about an A-Rank expert, and this man in front of them was nothing but like those legends!
The moment Jacob tore off Samuel's hand like he was tearing a dry leaf, this realization hit her. She never thought there was someone with an A-rank mercenary strength hidden among humans.
Since Samuel dared to offend him, he was courting death, but what about them who came with him?
Her heart beat wildly just at the thought of it, and now Samuel had given a suicide command. She knew just how shrewd Samuel was, and he might've already guessed what she does, and he wanted to use them as a distraction so he could escape.
But when she noticed Jacob remain expressionless and remained in his position, she was even more sure these kinds of bullets would not work on him, and they would be seeking their own death once they start firing.
So, she instantly stopped those fools.
Jacob's lips suddenly curled into an amusing smirk as he looked at the tall beauty. He had to admit she was probably the most beautiful woman he had seen from the day he was born in this world.
But what aroused his interest was her decision-making in this chaotic situation, and she was thinking about her survival just like this fool who wanted to take everyone with him for a chance to escape.
Although Samuel and Alice were the same kinds of people, Jacob could tell this woman was ten times savvier and calmer than Samuel.
'Well, since she'll be more obedient, I don't need this one.' Jacob's eyes turned cold as he looked at Samuel, who was seething in pain, or pretending to as his bloodshot eyes were darting around.
Since Alice blocked his life path, he won't let them live either. He roared hysterically, "Bitch, do you really think he'll let you all go?! Don't listen to her attack… attack for me!"
Alice had already noticed Jacob's smirk, and her heart was beating like a drum.
When she heard this and couldn't help but cursed out loud, "This scoundrel dog wanted us to die with him! Don't listen and drop your weapon. We're not matched for this gentleman, he's an A-Rank!"
"A… A rank?"
Everyone's minds jumbled when they heard A-Rank, and they finally understood why Samuel was beaten so miserably!
Compared to a B-Rank Samuel, who had already offended an A-Rank expert, they would choose to surrender and earn this powerhouse's forgiveness.
Even the most loyal original Tiger's Den members have the same thoughts, and the very next moment, they all dropped their weapons without any hint of hesitation.
"W-we surrender!"
"It was Samuel's fault and… and… they were also the ones who took him here!"
Everyone turned and pointed toward the Fiery Lake Team of Eight with indignant eyes.
If it wasn't for these eight, would they come here?
The answer was yes!
Because Samuel had already considered this mansion his hideout until the war with the trolls would decide and even bought it from the original owner. So, they would've come here even without them.
But to save their own skins, they put all the blame on them and hoped Jacob would spare their life.
They never thought there would be an even scarier existence than the entire Earthen Kingdom residing in this barren country, and they just had to offend him!
It was all because of one fucking mansion!
The Fiery Lake Team's faces were ashen when they saw everyone pointing at them and distancing themselves from them.
Despair filled Fiery Lake's beautiful eyes at this moment. She regretted reporting this incident to Samuel and deciding to stay here.
Now it was all over, their comrades had abandoned them!
Samuel also found hope amid darkness when he heard this. He quickly blurted, "L-Lord, yes… it was all them…"
At this moment Jacob annoyingly spoke, "Enough!"
The scene felt deadly silent.
Jacob scanned through the crowd with his cold eyes before his eyes paused for a moment on the Fiery Lake Team and then he stopped at Alice, which made her shudder.
He impassively asked, "You will be the leader of these clowns from now on, and if anyone dares to run… your end will be…"
Just as his icy voice trailed off.
His hand blurred again, only this time when it appeared again, it was coated with blood, and it wasn't empty, but there was a beating heart in his hand.
Everyone felt terror when they looked at the heart, which, beat by beat, turned dormant.
'Thud.'
When they heard this sound, a chill ran down their spine because Samuel was laying in his own blood without any hint of life, and there was a hole in his chest.
'Squish…'
Jacob clenched Samuel's heart and coldly said, "This could be any of your heart, so I'm suggesting to not try anything funny, or I'll hear you."
Alice, who was looking at Samuel's corpse with an appalled expression, also felt terror and didn't dare to look Jacob in the eyes anymore.
"You'll be Salve No.1 from now, and your first task is to make the pool in the backyard a hundred meters deep with a solid platform in the center and build a doom over it. Is that clear?" Jacob coldly uttered while glaring at Alice.
Without waiting for her reply, he turned around, about to leave before he left one last line, "Every woman will live in the mansion 'with me' from now on, while men can make camps outside and be in charge of security. If anyone approached, tell them to fuck off."
Harrison looked at the incoming Jacob with daze and terror, as well as the other servants of the house. They all thought it was just a dream.
They never thought they were serving someone so powerful all this time!
Jacob looked at Harrison meaningfully, which made the latter shudder. "You'll be in charge of those people and the materials they required, and if they resist your orders, tell me."
Harrison felt like his knees were trembling and urged to release the pressure between his legs, but he didn't dare, afraid he will be lost Jacob's goodwill and had his heart crushed like Samuel's.
"As your command, my lord!" He quickly bent his head ninety degrees.
Jacob didn't mind and left.
The entire purpose of putting this show in everyone's eyes was to put fear in everyone's heart as well as announced his existence among humans.
Furthermore, he really required some labor to make the pool deeper so he could continue practicing water meditation. These people happened to be just what he needed, and Samuel delivered them to him.
'Now, I just have to remain here and wait for their reactions. If I thought correctly, this might really work…' An astute glint flashed past Jacob's eyes as he headed toward the basement.
Alice looked at the empty space where Jacob was just standing a few moments ago. 'S-slave No.1?!'
Those words rang in her mind like thunder. She, a proud daughter of a Duke, was proclaimed a slave, and she can't even put up resistance or word out of her protest!
It was simply a tremendous blow to her pride and confidence!
Everyone has complicated expressions on their faces. They never thought their entire understanding of power would be upturned by coming to this place.
Although Jacob called their Vice-Captain in slave, what about them?
He called them clowns; they weren't even considered slaves to him. and all the pride and achievement they had accumulated in these years turned into smoke.
As for escaping, did they have the ability?