The bandits immediately obeyed and stopped their movement. Julian couldn’t help but laugh, a low chuckle that echoed in the tense silence.
“Wise choice,” he said with amusement.
He strolled casually to the center of the hideout, ignoring the nervous eyes of the remaining bandits. As he reached a nearby chair, he sat down, his gaze never leaving the bandit leader.
The leader stood in silence, his sharp eyes locking with Julian’s. After scanning Julian for some time, he stepped forward.
“Who are you, and what do you want?” he demanded, his tone confident and brave.
Julian smiled. “Nothing much,” he replied casually. “I was just wandering and stumbled upon your little hideout.”
As he spoke, Julian flared his aura, just enough to send a clear message. It rippled out like a wave, a subtle but unmistakable pressure that filled the air.
The leader’s bravado faltered for a moment as an involuntary shiver ran down his spine. His hand instinctively tightened around his weapon. He could feel the immense power emanating from Julian. It was far beyond anything he had ever encountered.
He slowly released his grip on the weapon. His voice faltered as he spoke, “Have we offended you, sir? If so, we will do anything in our power to compensate you.”
Julian chuckled softly. “No need. I am simply visiting,” he said, though the intensity of his aura still pressed down on the room.
His gaze then shifted to the two women beside the leader. He studied them for a moment, then asked, “Are they your wives?”
The leader’s eyes flickered nervously between Julian and the women. The two women, sensing the shift in atmosphere, looked at Julian with tense expression.
The leader cleared his throat and nodded, “Yes, these are my wives. Please, if there is anything you wish, we will—”
Julian cut him off with a raised hand and asked, “Are they the prettiest around?”
The leader’s face tightened as he responded, “Yes, they are the prettiest around here, sir.” His voice was strained, clearly aware of Julian’s intent, but unable to back down in front of his followers.
Julian smiled as his eyes lingered on the two women, slowly moving over their figures. The women shifted uncomfortably under his gaze.
Julian chuckled, enjoying the discomfort he was causing. “How much would you rate them?” he asked again.
The leader, now thoroughly confused and uneasy, stammered, “What… what do you mean, sir?”
He was unsure whether Julian was joking or testing him, but whatever it was, he knew he couldn’t afford to make the wrong move.
“Out of ten,” Julian said, tilting his head slightly. “how much would you rate them?”
The leader swallowed hard as he glanced nervously between the women beside him. “Ten, sir. Both.” he finally managed to utter.
Julian smiled, his eyes glowing with amusement. “A perfect 10, huh?” he said. He glanced at the two women, his gaze lingering on them for a moment before turning back to the leader. “I suppose you think highly of them.”
The leader was confused but still nodded and said. “Yes, sir, they are the best I’ve ever seen.”
Julian leaned back slightly in his chair, his expression thoughtful as he considered the situation. “Interesting,” he murmured.
The leader was taken aback by Julian’s response. “What about you, sir? Do you not agree with me?” he asked.
“Hmm,” Julian began, “one has big breasts, and her figure is rather voluptuous. She could very well be the mother of children.”
He paused, his eyes shifting to the second woman. “The other is younger, clearly a newer addition to your… harem.”
He glanced back at the leader, his smile growing wider. “Both have nice asses,” he added.
The leader couldn’t help but nod silently. His women, though flustered, also recognized the truth in Julian’s words. Despite the lewdness of his remark, there was an undeniable accuracy to it.
The leader stared at Julian. “How do you know, sir?” he asked, his voice wavering slightly.
The leader’s brow furrowed as he stared at Julian, his voice tinged with uncertainty. “How do you know, sir?” he asked cautiously.
“I have seen my share of women in my life,” Julian replied. Then, without breaking his gaze, he added with boldness, “Say, what will you do if I ask for those two women for one night?”
The room seemed to freeze. The leader’s eyes widened as he turned to the women beside him, who exchanged shocked glances before looking back at Julian.
The leader’s voice faltered as he spoke, struggling to mask his unease. “What do you mean?” he asked.
He clenched his hands into fists to control his anger. He had to ask again, as if hoping Julian’s words might mean something else but deep down, he knew exactly what Julian meant.
Before the leader could say anything, the tension in the air thickened as the leader’s son Raina, stepped forward with clenched fists.
“What gives you the right to talk about my mother like that?” he shouted, his face flushed with anger. “Father, kill him! He has been disrespecting us since the moment he got here!”
The leader was already shaking with fear and uncertainty. But, before he could respond, the voluptuous woman beside him turned to face Raina and spoke up.
“Raina, do not open your mouth when adults are talking,” she said, her eyes flashing with a mix of anger and concern for her son’s rash behavior.
Raina froze, his anger momentarily faltering. “But, Mom—” he started, only to be cut off mid-sentence.
“No,” she said, her tone leaving no room for argument. “Did you not get me? she asked, the weight of her words hanging heavy between them.
Raina nodded sharply and looked down at the floor for a moment before reluctantly sitting down. Though his eyes still burned with the same anger.
“How charming,” Julian remarked, his voice dripping with mockery. “A young one with such fire in his eyes.”
“So, how do you operate?” Julian asked, already forgetting about Raina and his defiance. “Do you loot and kill?”
The leader frowned at the sudden question, unsure of where this conversation was headed. He nodded as he answered. “Yes, we kill before looting.”
Julian’s smile grew wider, but his eyes held a dangerous glint. “So, your men would have killed our camp if not for my intervention?” he mused aloud.
The leader’s face turned pale as realization struck him. He cursed inwardly at his men, who had brought this unwanted attention to his hideout.
“I… I didn’t mean for any of this to happen, sir,” the leader stammered, his voice cracking with fear.
Julian leaned forward. “You may not have meant it,” he said softly, “but the consequences remain.”