Ex rank talent Awakening: 100\% Dodge rate-Chapter 136 - : THE INHUMANE DEAL

Brian watched as Commander Joshua stood tall beside the village chief, his authoritative presence radiating with quiet strength. His words of praise toward Brian were both humbling and encouraging, especially when he handed over a sealed recommendation letter, instructing the chief to give it to Brian once he reached level ten. The village chief nodded respectfully, while Brian remained quiet, overwhelmed with a mixture of pride and uncertainty.

With that business concluded, Commander Joshua turned and left the village behind. He moved with purpose, his steps silent but firm as he made his way toward a bandit camp nestled near the resurrection village—a starting zone for new adventurers. His knight armor had been replaced with a black robe that concealed his identity, a deep hood casting a shadow over his stern features.

"You there, what do you want?" barked the bandit leader, who stood before a loose semi-circle of his underlings. His voice was gruff and defensive, eyes narrowing as he scrutinized the hooded figure.

"We need to talk about the merchants that you trade with," Commander Joshua replied in a calm, unbothered tone.

"We trade with a lot of merchants. Which in particular are you referring to?" the bandit leader asked, his lips curling into a sly grin. Though his tone remained casual, his eyes betrayed a flicker of nervousness. He had a good guess as to which merchants the commander was referring to.

"I see you wish to feign ignorance," Commander Joshua said, his voice dropping into a cold, dangerous pitch. In that instant, a wave of dense, oppressive aura rolled off him like a storm front.

The bandit leader's knees buckled under the invisible pressure. He collapsed to the ground, choking and gasping for air, followed by his men who clawed at their throats in a panic, faces turning pale.

"I have a deal to discuss with your true masters," Joshua continued, his voice sharp as a blade. "So either step out of the shadows now, and we speak like men—or stay hidden and we fight like enemies."

Just then, a ripple spread through the air as if reality itself had been disturbed. A figure cloaked entirely in black stepped out from a twisting shadow, his entrance smooth and eerily quiet.

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"I see you haven't changed, Commander," the man said, his voice playful with an undertone of menace. "Still the cruel man you were in your youth."

"Shadow merchants," Joshua growled, glaring at the dark figure. "I've always hated your kind. So, are we speaking, or must I rip your network apart to get answers?"

The aura intensified again, a crushing wave that made the air feel thick as sludge. A few weaker bandits lay still, their bodies limp from suffocation, while the stronger ones writhed on the ground in desperation.

The merchant didn't flinch. "No way, I'd be a fool to fight someone like you. So, what's the deal you want to propose?" he asked, his grin audible. Though his face was cloaked in shadow—his skin, if it existed, unseen beneath the abyss-black hood—one could almost feel the smirk behind it. He was dressed head-to-toe in darkness: black gloves, sleek boots, and a robe that seemed to drink in light.

"I've heard whispers of your new creation—the demonic pills," Joshua said with disgust. "That alone is enough for the Temple to declare a holy war, but rooting you all out would be a waste of resources. You're too good at hiding."

As he spoke, Joshua lowered himself onto a chair made of swirling shadow, conjured by the shadow merchant. The merchant did the same, lounging across from him like they were old acquaintances sharing wine.

"Such praise from you warms my heart, Commander," the merchant said, clearly amused.

Joshua scowled. "We'll withdraw our knights from key villages and muddy the waters to keep the Temple blind to your actions. In return, you will create shadow slaves for us—enough to tip the balance and conquer the continent."

The merchant chuckled. "This is why I hate making deals with you. You're never willing to negotiate. Always issuing demands. Still… before we continue, can you ease up a little? My clients are suffocating, and half of them are already dead."

Joshua, still visibly displeased, reined in his oppressive aura. The remaining bandits collapsed onto their backs, gulping down air like fish thrown ashore.

"The agreement?" Joshua asked again, his gaze intense, making it clear he had no patience for refusal.

"Hah… fine," the merchant said, lifting his hands in mock surrender. "We'll supply you with the shadow slaves once we've perfected the process. But we want something in return: approval from the emperor for our expansion. And you must take full responsibility for the humans we'll convert and send to you."

Joshua stood. "The emperor will prepare prisoners once your experiments succeed. And keep the spy you've embedded alive until he can report back."

He began to walk away, black cloak billowing slightly as he passed through the bandit camp without glancing back.

"Wait," the merchant called after him. "What about the favor you promised in return?"

Joshua paused. "Among the foreigners, our spy has found someone with what they call 'talent.' A girl. She can control shadows as naturally as breathing. Like you lot."

He vanished into the forest, his final words drifting like smoke. "Don't forget the previous deal. It will be vital."

The shadow merchant stood silent for a long moment. Then, with a strange giddiness in his voice, he muttered, "A foreigner… with the ability to control shadows? Could it be? Has the shadow goddess finally reincarnated? How delightful."

He turned toward the recovering bandits. "You heard the commander. It's time to prepare. We'll need to accelerate the production of demon pills. The empire wishes for war with the demon realm... Emperor Augustus, such a dangerous, brilliant man. A true architect of chaos."

Chuckling to himself, the shadow merchant slipped into the nearest darkness, vanishing without a trace—leaving the trembling, terrified bandits in stunned silence beneath the moonlit trees.