Free Web NovelChapter 173: I know
"People won’t accept that easily," Stallus said.
"Of course not! We have some rebel villages that are still fighting them till now trying to bring down Greytown."
Azaroth narrowed his eyes. "You don’t like them but you are not fighting them either."
The village head smiled bitterly. "How? Only those who can fight will raise their swords against them. Greytown leaders are ruthless and will kill everyone in the village otherwise. Besides, they give us some meat and medicine sometimes."
"They also kill the monsters for us so there’s that."
While the man was talking, food was brought forward to them. It was made up of different fruits and vegetables. Catena stared at Azaroth intently until he nodded. Azaroth saw no reason why they shouldn’t eat the food, any poison weaker than their current rank won’t hurt them anyway.
The fruits are sweet and juicy but it couldn’t fully hide that they had been laced with something. Definitely not poison but something had been put inside the food anyway!
The village head kept talking. "If only they gave us part of the monster meat they kill, those greedy bastards. Strangers, I’ll advise you guys to stay here instead of going to Greytown where you’ll first be tested to see if you are strong enough to be accepted! At your current novice rank I doubt you’ll be placed in a reasonable place."
Azaroth didn’t comment on the fact that the man already felt their essence level. "But we’ll still be accepted?"
"Don’t be fools! Greytown is a place where only the strong stay at the top! Of course you’ll be accepted but those at the top will suck you dry." fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm
Azaroth nodded and he slowly finished all the fruits on his plate, thinking that he hadn’t eaten this many varieties of fruits before. Outside in the real world can be compared to this but just at a bigger level.
Suddenly Azaroth felt his muscles slow and his head heavy and light as if he might suddenly start flying. He stretched out his hands for balance but the next moment he was falling forward.
"Azaroth? Azaroth!" Stallus hurried up but just then her eyes blurred and she also fell.
Catena just closed his eyes like that, only Alex was looking at everyone in a baffled manner. He looked from the yellow fruit in his hand to the village head. "You!...." He also fell over.
The village head laughed. "Ah! Fools! Haven’t they heard not to collect candy from strangers? Did they think they are something special with their novice strength!"
"What are we going to do with them?" Someone asked.
"We’ll loot them and then to the cooking pot! Don’t you see how fresh and healthy they are? We’ll dry some and just celebrate with fresh parts. They should last us for some months. And see their clothes! I want that one for me."
Joyce spoke. "Are you sure they’re not spies from Greytown or the rebels?"
"Don’t be a fool. Do you think we are important enough for them to send spies? Our village is worthless to them and our fruits are only taken as snacks! They are not important or they wouldn’t be here! See their skin, they must be new here as they said."
Joyce sighed. "Then we won’t have to sacrifice for at least three months."
The sacrifice is just killing one of the villagers and using them as a source of protein. The only thing the village has is fruits, no source of protein so to prevent themselves from dying from weakness they turned to cannibalism.
With a monthly sacrifice they are able to provide protein to the others.
"Yes. Go and call the butcher. We should keep the meat here and process them until we can transport it to the storage. The villagers will be happy tonight."
"I’m glad to be of assistance," Azaroth replied, eating more of the fruits on the plate.
The village head nodded with a smile. "Thank you stranger....what!" The village head jumped up in shock and surprise, his eyes wide. "You....you’re awake!"
"So we can stop pretending now. Alex, let me eat some of your fruits," Catena said and began to drag Alex’s plate toward him.
"Of course we are. The drug you put inside doesn’t do much of anything except make us feel slow for some moments," Stallus said. "But I must say your fruit collection is something. You have our thanks there."
The villagers trembled. This had never happened before, why didn’t they fall unconscious? They had done this a lot of times, as a weak village the only way to knock out opponents is to drug them and then deal with them at their pace but what’s happening?
Did they put too little substance? But that’s impossible!
The village head raised his hand and his essence crawled out covering his two hands. He opened his mouth to shout out his skill but Stallus interrupted him by throwing one of the crystals at him. "Catch!"
And he did, looking at the blue crystal in surprise. "What are you doing? Precious gems or money are worthless here! Only food can be exchanged!"
Stallus nodded. "I know. Now die," she said calmly.
The village head never knew what she meant because the next moment the crystal exploded with so much force only his legs remained as red mist was sprayed everywhere. Part of the wall was knocked away and the floor was blackened with a big crater.
Two of the villagers died with him and Joyce could only look on in shock. "What?" Suddenly, those she thought were rabbits are now monsters with long claws. She trembled and began to inch slowly towards the escape.
Azaroth sighed. "Stop. Where do you think you are going?"
She froze. Is that some kind of enchanted tool? It has to be because no way these children are that powerful! Didn’t she also feel their power? She looked towards the girl that threw the crystal. If only she could have such an enchanted tool!
"Yes! Yes! My lord." Quickly, Joyce bowed. Things had gone horribly wrong.
