I’m a Rebel in Another World

Chapter 40: I'm Worth the Price

Henwil woke to find himself in a cage, thick felt cloth covering it so he couldn't see outside.

The rocking and bumping sensation told him he was likely in a carriage.

After losing so much blood, Henwil felt parched, his throat dry and painful from lack of water.

His mouth held no saliva at all, only the metallic taste of blood.

Excruciating pain radiated from everywhere in his body, his head foggy and heavy.

Soon, Henwil lost consciousness again.

He didn't know how much time had passed when he woke once more.

This time, someone had splashed water on him to wake him.

Double vision blurred Henwil's sight as he shook his head hard to clear his mind.

People around him were arguing fiercely about something, but he couldn't make out the words - it sounded like a swarm of bees buzzing nearby.After what felt like an eternity, Henwil finally regained his senses.

With great effort, he turned his neck to survey his surroundings.

They were in an abandoned square, the surrounding dilapidated buildings suggesting this had once been a small town.

But the overgrown weeds indicated it had been deserted for many years.

The bandit soldiers were negotiating with several men.

"Mr. Spider! I swear I'm not exaggerating! This kid killed several of my men!

You know my soldiers - they've crawled out of piles of corpses, not some inexperienced rookies who've never seen blood.

Yet this boy alone forcefully killed several of my brothers!

If we hadn't restrained him with fishing nets trying to capture him alive, we would've lost even more men!

My asking price isn't high at all! I'm not making any profit from you! It's all compensation for my dead brothers' families!"

The man called Spider sneered coldly: "Nailhead! What bullshit are you spouting? You'd actually provide for your brothers' families? Since when did you develop such kindness?"

Then Spider impatiently cut off the bandit leader's explanation: "Enough! Fifty gold coins? You dare ask that much!

Five gold coins! Not a copper more! Take it or leave it! If not, get lost with your half-dead merchandise!"

The bandit leader forced an awkward smile: "Five is really too little! How about this - I'll give Mr. Spider some face.

Thirty gold coins! How about that! You won't regret it at all!

With some training and proper methods, he'll become like a death warrior raised from childhood!

If presented to noble lords, he'd probably fetch over a hundred gold coins!"

Spider stared coldly at him: "What? Didn't you hear what I just said? Five gold coins! Take it or get lost!"

The bandit leader's expression stiffened as he dropped his ingratiating smile, turning a cold gaze toward Henwil in the cage: "Boy! You're unlucky - not worth a good price! This is my loss!"

With that, the bandit leader drew his longsword, preparing to stab Henwil through the cage bars.

Spider frowned: "Nailhead! What's the meaning of this? Showing me your dissatisfaction?"

The bandit leader's sword tip had already pierced Henwil's left rib as he smiled at Spider: "Didn't you say you didn't want him?

I figured keeping him would be troublesome, so better kill him now! Saves food supplies!"

Spider stared coldly at him: "If you want to kill him, do it outside! If blood stains my place and scares my other customers, you won't leave here alive either!"

Resentment flashed in the bandit's eyes as he forced a smile: "Fine! You're the boss! We'll leave immediately!"

"Wait!"

A middle-aged man in blue robes with stern features spoke up to stop them.

Spider immediately raised his hand toward the bandit leader: "Listen to what my guest has to say!"

The blue-robed man studied Henwil curiously: "He really killed several of your men?"

The bandit leader nodded hurriedly: "Absolutely! He's skilled with both longsword and bow, clearly received professional training!

We went through great trouble kidnapping him from the knight's estate!

He must be the knight's child, otherwise he wouldn't be this formidable!"

The blue-robed man circled the cage: "What's your name?"

Henwil glanced at him but didn't answer.

Seeing Henwil's silence, the bandit leader raised his sword to stab at Henwil's thigh: "The master asked you a question!"

Someone behind the blue-robed man stepped forward and grabbed the bandit leader's wrist.

The blue-robed man smiled: "I'll take this merchandise! You'll get thirty gold coins later!

Now he's my property! You can't damage him anymore!"

The bandit leader apologized repeatedly: "My bad habit - almost ruined sir's merchandise! I deserve punishment!"

He slapped himself across the face, then rubbed his hands together: "But sir! You might have misremembered! He sells for fifty gold coins, not thirty!"

Spider shouted sharply: "How dare you! Nailhead, raising prices on the spot? You just said thirty gold coins, now trying to cheat my honored guest?"

The bandit leader smiled obsequiously: "Mr. Spider, didn't you just haggle aggressively too? Business is about mutual agreement.

If this gentleman thinks my price is too high, he doesn't have to buy! This isn't a forced transaction!"

Spider's face darkened as he prepared to say more.

But the blue-robed man raised his hand to stop him, addressing the bandit leader: "You say this boy is formidable and kills without blinking. How can I verify this?"

The bandit leader spread his hands: "Then there's nothing I can do. He's in poor condition now, probably can't fight."

At that moment, Henwil struggled to raise his hand, trying to say something.

"He probably wants water! Give him some water!"

The bandit leader tilted his head signaling, and a bandit approached with a waterskin.

He opened the waterskin and brought it to Henwil's lips.

After drinking a few mouthfuls, Henwil suddenly coughed violently, blood-flecked sputum spraying out.

Just then, Henwil suddenly thrust his right hand into the bandit's eye socket.

After mangling the eyeball, he hooked his middle and index fingers into the eye socket and yanked hard.

As the bandit's head slammed against the bars, Henwil's left fist crushed his throat.

Everyone stared blankly at Henwil, momentarily frozen in place.

Henwil gave the blue-robed man a faint smile, pointed at the choking, convulsing bandit on the ground, and said in a hoarse voice: "See! Now verified!"

"You fucking bastard!"

The bandit leader drew his sword, preparing to kill Henwil.

But someone moved faster - the blue-robed man's guard delivered a knife-hand strike that shattered the sword-wielding wrist bone.

As other bandits reached for their weapons, the blue-robed man's other guard blurred and vanished from sight.

A series of screams followed as the remaining bandits had their throats slit.

The blue-robed man waved his hand, and his guard threw a money pouch at the bandit leader clutching his broken wrist: "Fifty gold coins, not a single coin less!

I already told you not to damage my merchandise! Why can't you remember?!"

After the bandit leader left, the blue-robed man looked at Henwil: "Excellent! A ruthless talent! I'll heal your injuries!

But you need to earn back those fifty gold coins quickly, otherwise I'll skin you and make a fine robe from your hide!

Now! You're my property! My name is Laiom! But many call me the Puppeteer! The kind who works with human skin!"