Inside Kelsein's black market, William's subordinates were waiting for him.

Vincent was currently dozing off, his body sprawled on top of a stall. After he had taken greater control over his aspect, his personality began changing bit by bit, becoming more confident and also lazy.

Paired with his pretty face, it created a strange yet harmonious vibe about him, attracting many gazes from the opposite sex.

Next to him, Eddie was currently hanging out with his younger sister. He had always been over-protective of her after their parents died, especially after slave merchants captured her.

The shadows around him were constantly fluctuating as if he were always ready for an attack. Eddie kept a close eye on his sister, ensuring her safety amid the bustling black market.

As Vincent dozed off, his senses sharpened, allowing him to perceive the subtle movements and whispers around him. His aspect granted him enhanced perception, making him an invaluable asset to their group. He could feel the vibrations of footsteps, the hushed conversations, and the tension that permeated the air.

Eddie's sister, Sophia, leaned against her brother, a sense of tranquility washing over her as she felt his protective presence. Despite the hardships they had endured, the siblings found solace in their unwavering bond. Sophia knew that as long as Eddie was by her side, she would be safe.

Meanwhile, Trader Bill was nowhere to be seen, as he was busy tending to his son Donald, who was still recovering from his ordeal. The shadows of worry and concern filled Trader Bill's eyes as he watched over his son's frail form.

After William had given him a hint, trader Bill went insane, trying to find his son, and in the end, he managed to find him and save him from his predicament.

Jesse, who had taken over Trader Bill's responsibilities in his absence, was trying his best to maintain order. He walked around, ensuring that the vendors were closing up their stalls and securing their goods for the night.

A group of mercenaries who were here on Trader Bill's orders were also waiting patiently for William to arrive. They couldn't begin the expedition without him, after all.

After a few hours passed, Vincent stirred from his drowsiness and glanced around. He had been waiting for William and Jerome for what felt like days, and impatience was starting to get the better of him. As he sat up straight, he noticed the crowd around him had thinned, and the market was slowly winding down for the day.

Eddie engrossed in a conversation with his sister, looked over at Vincent and noticed his restlessness.

"Vincent, relax. They'll be back soon. We both know what sort of monster the boss is. He might not be powerful, but I wouldn't want to be his enemy."

Eddie reassured him, shuddering while thinking of William's mischievous smile.

Vincent sighed, realizing his anxiety was getting the best of him. He leaned back against the stall, glancing around the black market once again.

Jesse, approached Vincent and Eddie with a stern expression. He had a commanding presence despite being the same age as William.

"Vincent, Eddie, any news from William? It's getting late, and we need to wrap things up for the day. The mercs have been getting annoyed with the situation, and I don't know how much longer I can hold their anger back."

Jesse spoke, his voice sounding helpless and exasperated.

Vincent shook his head, his expression slightly frustrated.

"No, Jesse, they haven't returned yet. As for those mercenaries, you can fire them if they get too much; we can just hire new ones."

Jesse crossed his arms, deep in thought, and nodded his head. William's importance was way higher than that of measly mercenaries who just went where the money guided them.

"All right, let's give them another hour. If they are still acting like assholes, I'll just send them off."

Jesse declared his voice firm.

As the minutes ticked by, Vincent found it increasingly difficult to remain patient. He got up from his spot and started pacing back and forth. He knew that his boss wasn't someone who would miss appointments; he had known him for almost three years now, so he understood his habits a bit.

He had developed a strong sense of trust after the technique William gave him worked wonders.

Suddenly, the sound of footsteps caught Vincent's attention. He turned towards the entrance of the black market, and relief flooded over him as he saw William and Jerome walking in.

"Finally! You guys took forever!"

Vincent exclaimed, a mix of frustration and relief evident in his voice. He didn't expect to be so anxious about William's well-being; it felt strange to him.

William and Jerome made their way towards the group, their expressions weary but satisfied.

"Sorry for the wait; we had to tie up some loose ends. But we're ready to go now."

William said, a smirk playing at the corners of his lips.

Jesse let out a sigh of relief and motioned for the mercenaries to gather around.

"All right, let's get started; the treasure is waiting for us!"

He shouted, exciting the mercenaries, who were weary and annoyed. His shout worked wonders, as they soon became pumped up.

William scanned the expedition group and nodded, satisfied. He trusted his companions, but when it came to the others, he could only trust Trader Bill. However, from the auras he felt, he knew that they were competent.

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At that moment, the leader of the mercenary squad walked over, his gaze probing and slightly hostile toward William.

William met the leader's hostile gaze with a calm expression, his mischievous smile still present.

"Is there a problem?"

William asked casually, raising an eyebrow.

The leader, a burly man with scars adorning his face, crossed his arms and spoke with a gruff voice.

"Who are you to lead this expedition? We were hired by Trader Bill, not some kid who just waltzes in and expects us to follow."

Vincent stepped forward, his charming face now sporting a stern expression. His eyes turned white as black smoke began to billow out of his pores, covering his frame. It was clear that his control over his aspect had become much more remarkable.

The burly leader took a step back, startled by Vincent's sudden display of power. The black smoke swirling around Vincent gave him an aura of menace, his once charming demeanor replaced by a cold intensity.

"Listen up, scarface. William is our leader. If you have a problem with that, you're free to leave. But don't think for a second that we'll tolerate any disrespect. "

His voice was harsh and wrathful, sending chills down the mercenary leader's back.

The leader's hostility lessened slightly as he glanced at Vincent and then at William. He seemed to be reevaluating the situation, realizing that there might be more to William than meets the eye.

Jesse, who had been silently observing the exchange, stepped forward as well. He glanced around at the mercenaries and ordered.

"Listen up, everyone. William is in charge here. If you have a problem with that, you can leave. But remember, Trader Bill trusts him, and so should you."

The mercenaries exchanged glances, some of them visibly uncomfortable. The leader's hostility had been somewhat tempered by Vincent's display and Jesse's authoritative tone. After a tense moment, the leader finally nodded, albeit grudgingly.

"Fine. We'll follow your lead. But don't think we'll tolerate any nonsense."

William's smirk widened. It was clear that the mercenaries didn’t trust him in the slightest, so he decided to show a bit of his strength.

William stepped forward, extending his hand, a flicker of aura energy dancing around his fingertips. The mercenaries watched in awe as his aura began to emanate from his body, enveloping him in a soft, radiant glow. This was the sign of an Aura Emitting master, a rank that commanded respect even among seasoned fighters.

"Let me make this clear," William began, his voice steady and commanding. "I am not here to prove myself to you. But if it's power you need to see, then so be it."

With a swift motion, William moved his arm, and a beam of pure energy shot out, striking a nearby boulder. The rock shattered into countless pieces, the sheer force of the blast sending a shock wave through the area. The mercenaries stepped back, their expressions a mix of surprise and newfound respect.

He didn’t utilize any spells, just his Aura level. If he used magic, then the mercenaries would think he was a good-for-nothing young master who just knew how to be on the back line. That’s how mercenaries acted against magicians.

"Whoa, boss. You’ve been holding out on us."

Vincent muttered, his eyes wide with admiration. He hadn’t yet reached this stage himself and mostly had to rely on his aspect to battle. Thankfully, he was now able to control it, so it wasn’t a huge issue.

William lowered his hand, the aura slowly dissipating as he turned back to the mercenaries.

"Now, do you understand?"

he asked, his voice calm yet firm.

"I'm not here to play games. We're about to face dangers that require strength, strategy, and trust. If you can't handle that, you can leave now."

The leader of the mercenaries, still reeling from the display of power, finally nodded in acknowledgment.

"All right, we get it. You're the real deal. We'll follow your lead,"

He said, his tone respectful.

With that settled, William turned his attention back to his group.

"Good. Now that we've got that out of the way, let's move. We have an expedition to complete."

Vincent and Eddie exchanged relieved glances, glad to see that William had managed to quell the mercenaries' doubts. Jesse, on the other hand, quickly got back to organizing the group, ensuring that everyone was ready to depart.

As the group began preparing Jerome, who had been silent throughout the exchange approached William silently.

"You didn’t have to showcase your strength, my lord. We could’ve just gotten another group."

Jerome commented, his voice low. Despite his young age, Jerome’s cold temperament made it obvious he had a few screws loose.

William shrugged, a smirk playing on his lips.

"It's all part of the game, Jerome. Sometimes you have to show your hand to get what you want. Besides, it's not like I did anything too drastic. Just a little demonstration of what I'm capable of."

Jerome nodded, though his expression remained impassive. He understood the necessity of William's actions, even if he didn't necessarily agree with them.

"Very well, my lord. Just be careful not to reveal too much. We don't want to attract any unwanted attention."

William chuckled, patting Jerome on the shoulder.

"Don't worry, Jerome. I know when to show restraint. Now, let's focus on the task at hand. We have treasure to find, and I don't intend to come back empty-handed."