"What are you guys talking about? I wouldn't have been able to do all that if you guys weren't there to help,"

"I guess that's true," Ethan nodded to Tim's words.

"Look here, kid," Tim said to me. "I like you. It's a big world we live in. You'll need protection and what better way to have that than to work for us,"

He took a bite of the chicken and ambled toward me before hunkering down right in front of me.

"Several kobolds are running around the forest in groups. They hunt and kill players without remorse, and judging by your appearance, you will be nothing but easy pickings to the kobolds."

He continued. "All you have to do is work your butt off in providing three square meals for all three of us, and you'll need to address me as big brother,"

'Huh? So, they weren't even related?'

"Provided you do all these, you'll be rewarded with whatever leftovers we have in addition to our protection," Tim added while taking two bites of the chicken.

"All these are little sacrifices you have to make to ensure your safety till the very last day. Don't you have a mummy and daddy you want to return home to?" He asked, taking three more bites of the chicken.

"Hey!! Big brother!! The chicken isn't getting any bigger, you know?" Kingsley protested.

" Leave him be, Kingsley. I have been watching him ever since. If big bro tries to take another bite, I'll end him myself," Ethan seethed.

Tim looked at the meat he held and chuckled. "Haha!! Sorry guys, it tasted so delicious and I completely forgot about you two,"

Both men mumbled to themselves but Tim placed no thought to their grumbling.

He looked straight into my eyes and noticed I had no intention of accepting his preposterous deal.

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He scoffed and stood up.

"Hey, big bro. Can't we just kill him and split whatever he drops?" Kingsley suggested.

"That could work if you're willing to take his spot in providing food for all three of us?" Tim raised an eyebrow. " Besides, there are chances he doesn't drop everything he has in his inventory. I need someone I can trust working for me as I aim to buy a couple of skills and crafting recipes,"

"So we don't kill him?" Ethan asked.

Tim tittered then replied while dropping the meat. "Oh, you're going to kill him. He has one of those ambitious looks in his eyes, which will only make him difficult to control in the long run. We'll find another loser to do his job for us. After all, not every inmate is a natural-born killer," Tim stood up and heads toward the darkness.

"Hey! Where are you going?" Kingsley asked.

"Nature calls. I'll be back in a jiffy. The meat is all yours,"

Tim drops his dagger on the log. "Use this to slit his throat. Let him bleed to death while feeling stupid for not accepting my proposal."

He took one last look at me and waves his hands before blending into the darkness.

"Sweet I get to have the first bite," Ethan rejoiced while grabbing the meat and munching it all down before Kingsley could even have a say on anything.

"Hey!! I believe big bro says it's for both of us,"

"Yeah!....*yum*...*yum*… I know that.....*yum*… Just end the kid and come have your share..yum," Ethan's mouth was stuffed with meat.

"The kid's weird....*yum*…"

"Why's that?" Kingsley asked, lifting me off the ground with both hands, and keeping my hands in place behind my back.

He ordered me to move toward where the knife was.

Ethan continued. "I mean.....*yum*.....the kid has been quiet for quite some time now....*yum*….and it just feels weird or don't you think?....*yum*…"

"I guess you do have a point. Maybe he sees there's no point in resisting anymore. Either way, I like how he is right now. It makes my job a lot easier for me," Kingsley bends down a bit to grab the knife, leaving behind one hand to grab both of my skinny hands.

This was a huge mistake.

With no ropes or anything to use to tie my hands together, I had inadvertently been offered a chance to retaliate.

Of course, I was going to use this chance to the fullest.

Aside from our rag tunic, no player seemed to have footwear, leaving us all to roam the forest in our bare feet.

I stamped on one of Kingsley's feet, which surprised the big man.

"Argh!!…. That hurts!!" He yelled, letting go of my hands in the process.

I leaped away from him before he tried to grab hold of me once again, but I didn't run.

Oh no, I couldn't run. Running was the last thing on my mind right now.

[Ding. Mace has been equipped.]

__________

The total number of players currently in the game: 79,000.

The number of deceased players: 15.

The total number of deceased players: 1,000.

____

Author's note: Thank you guys for the Power stones and the love you guys have for this novel. You all have been remarkable.