Samuel remained impassive, his face frozen in an expression of cold indifference. The bandits, just as surprised as Canon, stared at Samuel with confused looks. They did not understand why Canon, the protector of the village, was asking for help from a man they perceived as an insignificant old stranger.

Canon, still on the ground, shouted, desperate: "This isn't the time for jokes, come help me !"

Samuel, without a trace of emotion, replied: "I'm not joking, i don't know you that well, after all. What makes you think that you can trust me ? I might be a murderer, who knows ? And then, I don't see what helping you or the inhabitants of this village would bring me."

At that moment, it was no longer the bandits who frightened Canon, but Samuel himself. A dark aura seemed to envelop this man, and his usually calm face had darkened with a chilling indifference.

Canon, trembling, shouted: "We offered you our hospitality and this is how you thank us ?"

Samuel, impassive, approached slowly, each of his steps resonating like a muffled threat. When he reached the height of Canon, he crouched down, towering over him with all his stature. The leader of the bandits, feeling compelled to intervene, approached and placed a hand on Samuel's shoulder.

"Hey, grandpa, I advise you to step back if you value your life," said the leader arrogantly.

Without even turning around, Samuel delivered an incredibly powerful punch, sending the leader of the bandits flying through a window. The shock was such that the bandit vanished from sight, crushed against the wall of the neighboring house.

Samuel, a cold smile on his lips, murmured towards the house where the leader had been thrown out: "Wait ,i haven't finished speaking. So be nice and wait for me to finish with him." The other bandits, who until then thought themselves invincible, took a step back, fear evident in their eyes. They were completely caught off guard, unable to understand how a man who seemed so old could possess such strength.

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"As I was saying...Hospitality is sometimes not enough to be saved, and right now, that is not the case....You have to give to receive" Samuel continued, his smile as cold as death itself.

Canon, terrified, dared not move or speak anymore. His eyes, full of despair, were fixed on Samuel, who was slowly straightening up.

One of the bandits, seeing the situation, took a little girl hostage. "Hey, you, old man, step back, or I'll cut his pretty throat !" The little girl was crying, screaming, and struggling desperately.

Samuel, without showing the slightest emotion, replied in a calm voice: "Go ahead and do it if it pleases you, it doesn't bother me one way or the other ." He stood up, his indifferent gaze never leaving the bandit.

"As you wish," replied the bandit, bringing the knife closer to the little girl's throat, ready to slit it. Everyone thought she was already dead when, suddenly, Canon shouted, "WAIT !"

His voice resonated with such strength that the bandit stopped dead in his tracks, taken aback by the authority in that shout.

Canon cast a pleading glance at Samuel and, in a trembling voice, declared: "Samuel, I always keep my promises, so listen closely." Then he shouted again: "I swear to give you everything I have and everything I will have. I will bow before you, give you all the money I have, my glory, and my life. I will be your slave, so accept to help me !" His tears flowed abundantly as he continued, desperate: "I will give you everything, absolutely everything, so save these people, I beg you, Samuel, save them !"

Samuel closed his eyes for a moment, a strange smile appearing on his lips. "Well, just that...Are these people so important to you ?"

"Yes !" replied Canon, his voice broken by emotion. "I would give my life for them. Kill me if it pleases you, but after saving them, I beg you."

Canon was lying down, unable to move, crying all the tears of his body. Samuel, after a moment of silence, replied in a cold and detached tone: "Alright, I accept your request." He turned his back on Canon and walked towards the bandits.

They were still in shock, stepping back a pace. Samuel opened his arms wide as he approached them, his sinister expression leaving no doubt about his intentions.

"Well, gentlemen... Sorry to have kept you waiting. We can start now."