Aile had prepared answers for most of the questions.

"Because of the increased security and logging in entry and exit of the Port Kiar, Jack will not come. If a merchant exits too often from the town, it would be noticed easily. The last deal has already made people suspicious," Aile said resolutely.

"And the mask?" asked Beshoy again.

"I do not want to be recognised by the bandits, more people will get caught with the strict security of Port Kiar. If I get identified, then a link could be found between the Oxe family and the bandits. This will make our business dealings to stop," Aile said boldly. He knew that his claim would seem to cause unnecessary disagreement. However, a firm stance on a controversial topic would shift the argument, making Beshoy not doubt his identity.

"Do you not trust my men?" Beshoy said furiously.

"Do you trust all of your men?" Aile replied with a question.

Beshoy's breathing was erratic, Aile knew that Beshoy should be aware that his decisions are not fully supported by his man. This one question had put Beshoy in a position that he could not win the argument. Aile also knew that Beshoy could not deny his question's underlying meaning. If he did that he would seem ignorant. No leader can claim that all of his people are and will be trustworthy. Thus, Aile had won this argument.

Although Aile was only 10 years old physically, he had a lot of experiences through the memories he inherited. Thus, his mental power and ability to argue in these situations were at the level of old foxes.

Beshoy eventually calmed down.

"I like you more than that spineless man, so why are you here?" Beshoy said in a very calm tone.

Aile was surprised at how well he can control his emotions. Aile also knew that these kinds of people are more dangerous and more likely to get backstabbed by.

"Our Oxe family like to be direct, and I am sorry if it seemed insensitive." "I came here for two reasons.

One, I wanted to tell you that Jack will no longer be the lead for our family at Port Kiar, I will be.

Two, we want to start a long term agreement with you and would like to supply the whole bandit group can you accomplish that for us?" Aile said with confidence. He first gave him two pieces of false information, then he gave him an enticing offer to redirect his attention.

Aile had come all the way here with difficulties and saw an opportunity to collaborate with the bandits. He could get the whole economy of Port Kiar under his control, he did not want to lose this opportunity, so he had to try his luck.

"What would you want from us?" asked Beshoy with a hint of excitement in his voice.

"We want to have a safe passage for our caravan to stock our material," said Aile. He knew that this was a mutually beneficial deal.

Aile saw that Beshoy could not immediately make this decision for their bandit group.

"I know the decision will need the acceptance of your whole group, so I will give you more time. I will come back in two weeks, and hopefully, we can reach an agreement by then." Aile said.

Aile will have to go to the princess's birthday. It will take one and a half week with travel time. Therefore, he gave the two-week timeline.

"Since we have already established a working relationship with you, we want to continue that. Feel free to use this opportunity to gain more power from your group," Aile said with concern.

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Aile wanted to give him this chance because, this way, Beshoy will fight for this deal and support it in front of the bandits.

From what Aile heard of in their meeting, he seemed to be respected. The upper echelon values him as he was not punished by killing people, which could result in them failing this long term mission.

A leading figure who was valued by the bandit group was precisely the type of partner he needed to gain financial supremacy in Port Kiar.

Although he seemed a little too trigger-happy, he did not mind this too much. Most of the people in this world have killed for one reason or another. His "hobby" is already suppressed by the bandit's upper echelon. Plus the faster he gains financial power, the quicker he can gain enough power to deal with the bandits.

Aile finished what he had to say, he saw the smiling face of Beshoy, and he said his goodbyes. Beshoy happily and excitedly said his goodbyes and even escorted Aile to his carriage.

After Aile arrived at the carriage, he had 5 minutes before Xue would start her last "Alert Rune." He was not too far from her, and he could easily find her after she activates that alert "Rune."

Although Aile did not manage to loot the bandits, his trip was fruitful. He took his first step to start his business, and he found a capable person to help him run it.

Aile quickly drove the carriage back the same way he came. However, as he had to travel through a forest with no clear paths, he would not end up in the exact same path.

When Aile thought, he was close to Xue's location, the alert Rune was activated.

He noticed that he was off by 200 meters.

He got off the carriage and slowly walked towards her location. Aile enhanced his sight so that he could see better at night.

He found Xue curled up into a ball, she was hugging Aile's loot. Xue had a bit of a disappointed look on her face. Aile seeing the situation wanted to scare her a little.

He slowly climbed the tree and sat next to her. With his enhanced sight and constant training, he managed to accomplish this without making any noise. This made Aile feel proud of himself.

He looked at her abandoned expression and said with a sigh, "Is it worth it, to be disappointed when a person who wants to control the rest of your life not show up?" Aile was truly surprised to find her disappointed here. He thought that this time alone would allow her to reflect on her action, and she would want to back out of the deal.

Xue was startled when she heard Aile's deep voice, and then tears started to flow from her eyes. She extended her hand that was trembling, and indecision was plastered on her face.

Gritting her teeth, she extended her hand and hugged Aile while saying in an inaudible voice "That is great, you came back!"

Some time passed, and she said in a shy tone, "Sorry, I really needed that hug, thank you!"

She then quickly handed his loots back to him and jumped down from the tree, preventing Aile from responding. Aile too was stumped, he did not know how to react in such a situation.

From the memories he inherited, he had never seen such a situation. He knew that he enjoyed the hug and Xue seemed more likeable after.

Coming out of his stupor, he jumped down and headed towards the carriage in silence as Xue followed him.

They reached the carriage and carried on the journey. Xue did not go inside the carriage and sat with him as he was steering it.

They travelled in silence for a short while when Aile asked, "Are you not second-guessing your decision to follow me indefinitely? Why do you not fight for an opportunity to be free?" Aile had developed a sense of closeness towards her after that hug.

He no longer felt like taking advantage of her, and he wanted to understand why she accepted such a harsh term of servitude.

Xue looked at the stary sky and enjoyed the chilly wind of the night for a few seconds and then she said with a melancholic tone, "When I was born, I only had my mother. She raised me, thought me and helped me understand the world.

I felt safe, protected and sheltered with her. She was the smartest, strongest and most capable person to me. Then one night she gave me the pendant. The next morning she was gone. I was alone facing the world.

I was prepared by her to survive, and I did that for a long time. I do not like this world and its people. They are all greedy for something..."

She then stopped talking, she remembered something she did not want to share. Then she giggled and said, "haha, there is another thing my mother thought me, she thought me the basics of "Runes." Using a Fire Gathering "Ruin" to make it seem like a slave seal was ingenious, hehe. "

Aile was embarrassed, he had acted too rashly and underestimated Xue. Aile then said with a questioning tone, "If you knew you did not have a seal, why did you stick around? You had all the money and could have run away with it and made a good life?"

Xue chuckled, "I wanted to leave to teach you a lesson, especially since you called me a dumbass. It would have been too funny if you lost all of the money, because of your overconfidence after you lectured me about the same thing."

Aile too smiled, "It would have been a perfect lesson, why did you not go through with it?"