409: World 7: Please Put Down The Gun (3)

World 7: Please Put Down The Gun (3)

"We have finally arrived!"

It took a month for Snow and Flake to return to the client Homeland, even though Flake's punishment for using a cheat is lesser than Snow's, it doesn't mean that they can continue to use the cheat skill whenever they like.

Fortunately, the cheat skill Snow had gotten for Flake to increase his physical body beyond normal even if he were in an animal body wasn't being treated as a continuous use of skill, like when they used the Appraisal, Game Map, and Inventory Bag.

There is also the fact Loki gave that Flake's ten-year-old human form, thus it wasn't part of the skill gotten from the Black Trade Shop.

It would do no good to keep irritating and annoying the World Rule Will because it can still do some trouble even with the agreement between them. If Snow can see some loophole in the list of agreements, then even the World Rule Will can do it too from whatever regulation or limit it got from the Soul Karma Core.

Snow and Flake had chosen a place where there is no civilization around to land in order to keep their presence a secret, especially when Snow needed to make his move more carefully than what he had done in the previous worlds.

After all, there are chosen people around. 

And if he were basing it on the novels he once read, well, there could be a transmigrator, rebirth, or even a special demon race existing when it comes to the similar setting of the Warlord Era of the Republic Of China.

Counting with the situation if Jiang Wu's death really died in this reality, then, he couldn't be high profile or make great changes that will cause a person to be suspicious and doubt, wondering 'What Cause The Change' from what they know of.

"Snow, I'll go check around, I'll be back soon!"

After Snow nodded his head, the adorable brown-haired Flake changed back to his animal form, which was a beautiful green bird, and watched as Flake flew in the distance to investigate the place they arrived.

After careful investigation, Snow needed to travel for two weeks in order to get back to Qiping City, the place the client was born and one of the largest places in the country, which is also close to the sea.

Thus a perfect place for the foreigners to arrive, especially a great place for merchants to gather, so it's quite obvious that the City is quite rich and the foreign view and influence in their culture are far larger than the other places.

"B-Boss! Please spare our family lives! It's our fault, and you can kill us, but please don't harm them! They are innocent!"

For now, though, Snow needs to deal with the bandits who had a hideout from where he landed while gently caressing the bird form of Flake as the group of people tremble in fear before him.

"You may call me Tai, as long as you don't betray me and work for me. You won't die and will receive a reward."

In a chaotic era, Snow needed people working for him, especially when the Jiang family have countless people, particularly a bunch of fierce and murderous bunch. There is no way Snow would return home without preparing his own power.

Anyway, these people are also decent enough and did nothing outrageous in their actions. For example, deplorable acts such as rape, and although they killed people, but in such a warlike era, he can understand such actions taken.

And from the small family, they have in their bandit hideout, which was quite hard to locate, and capable enough to defend themselves if they are attacked, it's quite obvious they are being pushed into such a bad situation because of how harsh it is to live outside and being extremely poor.

"Instead of continuing being a bandit, work for me. There are high chances that your lives might be forfeited, but you will receive money, enough to keep your family alive. They don't even need to continue worrying about facing dangers if you continue what you have been doing."

Snow continues to speak while the people trembling on the ground are slowly raising their heads, the fear in their eyes slowly receding while they listen to his calm voice. Everyone is simply desperate, and Snow easily understands what they have always wanted.

For this reason, they pick up the swords and choose to become a bandit. They steal and kill people because they want to keep living and protecting their families. In such a harsh era, everyone is struggling to survive in their own way.

Soon, someone swallowed and a person in the group took the courage to speak up, which was definitely the boss, who was a thirty-year-old woman. Their leader's gender did not surprise Snow.

Because gender doesn't matter much, as long as a person has the determination, courage, and will to do the impossible or struggle in order to survive.

"Can your words be trusted?"

Snow calmly met the woman's gaze, although there was fear in them, but the passion that had made her want to fight back and choose to become bandits had definitely once again burned fiercely inside her.

"What's the point of making an offer if I plan to harm you from the start? After all, I could have killed all of you if I wanted right? Especially when it was you guys who attacked me first."

Well, it doesn't really matter if you attack me since you guys became my target after Flake saw your hideout and learned what kind of place it was.

"I choose to make an offer because I need people to work for me. You guys just happen to show yourselves at the wrong time. And since you guys have shown some usefulness and are able to survive this long, then why not?"

Snow gently smiled and spoke freely, although his eyes glanced at the shivering families of the group of people still kneeling before him.

Then the leader of the group continued to bravely speak up, determination once again brimming in her eyes after knowing there is a chance for everyone to survive the disaster that suddenly struck them.

"We are bandits… Some of us had been simple farmers, forced by circumstances. Some of us can't even read and write. Do you still want us to serve you?"

"I don't care what kind of past you guys have and you can learn. Besides, I believe everyone has their own usefulness. And what I want the most are people who won't betray me. As long as you can follow me without having such dangerous thoughts, then I'm fine with having you guys work for me."

And so, after a day of arriving at the client Homeland, Snow had gotten his own people. Of course, seeing as there is no other way out, and the offer had been good, it wasn't surprising that they chose to serve him.

Snow had stayed in the bandit hideout for almost two weeks, training them for the basics of being a spy, at least, to an acceptable level. And then along with the training, there is also the secret brainwashing he had done, which was to make sure they won't reveal anything if captured.

Which was a simple rule, 'Die without revealing the truth.'.

They can lie, struggle to survive after someone figures out they are a spy, but reveal nothing of what they know about Snow.

Even though Snow was using 'Tai' as his name and had also changed his appearance before meeting the group of bandits in order to lessen the chance of anyone figuring out his real identity.

He was just meticulous in his plan and movement. And despite how he liked challenges, it doesn't mean he needed to be stupid and lower his guard down when doing something.

Besides, there is an entire reason Snow had changed his appearance, which has an average look with his skin a shade darker than his usual fair white skin, belonging to a person who lives a life of luxuries.

Of course, to complete Snow's disguise, instead of having smooth and soft delicate fingers, there is a roughness on it, showing he was a person who is used to working.

And it was Flake who had done it all, something he learned from the previous world.

Speaking of Flake…

Snow gently smiled when he saw a ten-year-old boy teaching a group of people how to read and write. Even the families of the people that served Snow had been listening and trying to learn.

Honestly, Flake had been extremely useful and helpful in this mission world. Especially when Flake had been creating various medicines that would be used later on, at the same time, treating some of the illnesses of the people around, which led the group of people to feel good about them.

Appreciation and getting their respect would make them more loyal, lessening the chance of their betrayal.

Of course, Flake can create those medicines because of the previous world situation, even helping Snow disguise is something he learned for their future missions. After all, there is a time that they wouldn't be able to use the items in the Black Trade Shop.

It's better to be prepared than to be sorry.

As for the matter of money, well, the hideout is surrounded by a lush forest, how could Snow and Flake ignore a resourceful place just like that?

With quick use of the Game Map along with Appraisal skills, the rare and sought-after medicinal herbs can be sold at a good price, which is the start of where they earned money.

Of course, there are various golds, jades, and various items that could be sold in the inventory bag, but, they have to be careful of the items they take out because of the agreement with the World Rule Will.

Even the medicine that Flake had made was simple enough in order to not cause any great change in the world environment. They don't want to accidentally develop the medicinal knowledge of the world when it wasn't supposed to happen yet.

Thus, Snow and Flake's actions are always careful and meticulous, while they only use the cheat skills they have when it's needed.

Soon, after harsh training, the group of people had been split and sent into various places with their own tasks at hand. Some have a simple one, while they sent others that have shown skills to important places. 

Snow needed them to gather information, especially when he had also to look out for the chosen people to make sure they wouldn't get in his way.

He also needed to get the latest news in order to deal with any unexpected situation, particularly when it concerned himself and the mission.

After they had sent everyone out and the people left behind had been taken care of with what they needed in order to safely live while everyone was away, Snow finally left and travel back to Qiping City.

Along the way, Snow had changed into various non-descript appearances while traveling.

After a month of traveling back to the client's homeland, two weeks of staying in the bandit hideouts, and then Snow took two weeks to return to the Qiping. Basically, it's already two months at the time of the client's death.

After so long, the mastermind behind the client's death should have his guard lowered.

"Well, Flake… this will be an interesting experience for us."1

After non-discreetly entering the City, Snow had let another person perform the identity he used to enter to leave the City after a few days of staying and looking for a place to work before leaving with a defeated face.

And in one of the countless suspicious alleys around the City, a young man is hugging a ten-year-old boy in his arms while calmly staring at the people walking around the road. The only difference they have from the people he was watching was their appearance.

Compared to the neat and good clothes they have, Snow and Flake's faces are dirty with messy hair and ragged clothes, completely showing a beggar appearance. The two of them had decided to be one of the countless beggars in Qiping City.

After all, it was the perfect way to blend and not affect any great changes in what is happening to the entire place. Since a new identity that wasn't supposed to exist would undoubtedly get a person's attention, the one who has knowledge of how the world became after the client dies.

Even if the Qiping City is wealthy, known for its military power, and the perfect place for merchants to gather around with the foreigners being accepted, it also doesn't change the fact that the stronger the light is, the darker the darkness within it.

And for a city as prosperous as this one, there are bound to be people who are in their lowest condition.

Which, Snow decided to use those mostly ignored, forgotten, and underestimated people as his identity after returning home. Especially, when people with certain power and pride don't seriously take them as a threat.

Of course, he also understands that it wasn't a perfect plan because there are bound to be people with different ideas and opinions.

For now though…

"I'm home."

After returning, Snow had fully accepted the client's identity as his own.

"It's time to check how my family is doing."

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