"Somebody help him." Neola ordered, and some of the bandits went to take care of Enzo's wounds.
Then she felt Lucien's hand on her shoulder. "We have to leave quickly. How many of your people are here?"
Lucien could hear about six hundred people inside the old fortress. Most are women and children while there are about three hundred strong men and women outside, in addition to the hundred who were captured by the Light Empire army.
Still, he knew there should be other groups like those hundred in the forest, so he asked Neola, who quickly answered him.
"We are about one thousand and one hundred here, but there are still about three hundred of us divided into three groups inside the forest, hunting and…"Neola didn't know what to say, but Lucien understood. "Plundering, In Bluewind?"
She had a worried expression. "We are not strong, and Bluewind is the closest place to here…"
"It is not right to steal from them, but we were not able to get what we need to live from the forest. The beasts are very dangerous, and we have no place to farm."
Lucien would like to know more about the story of Neola's people. Among the bandits, there are people with different skin colors and different characteristics.
Even though they are all humans, it is evident that they came from several different places. Then Lucien concluded that they did not have good opportunities and ended up living like bandits in the forest.
Still, Lucien could not simply forget about the crimes they committed against the people of Bluewind. But as they would be his troops, they would fight for the good of both Bluewind, as well as Portgreen.
Lucien looked at Neola with a solemn expression. "Your people will have to work hard with Bluewind. Those who are already there will be captured or killed by my group, but as soon as we return, I will allow you guys to begin a new life as my army."Neola believed in Lucien because it made no sense for him to save them just to deceive them. But she is also curious about the position he has in Bluewind.
"Are you some kind of noble? I heard that the Bluewind royalty people have blue hair." Neola looked at Lucien's beautiful red hair and then had an idea.
"Ah! Maybe you married to the princess? You certainly must have caught the attention of a royal with your fantastic looks."
Neola did not stop talking while Lucien looked at her with a vague expression. Lust and Ghilanna couldn't help but roll their eyes.
Alden thought they would soon miss this opportunity if Neola didn't stop bothering Lucien. "What are you doing, you fool?! How long will you interrogate him?"
Lucien ignored the embarrassed Neola and spoke to Alden. "Send someone to gather your people who are still in the forest. If you are going to follow me, I will not leave anyone behind."
Alden and Neola can't help but smile. They lived a long time without help, so being in the care of someone as reliable as Lucien is undoubtedly encouraging.
"I sent messengers and scouts to find all our people and call them back to the fortress. If they are not captured, they will soon arrive." Alden reported respectfully.
Lucien only has compliments for Alden. Everything would be easier if he was the leader with Neola instead of Enzo.
Anyway, from now on, Alden could start to take a leadership position in the male part of the group, of course, always following Lucien's orders.
"Good job, Alden. Now tell everyone to get ready for the journey. Just bring essentials, because I will give you everything you guys need in Bluewind."
Alden went to supervise his people as they prepared to leave. Neola also gave orders for her people to get ready. Everyone in the fortress started to pack up their essential belongings and gather in the courtyard.
Lucien spoke to Neola while looking at the bandits getting ready. "Tell me more about Alden."
She made a friendly expression. "He is certainly a good man. He's strong and trustworthy. Despite being very admired by our people, Enzo still has more sway among the men."
Then Lucien spoke in a sarcastic tone. "So is your fiance a nice guy and have you been together for a long time?"
"No, no!! We don't... Yet... I meant... That's not like... I'm still…" Neola panicked.
Lucien couldn't help laughing. "I know you are a virgin. I asked how long have you guys known each other."
"What?!?! How do you know that?!?!!" Neola was even more embarrassed when Lucien started talking about her virginity in front of everyone.
He looked up to down at her body. "I can smell your virgin scent despite the…"
Neola's face was so red that it seemed to burn. "FUCK OFF!! Won't you stop saying that I stink? And what kind of person can smell that?! What kind of pervert are you?"
*PAH*
Lucien slapped Neola on the ass. Although he was not wearing the gauntlet, the slap was still loud enough for everyone to hear and hard to leave a mark on her butt under her leather armor.
"..." Everyone was silent while Neola wanted to hide in a hole because of how embarrassed she was.
Lucien spoke calmly. "Don't yell at me when I'm talking to you normally. Also, don't call me a pervert."
"Mm." Neola nodded and made a quiet sound in agreement. She knew she shouldn't be ungrateful to Lucien after all he did for her people.
But, she easily turns furious when he talks about her scent. She never cared about how she smelled before, but after meeting Lucien, she became conscious of her feminine side.
The bandits continued preparing their stuff while Lucien asks Neola about more about them.
"Oh, you are an excellent archer. I saw you kill two soldiers with headshots." Lucien praised Neola, and she couldn't help but blush.
Lucien took a bow from his storage ring. It is a red bow that he looted from one of the mercenaries in Scarlett's group.
He always had many weapons in his storage ring, but his Soul Katana is still the best weapon for him.
"I may be a devil to my enemies, but I will always be good to my people. Consider this the first gift of many that you will receive." He passed the bow to Neola with a quiver full of high-quality arrows.
Neola was still very angry at Lucien, for killing the bandit who tried to offend Lust, for having Ghilanna shoot her with an arrow and especially because he continues to say that she stanks.
But she is not stupid. Accepting the offer to join him allows them to be in a much better situation than they had compared to living in this shitty forest. Also, that bow looked amazing.
"Thank you. I hope we get along…" Neola shyly accepted the bow. She thought Lucien would be nicer from now on…
Lucien's women would never deny that he is incredibly nice. But he undoubtedly loves to tease them…
"I'm sure we'll get along... As long as you take more baths." Neola knew that Lucien was teasing her, so she tried her best to stay calm.
She also promised to take care of her hygiene from now on. In the forest they lived a difficult life where they did not have most things that they will have after following Lucien.
After a few minutes, other groups of bandits arrived at the fortress. Alden and Neola explained everything that happened, making them grateful to Lucien and agreeing to follow him.
With Enzo knocked out, part of the bandits who did not follow Neola's orders, followed Alden. Almost half an hour later, everyone was ready to travel to Bluewind.
Lucien got a good look at the group, made up of almost fifteen hundred people. But half were weak women and children. There are also some old people.
Even the strongest men and women are not a big deal. Still, Lucien had a lot of expectations in making them a good army.
Especially the weaker women. Of course, he wouldn't have sex with all of theml, but a little of his essence could make them mighty soldiers.
And the fact that they have nothing now would make them very grateful to Lucien, thus becoming more and more loyal to him over time.
He could still put the black mark on them as soon as Rose reaches the Mortal Realm, which wouldn't take much longer considering how "enthusiastic" she is.
Lucien's focus now is to take these people to Bluewind and find a place to accommodate them. Most of them need good food, bathing and some healing.
"Let's go." Lucien started walking towards where Angela is on the border of the forest. With his senses improving, all his directional sense also grew.
Lust walked hand in hand with him, while Ghilanna and Oya walked beside him. followed by Neola, Alden, and the bandit group.
Some men carried Enzo, who is still knocked out. They were sorry for their leader. Not because he lost the overall leadership, but because Neola, his fiancee, seemed to not really care about Lucien hitting him twice.
It didn't take long for rumors to start running among the bandits. Rumors that Enzo had lost his fiancee to the Handsome Devil.
While walking through the forest, one of the bandits was bold enough to propose a bet with his friend. "I bet Neola will be done with him before a week!"
The man's friend, stroked his beard while making a thoughtful expression. "I think a week is too long. Any woman would quickly spread her legs if the Handsome Devil asked her too. I think she'll be sleeping with him before three days."
Another bandit heard the interesting conversation of his friends and also wanted to participate.
"I don't dislike Enzo... But it would be entertaining to see his expression when he finds out that the Handsome Devil is fucking his fiance."
"Hahaha… He would be so pissed that he would try to attack Lucien just to end up being thrown at a wall again, or worse." The bandits continue to laugh and joke about Enzo's troubling situation.
The bandits are not stupid enough to make fun of their leaders out loud. They were keeping a low tone as they walked in the back of the group.
They were sure that no one could hear them... But the "Handsome Devil" heard everything within three miles. Nothing escaped his heightened senses.
Of course, as Lucien was not the victim of these tasteless jokes, so he just kept listening.
Lucien's first impression of Enzo was not bad at all. He wanted to flee with his people to avoid further deaths. Even if some died, he would save the majority.
Although not a noble attitude, he was smart. But then Lucien came and showed him a better solution. Lucien could help Enzo avoid further deaths and not to run away.
But because of his silly pride and stubbornness, Enzo stopped being rational and even tried to beat his fiancee. It was there that Lucien lost the good impression he had of him.
Even after Lucien fought for Enzo's people, he still tried to antagonize Lucien. So Lucien was really annoyed by the stupid man.
Now hearing how upset Enzo would be to learn that he lost his fiancee to Lucien, it brought him a new kind of pleasure.
Lucien couldn't enjoy the feeling of taking someone's fiancee when he rescued Lena from Nunid Kingodm's Prince, because he was focused on finding out more about his sister Amelia and also Lena killed the prince very quickly.
But right now, even if he wasn't romantically interested in Neola, just making Enzo think they are together seemed really enjoyable.
Of course, Lucien thought it would all be a great joke to get revenge on Enzo, and no one would really be hurt.
But it was on that day, when Lucien discovered something fun other than teasing women, that's when the nightmare for all married men and engaged men started.
