CHAPTER 46: A COIN AND A LIFE

Aric looked around. The low mountains surrounding them on nearly all sides cast an enormous shadow across the area. It was a secluded part of Miredis, one most would not normally pass on their journey, and the bandits were even more obscured with the added cover of the abandoned mines.

"Seems you lot found a good spot," Aric remarked, his eyes trailing from one bandit to another. Some faces he recognized, the terror in their eyes obvious, while most were unknown and only showed skepticism in their gaze.

"I don’t know if you’ve been briefed, but I’ll tell you myself: you are all now under my leadership. That means every single action you take from here on will be by my orders alone. You will do as you’re asked, when you’re asked. I don’t care how dangerous or absurd the order seems."

One of the bandits raised his hand.

"To do that much, how much are we to be paid?"

Aric tilted his head toward the bandit, pulling out a single gold coin and raising it.

"Do you think your life is worth this much? Any of you?"

His gaze swept across the crowd before he continued.

"I know men who would slit any one of your throats for this single coin. So, are your lives not worth less than it?"

Aric gripped the coin as he lowered his hand.

"Right now, you are worthless, undeserving of even a silver. But that can change. Show me you’re useful, and I’ll make you very wealthy men."

"Bullshit! I didn’t come here to be tricked!" one bandit shouted, drawing murmurs of agreement.

"Then you may leave. I won’t stop you. But those who stay—if you work hard—you might earn as much as Borag and Twicher here," Aric said, tossing two bags of gold coins to them.

"That is your second payment of thirty thousand gold," Aric announced as Borag and Twicher opened the bags, dipping their hands in and pulling out coins with wide grins.

Murmurs spread through the crowd as they saw this. Gold in the thousands was something most had never seen in their lives, yet Borag and Twicher received it all at once.

"Sire, we ran through almost every tavern and brothel we could find, and we still couldn’t spend even a quarter of our first payment. And here you give us another," Twicher laughed, overwhelmed with excitement.

"Well, you carried out an order excellently, and I know what both of you can do. You’re worth this much," Aric said, turning back to the bandits. "So, who’s leaving and who’s staying?"

The men exchanged glances before bowing their heads and declaring in unison, "We are here to serve you, sire."

---

Recruited Bandits | Humans

Avg Loyalty: 50

Emotion: Greed, Fear

---

"Good," Aric grinned. "Do as you’re told and do it well, and you won’t just earn thousands of gold. I’ll give you the power to stand against cultivators and mages."

He started toward the wagon, his words about giving power leaving the bandits both confused and intrigued.

"Lastly, I may not be present, but I see everything—through the eyes of Borag and Twicher... even beyond. I know exactly who is worth what. You’ll understand this next time we speak," Aric said as he boarded the wagon.

"Sire, are you not leaving us with a task?" Borag asked.

"Keep the rune stone close. I’ll send word by tomorrow."

Both men nodded as the wagon began pulling away, retracing the path back. As they moved, Aric leaned toward the driver and pressed the cold steel of a knife to his throat.

"Can I trust you to keep silent about what you’ve seen here today?" Aric asked, handing him a small bag of coins with his other hand.

The driver nodded, and Aric turned to check the panel beside him.

---

Oratz the Wagon Driver | Human

Avg Loyalty: 91

Emotion: Greed, Fear

---

The prince exhaled, removing the knife from the driver’s throat, handing him the pouch, then settling back beside Serina.

"You are very thorough," she said with a smile.

"I am."

"I’m sure there’s a calculated reason for that display. Most of those bandits would happily do whatever you asked for a payment of thirty gold per week, yet you gave them hopes of thousands."

Aric huffed, leaning back as he watched the sun sink behind the horizon.

"If I gave them a fixed thirty gold, I’d have useless thieves who feel entitled to it no matter what they did. For that reason, they’d do nothing or the bare minimum—whatever made earning those coins easiest. But now, I’ve given each of them something to strive toward. A reason to do their best because in return, they get a greater reward."

Serina smiled. "That’s a brilliant way to make them most efficient."

"Not just efficient. It also stops them from stealing from me. When they start hitting transports and getting goods, some might think the goods are worth more than thirty gold and run off. But with the promise of far greater wealth, they won’t throw it away so easily."

"It’s as if every action you take is flawless," the mage lowered her head. "Sometimes it’s terrifying, even more than your brutality."

"What’s terrifying is how little I know about your intentions," Aric replied.

She turned to him. "You’re a mage now, aren’t you?"

Aric stayed silent, but the certainty in her voice made an answer unnecessary.

"I told you balance must exist, your highness. The mana core you now possess was formed by taking from me. But for that reward, you must give a sacrifice."