CHAPTER 50: NIGHT RAID (2)

"Make sure you cover every inch, bud. We don’t want to lose all this progress after spending our whole afternoon building it."

Woody spread his titanroot everywhere around the two story building.

Inserting the titanroot inside the foundation of the building, into the walls, and even into the floor.

Every part of the two story buildings was now reinforced with the titanroot.

Even if someone somehow managed to burn the building down, the titanroot would stay strong. Ash and the other gang members could just build up more layers on the outer and inside parts of the titanroot foundation.

But Ash doubted that such a thing would be needed.

Nobody would be wasting their time trying to pulverize every brick or concrete that made up the building just because they started fighting.

Crimsy and Viney were also summoned. Ready to jump outside whenever Ash called for them.

He truly didn’t wish for an all out fight since it would throw a gigantic wrench into his plan, but if it came down to it, Ash was more than ready.

After making sure he wore his titanroot armor, disguising them as his skin and clothes, and also wearing the titanroot cape, Ash nodded to himself.

He was ready.

Ash opened the newly made door, made out of titanroot covered vines, and tapped the shoulders of the two guards who stood outside.

"You two can come in for now, I will handle a few things first."

There’s an urge inside them to stay beside Ash’s side.

To be ready and sacrifice their lives if the need ever arises.

But Ash’s command was absolute. They reluctantly went inside the building as they forced their feet to leave their post.

Caw?

"Does this mean more protein?"

"Not yet, Keen. We don’t know what will happen yet."

Ash patiently waited in front of the door.

He stood alone in the darker area of the slums.

The tall lamp posts didn’t reach this particular area. The closest one was about 100 meters away.

What lit up the dark area was only a few ceiling lights belonging to other buildings all around him.

But lack of light wasn’t really an inconvenience for him.

Even where the light couldn’t touch, Ash could ’see’ just fine.

The dozens of people moving covertly through the darkness made his senses lit up as the sounds of their steps and their breathing were registered by him.

It might look very empty right now all around the Strong Arm’s base.

But the dozens of men were already about 20 meters away from completely surrounding the building.

If he wanted to take care of them as quietly as possible, this was the time.

He could send out Keen and the doppelganger brothers to sneak out and take out the people who confidently spread out and only gathered in groups of 3 to 5.

But Ash didn’t do any of that.

He just stood still and let the people come.

Finally, when all the people finally stopped moving, Ash spoke out loud, "Why don’t one of you come out to talk? Nothing will happen if you just stand there and watch me from afar."

At first, there was nothing.

No sounds of feet moving, no sounds of murmur, no answer, nothing.

But after half a minute, three people finally came out from behind the building that was directly in front of the Strong Arm’s hideout.

Two men walked in front, while the third one walked close behind them.

The two men had their hands right on top of their weapons. A sword and a gun.

While the third one kept his hands inside his pockets.

The two men wore similar looking black capes that barely showed their features. Similar to the titanroot cape Ash himself used.

While the third man wore a surprisingly well-kept three-piece suit.

The traditional black and white one.

The three walked in silence until they were about 10 steps away from Ash.

Not to anyone’s surprise, the one who spoke was the man wearing the suit.

"Good evening. I believe we’ve never met. May I know who I am currently speaking to?"

"A-"

Surprised by the man’s tone of speech, Ash almost blurted out his real name out loud.

But he caught himself quickly and corrected himself.

"Am quite surprised for someone who brought a party to someone’s home uninvited at night to be so well mannered. If you ignore the fact you never introduced yourself, though."

The man’s eyebrows rose, but he quickly smiled, "I’m sorry for my mishap. I’m Eben. The leader of Grey Leash."

"I’m Dust. I’m the newly appointed leader of what used to be Strong Arm."

The man tilted his head, and his hands finally came out of his pockets.

Revealing that they actually held nothing.

"What used to be? So, you have killed them all?"

Ash shook his head. "Of course not. They are my precious members now."

The man rubbed the back of his hand.

"I see... You have gotten rid of Jack and taken over. I must say you are quite amazing to be able to do that alone."

"Not really. Jack is with me now. I didn’t dispose of him. He is a remarkable individual. It would be such a waste not to make use of his talent and abilities."

The man’s hands stopped moving. His face tried to stay calm, but the small opening on his mouth couldn’t completely mask his amusement.

"So you even convinced Jack to join you... I see. You are truly one remarkable individual."

"So, Eben, what do I owe you for this surprise visit?"

Ash had been having questions ever since he decided to meet these groups of people.

He hoped he would get answers, but so far, he seemed to gain nothing.

It started irritating him that the thought of just rampaging as a vine monster began resurfacing in his mind.

Fortunately, Eben decided not to beat around the bush anymore.

"I see, Dust, was it? I believe you are not from around here. Do you know that Strong Arm is a part of our group?"

"Yes, Jack had told me so."

"So you do know that you’ve just attacked and forcefully taken over a group under the protection of Grey Leash, correct?"

When Eben finished his line, the dozens of people standing behind the other building finally came out.

From every single direction other than the sky and under the earth, people surrounded Ash’s base.

They all had their weapons drawn, ready to use them any second Eben gave them the command to.

"You must have known that there are consequences to your actions, right, Dust?"