As alarms resounded across Timber City, two and a half shadows could be seen scurrying around. They were wearing heavy cloaks hiding their features.
"W-why are we here, Sir?!"
"To get manpower."
Jack candidly replied, the Demon raising a brow. They were currently in the poorest, shadiest district in the City. This place was basically a gathering of lowlifes.
"Ah…alright, I can guide us toward the dens of the biggest gangs in the area. Follow me, Sir!" The Demon cheerfully replied, trying to be helpful.
"Gangs? Why would I care about gangs? That's not where we're going at all."
"?!?"
The deeper Jack brought them into the slums, the more uncomfortable the Demon got. This place was really nothing good, as in it was trash.
Jack couldn't help but sigh at his companion's foolishness. Any gang that was out in the open necessarily had to have a backing.
It wouldn't matter whether this backing was on the side of the Empire or not. There was always a significant chance of another information leak happening.
Right now, Jack was nothing more than a small fish in a big pond. Any NPC on the streets could pretty much one-shot him as long as they put their minds to it.
His saving grace was that he had a high-level demon by his side, even if fighting directly wasn't his strong suit. #Bamboozling OP!
They soon arrived at a shitty-looking courtyard. There was so much trash everywhere that one could have easily believed this place to be a garbage dump.
Yet, dirty human figures could be seen crouching or lying all over.
"We're here," Jack remarked.
"?!?"
The Demon glanced all around, not knowing whether his Boss had suddenly lost his mind. What could dregs of society like them even do?
Target existing power —> Dangerous
Create one from scratch —> The way to go!
Jack grinned as he pictured what these people would soon become. They were hideous, selfish, and useless, but this was precisely why he had come here.
"Hello, gentlemen." He playfully uttered, many cackles of ridicule resounding.
"Pfft— This dude's lost."
"This must be fate that we met! Give us coins, coins, coins!"
"Hehe, what do you mean, lost? Fate? He obviously came here to give us his wallet!" Some gleefully pulled knives out.
The hobos cackled, he cackled, the skeleton soldiers he summoned cackled…then it was a massacre.
Jack didn't even bother to state why he was there. He simply started a killing spree, his undead surrounding the entire area, none allowed to leave alive.
There was no rhyme or reason to his acts, no demands, no anger, only bloodshed. They tried resisting, negotiating, and even begging, but it was all for naught.
"Ah, this is such a nice night, isn't it?" Jack sighed as he glanced at the severed limbs decorating the ground as if appreciating beautiful art.
[Caused Incredible Fear!]
[Evil! Bully! Apostle of Massacre!]
"What? No, no, I'm just freeing them from the pain of existence." Jack speaking to empty air as if a madman did nothing to reassure the shivering hobos.
They were lying in pools of blood and urine, utterly defeated. Their eyes were lifeless as they realized that they would all die. All because of the whims of one crazy bastard.
He suddenly glanced at them all amusingly.
"Oh, there's still a bunch alive, eh? How fun!"
"M-monster! W-why are you doing this?!" One of them finally found the courage to cry out. He had already accepted his fate, but even then, he wanted to know why!
"Why? Because I can, because you're all weak, because no one cares what happens to you all, that's why." He happily grinned.
"…"
"Woo!" (You guys deserve it for laughing!)
Moon Moon had no pity in its heart for the fools. None had bothered to react when a few of them had tried to mug them.
Instead, it was busy collecting the severed limbs. Wouldn't this make for great snacks! It even summoned a few flaming chickens to start a barbecue.
This last straw finally broke the hobos, many nervous and desperate laughs echoing. The Demon killed them while his pet roasted their flesh.
They felt that the world was ruthless, all hopes long gone. But that's when there was a reversal.
"Now, anyone here wants to live? I want slaves." Jack suddenly offered them a lifeline.
Was it a trick? Would he simply turn around and torture the hopeful ones? They were probably doomed either way, but they wanted to believe.
A few hurriedly raised their hands to volunteer. Whatever he needed, they would do for sure, no question asked!
What happened next was something they would forever remember.
The Demon forced them to eat human flesh, watching over them gleefully. Their desire to live, their hunger, and the glorious cooking allowed them to stomach the food.
As soon as they were done…
Gigantic magical circles made out of demonic flames appeared under their feet. Blacksmithing had increased Jack's control over fire enough for such an illusion.
"Was it good? I always liked that ritual." He chuckled.
"R-ritual?!" They lowly exclaimed, their eyes bulging.
"Oh, right, didn't I tell you guys? From now on, you guys are part of the demon race. If you get noticed, you're dead, hehe."
"?!?"
"Now, let's bring you up to speed, shall we." The evil madman cackled.
Stick —> Death from a crazy bastard
Carrot —> Awesome food and a sense of belonging
There would be no turning back for them. The decision to eat the human flesh and serve the devil had sealed their fate forever.
[Successfully obtained new subordinates!]
[Affinity Maxed for the current time!]
[This almost feels like cheating….]
By the side, the actual Demon worried this endeavor was utterly useless but also held back his laughter. If becoming a demon was that easy, everyone would be one!
Those idiots sure were gullible!
Jack hurriedly gave them directives, confident that none would dare betray him. They would be loyal for sure, if only for self-preservation.
It was time for them to scour the City and gather information. He could only hope that they'd find his target.
After all, that Moon Elf was probably in hiding at the moment and would be alerted by anyone powerful making a move. As for beggars…
