A Pixie Queen? Michael thought to himself. I'd have to accompany the construction workers when they create the Golden Road in the East if she's around.
"I suggest that you deal with the Bastard Bandits first. These people are the most stubborn of heads. Even if you tell them all the benefits they would get if they surrendered to you, they won't believe it. It's in our nature not to," Sleazy said.
"So, what do you suggest?" Michael asked.
"Do what you did to me. Beat some sense into them," Sleazy answered directly. "Once they find themselves in this prison, they'll finally understand."
Now, Michael wasn't fond of the idea of 'kidnapping' these bandits directly from their hideout. After all, they hadn't done any wrong against him or the Nation of Reborn.
Sleazy seemed to have noticed this and assured Michael. "Don't worry. If the Reborn company comes to the East forest and they don't pay the fees, then they will easily present themselves to you for easy pickings."
Some might call that entrapment, but Michael was going to expand Eastward anyway. And he especially wouldn't want to pay their 'fees' in the first place, so this all worked out in the end.
"Hmm, why don't you help me?" Michael asked Sleazy.
This seemed to have surprised the reformed bandit. "Me? But I'm a criminal, you know."
"So?" Michael asked, as if he didn't understand the possible consequences of releasing a criminal into the wild.
"Aren't you afraid that I'll escape?"
Michael chuckled at Sleazy's response. "Someone with bad intentions would have immediately said yes. And besides, I have a good eye for these things. You won't escape. You don't want to."
Sleazy didn't expect to hear such an 'innocent' way of thinking from the owner of the massively growing Reborn company. Michael may look like a child, but he knew that a person that was able to build a company like this from the ground up was definitely not naive.
There was something else that made Michael so carefree about things like these. And as a former bandit, Sleazy thought he wouldn't see this type of feeling from Michael.
There was pride in the golden-haired boy's eyes.
The reason why there was a hierarchy in the Bastard Bandits despite them all being lawless criminals was because of something called pride and honor. The subordinates of the Bandit Leader don't betray and steal from their leader because they knew they would lose against him, fair and simple.
And now, Sleazy felt the same kind of confidence in Michael's eyes. It gave him the sense of feeling that even if he did try to escape, he wouldn't be able to run for long.
Even though he didn't know Michael's true power, this gave him a glimpse of it.
Heck, they tamed DeathClaw, the senior prisoner that had been helping him from day one. The man was so different from his reputation that Sleazy almost didn't recognize him before.
If they could tame him, then he definitely didn't stand a chance to escape even if he wanted to.
"I offer my help to you," Sleazy said to Michael. "I'll make sure that my friends see the light of Reborn just the same way as I have."
"Hehehe! I knew you were a good person," Fudge said as he jumped on top of Sleazy's head. "You want to become my junior?"
Sleazy awkwardly laughed. "I'm afraid I'm not worthy, sir."
"Then work hard, eh? Maybe someday you can become a good ninja like me as well!"
Just as they were having their conversation, Michael felt someone's presence. He looked around and saw one of the prisoners with a bright orange jumpsuit approaching them from the side.
"Ahem…senior Slime. I know that you are more than capable of defeating the Bastard Bandits all on your own. But I hereby offer my services to you if you need it."
The prisoner was a very tall and muscular guy. With tattoos all over his face and his body, the man was the embodiment of intimidating.
Yet, this man bowed to Fudge in a straight 90 degree angle.
But it wasn't just his appearance that Michael noticed. It was also his strength.
The man's mana core was in the 7th realm! This meant that he was probably one of the strongest people here, no doubt about it! Michael would have to go all out if the two of them were to go head to head.
"Oh, it's you," Fudge disappointingly said. "Didn't I tell you to behave?"
The large burly prisoner lowered his head. "I did, senior Slime. However, I think that my unique circumstances will allow me to help you on your mission with the Bastard Bandits. I know one of them intimately, Senior."
Fudge tilted his head left and right, as if trying to weigh the pros and cons. "Hmm…yeah, sure. Why not? Just make sure not to get in my way, alright?"
The man bowed his head, thankful.
After that, Fudge went on to talk to Sleazy as if nothing even happened.
But of course, Michael was caught stunned that this happened without his knowledge.
"Fudge…who is this?"
The violet slime looked back at the prisoner with a glare. "Hey, introduce yourself. How rude of you. Don't you know our Master?!"
"My apologies!" the burly man faced Michael. "I am Jose Cruz, formerly known as DeathClaw. I was a rogue bandit living in the Southern Tip of the Queens region by myself, terrorizing travellers and merchants without limit.
That was until I encountered senior Slime. He taught me a lesson, one that I wouldn't forget. And now, I come here in the Reborn Prison to repent my sins and hope that someday, I could become a proud Rebornian that senior Slime could be proud of."
"Hmm, keep dreaming kid. You still need a hundred years of servitude before I'll allow you to become a Rebornian," Fudge said harshly.
"I deserve no less," DeathClaw replied.
From the way they interacted, it seemed like Fudge really tamed a 7-star Bandit by himself.
Michael didn't even know how that happened or that it was even possible given the gap in strength.
"You defeated him all by yourself?" Michael asked Fudge.
"Of course, Master! I am your strongest warrior after all, much more stronger than those scaled meanies!"
As usual, Michael knew Fudge was lying.
"DeathClaw, was it? Tell me the truth."
The prisoner looked at Michael, then at Fudge, who was doing all sorts of faces to signal him not to tell Michael anything.
"I'm sorry, senior Slime. You said it yourself that he is your Master, therefore he is also my Master by connection. I am compelled to tell him the truth.
I was bested by Senior Slime in a drinking game. I was able to do 20 barrels of beer before I passed out."
Michael couldn't close his jaws.
That's it? That's how Fudge tamed the so-called 'DeathClaw'? He didn't know if he should be proud of the little guy or if he should be embarrassed.
"Whatever, if you help us with the Bastard Bandits, then it would be appreciated," Michael said to DeathClaw.
"Anything for Reborn," the burly man replied.