Chapter 209 - 193: The Formidable Baron Vili

Chapter 209: Chapter 193: The Formidable Baron Vili

’So they must have already dug up everything about my family.’

"Kneel!"

Benduin, who was holding Budar, kicked him sharply in the back of the knee, forcing him to the ground.

Then, Benduin yanked the blindfold from Budar’s eyes.

Budar struggled to open his eyes. The intense light made him want to shut them again.

After a few seconds, the scene before him gradually came into focus.

In the spacious room, a young man in noble robes sat on a chair, sizing him up with a profound gaze.

"Greetings, my Lord!"

While marveling inwardly at the noble baron’s youth, Budar prostrated himself, touching his forehead to the floor in the most subservient posture possible.

No matter how powerful and influential he had once been, right now, he was completely at their mercy.

"Budar?"

The young Lord Vili mused aloud with great interest.

"I am. I am Budar, leader of the Tusk Pirate Gang."

He already knew they had all his information, so he simply resigned himself to his fate.

He wasn’t hoping his cooperative attitude would save his own life. He only prayed that the young noble lord would be merciful enough to spare his family.

He would be content if they were made the lowliest of servants, as long as they were allowed to live.

Of course, Budar knew the chances were slim. But devoid of all other hope, his only option was to trade his dignity for the slimmest chance of survival for his wife and children.

"Oh?"

Vili was slightly surprised to see Budar acting this way.

He could see the resolve to face death in Budar’s eyes, yet the man still chose to adopt this most humble posture.

’Is it because of his family?’

The previous interrogation reports had already revealed the close relationship between Budar and his family to Vili.

Vili was also surprised. It was rare for a major pirate leader to have such a simple, loving family.

However, for Vili, this was a good thing.

A man bound by familial love was far easier to control.

"Did you come to Dawei Province to escape the Sosen Duchy’s naval purge?"

Vili spoke from on high. Though his tone was mild, it filled Budar with a profound sense of pressure.

He felt that the oppressive aura from the young baron before him was not merely due to his noble status.

"Yes, my Lord. We only trespassed in your waters and offended you because we were trying to survive."

Budar did his best to sound as pathetic as possible.

"You wanted to live, so you intended for my subjects to die?"

Vili’s voice suddenly grew taut, a chilling light in his eyes.

’No matter what kind of husband or father Budar was, he certainly wasn’t so gentle when he was a pirate plundering civilians.’

’He was a butcher, an executioner of men.’

"I..."

Cold sweat beaded on Budar’s brow. He knew this noble baron was no ordinary man, so he didn’t dare claim he had come to the waters of Dawei Province merely to find an island and live a peaceful, pastoral life. That would only get him killed faster.

"A pirate leader as wicked as you, fallen into our hands... you can surely guess what your fate will be."

Vili added, as if it were an afterthought.

Though he had long known he was doomed, Budar still trembled at Vili’s icy words.

He gritted his teeth. "I know my sins are too great to ever be washed away. But... but I beg you..."

"Silence!"

Vili suddenly snapped, standing up. His gaze turned sinister. "Are you trying to bargain with me? Let me guess. Is it to spare your own life, or to let your family live?"

Vili’s words made Budar’s heart clench violently.

Still prostrate, his fingers dug into the floor, making a scraping sound.

The tip of Benduin’s long spear pressed against the back of Budar’s head. At the slightest unusual movement, Benduin would run him through.

Vili looked down on him, saying nothing more. The room fell silent.

"Please, Lord Baron, my family..."

Budar’s voice grew hoarse. He slowly raised his head to look at the young man who held his life in his hands. "Please... give my family a decent death."

As he spoke these words, all the strength seemed to drain from Budar’s body. He lowered his head once more. "In return, I am willing to have all my men surrender to you and become your slaves."

Budar’s offer did have some merit.

If Vili wanted to absorb Budar’s remaining men as cannon fodder and slaves, it would certainly take time and effort. With Budar’s cooperation, however, it would be much simpler.

Hearing this, Vili suddenly burst out laughing. "What would I do with your men? A bunch of undisciplined, restless thugs would be nothing but a drain on my resources."

"In comparison..."

Vili paused. "I’m more inclined to give you... a chance to live."

A chance to live!

Budar’s head snapped up from the floor, his face a mask of disbelief.

’Did I hear him right? This terrifying young baron is actually giving me a chance to live?!’

"I can let you live. I can let your family live. I can even let you retain your title as leader of the Tusk Pirate Gang... But you..."

Vili lowered his voice.

But before he could finish, Budar interrupted him.

"I will be your slave! Your most loyal dog! I will dedicate my life to serving you as my master!"

Budar was nearly hysterical. ’My family gets to live, I get to live—what more could I possibly ask for?!’

"Very good!"

Vili gestured to Benduin, who understood immediately.

Benduin pulled a clear glass bottle filled with a purple liquid from his belt.

"Drink it."

Vili said to Budar in a gentle voice.

Hearing this, Budar slowly raised his head. Before him was a bottle of a vibrant, light purple potion.

He knew exactly what it was.

"Yes."

But Budar didn’t hesitate. He took the glass bottle, uncorked it, and downed the contents.

The tasteless, viscous purple liquid slid down Budar’s throat and into his stomach.

Vili gave a faint smile. Budar’s decisiveness was somewhat beyond his expectations.

"That was a poison specially concocted for you..."

Vili didn’t look at Budar, pacing back and forth in the room instead. "As long as you obey my commands, I will give you an antidote once a month to delay the poison’s effects. But if you disappoint me, you will suffer the most painful death imaginable."

Vili wasn’t bluffing.

With the knowledge granted by his Middle Level Gatherer title, it was all too easy to concoct several potent poisons designed to control ordinary Transcendents.

"I will not disappoint you."

Budar had already been prepared for this, so it didn’t come as much of a shock.

"I haven’t even told you what I want you to do. What makes you so confident?"

Vili asked with a smile.

"No matter the task, I will carry out the Lord Baron’s will with my life."

Budar’s tone was resolute.

Vili nodded, very satisfied.

"The reason I’m keeping you alive is actually very simple."

A hopeful glint in his eyes, Vili said to Budar, "I intend to venture out into the ocean. And you will be my trailblazer."

This was a decision Vili had just recently made.

Conquering the ocean would require a massive workforce, and the population of White Bear Town wasn’t large enough for Vili to squander on such a venture.

So at this moment, a very suitable group appeared in Vili’s line of sight.

Pirates.

For others, controlling pirates was a difficult and unprofitable endeavor. But for Vili and his White Bear Town, it was the perfect solution.