Upon hearing the servant's message, Jack led Wu Yu to the reception hall without hesitation.

As soon as Wu Yu entered, he began to sized up the man sitting in the chair.

Wu Yu noticed that almost everyone in Green Town had brown hair, except for the Russell family, who had such striking silver hair.

The man was dressed in gray leather armor but was unarmed. He had a broad frame and a strong build. A black eye patch covered his left eye, and a grotesque scar resembling a maggot protruded from the patch, adding to his menacing appearance. His right eye, however, remained perfectly calm, his gaze seemingly unwavering since Wu Yu entered the room.

Is this the bandit leader named Keton? Though he looks fierce, he can hold back his attacks, much like a venomous snake lurking in the shadows. When he strikes, it will be a swift and deadly blow. He's a dangerous fellow.

However, Jack was not intimidated by his appearance. He walked straight to the head seat and shouted sternly, "Kerton, do you know your crime?"

"Heh heh." Keton let out a chilling laugh, which sent shivers down Wu Yu's spine.

“Young Master Jack, you just got back yesterday and you injured my men. I’ve never even seen your face before. May I ask what I did to offend you?” Croton said in his cold voice.

"Hmph, I should have set a rule before that for every silver coin a passerby takes, the goods will be charged 10%. Why are you doubling that?" Jack wasn't angry when Keton denied it; he simply brought it up directly.

Upon hearing this, Keton said with a helpless expression, "Young Master Jack, things are different now. You've been away from home for more than half a year, and our Black Cloud Mountain Stronghold has gained dozens more brothers. If we were just a little strapped for cash before, now we're really tightening our belts and barely able to hold on. If we don't raise the pay, I won't be able to keep my position as the leader."

"These are all excuses. Expanding the workforce was entirely your own decision. I assured you that as long as you do your job properly, I will keep you safe. If a powerful force comes to suppress you, I will deal with it personally. So what is the point of you recruiting soldiers? Or do you have some other ulterior motive?" Jack questioned sharply.

At the same time, a powerful force surged from Jack's body, coalesced into one point, and crashed down on Croton.

"Heh." Keton smirked and casually glared back.

The furniture in the room began to tremble, and Wu Yu felt the air around him begin to stagnate, making it increasingly difficult for him to breathe.

"This is the power of the fifth tier. I feel like the aftershocks could kill me," Wu Yu thought with a self-deprecating laugh. He then quickly moved a few steps behind Jack, only then did he feel the pressure lessen somewhat.

These inescapable area-of-effect attacks are truly his nemesis. Without using skills, he's as weak as an insect in front of these guys. Wu Yu thought to himself with a self-deprecating laugh, realizing once again just how dangerous this world truly is.

"Click".

The moment a vase between them shattered, both of them simultaneously withdrew their oppressive aura, and the murderous intent in the room dissipated once more.

Wu Yu breathed a sigh of relief, while Jack revealed a knowing look. "Kerton, you actually broke through to the fifth level. So this is your confidence in negotiating with me?"

"You're joking, Mr. Jack. How could I dare to negotiate with you? I just want to ask you to grant me a small request," Keton said, shrugging with a feigned helpless expression.

“You’re not qualified to negotiate with me. Don’t forget, you’re just a dog I keep,” Jack said disdainfully, completely disregarding Croton.

"You!" Provoked by Jack, Keton's expression also began to falter, but he still forced himself to say, "Young Master Jack, hasn't our cooperation always been very pleasant?"

“Cooperation?” Jack looked at Croton with pity.

"When did you become so self-important? I've kept you around only because you're obedient. Now you want to throw away your only virtue, obedience, in front of me. Do you think I still need to keep you? Do you think that just because someone calls you a lone wolf, you're a wild beast? Don't forget your place, you domestic dog!"

"Bang!" Keton slammed his hand on the table and stood up, a powerful aura of battle surging from his body, held back but not unleashed. "Jack, you've gone too far."

Jack stared at Keton's single eye, completely disregarding it. "Four years ago, we were both at the fourth rank, and I blinded your left eye. Today, we are both at the fifth rank. Do you think you have any chance of winning? Or do you want me to destroy your right eye as well? If so, you might as well call yourself Blind Wolf from now on."

Even though Jack insulted him like that, Cotton didn't dare to make a move. His cold voice even carried a hint of desolation as he said, "Young Master Jack, I've protected the peace of Green Town for you for four years. I've done my part, even if I haven't done anything great. Why? Why won't you even let me have a sip of soup?"

"Hahahaha." Jack must have heard something incredibly funny to make someone as composed as him laugh.

"I spared your life four years ago. Is there any gift in this world that can compare to life? Yet you still crave more. This is human desire, which is like an endless abyss in the demon realm, never to be filled."

Every one of your exes made this request to me, but you were the only one who complied for four years. I thought you were special, but it turns out that greed is an original sin that no one can escape.

"Kerton, do you want to know what happened to your exes?"

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