Proofreader: M_W Miss Fierce

After hearing Leo's words, the Bandit Leader's face can't help showing a look of surprise. Never did he expect that this guy would literally ask him to do a legitimate business. But he was still a bit doubtful. No one knows, maybe this guy just wanted him to leave to look for the other Bandit groups expecting that doing such a thing would allow him to save his two remaining men, when in fact the moment he left his two men would immediately die and this guy would then secretly tail him from behind.

Leo already expected that the Bandit Leader would think such thoughts, hence he said, "I know what you're thinking; maybe this guy just purposely wanted me to go look for other Bandit groups so that he would be able to tail me from behind." He showed a mischievous smile on his face before pointing one of his hands on the Elementals and continuing, "Do you really think that if I was a real Slave Hunter I would still need to trouble myself on proposing to you a good business with all of these things surrounding me? I can basically just go in there, spread all of them out, and then sooner or later I'll be able to stumble upon a Bandit group. Just repeat that over and over again and I would soon be able to catch all the nearby Bandit groups around this area, either small, medium, or large Bandit groups."

Leo suddenly waved his hands to unsummoned the Earth Elemental, 2 Nature Elementals, 2 Water Elementals, and the Fire Elemental before quickly replacing them with Wind Elementals, specifically 16 Wind Elementals, "Oh, I almost forgot, I could actually create as many as these. So, trust me, if I really want to look for Bandit groups, it would be as easy as sipping water for me."

To be honest, there was practically no need for him to trouble himself doing something like this and instead just completely do the exact same thing as what he had just said he could have done. But doing so would cost him more time, which might then cause him to get found out by the already ongoing investigation of the Mischievous Blue Sword Alliance and Snow Noble Household.

Therefore, he doesn't have any choice left but to convince this Bandit Leader to work for him and act as his middleman to buy more Storage Rings from the other Bandit groups.

As to why he can't force them to bring him to the location of the other Bandit groups anymore, it's simply because they had long already believed that he's a Slave Hunter in their minds. For this reason, no matter how much he tries to clear his name, even if he could indeed do that, but as soon as he asked them that he wanted them to take him to the other Bandit groups location, they would immediately refuse him and label him again as a Slave Hunter.

He would then have no choice anymore aside from either just killing all of them and look for another Bandit group that he could persuade to act as his middleman, which would cost time again, or he would just persuade this Bandit group again that he's not a Slave Hunter. Nevertheless, in both cases, it means he will never be able to achieve his goal of getting more Storage Rings, and instead, just waste his time doing such a thing that he could have solved this easily.

The Bandit Leader and the two remaining Bandits immediately turned pale as they observed the 18 surrounding unknown entities and quickly understood what Leo meant to say. They can't help but think in their minds, "This guy is indeed right, if he's a real Slave Hunter, then forget about the Bandit groups around this small forest, because it's highly likely for the entire Silver Kingdom to not have any Bandit groups remaining anymore."

The Bandit Leader firmed his thoughts as he stood up from the ground and asked, "Are you really serious about this deal? If I really convinced the other Bandit groups to sell to you their Storage Ring, that is, if ever they have any, you will really let go of my men?"

"Yes, as long as you can convince any of them." Leo replied in assurance.

"Even if I can only convince a single Bandit group?" The Bandit Leader wanted to confirm.

"Well, if that's indeed the limit of your capability, then I guess I have no choice but to accept that you're indeed such a worthless Bandit Leader that doesn't have a lot of connections in the Bandit world. Though I would still let them go, but are you really sure that you want to miss this deal?"

"But there is nothing for me, even if I can get more Bandit groups to sell their Storage Rings to you, right?" The Bandit Leader smiled wryly. The only thing that Leo has ever said to him was that he would buy the Storage Rings for 100 gold coins, which is twice the normal price of normal Storage Rings, specifically it contains a 100 cubic square space, and also more gold coins if it contains more storage space. Aside from his two men getting released, there was nothing for him to gain.

"Hahahaha, you're really stupid, aren't you? Don't you see what you're largely lacking here right now?"

"Please enlighten me!" The Bandit Leader cupped his hands together.

"You lack new men! Simply put, more new Bandits to rebuild your Bandit group. You only have 2 remaining Bandits left, and although these two would definitely become loyal to you once you save them by exchanging one Storage Ring to me. But the question here is, would a Bandit group with only 3 members be able to survive in the Bandit world? You understand what I mean, right?" Leo explained but still throw a question at the end just to confirm whether this Bandit Leader understood that he might not gain profit by doing this, but he would definitely be able to earn fame, which is the most important thing in the Bandit's world.

"Yes! I understand!" The Bandit Leader nodded his head as he quickly understood what Leo meant with his words. This guy's words were very simple: that even the newbies amongst all newbies of Bandit Leaders would be able to easily understand. Use the fame that he would get after going to great lengths just to save 2 of his men to recruit more Bandits, because who doesn't like to be in a group with a Bandit Leader that will go and save his men, even when there were only 2 remaining, right? What he's doing right now is basically a sure guarantee that their Bandit Leader will not betray them and save them when they are in great danger.

In the Bandit Leader's mind, what he would be earning in this deal is not something that even money would be able to buy. In short, it's worth it!

Soon, the Bandit Leader left to go look for Bandit groups that he could persuade to sell Leo their Storage Rings.

Unbeknownst to Leo though, while the Bandit Leader was going to the bases of those other Bandit groups, inside his mind right now, he still wants to test the waters first, just to be sure whether that guy was really honest or not. After all, he hasn't yet completely believed whether Leo was really not a Slave Hunter or not. In order to confirm the authenticity of that guy's words, he decided to target first the base of those Bandit groups that had offended him in the past.

Soon, that Bandit Leader, whose name is Steve, arrived in front of the gate of one of the Bandit groups that had offended him in the past, specifically Bad Rats Bandit.

"Steve?" A tall, muscular man soon called out to Steve.

The tall, muscular man's name was Big Rat, the Bandit Leader of the Bad Rats Bandits. Before going over here to meet Steve, he was still inside his hut counting the profit their Bandit group had made yesterday after scavenging the ruins of White River City when suddenly one of his men reported to him that Steve arrived in front of their gate, and surprisingly he actually came alone. He felt suspicious about it, hence he immediately set aside what he was doing and came to meet Steve.

"Big Rat!" Steve motioned his hands to Big Rat to come over in a friendly manner.

Seeing Steve's friendly gesture, Big Rat snorted and rolled his eyes. Who was this guy even fooling here? But in the end, he still made his way towards him as he was curious as to why this guy who offended him in the past came to their base all alone.

"What do you want?" Big Rat didn't bother beating around the bush as he immediately asked what Steve's intention was.

"Don't be mean to me Bandit Leader Big Rat, it's not like we weren't once friends in the past, right?" Steve said with a smile.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, we were once friends until you decided to steal my woman in the White River pub one day!" Big Rat sneered at Steve.

"All is fair when it comes to woman Big Rat, you know that already, so no need to keep on holding grudges with each other." Steve finally decided to stop wasting time as he noticed that Leo actually still didn't choose to attack despite him purposely revealing the Bandit Leader of Bad Rat Bandits by adding 'Bandit Leader' before Big Rat's name. Was that guy really not a Slave Hunter? One way to completely confirm it, "Anyways, the exact reason why I'm here is because I meet a friend who wants to buy Storage Rings that has 100 cubic square space for 1,000 gold coins each and a negotiable price for a Storage Ring that has more than 100 cubic square space."

Hearing Steve's words, Big Rat's eyes immediately lit up and said, "Are you serious? That's like twice the usual price of Storage Rings!"

"He was really in rush and badly needed Storage Rings, so he proposes such an exchange." Steve made up a 'reasonable excuse' to not make Big Rat suspect a thing.

Unfortunately, Big Rat didn't buy it as he asked suspiciously, "That guy must be extremely rich, so why not just mug him?"

"Can you mug someone a lot stronger than you?" Steve didn't bother hiding that Leo was stronger than him so as to clear Big Rat's suspicion and to also make him trust him that he wasn't setting him into a trap. He added, "And don't even think that you're actually stronger than him, trusts me, even with your entire Bandit group together, he would still be able to easily defeat all of you. He's seriously just here to buy Storage Rings. You're clearly aware already that the White River City is gone, so there is basically no place for him to buy Storage Rings nearby."

"Indeed, you're right... If he wants to buy Storage Rings he would still need to go either to Silver City, which I just heard was already destroyed already, meaning he would need to go even farther. Crystal Skull City is even farther, so buying from nearby Bandit groups is indeed the smartest idea. Okay, so where is he?" Big Rat finally believed Steve.

"He still needs even more Storage Rings, so I still need to go to the other Bandit groups' location to persuade them. How about you just wait for me here until I return?" Steve suggested.

"You're not trying to play a prank on me, right?" Big Rat crossed his arms together in front of him.

"Believe me, even if I want to play a prank on you, I don't have the ability to do that anymore," Steve shook his head out of helplessness. He only has himself to rely on since he only has 2 remaining men he has who were also currently Leo's hostage right now, so he would never dare play a prank on Big Rat.

"Glad you know that." Big Rat smiled proudly, "Then go quickly so that we can go over there and finish everything as early as possible since I still need to finish counting all the money I earned yesterday."

"Okay!" Steve said before leaving to go to the bases of the other Bandit groups and persuade them.