Chapter 396 - 194: Encountering Desert Bandits (3)

The Arrow Boar Person had a nagging feeling that something was amiss. The Merchant before him seemed different from others he’d encountered—completely devoid of panic, far too composed.

He sized up Zhang Peng, then his gaze shifted to the raised Banner of the Undead, and his eyes suddenly widened.

’A skull?!’

After the battle between the Undead and the Cancerous Tumor Alliance Army, the skull was no longer a symbol to be used lightly in the Wasteland. It was the mark of the Undead. Although the Undead had never officially acknowledged it, everyone tacitly accepted this fact.

’What does this Human mean by raising a long staff topped with a skull?’

The Arrow Boar Person suddenly recalled a recent rumor: a Human Merchant who wandered the Wasteland, possessed vast resources, and claimed to be an ally of the Undead.

’A Human, a skull... could the Merchant before me be the person from the rumors?’

The Arrow Boar Person’s eyes darted about. He pointed at Zhang Peng and shouted with a grunt, "Heh, what are you doing with that useless pole? Put it down! Who are you trying to scare with a skull? I’ve seen plenty of people’s heads; a skull doesn’t scare me!"

Zhang Peng didn’t say a word, but a faint light began to glow within the skull on the Banner of the Undead, as if flames were stirring inside.

"I’m telling you, whether you’re with the Undead or not, you’re handing over your resources today! Five shares per person! No, ten!" The Arrow Boar Person was now almost certain that this Human was the very same guy who claimed to be an ally of the Undead. But instead of making him back down, this realization only made him more brazen.

The Arrow Boar Person had it all figured out. ’So what if he’s with the Undead? Are there any Undead around here? No. So, I’ll just rob him. After I get the goods, I’ll just run. I’m a Desert Bandit, not some fixed Tribe. I can just move to a new place and still thrive. The Undead will never catch me.’

’Besides, robbing the Undead’s associate... the very thought is a thrill! It’ll make my name famous. Then my future robberies will be even more fruitful. This is definitely worth doing.’

"You’ve got some nerve. From the looks of it, you know who I am. And knowing who I am, you still dare to make demands. It seems you don’t have any respect for us." Zhang Peng’s gaze turned grim. He hated this kind of situation. It was so much better when things were quiet, when all he had to do was show the banner and all his troubles would disappear.

’How long has it been since Li Ziyu made an appearance? These guys are already getting brazen. They can clearly tell who I am, yet they still dare to make demands. This means our deterrent isn’t strong enough.’

"Hmph, I’m a Desert Bandit. Do I need to give face to any Race? If I worried about giving you face, what would my men and I eat?" the Arrow Boar Person said with a loud laugh.

"I have resources. Come and take them yourself, if you’ve got what it takes," Zhang Peng said with a nonchalant shrug.

It took the Arrow Boar Person a moment to process this. ’Ah, so the negotiations have failed. Well, what else is there to say? Let’s just take it by force!’

"Brothers, charge! Seize all the resources!" the Arrow Boar Person howled, swinging his Wide-Backed Great Saber.

A Lizardman loosed his fingers, and an arrow flew out with a WHOOSH. A Black Knight shifted its stance slightly, and the arrow struck its Armor, deflecting harmlessly. It didn’t even leave a scratch.

The Desert Bandits in the rear let out battle cries and charged toward Zhang Peng.

Seeing the fight break out, the Chieftain immediately called to his tribesmen... to retreat back to their Tribe’s camp!

They weren’t about to join this battle. On one side was the merchant’s party, on the other, the Desert Bandits. Let them fight it out. He didn’t care who won or lost; either way, he stood to gain.

If the Desert Bandits were wiped out, his Tribe would be safer. If the merchant’s party was wiped out, it was no loss to him—in fact, he might even be able to scoop up some resources.

Seeing the charging Desert Bandits, Zhang Peng didn’t even move. He couldn’t believe these two or three hundred men thought they could do anything to him. The ones protecting him were the renowned Black Knights of the Undead Race. ’Are they serious?’

’Even if the Black Knights failed to protect me, so what? If I die, I die. As long as the Fortress still stood, he could be resurrected. What the hell is there to be afraid of!’

He had plenty of aces up his sleeve. Never mind the Mobile Fortress and the Gophers within it, he hadn’t even brought out the Skeleton Shooter-1 Types yet. These two or three hundred bandits wouldn’t even be enough for a single volley.