Situation(1)

A few minutes later, Max was in one of the strangest situations in his life.

First of all, he was still quite weak from the blood loss and the toll that the healing had taken on his body, and he knew that if he got out of bed, he might fall and not even be able to walk properly.

Second, the cuff was locked on, now, so there was no chance of him pulling another trick like before.

And third…he was being eyed by a man and a Tera both of which were busily eating while keeping an eye on him.

After the Chief's shout, a few of the hamlet folk had run out to do what he said, but on seeing him awake, the Tera had barked loudly, causing the guy to rush over while still holding the chicken that he was eating.

Then, both of them had taken residence in this room so as to keep an eye on him, and they seemed to have reached a truce, as they divided the rest of the chickens equally and kept eating to their heart's content, all the while making sure that he didn't even move an inch without them knowing about it.

They seemed to be savoring the spice the most, as they always took the most time to eat the skin and top layer of the chicken, which had the most flavor.

The rest was still relished, but it was gobbled up, unlike this part which was slowly chewed along with ecstasy shining in their eyes.

Why did they seem as if they had never tasted spice in their life?

Max had smelled the chicken, and he knew what had been used. It was the most common of spice mixes: some peppercorns, salt and a few ground up herbs which were all common goods peddled quite cheaply among the settlements that were part of the World Government.

If they were so impressed by just this, how would they be if they tasted the almost legendary Divine Roast Duck in the famous Duckington Palace restaurant that was present in nearly all Cities?

Max shuddered at the thought, as all he could imagine was them fighting over it, and he didn't even know why he got that image.

At the same moment, though, he suddenly understood something.

"You're a Survivor, aren't you?"

Could it really be that he had been unlucky enough to draw one of these monsters? It would explain everything he had seen so far, and Max hoped that it wasn't the case.

However, the answer was clear in the guarded expression that appeared on the guy's face, and the surprise that was visible in the eyes of the girl.

Crap.

All Survivors were crazy, one way or another. After all, living alone in a jungle in the harshest of conditions, with death in every direction, was definitely something that would affect anyone very adversely. Some became sadists who enjoyed others' pain. Some became masochists who loved to torture themselves if it meant that they could grow stronger. Some even became complete psychos who went on massacres if they were disturbed.

Yet…Max had never heard of anyone becoming a foodie.

'There must be something else, too, that is off in this guy.'

Musing this, he sighed, as it meant that he probably had no hope of escaping.

Survivors were the best trackers, and even with his skills, he had no confidence in escaping, especially with this damn cuff on his hands. Besides, this guy seemed to be more capable than most, as he had heard the whispers among the hamlet folk about the way he had beaten the Chief.

All in all, he was screwed.

Yet, Max had a strong habit of trying and succeeding in seeing the silver lining in each and every situation, and in this one, it was that he knew the Hamlet he would be taken to, and there…he had quite a few 'admirers' who just loved rugged folk like him that passed through Settlements while Ascending the Path.

Smiling lazily on remembering them, Max was about to relax for a bit before beginning to plan ways in which he could get away from the place he would be taken to, instead. After all, that would be easier.

However, a loud voice suddenly reverberated in the house they were in, and it was as if it was coming from all directions at once.

"Surrender the one called Max. He is responsible for killing one of the branches of my organization nearby. Do this, and I will spare the rest of you. You have 30 seconds to choose."

For a second after this was heard, there was silence as no one could, or wanted to believe that it was real.

After that, the first one that reacted was Aaron, who couldn't help but scrunch up his face with intense irritation, as a thought passed through his mind.

'I just want to find my parents, and eat some good food along the way! Why the f*ck do I keep getting pulled into things unrelated to me, dammit?! Old man, when I see you again, I will have my revenge!'