24 Squishy dry beans

"Let's go."

Even though they were despising Lazaro right now, his tone did not allow for him to be ignored.

"This is enough of rest for today, the rest of the trip will be relatively safe. So, we'll go right now as to not waste everybody's time." He spoke directly and clearly.

Without saying more he started packing his tent.

"Now now, Lazaro, it's one in the morning. They still haven't slept enough, let's just take our time. Although we are in a hurry, there's no rush."

Gerald felt he finally understood a little of Lazaro with his request.

'In the end, he's just another man who knew the rules of the game. who uses intimidation to get what the wants.' Thought Gerald.

He took everything Lazaro did as mere intimidation, a way to impose his value and be treated as somebody who can't afford to be offended without losing something. Basically, he was preparing the field for the negotiation of his request.

Thinking of how scared he was before, Gerald chuckled.

"We can take some time to negotiate more about the deal you want, don't worry about it, those two were asking for it, and there's plenty of witnesses to attest to that, right?"

Gerald said looking at each one with a gentle smile.

On the surface, it seemed casual, as if villains that died isn't worth mentioning, but more than that, it was an order for silence, no one that was there was supposed to disagree with whatever he tried to say.

"Yes! Without a doubt!" Avilá spoke. Agreeing right away.

He didn't need to think when it was about creating a connection to a powerful person.

Gerald turned to Silver, who just laughed, making Gerald squint, He turned to Lucas who wasn't even looking at him.

"Young man?" Gerald nudged with is words.

Lucas looked at him frowningly. He felt and an extreme urge to just state how deplorable this situation was for him. Wich was the worst possible move from him, he has a family to take care of, offending Gerald was the dumbest move he could do. Yet, his heartfelt strongly against it. He thought back to Lazaro's words of becoming an irresistible force to earth and the dreams about the Titan-like mammoth. He looked resolutely at Gerald.

"I disagree, completely, but I'll follow the official story of everybody else." He stated sternly then turned to Lazaro.

"While I don't care for them, lives shouldn't be taken at will."

He turned around ignoring both stunned faces and started packing his tent.

"Pffft! Hahahah!" Silver laughed out loud.

Lazaro had a wide smile on his face. He stared at Gerald who held a stiff smile.

"Growing up, aren't they?"

"Haa, as long as we are all settled on that issue than it doesn't matter," Gerald commented with a sigh.

A young man doing what he needed too yet choosing to state his protest while doing it was childish, to say the least.

Sophia stood confused amidst them, she questioned herself if negotiating with Lazaro after his clear accusation was suitable but seeing the way Gerald spoke with tranquility, she chose to not question.

Lila and Lucas came back with their stuff settled, and right behind them, Silver came with a smile too. The most important people were willing, to walk through the night, so Gerald looked at Avilá and Sophia by his side. With a hopeless sigh, he got up.

"Let's get ready then."

Sophia cast Lazaro a wary glance before turning her back.

*****

On their way Lazaro stuck to them like glue and took the beasts head-on, few beasts crossed their way and by morning they had covered more ground than possible before.

When it was noon, Lazaro stopped and a hand grabbed his shoulder.

"Now, there's only us, what do you want?" Gerald's annoying gentle voice made his stomach churn with disgust.

Lazaro smiled at him and extended his hand.

Gerald's gasped as he felt his crotch being held tightly.

The hand on Lazaro's shoulder tightened like frightened prey.

"You don't like it?" Lazaro asked with a smile.

Only drops of cold sweat dripped from Gerald's face as panic settled in.

"If you don't want me squeezing your dry old beans, you'll not touch me again."

Gerald nodded frenetically. And stared at Lazaro with uncontained rage.

"Y-you made your point, you're strong and shouldn't be messed with, what's the need of this? If you knew who I'm, you'd be kneeling right now."

Far away from other's ear, he didn't hold back his narcissism.

Lazaro let go of the disgusting thing as coldness enveloped his face.

"I, for not a single second, felt the least bit of respect for a thing like you. Even less fear. I already stated what I want for not holding you accountable for Larissa's issue. What's more to talk about?"

Gerald glared, the thought os simply killing the man in front of him passed his mind, with Lazaro's frenetic rhythm they were pretty close to the academy's boundaries. If he wanted t contact his elite bodyguard group and kill Lazaro right there and there, no problem would come for him, ever. But he saw another opportunity.

Lazaro was undoubtedly an uncouth barbarian. but his knowledge of essence was unusual, to say the least, his methods are only available in a tight circle of elites, Gerald had yet to have something as concrete as that.

Power is a big strong bull, if tamed you'll be on top of it while it treads through and stomps anything on the way. But without decent woven reins, it'll run wherever it likes and you'll be thrown off its back to being stomped jus like the others.

He had just conquered one of the director position on the united front academy, But without true power and assets, he'd only be a puppet.

But what he saw from Lazaro... If he could bind Lazaro to him, that would be his hidden card, his bull to tread through power. It'd be extremely hard to control Lazaro, but he didn't thrive in politic by playing safe.

In spite of his groin pain, he smiled.

"You asked what's more to talk about? Well, Leandro, Larissa's husband, is the CEO of Nascent technologies. He might let you go for a while but he's quite eccentric, he won't leave you alone, after trying to get on his way. Even more so after hearing your actions from your darling- his wife's mouth. '

He cleared his throat, becoming stern.

"The things you showed us will get your name in the hands of those who own the bigger tables, the knowledge of essence you have will bring out the worst in most of them and they hunt you for it. Lastly, your attitude will give them an excuse. And with the technology we have here, you cannot hide inside the city. That is, without help."

(...It's true, from what I saw and studied form these people, on this planet, you won't have peace, let alone the rest you wanted. You can run around but there's no place you can be for more than a few days without they tracking you down.) Hyera said.

'...'

( There's a saying here; keep your friends close, But your enemies must seat alongside you)

"...What do you suggest?" Lazaro asked the smirking old man.