Proofreader: M_W Miss Fierce

After half an hour, Steve finally persuaded 15 Bandit Leaders to sell their Storage Rings to Leo. He then gathered them together and lead the way towards the White River City. He obviously can't just take their Storage Rings himself and promise him that he will return with 1,000 gold coins. They were Bandits. Hence such a thing is just not possible to happen.

All the Bandit Leaders brought many of their men with them just to have a sure guarantee that even if this turns out to be a trap, they will still have a chance to escape through the help of their men.

"Hey, isn't this the direction towards the White River City?" One of the Bandit Leaders asked in suspicion.

"Are you really not planning on setting all of us on a trap?" Another Bandit Leader suspiciously asked.

"I think he is!" A Bandit Leader directly assumed.

Steve's eyes were twitching in annoyance as he listens to their words. He turned around to look at them and said, "Can you guys just trust me, even for one time?"

"Huh? Do you think we are fools here, Steve? We are all Bandit Leaders, so don't expect any of us to just simply trust each other, especially you, since I've heard you even betrayed Big Rat for a woman."

"Indeed! I've worked really hard just to court that woman, yet you actually dare steal her from me? Tch, in the end, she still died on my hands!" Big Rat nodded his head in agreement.

"She should have long expected it already the moment she chooses to have a serious relationship with a Bandit, hahaha!"

"Damn, how I miss the taste of her body and the sound of her moaning every time I put mine inside. It's really unforgettable."

"Indeed! Actually, everyone has tasted her at least one time, so why the heck did the two of you still decided to court her? Are you stupid or something, HAHAHAHAH!"

This time, it wasn't only Steve who's eyes were twitching in annoyance, even Big Rat was feeling the same. Well, what the other had said was indeed correct, if only they didn't try to be in a serious relationship with her, then they could have still been able to experience tasting her body and listening to her sweet moans every time they visited her in the White River pub.

Unfortunately, what's done is done...

Soon, Steve and the others finally arrived in an open field of the White River City as they then immediately saw Steve's two men kneeling on the ground with some unknown entities surrounding them.

Steve already expect how they would react, so without letting them say a single word, he quickly said, "Trust me, this is not a trap. What I said to you guys before was indeed the truth. The only thing I didn't tell you is that he actually threatened me to tell you guys that he wants to buy Storage Rings. All in all, he won't harm you or even kill you. He's just here, to buy your Storage Rings, just like what we have agreed."

Hearing Steve's words, the Bandit Leaders who were still planning to speak in order to tell all of their men to prepare for a battle immediately decided to stop.

"Are you sure?" Big Rat doubtfully asked.

"Yes, in fact, you can just stay here while letting one of your men go over there and hand him the Storage Ring. I'll stay here with you as well so that you will be able to easily kill me if everything turns out to be a trap." Steve said before sitting crossed leg on the ground and not saying a single word anymore. He had already said his piece. Now it all depends on them whether they will believe him or not.

"I think this is indeed not a trap, so how about we just follow what he said?" Big Rat said as he finally believed that Steve wasn't really planning on setting them on a trap after seeing him voluntarily giving up his life if it really turns out to be one. "Anyways, the forest is just behind us, so the moment the men we sent get killed, we immediately kill Steve and then run inside the forest in separate ways."

"Okay!"

"Sounds fair to me!"

"No problem here!"

With that said and done, Big Rat and the other 14 Bandit Leaders sent one 'lucky' Bandit to Leo along with their Storage Rings.

Seeing this, Leo who has long noticed them smiled approvingly at how Steve handles the situation to persuade the others to still sell him their Storage Rings after finding the situation suspicious.

He might not be able to hear what they were saying, but just based on their body language alone, it was already very easy to understand what is currently going on.

Soon, 15 Bandits arrived in front of Leo. Their bodies were shaking in fear as they slowly handed to him with trembling hands the Storage Rings with them.

Leo really wanted to laugh while watching this, but to not waste any time anymore as he had already stayed for so long in White River City, he accepted the Storage Rings. He then sent some random signals to Steve to convey to him that they should unlock the Storage Rings.

"You guys should go and unlock the Storage Rings to complete the transaction. Don't worry, I'm still here, so just kill me if that guy really goes back on our deal." Steve translated what Leo meant with his signals to Big Rat and the others.

"Okay....." Big Rat can't help feeling weirded out at how Steve was acting strange right now. It was like that he has already decided to give up his life if ever things go into haywire.

"Clean your neck, because if we end up losing those Storage Rings without earning anything, then I will be the first one to chop your head." One of the Bandit Leader said in displeasure as he unlocked his Storage Ring in his consciousness.

"Wish your luck!" Another Bandit Leader followed.

Half a minute later, all the Storage Rings were finally unlocked. Leo immediately began checking the inside and every time he finished with one Storage Ring he would right after give the Bandit who had brought it to him the agreed amount of 1,000 gold coins for a 100 cubic square space and more than 1,000 gold coins for more than 100 cubic square space.

Without any exceptions, as soon as those Bandits received the money on their hands, they immediately dash with their lives towards the direction of their Bandit Leaders, in fear that Leo might just suddenly kill them.

After finishing with all the Storage Rings, Leo soon after sent a signal to Steve that the transaction was now done. He also let go of the 2 captive Bandits and let them reunite with Steve who was still sitting crossed-legged on the ground seemingly in deep thoughts.

"Since I'm already done here, then it's time for me to leave," Leo said before turning around towards his horse to prepare to leave.

At this moment, the 2 Bandits immediately hugged Steve the moment they arrived in front of him.

"Thank you, Bandit Leader Steve!" One Bandit bowed his head 90 degrees to Steve.

"If not for you returning, then we would have long died on that scary guy's hand..." The Bandit who was crying his mother's name before tearfully expresses how he felt during the time he was a hostage of Leo.

"As long as the both of you are fine and okay, that's all that matters." Steve tapped both of their shoulders before slowly standing up and turning around to look at Big Rat. His eyes suddenly turned moist but firm at the same time, as he suddenly bowed his head 90 degrees to Big Rat and said, "Please accept this 2 to join your Bandit group! I'm begging you!"

Big Rat was immediately shocked the moment he heard Steve begging in front of him. No, in front of 15 Bandit Leaders without any hesitation. He quickly asked, "What has suddenly gotten onto you?"

"I want to quit being a Bandit!" Steve replied with his head still bowed down.

"What?!!!" Everyone was immediately shocked beyond belief at Steve's words, even those 2 Bandits that he had just saved.

Without letting anyone talk, Steve immediately explained, "I already lost a lot of people in this occupation, including friends and people I treated like family, either by dying on the battlefield or by joining other groups. A while ago, you also made me realized that if only I didn't try to pull that woman into my life, if only I didn't let my emotions get into me, then she could have been still alive and we could have still enjoyed her, hehehe..." He straightens up before showing a weak smile on his face and continuing, "But, it also made me realized something very important. When exactly does this life of a Bandit end? When we are old enough? When we are rich enough? When we have played enough? Just when? Moments ago, when I decided to give up my life if ever things don't turn out well, I finally found the answer to my question..." He suddenly turned around and began walking towards Leo's direction, obviously not intending on telling them the answer. He then said for one last time, "Please take care of the two of them for me, they are both capable Bandits, so you don't have to worry about them just putting weights on your shoulder. Just treat it as me asking you a favor for the last time as your once a friend. Bandit Leader Steve, is now resigning as a Bandit."

"You..." Big Rat was pointing his finger at Steve in disbelief. What was this guy saying? Is he out of his mind or something? Maybe he just lost a screw on his head after experiencing this situation? No, it seems like he was really serious... so does this mean he really just quit as a Bandit?!

"Tch, what a lousy excuse to run away after having enough as a Bandit." One of the Bandit Leaders sneered at Steve.

"Indeed, why would he give up a life such good as this!"

"Just leave him alone, he's certainly feeling afraid now after nearly losing his life."

At the side, Big Rat who heard them can't help himself from saying in his mind, "Do you seriously think Steve's mentality is as weak as yours?! I wouldn't have accepted to become one of his friends in the past if he was indeed like that! That guy is definitely thinking of something good!"

What Big Rat had said was half-correct and half-wrong. Steve was indeed genuine about leaving in his occupation as a Bandit, but the reasons he had just said a while ago wasn't the only reason why he wanted to leave.

In Steve's mind, he wants to achieve something greater. Something that he knows he can't achieve if he stays being a Bandit.

Unfortunately, even if Big Rat knows what it was, he still wouldn't choose to do the same. For him, being a Bandit was much better than anything else.

Two Bandits who were saved by Steve were left unable to react before he got far away from them. In the end, they could only look at Big Rat, hope evident within their eyes.

"Just come, he had already left you both to me," Big Rat doesn't have any choice anymore but just to accept the two Bandits that Steve has left behind.