Ashan leaped back, narrowly evading Rowan's grasp.
"Why did you stop? I almost grabbed your neck," Rowan sneered, his voice dripping with frustration.
Ashan shook his head dismissively. "No need for more. After dancing with a monkey in heat, I've had enough fun."
Rowan's face twisted in rage, his grip tightening on his sword until it ignited with red flames. He pointed the blazing weapon directly at Ashan. "Don't blame me. You asked for it."
Ashan took a deep breath, his demeanor turning serious. He drew the Gunbai from his back and stabbed it into the ground, gripping the handle firmly with both hands.
Rowan smirked mockingly at the sight. "Do you think that funny-looking thing can save you? Give up."
Ashan offered no response, standing resolute in his stance. "Brat, this is my first and last warning. Stop this nonsense right now."
"What if I refuse?" Rowan challenged, his eyes blazing.
"Then prepare yourself to get humiliated."
"We'll see about that, fucker."
Rowan charged forward, sword raised to slash at Ashan's mask. But before the strike could land, Ashan acted.
[Authority of the Blood King]
Rowan froze mid-motion, his sword slipping from his grasp and clattering to the ground. "What the hell? What did you do, bastard!"
Ashan pointed to the ground beneath him. "Kneel!"
"Haha... did you expect me to—"
In an instant, Rowan's body knelt helplessly before Ashan, defying his will. Shock rippled through him.
'My body is acting on its own. I can't control it.'
Rowan seethed inwardly, imagining a thousand ways to kill Ashan. "You son of a bitch. I don't know what you did, but release me right now."
Slap!
A high-speed slap struck Rowan's face with brutal force, leaving Ashan's five fingers imprinted on his cheek.
"Hiccup…" The sound echoed sharply, causing nearly every raider to instinctively touch their own faces.
"Look who's cursing out now. Figure out your situation. You're under my mercy, yet you dare to curse? The only way to discipline someone like you is to humiliate them in front of others."
Ashan gestured to a nearby spot. "Run in circles there like a dog until I say stop."
Rowan's eyes widened in disbelief, his body trembling.
"Don't you dare to—"
His mouth clamped shut involuntarily. He fought desperately to resist, but his body betrayed him, forcing him to run in circles on all fours.
The raiders averted their eyes, horrified yet secretly amused by the absurd spectacle. But the tension broke when Sorin finally intervened.
"Stop it," she commanded, stepping forward with her bodyguards in tow.
"Hmm... so the sister finally stepped in. Why did I stay calm until now?"
Sorin bowed slightly, her eyes glowing as she assessed the enigmatic figure before her.
'This man.. He's so powerful. To think he reduced Rowan to this. How strong is he? His mana level seems on par with ours. Could he be an unidentified S-ranker? I need to calm him down.'
She raised her head, her voice steady. "I apologize for his rude behavior. I understand you have good motives and wish to remain anonymous. If you're not committing crimes, we won't question your identity. Please release him."
Ashan glanced at Rowan, then back at Sorin, crossing his arms.
"You're surprisingly humble for a strong person. I'm glad not every S-ranker is like that ill-mannered idiot. But what to do? I don't think I can release him yet. He needs more discipline."
The bodyguards beside Sorin glared at Ashan, but he pointed at Rowan, who was still sprinting in circles. "Why? It seems all of you want to join him. Feel free to tell me if you do."
The bodyguards quickly looked away, sensing the gravity in his words.
"Please don't be like that, sir. He may have acted rudely, but he still has pride and dignity. He's one of our great figures fighting monsters and bringing peace. Do you want to ruin the image of someone like him?"
Ashan pondered for a moment, eyeing Rowan. "You can stop now. Stand up and stay still."
Obeying the command, Rowan halted and stood rigid, a potent killing intent radiating from him.
"Thank you for understanding," Sorin said gratefully. "As I heard, you helped these raiders stop the dungeon break. We'd like to reward you. Is there anything you want? I'll do anything within my limits."
Ashan raised an eyebrow. 'A favor from an S-ranker? That's an unexpected jackpot. I might need connections in the future, so building good ties is key. In this situation, I only need cooperation.'
"Ehhm..." Ashan cleared his throat. "Anything you say? Then I have a request. But first, when are you planning to raid this dungeon?"
"Hmm... We're expecting to raid it tomorrow morning as soon as possible. There's a possibility monsters might emerge again."
Ashan shouldered his Gunbai, gazing at the dungeon portal. "If that's the case, no need to worry. I'll clear it alone. To do that, you need to allow my entry. What do you say?"
Sorin blinked in shock. "Alone? It's true I can allow you to go, but going in alone is dangerous. Let's go together."
Ashan shook his head. "That can't be done. I need to be alone for personal reasons. Don't worry. I won't take anything from there."
"No, that's not the problem. You can take whatever you achieve. Alright, then I'm coming with you too. How about it?"
"Ummmm… ommmuh..." Rowan mumbled, his mouth still sealed.
Ashan snapped his fingers, freeing Rowan's mouth. "Are you crazy, sister? How can you go into a high-ranking dungeon alone?"
"Brother, I'm an S-ranker too. I can manage myself. And this person is going with me too."
"That's the whole point! You're going with that fucking lunatic we don't even know. Who knows what he'll do to you. I'm not letting you go."
Ashan turned to Sorin. "I agree with that red pumpkin. Going with me is a bold move. So no need to come with me."
"Absolutely not. I will go with you. No matter how powerful you are, you're still a civilian of this country. As an S-ranker, I have the responsibility to protect you."
"Hmm... in that case, you can come with me. But make sure to take care of yourself. I can't promise your safety."
"Then I'm coming too. I'll come along with her," Rowan interjected, cutting into the conversation.
Ashan glanced at him with a grin. "You?"