𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
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“Understood, I acknowledge your strength.”
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“So, you’re going to let us go now, right?”
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Luke, who had breathed a sigh of relief, was surprised by Barbassa’s next words.
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“Let you go? What on earth are you talking about?”
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“What?! But you. . .”
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“I just said to show me your strength. I never said I would let you go if you win.”
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“. . .!”
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Luke had no choice but to remain silent.
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Indeed, Barbassa had not said he would let them go if they fought.
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“. . .What exactly do you want?”
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“Huh, don’t make such a scary face, I didn’t say I wouldn’t let you go.”
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Barbassa smiled at Luke, who had a stern look on his face.
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“But as I said earlier, I need a good excuse to allow you to return as an exception. For example, you have contributed to my people, or something like that.”
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“. . .In other words, you want us to work for you.”
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“Not for me, for my people. But I don’t care how you take it.”
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Barbassa said this and turned on his heel.
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“There’s no need to stand and talk. Let’s continue our conversation over a meal.”
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The table was filled with delicacies from the demon realm.
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A salad made from dried slime rehydrated with water, a steak made from young Barometz, a root vegetable soup made from Mandragora, a giant lobster as tall as a child, all of which were unfamiliar and clearly extravagant dishes just by looking at them.
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“What on earth is this?”
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“I told you, I’m serving you a meal. Feel free to eat.”
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Barbassa, who was sitting at the head of the table, was cutting a brightly colored blue bread.
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“You haven’t answered my question yet. What do you mean by ‘work for me’?”
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“Don’t rush the conversation. First, enjoy the meal. There’s no poison in it, so you can rest assured.”
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Barbassa started eating, ignoring Luke’s question.
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“. . .Is this really okay?”
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Alma, who was sitting next to him, was looking at the lined up dishes with a worried face.
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Luke agreed with her.
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He thought he was captured, then challenged to a fight, and now he was being served a table full of delicacies.
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Luke couldn’t figure out Barbassa’s intentions.
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“. . .”
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But eventually, Luke reached out to the lobster as if he had made up his mind.
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He knew from the analysis that there was no poison in it.
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Probably, Barbassa was enjoying Luke’s reaction.
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There was no reason to be overly cautious and dance to his tune.
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“. . .Delicious.”
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Luke, who had taken a bite of the giant lobster meat, was surprised.
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He thought it would be bland, but it was not at all, and the delicate flavor of the meat spread throughout his mouth.
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The aroma of the herbs and spices that were probably steamed together tickled his nostrils, enhancing the flavor of the meat.
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Seeing Luke’s reaction, Alma and Kiel also tentatively reached out for the food.
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“”?!””
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They took one bite, were surprised, and immediately took a second and third bite.
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“That’s good.”
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Barbassa twisted his mouth slightly and returned to his meal.
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“There’s something I need your cooperation with.”
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Barbassa, who had been wiping his mouth with a napkin, put it on the table and began to speak.
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“If you can accomplish that, I’ll let you go right away.”
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“What is that requirement? I can’t answer without hearing it.”
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Barbassa smiled at Luke, who had a stern expression.
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“Don’t be so defensive, all I want you to do is just a bandit subjugation.”
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“Bandit subjugation? Is that something you could ask us to do?”
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Barbassa’s request was unexpected for Luke.
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He thought he would be asked to deal with a more diplomatically delicate issue, not a simple request like bandit subjugation.
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That would be disadvantageous to the Arrogas Kingdom. . .
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“Those bandits have been ravaging our territory for several years now, but their stronghold is along the border with your country. We’ve tried to subjugate them several times, but each time we’ve been thwarted by your country and have yet to succeed.”
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Barbassa glared at Luke as he said this.
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“To be honest, I suspect that those bandits are being supported by your country.”
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“That’s ridiculous!”
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Alma stood up.
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“Our country, the Arrogas Kingdom, would never do such a thing!”
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“That’s why it’s perfect for you to solve this problem.”
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Barbassa answered with a cool face to the furious Alma.
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“Is that so.”
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Luke sighed.
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If Luke and his friends cooperate in the bandit subjugation, they will be able to avoid protests from the Arrogas Kingdom.
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“And this should be beneficial to your country as well. According to my investigation, those bandits are also rampaging in your country. Of course, that might just be a ruse to deceive us.”
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Luke remembered what Omid had said at Barbassa’s words.
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Omid had said that bandits and pirates were ravaging the southern territories and that it was the work of the demons.
Omid had said that Dandale was pulling the strings behind the scenes, but the bandits seemed to be rampaging in the demon realm as well.
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If that’s the case, there might be some kind of plot behind it.
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Luke, who had been hesitating for a while, finally looked up and stared at Barbassa straight on.
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“. . .Understood. I accept your request.”
