At Trihexa, Black Spider and Rick were staring at the tiger man with a fierce look full of repressed anger.
If it weren't for the "muzzle", Black Spider bet he would have already started screaming in anger.
-Well, let's introduce ourselves first.- He sighed as he tried to calm the man. -You can call me Black Spider, leader of the Triple Six mercenary group and this one next to me is Rick.
-Yo!- Rick raised his free hand, greeting curiously, wondering where the captain had found such an irritable beast man, then he grabbed a bottle of wine and began to drink large gulps.
Trax glanced briefly at Rick before ignoring the idiot and narrowing his eyes back at Black Spider.
Black Spider knew that Trax was a straightforward guy, lacking much emotional intelligence, with zero understanding of linguistic nuances like sarcasm and a strong focus on honor.
Therefore, he knew exactly what to say to convince the man.
-As you noticed, we saved you. Don't worry, I have no interest in enslaving you. It was just easier to free you this way. My goal from the beginning was to recruit you as a free mercenary, not as a slave.- he said slowly.
Trax raised an eyebrow, somewhere between confusion and caution, but he couldn't answer, only listening.
Black Spider didn't stop. - I need strong people to follow me, you need to get stronger to achieve your own goals, you become my subordinate and fight for me and I help you get stronger.
Trax looked at him with a look of disdain, clearly doubting Black Spider's ability to help him.
Black Spider grinned, placing his hand on Trax's furry shoulder, which bristled with a sharp, predatory gaze. But the next moment, his eyes widened in surprise, a white energy leaked from Black Spider's hand. However, inside, Trax felt that the barrier preventing him from reaching Grade A was actually... a little looser?
Trax's eyes widened as he squirmed in his chair with evident excitement. Black Spider released his shoulder and saw that the man's gaze had shifted from suspicious and irritated to extremely excited, looking at him as if he were a piece of candy covered in sugar.
Black Spider's lips trembled, but he knew he had succeeded. Beside him, Rick, half-drunk, asked. -Hey, what was that white light?
-Nothing, you're hallucinating, go to sleep.- Black Spider waved his hand, shooing the man away.
Rick looked somewhere between confused and annoyed, but pausing for a moment, he nodded. -Well, I guess I'm really confused.
He took a few unsteady steps before falling face-first to the ground, but surprisingly, the hand holding the wine remained high, preventing the bottle from breaking. His hand slowly descended, placing the bottle on the ground with a soft click.
Trax and Black Spider stared at it in disbelief. Is this a special technique? How much training did he have to learn this?
Black Spider shook his head and looked at Trax, approaching the chair and easily freeing Tiger Man.
The moment he was free, Trax jumped from the chair and his fist became covered in pugilistic flames, flying towards Black Spider's face, but the latter didn't move, calmly staring at the fist.
The flames crackled inches from his face, motionless. Trax and Black Spider didn't move, just stood there, one in a punching stance, the other standing there as if stunned.
A faint smile appeared on Trax's feline face. -Do you think I'm not going to kill you?
-What good would it do you to kill me? But above all, would you kill your savior?- Black Spider asked with evident interest.
Trax's smile slowly faded, the flames died down, and he retracted his fist. -Indeed, you know me well, I wouldn't repay kindness with malice. You have my gratitude.
-So, you'll work for me?- Black Spider asked curiously.
Trax let out a snort that sounded more like a growl before speaking. -I haven't decided yet, but that energy earlier, what was that all about?
-Something that can take you far beyond what you could expect, something that can give you the power to take revenge on Heber.- Black Spider said calmly.
Trax's eyes sharpened as he advanced, grabbing Black Spider by the collar and lifting him up with burning glares. -How do you know that?!
-I am a seer, I saw our future, just as I know that you won't kill me. In a different future, you yourself told me that name, although you never told me why you wanted to kill him.- Black Spider explained calmly.
Trax looked somewhat incredulous, he opened his mouth to speak but Black Spider anticipated him.
-You expect me to believe that?- Black Spider said.
Trax's eyes looked strange, but when he opened his mouth again, Black Spider continued.
-What do you mean?
-Wait, how did you know what I was going to say?
-So as to!
-Okay! I understand! You can see the future, now can you stop?!
Trax watched Black Spider talking to himself with a look of evident frustration.
He took a deep breath and felt his urge to punch the man growing stronger.
Trax opened his mouth, but stopped, looking at Black Spider cautiously, afraid of being cut again, but the man just smiled at him.
-Okay, I believe you.- He said, putting Black Spider down. -Can you really help me move forward?
-Of course.- Black Spider promised.
-To the point of defeating that man?- Trax continued, doubtfully.
The man simply smiled at the tiger man, but that was all the answer Trax needed.
-Very well then, my fists will follow your command, but know that if you lie to me or act against my honor, I myself will kill you.- Trax agreed.
Black Spider chuckled softly, releasing a Grade A aura that froze Trax, then the Tiger Man gave a sad smile. -Well, kill you or die trying.- he added.
-Hahahaha!- Black Spider started laughing, adjusting the collar of his shirt, now destroyed by Trax. He shook his head and patted the tiger man on the shoulder. -Don't worry, we'll get along.
Ringo was certain of it, which is why he left so many secrets exposed to Trax, his evolutionary energy, his predictive ability and even his Grade A strength.
That's because he saw what kind of person Trax is. Someone who can die for his ideals. Ringo can only admire that.
With Ringo's abilities, he can lead anyone to limitless evolution, so knowing this, what kind of person should he recruit? Trax was a solid choice, the kind of honor and loyalty etched into his bones, the kind who would stand before him even when facing someone thousands of times stronger than him, chest held high.
Trax was an idiot in Ringo's mind, but he preferred having an idiot like Trax by his side than a "smart" man who might betray him.
So, Black Spider took Trax to see the ship, but what about Rick? He was still passed out with his face on the metal ground, the wine bottle still perfectly preserved in his steady hand.