Sai didn’t kill the leader immediately. Instead, he turned his gaze to the unconscious woman who had been whipped, her body covered in wounds. A flicker of cold anger flashed in his eyes before he turned back to the leader of the Black Fang. Without hesitation, he grabbed the man by the collar and began dragging him across the ground like a ragdoll.

  Before dealing with him, Sai freed every prisoner. The remaining bandits, realizing their leader was being humiliated before them, hesitated before rushing forward. But the sight of Sai’s effortless dominance made fear root them in place.

  “Where is Sam?” Sai’s voice was calm, yet it carried a chilling authority.

  The bandits flinched at the command, hastily dragging out a beaten and bloodied figure. It was Sam. His body was covered in bruises, and his breathing was weak, but his eyes remained steady. He showed no fear, no despair—only silent endurance.

  Sai glanced at the freed prisoners before speaking. “From today onwards, you are free. Go.”

  Tears welled in their eyes as they realized their suffering had come to an end. Some of them hesitated, as if uncertain whether to leave, but in the end, they bowed deeply in gratitude before departing.

  Sai could have used them—former captives often held grudges and could be shaped into loyal subordinates. But their emotions were in turmoil, and their minds were fragile. He had no need for those burdened by their past.

  Now, his gaze shifted toward the bandits.

  “From today onwards, the Black Fang is no more. It is destroyed. And if you do not submit to me…” Sai’s voice turned razor-sharp. “You will die.”

  His words sent a shiver through the crowd. Some of the bandits clenched their fists, wanting to resist, but none dared to step forward. Until one man sneered.

  “Hah! Submit to you? Don’t make me—”

  Before he could finish, his head separated from his body, soaring through the air in a gruesome arc. Blood sprayed in all directions as the lifeless corpse collapsed to the ground.

  The remaining bandits trembled violently, their faces drained of color. Any thoughts of rebellion were crushed in an instant.

  Sai turned his gaze to the leader of the Black Fang and without a word, slapped him hard across the face. A sharp crack echoed through the air as the bandit howled in pain, but Sai showed no mercy. He struck again. And again. Each slap was heavy, deliberate—more than punishment, it was a reminder of who held power now.

  After some time, Sai finally stopped, his expression cold and unreadable.

  “Tell me,” he said, his voice calm but laced with menace. “Who ordered this? Why did you do it?”

  The leader trembled under Sai’s piercing red gaze. There was no room for lies. He stammered, his voice hoarse from pain. “N-No one ordered me. I chose this path myself… I wanted power, wealth… and there was no one to stop me.”

  Sai narrowed his eyes. A few more strikes ensured there was no deception in the man’s words. He wasn’t hiding anything—this was simply the path he had chosen of his own greed and ambition.

  Sai sighed. He had no patience for men like this. Without hesitation, he ended the bandit’s life.

  He wasn’t a fan of torture—there was no need for it when his presence alone could extract the truth. But as he stood there, something else gnawed at his mind. He had been observing carefully, and not once had he seen anyone, not even among the nobles, use magic. Why?

  Sai pushed the question to the back of his mind and turned his gaze toward the bandits. "From now on, you’re working for me. There are some ground rules you must follow. No kidnapping of innocents, no harming women or children. You can loot nobles—I don’t care—but you must also gather something for me. If anyone has objections, speak now."

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  The bandits grumbled among themselves but ultimately nodded in agreement. Sai’s lips curled into a smirk. "From today onward, we are no longer mere bandits. Our name is Red Devil." His voice turned cold, his eyes flashing with a dangerous glint. "And if any of you dare to betray me…"

  A chilling silence filled the air. The message was clear.

  Sai's gaze swept over the group as he continued, "Our primary task is information gathering. Who among you is skilled in this?"

  Out of the twenty surviving members, only five stepped forward. Sai nodded. "Good. Your main objective is—" He paused before informing them about the vampires and Duke Vaelmont. "I hope you remember this well."

  Then, without another word, Sai chanted a spell in front of them.

  The moment the mystical energy flared, everyone’s eyes widened in shock. A deep shiver ran through them. Magic—something they had only ever heard of in legends—was unfolding before their very eyes.

  Observing their reactions, Sai raised an eyebrow. "Is it really that rare?" he asked, his tone laced with curiosity.

  The bandits huddled closer around the fire, the flickering flames casting long shadows across their faces. An older bandit, his voice rough with age and experience, began to speak.

  "There was a time when magic was everywhere," he said, his tone filled with a strange reverence. "Mages, sorcerers, and warlocks—each wielding different kinds of power. They lived among us, sometimes in grand towers, sometimes in quiet villages. But they never ruled, never sought to control the world. They simply existed, separate from the struggles of kings and commoners alike."

  For a while, the world remained in balance. The magic users did not interfere, and ordinary folk carried on with their lives.

  "But then… something happened." The old man’s gaze darkened as he continued. "No one knows exactly what. One day, magic was abundant, and the next, the mages were gone. Not killed. Not hunted. Just… vanished. Their towers stood empty, their scrolls and artifacts scattered, their knowledge lost to time."

  A younger bandit, barely past his teenage years, spoke up. "So, what happened to them?"

  The old man shook his head. "Some say they were wiped out by a force greater than even they could comprehend. Others believe they left willingly, retreating beyond this world for reasons unknown. And then there are those who claim they still exist… but in hiding, waiting for the right time to return."

  He sighed. "All that remains of their era are a few forgotten inheritances—scattered ruins, cryptic texts, and relics that only the truly gifted can unlock."

  A shiver ran through the group. The idea that magic users had once walked freely among them—and then vanished without a trace—was more terrifying than any ghost story.

  Sai listened to the story, but he didn’t believe it entirely. It sounded more like a legend twisted by time rather than the real truth. Still, it planted a seed of curiosity within him. If magic users truly vanished, where did their knowledge go? He would find out—eventually. But not now.

  For the moment, he had more pressing matters.

  Sai ventured deeper into the cave, his footsteps echoing against the cold stone walls. The air grew damp, the darkness thick and suffocating. After what felt like an eternity, he stumbled upon a hidden chamber—a treasure room.

  Gold, weapons, and trinkets were scattered across the chamber, remnants of plunder long forgotten. But Sai’s attention was drawn to something far more valuable—a ring resting atop an ancient pedestal. Its surface shimmered with an eerie glow, runes carved into its band. He could feel the power radiating from it.

  Without hesitation, he took the ring, slipping it in hi storage ring. Then, with a glance at the rest of the treasure, he decided to leave some for the group. Loyalty needed rewards, after all.

  When he returned, the bandits eyed him warily. Sai met their gazes, his expression cold. "Before we move forward, there’s one more thing I need to do."

  He began to chant.

  Dark energy swirled around him, wrapping itself around each member of the group. A sharp, invisible force etched itself into their very beings. A curse.

  "This is my gift to you," Sai said, his voice calm yet chilling. "It’s simple. You cannot reveal my identity, location, or any of our secrets. If you ever think about betraying me, the curse will kill you. If you try to expose me, you will simply forget."

  A heavy silence followed. The bandits shivered, instinctively clutching their throats as if the air had become heavier. They knew—there was no escaping this.

  Sai smirked. "Now, let's get to work."

  The Red Devil had been born. And its members had no choice but to obey.