A 20-year-old man named Rum; a human reincarnation of the ultimate savage known as the terrifying Plum, lived as a decent person since he was adopted by a family of four. Join him on his adventures and watch him grow for better or worse.
The day of reckoning had arrived. Eugene Newfield strutted into the village with an air of smug confidence, fully expecting that the LaFleur family wouldn't be able to meet his inflated demands. He envisioned himself seizing control of their shop and assets, adding them to his growing empire. His entourage, a mix of hired muscle and loyal sycophants, followed closely behind, all equally sure of the outcome. When Eugene entered the LaFleur family shop, he was greeted by the sight of Rum, calmly cleaning the counters. Rum looked up, noticing the merchant's arrival, and met his gaze with an unwavering expression. Eugene, barely able to contain his glee, approached with his usual condescending tone.
Eugene: Rum, my dear friend! I trusted that you and the family had quite the time gathering enough money in such a short period. I do hope there wasn't any... trouble?
Rum, without a word, walked over to the counter, reached beneath it, and pulled out the heavy sack containing the $5,000. With a steady hand, he placed it on the counter in front of Eugene. The merchant's face froze, his expression shifting from confidence to disbelief as he eyed the sack. Eugene's fingers twitched as he opened the sack, peering inside. The unmistakable glint of cash greeted him $5,000, plus more than enough to cover his interest-on-interest. He wasn't sure what stung more: the fact that they'd actually managed to get the money or that his carefully laid trap had been avoided.
Eugene: How... how did you manage this? Where did all this money come from?
Rum: I took up a bounty. There was a beast in the Light Forest worth $5,000, dead or alive. I hunted it down and handled it on my own.
Eugene: You managed to defeat such a thing? By yourself?
Rum: That's right.
Eugene's smile faltered for the briefest of moments, though he quickly composed himself. Internally, he seethed at the thought of his easy victory being snatched away. He was livid, but he couldn't show it, not yet. He needed to maintain his composure, at least for now.
Eugene: Well then, I must say, I'm impressed. Not many would have the gall to take on such a challenge. You've certainly earned your place. For now, at least.
He gently waved and turned to leave, but there was a coldness in his eyes that hadn't been there before. As Eugene walked out, flanked by his entourage, there was a subtle yet unmistakable tension in the air. His mind was already spinning, plotting, calculating his next move.
Rum watched him go, a strange feeling gnawing at the back of his mind. While they had met Eugene's demands, something about the merchant's exit didn't sit right. That smile, the forced politeness, it all felt like the calm before a storm.
Rum: Yeah, keep walking... dickhead.
Few minutes has passed since Eugene's departure. Rum and Pillo strolled down the streets of the village, enjoying a rare moment of calm while Yapa worked at the shop for the meantime. Suddenly, they were stopped by a lizard man with glasses and a white coat who approached them.
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