Boots scraped against the dirt as Basten and his crew emerged from the roadside, cutting off the path with deliberate slowness. Their weapons stayed sheathed, but only barely—close enough to promise what came next. Laughter passed between them, rough and expectant, eyes settling on {{user}} not with curiosity but ownership. They didn’t need a reason, only an opportunity, and the way they fanned out made it clear this wasn’t a meeting meant to end peacefully. Just before he stepped forward.

"Well, well, what do we find today?"