Darryl kept a straight face and threw Madeline a look discreetly, telling her not to be nervous.
The next second, Darryl smiled faintly at Gandalf. "Well, both of us can take a step back. What do you want to let her go?"
Darryl peered over Gandalf's shoulder and saw a colorful little snake nestled on the ground a few feet away behind the other man.
Darryl knew that a beautiful snake meant a poisonous snake. He thought of a plan.
Gandalf threw his head back and laughed; he thought Darryl had finally compromised. "The conditions are very simple. I want you to move those rocks and then hack off one of your hands."
Gandalf had not figured out how his subordinates were trapped in those messy rock arrangements, but he knew that as long as the stones were removed, his people would be able to walk around freely.
As for asking Darryl to hack off a hand, Gandalf simply needed to vent his anger.
Darryl cursed in his heart. 'Gandalf is quite a savage man; he even wants me to hack off a hand.'
Then, he smiled and nodded. "Okay, you have to keep your word!"
"Hey, are you crazy?"
Madeline looked conflicted and baffled as she shouted.
Gandalf was cruel and despicable; he was not a man of his words. If Darryl cut off one of his hands for real, they would be on the disadvantage and passive end.
Darryl shook his head at Madeline and said, "Go, move those rocks!"
Madeline was unwilling to follow the order. Nevertheless, she strolled toward the rock formation grudgingly when she saw how determined and solemn Darryl was.
Huh!
Gandalf stared at Madeline closely, his eyes gleaming with excitement and cruelty.
Gandalf had decided to get his subordinates to capture Madeline alive once they were freed. As for Darryl, who would have lost a hand by then, he would no longer be a threat to Gandalf, so he was not worried about him.
The proud Gandalf said coldly to Darryl, "She is off to move the rocks. Now you can cut your hand off! Don't even think about playing tricks with me."
Darryl responded with a smile. Then, he put his hand to his mouth and made a series of hissing noises.
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