Free Web NovelChapter 157: Chapter 98: Pale Elegy
The next moment.
He noticed that Lynch’s expression seemed a bit unfriendly, so he quickly wrapped up his preamble. "But, the more I get to know you, the more I realize that even though you look fierce on the outside and love to practice extortion..."
"You’re truly a better and kinder person than many others—than many of those so-called nobles and Knights! You’re genuinely looking out for Lakefront Town and for these commoners."
"I think you’re a good person who’s domineering on the outside but soft on the inside."
Lynch’s face darkened. ’Are you trying to play some kind of domineering hero game with me? Who asked you to call me a good person?’
He cut Aus off irritably, "Are you done? If you’re done, then get to work! Organize all those ’instructors’ and get them started immediately!"
"Recruit the first batch of official Soldiers for the war camp from among the townspeople, according to the strictest standards. Get them trained and armed! I’m giving you three days. I want to see a militia of at least fifty men with basic formation and discipline. If you can’t do it..."
He narrowed his eyes, leaned in closer, and said in a sinister tone, "I’ll refine you into a Black Corpse! And make you haul sacks all day, every day."
Aus flinched, but instead of looking scared, he grinned and thumped his chest. "Don’t worry, My Lord. I guarantee it’ll get done."
With that, he turned and scurried away, brimming with energy.
It was the first time in his life he had ever done such "proper work"—and something so meaningful, where he could see tangible results. It filled him with motivation.
Lynch watched Aus’s retreating figure with a look of disdain.
’What a naive and childish Prince. With skills like that, no wonder he was driven out of the imperial palace and nearly ambushed and killed.’
However. freeweɓnovēl.coɱ
To rule and develop a place, he couldn’t rely solely on his Undead Corps.
The Undead were his trump card, a deterrent, the force to break through in critical moments.
But daily defense, maintaining order, and developing production required an organized and disciplined army and administrative system composed of living people.
Fortunately, although that kid Aus was a "useless Prince," he had received an elite education since childhood. He handled these tasks with ease, which saved Lynch a lot of trouble.
This way, he would have more time for cultivation and to grind his skills.
Lynch turned and walked back into the garrison, humming a little tune.
Time to get back to Meditation.
「Meanwhile.」
On the shore of Mirror Lake, the Mermaid Princess, Sea Song Xiyin, stood quietly in the shallows. Behind her was a group of hand-picked elite Fishman Warriors, including several caster units.
If the earlier conflict had escalated and the situation had turned unfavorable, they would have led the Fishman forces in a surprise attack from under the water, coordinating with the Undead Army.
However, Lord Lynch had easily taken care of all the trouble, so there was naturally no need for her to act.
Sea Song had watched the entire affair from beginning to end.
She saw how Lynch used strategy and strength to crush his opponents, how he "extorted" equipment and supplies, and how, after sending his enemies away, he immediately turned to comfort and organize the townspeople, assign tasks, and boost morale.
Watching Lord Lynch, who was being cheered and celebrated by the townspeople one moment and then turning around to curse and nag his subordinate to get to work the next, a warm smile touched the corners of Sea Song’s beautiful face.
’Lord Lynch...’
’From a certain perspective, Lord Lynch really is a unique person...’
He might not be a "good person" or a "hero" in the traditional sense, but he was using his own methods to try and improve this dilapidated place, to help those who followed him survive, and even live better lives.
Compared to the hypocritical nobles she had met in the royal court, those so-called "great figures" who only knew how to fight for power and profit while disregarding the lives of their subjects, Lord Lynch was much more real, and much more... endearing.
Sea Song gently clenched her fist, as if she had made some kind of decision.
「Soon.」 ƒreewebηoveℓ.com
She turned, leaped lightly into the water, and vanished with her Fishman forces into the shimmering ripples of Mirror Lake to continue her mission.
****
「Nightfall.」
Huge bonfires were lit in the square of Lakefront Town.
The townspeople brought out what little cheap ale they had saved, along with the thick cured-meat soup and grilled fish from the spoils of their victory, holding a celebration the likes of which they hadn’t seen in a long time.
Lynch only showed his face, drank a symbolic bowl of soup, and then returned to the garrison’s backyard.
His very presence was the greatest source of confidence for this celebration. There was no need for him to participate further; in fact, his absence allowed the townspeople to relax, and the atmosphere grew even more lively.
In the garrison’s backyard, beside a small bonfire, a different scene was unfolding.
An iron pot sat over the fire, a thick soup simmering within.
The soup was a milky white, giving off an exceptionally savory aroma.
With just a sniff, one could detect a refreshing scent mixed into the fragrance, which was slightly invigorating to the spirit.
Simmering in the pot was a special type of fish called the Golden Scale Fish, a variant of the common Sunfish. Not only was its meat extremely rich and tender, but it also contained a trace of pure Water Element energy.
Long-term consumption had a minor supplementary effect on the growth of one’s Spiritual Power.
This very fish was one that Sea Song herself had caught, having dived deep into Mirror Lake and expended some effort to find it.
At this moment, Sea Song was humming an ethereal and beautiful melody as she carefully tended to the fish soup in the pot.
’Lord Lynch has been working and training day and night recently, and he protected the townspeople,’ she thought. ’He deserves a proper reward.’
Meanwhile, Lynch was half-reclining in a wooden armchair, holding a wooden bowl. Inside was the tender, fatty belly meat of the fish and the collagen-rich, thick soup, which Sea Song had specially selected for him.
