Who taught him to restore the country like this

Chapter 157 Visit
The cold wind whipped up fine snowflakes, sweeping across the cleaned snowfield in front of the city gate.

The massive gates of the Hilchin Fortress slowly opened with the heavy creak of hinges.

The sound of heavy, orderly footsteps echoed from inside the city gate, followed by a group of well-equipped and imposing knights who filed out and lined up on both sides of the gate.

At this moment, a middle-aged man wearing a luxurious mink cloak and a grand ducal crown slowly walked from the middle of the line to the very front.

He had a square face, a meticulously trimmed short beard, and sharp, eagle-like eyes. He carried the majesty of someone who had long held a high position and a hint of weariness that was barely perceptible. He was none other than Grand Duke Michael of Michael.

He slightly raised his hand, his voice booming and clear, piercing through the wind and snow: "Welcome, Princess Isabella, to the Hilchin Fortress! The governor of Misian extends his highest respect to you and expresses his gratitude for your help despite past grievances!"

After saying this, he looked at the noble carriage beside Ron and bowed deeply.

"Your Highness Isabella, we have arrived in Hilchin." Ron rode his horse close to the carriage window and bowed slightly to say respectfully.

"Ah."

Isabella's nervous voice could be heard from inside the carriage.

After leaving the deep mountains of Red Cloud Town, she had always worked as a henchman, remaining a nobody by Ron's side. She had never stepped forward to preside over such serious and formal occasions.

She can't do this kind of thing, and she doesn't like it.

Being stared at by a large number of eyes... makes her feel suffocated.

At this moment, Ron's decision to have her face Grand Duke Michael was truly a case of forcing a duck onto a shelf.

But there was nothing that could be done about it. Grand Duke Mistias had come specifically for her, and since she was the highest-ranking member of the group, she should stand up and negotiate with Grand Duke Mistias.

Otherwise, it would be a bit impolite.

She didn't want to disappoint Ron's small expectations.

Isabella took a deep breath, concealing the tension on her face and adopting her usual indifference. She then opened the carriage door, and with Ron's help, stepped down from the carriage and walked towards the crowd that was coming out of the city to greet them.

She wore a gray velvet robe, her steps were light, and her white hair was braided with exquisite and noble hair ornaments. Her innate regal aura was so sacred that people dared not look directly at her.

However, the formal image that Ron had painstakingly created for her for today's meeting was met with strong disapproval from the nobles of Misian.

Why should a woman who has been exiled and is tainted with misfortune dress so elegantly?

Disgust, contempt, loathing...

Although these people concealed their emotions well, Isabella still keenly sensed the malicious gazes directed at her.

In the past, she would have definitely chosen to run away immediately.

But now... she turned her head slightly to look at Ron, who was following closely behind her on the right, and her uneasy gaze gradually became firm.

Accompanied by Ron, she came to a spot three meters in front of Archduke Michael.

"Greetings, Your Highness Isabella." Grand Duke Misian bowed again. "A banquet has been prepared in the manor. Please, Your Highness, move in and take your seats."

Isabella ignored her and turned to look at the statue standing at the city gate.

It was a statue sculpted from ice rock. Perhaps because few people remembered what she looked like, the statue's lines were somewhat rough. Apart from one face that was relatively recognizable as hers, the rest of her body was simply covered by a long robe.

Isabella felt a little ashamed upon seeing her own stone statue, and subconsciously breathed a sigh of relief.

Thankfully, it doesn't look like it.

"I'm very sorry, Your Highness Isabella."

Grand Duke Mician, however, assumed that Isabella was dissatisfied with the shoddy workmanship and explained, "Time was short, and we were unable to carve your noble face, but please rest assured that you will see a satisfactory statue tomorrow morning."

Isabella raised a delicate eyebrow and looked at Ron.

“Your Highness has already felt the Duke’s sincerity,” Ron said as he stepped forward.

"You must be the young and promising Lord Ron that Alec mentioned." Grand Duke Michael looked at Ron with admiration in his eyes.

“I am Ron, and it is a great pleasure to meet Duke Michael. May you have good fortune always.” Ron smiled and bowed.

“Your Excellency must also attend the banquet,” Archduke Michael nodded.

“Then I shall respectfully accept your offer,” Ron said with a smile.

After a brief negotiation, Ron and Isabella followed Grand Duke Michael into the city.

Zede and the more than 3,000 people he had gathered along the way also entered the city.

After changing into their formal attire, Ron and Isabella attended the dinner party.

The people at the banquet congratulated Isabella on her arrival and apologized for what had happened in the past.

She put on a good show, but no one dared to get close to Isabella.

Ron and Isabella were well aware of their true thoughts, but they were not there to expose their hypocrisy.

As Isabella's representative, Ron accepted the apologies from each of them.

If you accept an apology, are you easily morally blackmailed later?
It's okay, these people will make the same mistake again soon.

Who will ultimately prevail in terms of morality?

The answer lies in Ron's honest and easy-going smile.

That evening, after the "harmonious" banquet ended, Ron was summoned alone to discuss the war.

Ron assumed that the other party couldn't wait even one night and wanted to eliminate him.

After all, when they met at the city gate in the evening, Grand Duke Misien glanced at him before speaking to Isabella.

Although there was no malice in his eyes, this indiscriminate gaze, regardless of rank or status, was very abnormal.

Why would a normal person look at a servant before looking at the master?
The fact that he did this only shows that Ron was more important to him than Isabella.

Without a doubt, Grand Duke Mistias must have received instructions from Aetherial, and his shoddy workmanship of the statue revealed that he had no intention of making it properly.

If they kill Ron tonight, they won't need to build any more statues.

But even after Ron left around three or four in the morning and returned to the chapel where Isabella was, the group didn't make a move.

This puzzled Ron.

He had already prepared a performance.

pity.

In the Shirchin council hall, after everyone had left, two figures emerged from the shadows.

"Master, are we not going to take action tonight?" a dark figure asked, kneeling on one knee.

Grand Duke Michael leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes to rest.

He had planned to act tonight, but news suddenly came from the Imperial reinforcements that the Calamity Witch was useful to the Empire, and that they should try to kill Ron while keeping the Calamity Witch a secret, and preferably frame the Order of the End for Ron's death.

He was very unwilling when he heard the order.

Killing Ron was no easy task in itself, and to frame him for the end of the world would take a long time.
How much longer do they want to delay the arrival of imperial reinforcements?
Most importantly, he could no longer afford to be perfunctory with the sculpture of Isabella.

Hemisian must worship the witch of calamity.

The Calamity Witch is currently useful to the Empire, so it's not a big deal. But once she becomes useless and is relegated to a corner again, won't Duke Mithian become a laughingstock among the nobles?
He found this situation hard to accept, but... they still needed the aid of the Imperial reinforcements, and if they didn't follow the instructions, he was afraid he wouldn't even have a future.

After weighing the options, he had no choice but to obey the arrangement.

"Are there still priests of the Order of the End imprisoned in jail?" Grand Duke Mistias asked, rubbing his temples.

"There are also two priests in purple robes."

"Propose and make arrangements to kill Ron with their own hands."

"My subordinate understands."

...the next day.

In front of the auditorium.

"Hello, Lord Ron, my name is Peggy. The Duke sent me to show you around Hilchin."

A female officer in military uniform bowed respectfully.

Since Ron had requested to visit the three counties last night, the Duke of Mithian sent someone over early this morning.

“Let’s go.” Ron nodded and walked past Peggy.

“Where is Princess Isabella?” Peggy asked, following Ron.

“It is inconvenient for His Highness to go out,” Ron said.

Peggy didn't say anything more after hearing that.

Under her guidance, Ron first went to the city wall to inspect the city's defenses.

As the main stronghold of the three counties resisting the Order of the End, Hilchin gathered 20,000 elite soldiers and 50,000 militia, making it an extraordinary force in combat.

Furthermore, there are numerous magic arrays assisting in its application.

Ron learned a general understanding of how the projection array worked from Peggy.

These projection arrays were projected from an underground array palace in Hilchin. When fully released, they could repel powerful enemies of the eighth rank.

However, it takes three days to recharge after each use.

Without presumptuously suggesting a visit to the Array Palace, Ron made a point of glancing at the sculptures at the city gate before leaving the city walls.

Grand Duke Mician kept his word, and the sculpture became much more exquisite in just one night.

At this point, Isabella is no longer a suspicious figure shrouded in a long robe, but a heroic figure dressed in a magnificent battle dress, wielding a long sword, and exuding valor.

Ron nodded in satisfaction, feeling a sense of pleasure in watching others die.

However, his attention was soon drawn to the "snowdrift" beneath the statue.

Around the half-meter-high stone base of the statue, there were already uneven snowdrifts.

Although the surrounding snow had been cleared, the snow around the sculpture was piled up to half a meter high.

This was not because the soldiers in the city deliberately neglected to clean.

If you look closely, you'll find that what surrounds the sculpture isn't a snowdrift, but rather a group of people huddled together.

He huddled around the sculpture, seeking warmth in the group.

“What’s going on?” Ron asked.

“They are refugees who came from other counties,” Peggy replied.

“I know, I’m asking you, since you saw it, why are they still in a place like this?” Ron said in a deep voice.

"Please calm down, my lord. I will have people clear these refugees away immediately," Peggy said, bowing her head.

After saying that, she was about to carry it out.

"Stop," Ron called to her, "Take me downstairs to take a look."

"Yes."

The two walked down the city wall, and after confirming that there were no enemies around, the city gate slowly opened.

The sound of the city gate opening startled the refugees gathered in front of the sculpture. They looked up, but instead of rushing forward as if seeing the dawn, they stared blankly at Ron as he approached.

Peggy raised her hand to signal, and the soldiers behind her immediately stepped forward and roughly threw the refugees aside.

“Stop.” Ron stepped forward, grabbed a soldier’s hand, and took a child who looked to be about ten years old from him.

The child trembled, looking at Ron with fear in his eyes.

"Where are you going to clear these people out?" Ron brushed the snow off the child and asked Peggy, "Why don't you let them into the city?"

Peggy was taken aback when she heard this. Only then did she realize that Ron was not blaming the refugees for desecrating Princess Isabella's statue, but rather for not allowing the refugees into the city.

“Reporting to Lord Ron, Hilchin has taken in tens of thousands of refugees in the past month or so, and the city… can no longer accommodate them,” Peggy replied.

“How can Hilchin, which is so big, not be able to accommodate these few dozen refugees?” Ron questioned.

He was certainly aware of Hilchin's situation.

The three counties fought a series of battles with the Order of the End, and their food reserves were depleted too quickly. In the dead of winter, they were unable to produce any more food.

There was simply no extra food to provide relief to these refugees; taking them into the city would only increase the burden.

But that doesn’t stop Ron from being a good guy.

Peggy remained silent.

“Let them into the city,” Ron said. “Should I ask the Duke for permission?”

“No need,” Peggy replied.

She nodded to the soldiers, who then led the refugees, whose eyes had been rekindled with hope and who were now cooperating actively, into the city.

“Take me to see where the refugees live,” Ron said to Peggy, picking up the unclaimed child in front of him.

“I don’t recommend you go to that kind of place,” Peggy said in a deep voice.

"Thank you for your kindness, lead the way." Ron walked into the city.

Looking at Ron's optimistic expression, a hint of worry flashed in Peggy's eyes.

But Ron insisted on going, and she couldn't stop him.

Soon, led by Peggy, Ron arrived at the place where Hilchin received refugees.

This is a mountain village far from warm towns, and the traces of the roads along the way show that few people come here.

The carriage stopped at the village entrance, and Ron glanced at it and saw bones scattered all over the ground, a horrifying sight.

The town has only a hundred or so houses, but it has taken in more than 10,000 refugees. All the refugees who enter the town, if they have no value, will be sent here to fend for themselves.

Ron entered a room, but instead of a normal living quarters, he found dried black liquid everywhere and several inhuman-looking figures.

“The three counties have very little grain left,” Peggy whispered.

Originally, Grand Duke Misien had stopped accepting refugees due to concerns about food storage, but in order to welcome Princess Isabella's arrival, the village has seen a surge in refugees arriving in recent days.

These refugees might have a way to survive if they were out on the streets, but once they enter this village, they have virtually no chance of survival.

"what!"

Before Ron could comment on the horrific scene, a piercing scream echoed from afar.

Ron hurried over.

A man exuding an aura of evil god was seen performing a sacrificial ritual inside a house in the village.

In the simple altar, the two offerings had already turned to ashes.

Upon seeing Ron and Peggy, the man was terrified, never expecting anyone to come to a place like this.

He tried to escape, but Peggy took him down with a single blow.

“Some cult members disguise themselves as refugees to infiltrate the city, so adults must be careful when walking around,” she warned.

(End of this chapter)