Doctor, I'm really strong!

What was that just now?!

Manfred had just recovered from a momentary daze when, just moments before, a beam of light appeared in the collective consciousness of the Sarkaz, then exploded, announcing its existence. And at the core of that beam of light was…

Other Sarkaz nobles also had the same symptoms, though theirs were milder.

Fun fact: The Sarkaz's Originium Arts talent is also a factor that affects their ability to hear the collective consciousness.

Manfred is a product of acquired growth. To put it simply, once you grow to that level, you too can become a bloodline holder capable of listening to the collective consciousness of the Sarkaz. So don't give up on your efforts just because you're weak now.

Upon regaining consciousness, Manfred's first instinct was to leave.

The nobles were puzzled when they saw Manfred about to leave without saying a word.

"Lord Manfred, where are you going?"

"Where are you going?" Manfred turned around and said through gritted teeth, "You'll have to take responsibility for the mess you made!"

This is a war between two demon kings, and Manfred has no right to get involved. He needs to hurry back and report the situation to the Regent.

Not long after Manfred left, a strange shriek came from the sky, followed by a barrage of explosions that engulfed the noble mansion of Kazdel. The violent explosions heralded the collapse of the old-era fortress.

Having completely broken off relations, Liu Jiuli's actions were quite unrestrained.

The Type 63 107mm rocket launcher, after being modified by Originium Arts, has greater power and an effective range of ten kilometers (the original version is 8.5 kilometers). It can also adjust its firing accuracy according to actual needs. Although the 107mm rocket launcher is not capable of destroying strong permanent fortifications, Kazdel obviously does not have such Maginot Line-level fortifications. Although those noble mansions look like fortresses, they are only for defense against ordinary infantry weapons used in the Terra world. There is no need for or afford to build higher-level ones.

Moreover, these castle-like buildings themselves have very limited defensive capabilities. The outer walls are only about half a meter thick, and the whole structure is made of brick and stone. The hardness is acceptable, but the toughness is average. Even a Napoleon cannon could easily penetrate it.

As for bastions and the like, Kazdel, being such a poor and remote place, obviously doesn't have that much money to build them.

Therefore, these modified versions of the 107 Fire skill were like using the Green Dragon Crescent Blade to kill chickens, directly flattening these noble mansions.

Defense? Sorry, I didn't see any, they're all blown up.

The Red Guard soldiers, armed with AK74 assault rifles, stormed into these areas without breaking a sweat. Their weapons were also modified models, enhanced with Originium Arts. Casters could imbue bullets with energy, allowing ordinary people to fire elemental damage bullets simply by pulling the trigger. This was highly effective against both ordinary soldiers and caster units.

If you encounter a particularly hard bone, no problem, an RPG will greet you. If an RPG isn't exciting enough, there are also heavily armored soldiers carrying Gatling guns into battle. They are almost completely encased in full-body powered exoskeletons. If it weren't for the lack of technical expertise, Liu Jiuli would have easily managed to get the Astartes out.

Although the Red Guards did not have the Astartes at this time, 20mm caliber explosive guns were still not difficult to obtain. With the Gatling gun configuration, given to the strong and healthy Ursus or Fengti tribesmen, they could truly become Gatling gun bodhisattvas on the spot, allowing the enemy to enjoy the pleasure of being delivered in a hail of bullets.

These weapons, modified inside and out, are the product of a combination of Originium Arts and modern technology. Kroos praised these hybrid creations highly, believing them to be powerful weapons capable of changing the course of war and even rewriting the development path of the Terra continent.

Thanks to the microscopic construction capabilities of the all-purpose factory, these products were meticulously crafted to perfection in the laboratory. Each bullet was etched before mass production, so when needed, those seemingly harmless small-caliber weapons could suddenly unleash unimaginable destructive power.

For example, it can enhance a certain aspect of armor penetration, explosiveness, or incendiary properties under the user's control, or it can be a jack-of-all-trades, master of none.

Don't underestimate the power of these small-caliber weapons. A smaller caliber doesn't mean less power. With the added speed, the penetration power of small-caliber weapons is enhanced, and the tumbling effect after being hit is increased. If a structure similar to dumdum bullets is used, allowing the bullet to deform fully after entering the human body, the feeling would be incredibly satisfying.

If these small-caliber weapons also include discordant calibers like 12.7, 14.5, and 20, then having cover is useless unless what's blocking your way is a reinforced concrete and steel plate fortification.

The above are just the conventional types of ammunition. If it were armor-piercing or incendiary rounds, that would be a different story.

Regardless of the type, the well-trained, steadfast, well-supplied, and well-equipped Red Guards were no match for the local nobles' private armies. Moreover, a significant portion of these men were former mercenaries with ample combat experience. Now, with the support of advanced tactics and weapons, and driven by their faith-bound souls, they utterly crushed any enemy that stood in their way.

It was only at this point that W realized that Liu Jiuli had brought not just a company of soldiers, but an entire regiment.

How did you manage to cover your tracks?

"It's very simple. One company goes into the city, and the rest use Originium Arts to disguise themselves and go into hiding."

Liu Jiuli spoke lightly, but W was well aware of the difficulty involved. A regiment of the Red Guards had two thousand men, and a company had a maximum of one hundred and twenty men. In other words, these nearly two thousand people were disguised with Originium Arts and hidden in Kazdel, a place with many Sarkaz and many Originium Arts talents. No one but Liu Jiuli could have done this.

Furthermore, the troops need to have strict discipline and strong execution capabilities to ensure that orders are obeyed without question. These are things that ordinary mercenaries absolutely cannot do. Apart from the elite troops of those major powers, only the Red Guards can do it now.

Furthermore, this kind of obedience to orders and commands was achieved only by the Red Guards, with everyone in the entire army absolutely obeying without exception.

This alone puts the Red Guards ahead of 99% of the armies on this continent; the rest can at best fight them to a draw.

Without considering weapon factors.

Honestly, if it weren't for the small size of the territory and the small population, W would believe Liu Jiuli if he said he wanted to conquer the entire Terra continent.

It would be a shame if such an army didn't do something extraordinary.

After a night of gunfire, as the sun rose the next day, a red flag fluttered in the wind at the highest point of Kazdel.

A new order has arrived.

Section 141: The leader has arrived, and Kazdel is at peace!

(Update delivered, where are everyone's gifts? (?ω?))

Kazdel is liberated! Justice has arrived! Fairness is here!

Honey, anything can happen in your dreams.

Do you know the saying "It's easy to conquer a country, but difficult to maintain it"? It refers to the issues of production and construction after a country has been conquered.

Kazdel's local armed forces are negligible. Although Liu Jiuli had not conducted any research on Kazdel before, a large number of Sarkaz mercenaries in the Red Guards had already revealed the situation in their hometowns, so they could be attacked directly.

The black soil makes Kazdel ideal as a granary, but the security situation there reflects the collapse of order in Ukraine.

The locals didn't react much to the elimination of the noble lords. Their lives continued as usual, at least until now. As long as their lives remained unchanged and their own interests weren't affected, ordinary people rarely reacted. This was because everyone was suppressed by life and became the silent majority.

In Kazdel, the question shifts from living to survival, specifically wilderness survival within the city.

However, the scene of the nobles of Kazdel being executed and hung on lampposts still attracted a lot of attention. People were curious about the new city lord who opened fire as soon as he entered the city, but that was all they were curious about. In their eyes, it was just a matter of changing the city lord, and the result would be the same.

The city is now filled with strangers, or rather, not all of them are strangers. Some of them are mercenaries who left here before, and now they've returned home in glory, eager to show off their successful lives. They spend money like water and boast wildly in restaurants and bars every day. They've suddenly become rich and can't help but enjoy themselves.

Have these people become corrupt?

Of course not. They disguised themselves as their former selves and then scouted the city to understand the local situation. Some Sarkaz joked, "We used to be mercenaries, but it's hard to recapture that feeling now."

After all, they were people with families, hopes, and futures, which was very different from their past carefree selves. However, in the eyes of others, they were just there to indulge themselves, so they let their guard down. In any case, the city lord would definitely not be interested in their paltry sums; at most, he would be interested in collecting taxes.

Del used to be a Sarkaz mercenary, and now she is a Red Guard platoon leader.

Don't be surprised that one-third of the Red Guards were female soldiers. If we want to truly realize women's rights, then women and men must achieve equal status in employment. Except for a very few professions, gender equality should be achieved in general professions, because economic equality is the greatest foundation for gender equality.

Del arrived at the Little Bird Nightclub on the Never-Sleeping Street. It had few other things to offer, but a lot of girls, or rather, a lot of girls who engaged in human dynamic connection communication. Because the place was a cheap nightclub, many of these girls were infected. However, the people who came here didn't care about that. They were basically mercenaries who came here to find out, living day to day, so they just wanted to vent their frustrations. Why bother caring about so many other things?

Although it's a dark corner, the owner here is one of the few good people in Kazdel.

Wait a minute, the owner of Kaichunlou is a good person, you're kidding me!

Your thinking is a prime example of "Why not eat meat porridge?" Different living environments lead to different evaluations of good people. In Kazdel, a person who can feed and water ordinary people is a good person, a great philanthropist!

Although the owner here is in the sex trade, at least he takes good care of the girls in the shop. He provides them with basic medical treatment when they get sick and gives them a proper burial when they die. That's enough.

Del was picked up by the owner of this place when she was a child, but the owner saw that Del was a very clever little girl and felt that this place was not suitable for her, so he never let her get involved in the work of the store. In a sense, he was raising her as his daughter. After Del came of age, he found a group of local mercenaries who were fairly reliable and sent Del to find a way to make a living.

It doesn't sound gentle at all, but for 90 percent of Kazdel's people, it's the best option.

Whether it was because he was well protected or because he was very lucky, as a Sarkaz, Del fought from the age of sixteen to twenty-six without contracting Oripathy. He even joined the Red Guards, completed his cultural studies, and became the platoon leader of the elite platoon in his unit.

In the Red Guards, the elite platoon was a symbol of honor. According to Liu Jiuli's regulations, charging into battle and covering the rear were the responsibilities of the elites and the highest honor in the army. The Red Guards never delayed paying their soldiers' wages, and Liu Jiuli was very concerned about the lives of the rank-and-file soldiers. Anyone who dared to make money in the army would have their entire family wiped out by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, so that even if they had money, they wouldn't have the life to spend it, including the rats and cockroaches in their house.

With strict discipline, unwavering faith, rigorous training, and excellent equipment, Del has undergone a complete ideological and political transformation, becoming a completely different person from his past self, displaying a completely different spirit and energy.

So much so that when Del stood in front of the boss, he didn't recognize her at all.

"Sir, who are you looking for?"

Although he was dressed in civilian clothes, his military bearing was undeniable. According to the boss, this was the kind of aura that only elite soldiers could possess. He was definitely not a nobody in the military, and the boss had to be careful in his treatment.

"Dad, Dad Bell, it's me, Del."

"Del? Del...wait, you're Del!"

Old Man Bell was dumbfounded, and the sisters who were passing by were also dumbfounded. After a brief moment of shock, they swarmed around him.

Anyone could see that Del had become successful and had become a big shot that everyone looked up to.

After exchanging brief greetings with everyone, Del followed her father, Bell, into the house. After so many years apart, the father and daughter still had a lot to talk about.

Del briefly recounted his experiences and his current life. Old Man Bell smiled throughout, and finally shed tears of relief.

That's wonderful, that's really wonderful! My adopted daughter has made something of herself.

"Del, you're quite a big shot now, following the new city lord. So tell your old man, how does the city lord plan to collect taxes?"

Del shook his head and said, "Dad, the leader doesn't tax the sex industry."

Old Man Bell was stunned: "No taxes? Why?"

After the initial shock comes panic. If the city lord doesn't even want taxes on the sex industry, what does he want?

Seeing his father's panic, Del quickly comforted him, "Dad, the leader has a lot to do next. The only thing I can be sure of is that those things will definitely be good for everyone. When the Red Guards start carrying out the leader's orders, Dad, you must cooperate and absolutely cannot oppose it, okay?"

Old Man Bell sighed, "Dell, I've lived like this for most of my life, and I'm almost at the end of my life. I can't afford to make a fuss, and I don't care about fame or fortune, but the women here need to find a way to survive."

Del grasped his father's rough hands, smiled, and said firmly, "Don't worry, everyone will survive, and survive even better! I promise."

Section 142: The Great Purge

(A reader actually threatened me with their life! Let me tell you, I... I was actually threatened by you. Okay, okay, here's the update (～￣▽￣)～)

After a thorough investigation, Liu Jiuli began to reorganize Kazdel.

Let me first explain the natural environment of Kazdel.

The confirmed area of ​​black soil is 279 million square kilometers. However, due to natural disasters, even if some areas are suitable for cultivation, no one will come. The only truly safe area is the black soil centered on Kazdel, which covers no more than 50,000 square kilometers. If the problem of natural disasters can be solved, this 2.79 million square kilometers of black soil will become fertile land in the future, a precious land that can support international trade.

It's worth noting that the famous Ukrainian Plain is only 1.9 million square kilometers. However, as is well known, just like there are five masters among the four great masters, the land called the Ukrainian Plain is not necessarily all within Ukraine, because Ukraine's land area is only 600,000 square kilometers. Guess where the rest of the black soil is?

Originium Arts can assist in the growth of crops. Without affecting the taste and nutrition, it can compress the growth cycle of wheat from 100 to 270 days to less than a month, allowing for harvesting every month of the year. Are you scared yet?

Of course, even the black soil can't withstand such high-intensity soil depletion, so it's necessary to plant some crops that can restore soil fertility. For example, there is a kind of artificially cultivated gray grass on Terra. It's called gray grass because this grass withers and dies quickly after it matures, and then it's buried in the soil to improve soil fertility. If possible, it works even better when used in combination with improved earthworms. Depending on the needs, there are many varieties of gray grass. It can be said to be an excellent product of Terra's biological technology, and everyone who farms says it's good.

In addition to these, there are pollution problems, industrial development problems, agricultural mechanization problems, and so on. In short, the more a place deviates from its original natural environment, the higher the development costs become. This is the price that humans pay for transforming nature.

However, the problem facing Liu Jiuli was public security.

In one day, 28 vicious robberies occurred, resulting in 79 deaths. Surprisingly, this was the safest day in Kazdel's history. This was because the new city lord (referring to Liu Jiuli and his gang) had just taken office, and various gangs were observing the situation. Many of the popular fights and businesses came to a standstill.

Keep in mind that Kazdel's total population is only a little over 500,000, so the crime rate on this day is quite "touching".

Kazdel has it all – prostitution, gambling, and drugs – and they're all mixed together, each contributing to the other's growth. After reviewing the compiled data, Liu Jiuli knew it was time to crack down on these vices.

Three days later, hundreds of heavy transport helicopters began tactical airlifts. Liu Jiuli drew a full division of troops from Steelgrad and Kharkiv to begin a major purge of Kazdel.

"Open the door! Internal Affairs Department!"

"Hey, folks, your water meter's broken. I'm here to fix it." (How many people in Kazdel can afford running water?)