Is this cheat code from Bika? Just do it!

Jin Meiting and the others stood on the castle wall to watch. There were several tables set up there, with sunflower seeds taken from the system. They ate the sunflower seeds while watching the situation below with great interest.

As for Sakura Miyajima and the others, there's nothing to watch. She goes to school early every day, and at such a young age, she's already a qualified teacher, busy with education every day.

As for Elvy, she was still lying limp on the bed, or rather, unconscious.

Lin Kelian took her twice. Having just lost her virginity last night, her body was too sensitive to withstand such "torture".

"Lord Link, those city lords don't seem very friendly."

Della spoke softly, a hint of worry in her eyes.

Greed is the original sin.

Link's lips curled up, and a cold glint flashed in his dark eyes as he thought of the information Lu Xie had reported to him last night.

Those city lords claimed to be here to watch the game, but in reality, they all had their own agendas and wanted to gain some benefits from Winter City.

"killed!"

Avery tossed her long orange hair and said coldly, her eyes revealing a strong killing intent, "This is the simplest method!"

"emmm..."

Link rolled his eyes and said irritably, "People can't die here. Otherwise, who will dare to come to Winter City in the future? If all five city lords die in Winter City, my reputation will be ruined. The surrounding city lords and nobles will be wary of me, and the development of Winter City will be greatly hindered in the future."

If all five city lords die in Winter City, Link's reputation will be ruined, and the surrounding city lords and nobles will be wary of him.

"so troublesome!"

Avery turned her head away awkwardly. She understood that Link made sense, but she still felt a little annoyed.

"Don't be impulsive later, I'll take care of everything."

Link said calmly, his eyes revealing confidence and composure.

“Yes!” Avery nodded, knowing that Link was talking about her.

This made Della chuckle. This female orc was no longer as wary and vigilant as when she first arrived, and she was also more obedient to Lord Link's orders. It seemed that Lord Link still had a way to tame this "wild girl".

When Link arrived at the ice platform, he saw that the city lords of Westwind City, including Johnson, had dark faces and were staring at Link without saying a word. Their eyes were filled with resentment, as if Link owed them a lot of money.

How could I not feel resentful?

They had been waiting for almost two hours, and if they didn't have some ulterior motives, they would have left long ago.

Link's lips twitched. The look in these old guys' eyes made him want to turn around and leave. It was a bit too disgusting, especially since some of them had eye boogers in the corners of their eyes, which looked quite ridiculous.

"I'm so sorry, I stayed up late last night."

Link chuckled, but his expression showed no embarrassment whatsoever, as if to say, "I made you wait on purpose, what can you do to me?"

"You are the Lord of Winter City?"

Johnson frowned, a hint of disdain flashing in his eyes. Link looked too young, and in his opinion, what ability could someone so young have? He was not worthy of being the lord of a city at all.

187. Surprise

"You didn't expect me to be so young, did you?"

Link's lips curled up slightly with a playful smile. As he spoke, he casually spread his hands and strode to the VIP seat specially prepared for him in the very center of the arena, where he sat down gracefully.

Avery stood gracefully behind Link, like an angel guarding him, her eyes filled with loyalty and vigilance; Luca, on the other hand, stood tall and straight, like a resolute sculpture, also behind Link, ready to obey his orders at any moment.

"Uh..."

Johnson was momentarily speechless, taken aback by Link's sudden and unconventional words. The contemptuous and sarcastic remarks he had repeatedly prepared in his mind now seemed like a fishbone stuck in his throat, impossible to utter. He awkwardly opened his mouth, but only managed to produce a few meaningless syllables.

Recalling yesterday, Johnson and his accomplices sat together, their eyes gleaming with cunning and calculation, discussing their plans in hushed tones.

They originally planned to create trouble from the beginning, using their superior numbers and pre-prepared methods to overwhelm Link and make him look foolish in front of everyone, thus establishing their own prestige.

But who could have imagined that reality would be so different from their plans?

Early in the morning, the group of them arrived at the agreed location full of confidence, only to be left standing there.

The biting wind blew like a knife, and the two hours felt like an eternity. Their hands and feet were numb from the cold, and their bodies trembled uncontrollably. Their initial high spirits were gradually extinguished by the cold.

"Everyone, please sit down!"

Link clapped his hands lightly, the crisp sound echoing in the air. A hearty smile spread across his face as he announced loudly, "The match is about to begin, we can't miss this exciting moment!"

"Alright! Let's watch the game first." Seeing that Link had given him a way out, Johnson secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He forced an awkward but polite smile and sat back down in his original seat, though his movements seemed somewhat stiff and unnatural.

"Lord Link, may I ask what kind of competition this is?" The City Lord of Westwind turned slightly, his face full of curiosity, his eyes fixed on Link, and asked impatiently. As the city lord, he had seen a lot of the world, but this competition that was about to begin was completely unfamiliar to him.

"This is called ice hockey."

Link raised his head slightly, looking towards the competition venue in the distance, and explained briefly and clearly, "This is a competition that can fully demonstrate team spirit. As for the specific rules and fun, you'll find out as you watch."

The players participating in this ice hockey competition are all elite soldiers carefully selected from the military. There are four teams in total, with eleven players on the field each, plus four substitutes to ensure that tactics and player condition can be adjusted at any time during the competition.

"Give the order, we can begin." Link turned his head slightly, his gaze falling on Luca, and said softly. Although his voice was not loud, it carried an undeniable authority.

“Okay!” Luca immediately straightened up, his eyes revealing determination and decisiveness. He quickly made a hand gesture in a certain direction. This gesture was a pre-arranged signal, indicating that the match was about to begin.

Before long, four strong men appeared at the castle gate. They walked steadily, two men each, carrying a huge roasted wild boar together.

The roasted wild boar was golden brown, its skin crispy and sizzling with oil. The rich aroma of roasted meat instantly filled the air, combined with the scent of some special spices. The unique fragrance went straight into everyone's nostrils, making everyone involuntarily take a deep breath, their breath catch in their throats, as if their souls had been captivated by this delicious food.

Beside the roasted wild boar stood a beautiful and charming woman—Lina. She was graceful, her face radiant with a warm smile, and her eyes filled with excitement and anticipation.

"Listen up, everyone!" Lina took a deep breath, then shouted with all her might, her clear and loud voice echoing in the air, "The winning team today will get this delicious roast pig!"

"Our team is going to win!" A player from team one shouted confidently, waving his cue stick, his eyes revealing determination and resolve.

"Victory will definitely be our second team!" The second team was not to be outdone. One of the players straightened his chest and shouted back at the top of his lungs, his voice seemingly about to pierce the sky.

A roasted wild boar, especially one meticulously prepared by the city lord's mansion, would undoubtedly be extremely tempting for these contestants.

Everyone knows that the products from the City Lord's Mansion are all of the highest quality, whether it is the selection of ingredients or the cooking techniques.

According to the competition schedule, Team 1 and Team 2 will compete today, Team 3 and Team 4 will compete tomorrow, and then the final will be held between the winners of the previous matches to compete for the ultimate championship.

"The match lasts for 90 minutes, with substitutes allowed to come on during the halftime break of 10 minutes. The match uses a goal-scoring system, with one goal equal to one point, and the team with the higher score wins."

Lina stood at the edge of the field, briefly explained the rules of the game, then took a deep breath and shouted, "Start!"

At Lina's command, the players from both teams shot towards the hockey puck like arrows released from a bow.

They swung the hockey pucks at the ice, their feet gliding skillfully, leaving graceful arcs on the surface.

These players have been training hard for several days, and today they finally got their first chance to play officially.

They were all in high spirits and full of fighting spirit, vying for the ice and refusing to give way to each other.

The scene of people bumping into each other and vying for the hockey puck was very intense. People were knocked to the ground from time to time, but they quickly got up and threw themselves back into the fierce competition.

The local people were captivated by the novel and exciting competition. They gathered around, their eyes glued to the ice, afraid of missing a single exciting moment.

The city lords on the stage were also dumbfounded. This was the first time they had ever seen such a sport. In particular, the athletes' ability to glide freely on the ice was a real eye-opener, and they couldn't help but admire them in their hearts.

"Lord Link, why can they glide so freely on the ice?" The Lord of Westwind City, unable to contain his curiosity, leaned forward slightly, staring intently at Link, and asked eagerly, "This is the first time I've ever seen a competition like this. It's so novel."

“Those are ice skates, a special kind of skate,” Link explained with a light laugh, his face beaming with confidence and pride. “They are meticulously crafted from steel, with sharp blades embedded in the soles, providing excellent gliding performance on ice.”

Link isn't worried at all about his ice skates being copied. Ice skates have extremely high requirements for the surface; they only achieve optimal gliding performance on specially designed ice surfaces. Ordinary surfaces or poor-quality ice simply cannot meet the gliding requirements of ice skates.

"Could it be..." The Lord of Westwind City was envious, his eyes sparkling with excitement and anticipation. He thought that if such a competition were held in Westwind City, it would definitely attract a lot of attention, and he wouldn't have to stay in the castle all day doing nothing.

"A pair of ice skates will cost about a silver coin, and with the complete set of knee pads, hockey equipment, etc., it'll be about a gold coin in total," Link said with a smile before the Westwind City Lord could finish speaking. His tone was calm, as if he were talking about something perfectly ordinary.

“One team plus substitutes would require fifteen people. To form a proper match, you would need two teams, which would be thirty people,” Link continued, his eyes revealing a business shrewdness and calculation.

"Uh..." The Lord of Westwind City stared at Link in astonishment, wondering if he had misheard. His eyes widened, and his mouth gaped open, unable to close for a long time. He secretly calculated in his mind, "A competition like this costs thirty gold coins? That's no small sum!"

Johnson and the others' pupils constricted, their faces showing shock and disbelief. They were stunned by the number, wondering just how wealthy they must be to spend thirty gold coins on such a competition. Moreover, the opposing team had four teams, meaning it would cost sixty gold coins—something they simply couldn't comprehend.

"How about it? Interested in getting a set? It's only thirty gold coins. Place your order and I'll have the workshop start production immediately."

Link turned his head and glanced at the group, a slight smile playing on his lips. He chuckled and said, "It's really great to have a competition like this to watch."

When you have free time, have someone compete in a game; it's good exercise and adds fun. Or you can try it yourself and experience the thrill and excitement of ice sports.

"No, this is still too dangerous." The Lord of West Wind City hurriedly waved his hand, a hint of hesitation and worry on his face. "Thirty gold coins are too expensive, and it would be difficult to deal with if he got injured in the competition."

"That's truly a pity." Link shook his head, a hint of regret on his face, but a subtle smile lurked in his eyes. Then, he fell silent and focused intently on the match.

This made Luca's lips twitch as she tried to suppress a laugh.

In fact, Luca knew that it was reasonable to ask for a gold coin for the first set of equipment, given the significant effort and time invested in its development.

In reality, the cost of a mass-produced set of equipment is only about one silver coin, and there are over a hundred sets stored in the warehouse. Link naturally has his own plans and purposes for quoting such a high price.

"Come on, charge! Go faster! Shoot! Shoot! Ouch!"

"Good! Well defended, counter-attack, counter-attack now!"

The surrounding civilians were caught up in the intense atmosphere of the competition, and they immediately lined up, forming two teams of supporters.

Some people waved their flags, while others shouted at the top of their lungs, cheering loudly for their teams outside the venue.

The sound was deafening, as if it would overturn the entire castle.

Forty-five minutes later, there was a ten-minute halftime break. At this point, the scores of the two teams were very close, with one team having seven points and the other six, a difference of only one point. This slight difference made the suspense of the game even greater, and it also made both teams' players dare not relax in the slightest.

During halftime, Johnson, the Lord of Westwind City, and a few others exchanged a glance, their eyes revealing a tacit understanding and a resolute determination.

There are some things they need to say now, otherwise once the competition starts and everyone is fully focused on the game, there won't be a chance to talk about them anymore.

"Lord Johnson, I've heard that your territory is involved in the horse trade?"

A glint of light flashed in Link's dark eyes. He keenly sensed that Johnson and the others seemed to have something to say, so he suddenly turned his head and asked with a faint smile, "Can you tell me, roughly how much does a warhorse cost? And what about the price of an ordinary draft horse?"

"Huh?" Johnson was taken aback. He hadn't expected Link to speak first, especially since he was asking about the horses in his territory.

He couldn't help but feel a little puzzled, wondering what Link's purpose was in suddenly asking this question, but he quickly regained his composure.

"A full-grown warhorse costs one gold coin and thirty silver coins."

Johnson immediately realized what was going on. He straightened up, his eyes revealing a sense of pride and smugness, and replied, "Ordinary draft horses are much cheaper; they can be sold for just ten silver coins."

Warhorses and draft horses are different. The former are used by knights in battle. They undergo rigorous training and selection, and their horsepower and speed are excellent, enabling them to play an important role on the battlefield.

Draft horses, on the other hand, are generally used for hauling goods and transporting things. They have relatively lower requirements for horsepower and speed, and are several levels below warhorses.

"How many warhorses does Lord Johnson have?" Link rested his chin on his hand, his eyes slightly narrowed, as he began to calculate. The price of warhorses was a bit high for winter, but this also reflected their scarcity and importance in the market.

“There are about three hundred adult warhorses,” Johnson replied honestly, a hint of anticipation in his eyes. He wondered what Link’s purpose was in asking the question, but he vaguely guessed that Link might be interested in buying warhorses.

“One warhorse, minus ten silver coins, and I’ll take the whole warhorse,” Link said calmly and firmly, as if he were stating an unquestionable fact.

"what?"

Johnson stood up abruptly, his body trembling slightly from excitement, staring blankly at Link, his eyes filled with shock and disbelief.

He couldn't believe his ears and said in a trembling voice, "Lord Link, you mean... you want all my warhorses?"

188. Of course

“Of course, is there a problem?” Link asked softly, his expression calm and his gaze gentle as he looked at Johnson. His voice, though not loud, carried an undeniable steadiness.

At this moment, Link was considering the situation of the new recruits. Each of them was tall and imposing, full of fighting spirit, but they lacked warhorses. On this vast battlefield, only cavalry with horses were true cavalry, able to move like the wind and deliver a fatal blow to the enemy. Cavalry without horses were like eagles with broken wings, possessing great skill but unable to use it effectively.

“Of course, no problem.” Johnson quickly shook his head, but a hint of nervousness still lingered in his eyes. He stared intently at Link, his gaze seemingly trying to see right through him. After a moment’s hesitation, he finally mustered the courage to ask, “Are you really going to buy all my warhorses?” Johnson’s voice trembled slightly, revealing his inner turmoil.

It's no wonder Johnson was a little nervous; this was arguably the biggest deal he'd ever made. In the past, his sales had been pitifully small. Sometimes it was just a dozen or twenty horses; the largest he'd ever sold was two hundred, which he'd eagerly prepared for, only to discover it was a scam—the other party had simply tricked him. Thinking of these past experiences sent a chill down Johnson's spine, so how could he not be nervous about Link's ambitious purchase?

"Buy them all, as long as the horses are fine and strong enough." Link nodded firmly, his eyes revealing determination and confidence. This warhorse trade was practically a golden opportunity delivered to his doorstep; he had been worrying about where to buy enough warhorses to equip his troops. Last night, Lushe received intelligence from Johnson and his group at the Oak Tavern. The intelligence detailed their plans, including information about Johnson selling horses. After learning this, Link had a plan in mind, and he never expected it to come in handy today.

“Of course, no problem. My warhorses are famous throughout the western lands,” Johnson patted his chest, as if making a solemn promise. His face beamed with pride, as if he were showing off his most precious treasure.

“I can pay a tenth of the deposit first, and the rest will be paid together when your warhorse arrives,” Link said, raising an eyebrow with a hint of scrutiny in his eyes. He knew the rules of business well: he had to protect his own interests while also ensuring the other party's acceptance.

"This..." Johnson was speechless. He hadn't expected Link to make such a request. He'd never heard of someone offering themselves up; he'd never done anything like it before. His brow furrowed slightly as he weighed the pros and cons. However, considering the size of the deal, it would be a real shame to give up on such a small request. Offering himself up was reasonable, after all, Link was the buyer, and such a request wasn't unreasonable.

"What? Is there a problem?" Link pursed his lips and glanced at the four bewildered city lords beside him. The four city lords sat to the side, their eyes filled with doubt and surprise, seemingly quite taken aback by this sudden business negotiation.

“No problem, no problem at all, I can deliver it to your door.” Johnson waved his hand hurriedly, as if afraid that he would ruin the deal if he was too slow. His face was full of smiles and his eyes were full of expectation, as if he could already see the gleaming silver waving at him.

“Very good. After your warhorse arrives and you inspect it, we can discuss the draft horse business.” Link said softly, his voice as light as a bombshell dropped into Johnson’s heart.

"This?" Johnson's breathing quickened. This was another business opportunity! His eyes lit up instantly, as if he had discovered a new continent. He hurriedly asked, "Lord Link, how many draft horses do you need?"

“At least five hundred draft horses!” Link said calmly, holding out one hand. His eyes revealed foresight and planning; he already had a clear blueprint for the future. Next spring, Winterfell would undergo a major transformation, and transportation would be indispensable. In this era, transport relied entirely on draft horses. Heavy goods, whether building materials or daily necessities, all required the strength of draft horses to move. The number of steam engines currently being manufactured was far too small to be used for vehicle production. Link was worried that five hundred draft horses wouldn't be enough, but buying too many at once seemed like a supply shortage. He looked at the stunned Johnson, pondering to himself.

“Mr. Link…you mean five hundred draft horses?” Johnson swallowed hard, his mouth feeling dry. This was an enormous number, far exceeding his expectations. He was both excited and nervous—excited that this was an unprecedentedly large deal, and nervous about whether he could meet Link's demands.

"Yes! The warhorses are fine. The next batch will need five hundred draft horses." Link said with a smile, his eyes full of confidence and decisiveness. He believed in his judgment and that the future of Winterfell needed these draft horses to support it.