Is this cheat code from Bika? Just do it!

"Hopefully it will subside soon, otherwise it will be troublesome if Lydia wakes up." Sophia muttered to herself as she quickly helped Lydia put on her pants and covered her with a blanket. She was gentle, afraid of hurting Lydia.

“Lydia, this is a unique experience for you, something most people would only dream of,” Sophia said softly, sitting on the edge of the bed and holding Lydia’s hand. Her eyes were full of teasing and comfort. “And that nobleman Link is quite handsome, with striking eyebrows and bright eyes, and an extraordinary air about him. He might just be your knight in shining armor.” As she spoke, she couldn’t help but laugh.

As they talked, Sofia felt a wave of drowsiness wash over her. She had been caring for Lydia for so long and was exhausted. She leaned against the bed and drifted off to sleep. Luca came in with some saline solution. Seeing Sofia asleep, she didn't have the heart to wake her. She quietly went to Lydia's side, carefully fed her some saline solution, and then quietly left the room, making no sound whatsoever.

Time passed quickly, and several hours went by like flowing water. The room was extremely quiet, with only the occasional soft breathing sound.

"Mmm..." Lydia made a soft, languid waking sound, like a cat. She slowly opened her eyes, and the scene before her gradually became clearer. She felt much lighter, and her head wasn't so dizzy anymore, as if a heavy shackle had been removed.

"Where is this?" Lydia looked at the unfamiliar decor of the house with a slight sense of unease. Her eyes were wary, like a startled fawn. She tried to recall what had happened before, but could only remember being very ill and then being brought to this place. She turned her head and saw Sophia lying beside the bed, which made her breathe a sigh of relief. With Sophia by her side, she felt a sense of security.

"Cough cough cough..." Lydia suddenly coughed. She felt a pain in her throat, which was very uncomfortable. It felt like a small knife was cutting into her throat, and each cough made her frown.

"Hmm?" Sophia was awakened by the sound. She groggily raised her head and looked at Lydia, who had her eyes open. When she saw Lydia's blue eyes, she instantly woke up, and joy burst forth in her eyes. She happily called out, "Lydia, you're finally awake! How are you? Is there anything else that's bothering you?"

"I'm fine, just a little dizzy and my body feels a bit weak..." Lydia stopped mid-sentence, her face full of confusion. Suddenly, she remembered something was wrong with her bottom, and a sense of foreboding washed over her. She reached down and touched it, pressing lightly, her face immediately contorting in pain. The pain made her gasp, and she cried out in a daze, "Ouch...it hurts! My bottom hurts so much!"

"Uh..." Sophia gave an awkward smile, unsure how to begin. She knew Lydia would definitely press her about the cause of her sore bottom, but she genuinely didn't know how to explain it.

"Huh? Sophia, are you hiding something from me?" Lydia noticed Sophia's unusual behavior immediately. Her golden eyes were fixed on Sophia, filled with suspicion and urging. She pressed, "Tell me quickly, why does my butt hurt so much? Did you spank me to vent your anger about what happened last time?"

“How could that be!” Sophia rolled her eyes and scolded, thinking Lydia’s idea was too outrageous. “I would never do something so childish.”

"What happened? It really hurts." Lydia pouted, her bottom half-raised, afraid to press on the wound. Her eyes were filled with grievance and confusion, not understanding why her bottom was suffering such pain.

"You can't get angry if I tell you," Sophia said cautiously, knowing she couldn't hide it from Lydia. Lydia was a clingy girl; if she didn't tell her the truth, Lydia would definitely keep asking, which would only make things worse.

“Okay!” Lydia glanced at Sophia suspiciously, a sense of foreboding creeping over her. She stared intently into Sophia’s eyes, as if trying to find the answer within them.

“It’s like this, you were sick, weren’t you? So we searched everywhere for a cure, and finally came to this Winter City. Luckily, we met this nobleman named Link who knew how to cure illnesses... He used a needle to prick your buttocks and injected medicine into your body, curing your illness.” Sophia started from the beginning, her voice very soft, afraid of upsetting Lydia.

"What did you say? That man named Link cured my illness by pricking my butt with needles?" Lydia stared at Sophia with her golden eyes, looking at her incredulously, as if to say, "Are you kidding me?" Her mind was a mess; she couldn't accept this fact.

“It’s true, that’s how your illness was mostly cured.” Sophia said with a wry smile. She knew this truth was somewhat cruel to Lydia, but it was the truth, and she had to let Lydia know.

"I...I..." Lydia's face flushed red, her mouth agape, unsure how to express her complex emotions. She felt both ashamed and angry; ashamed that a duke's daughter had her innocent bottom exposed to a strange man; angry that this treatment method was so strange and unacceptable to her.

Oh my god! This is so shameful! She could almost feel the strange looks from those around her. With a mournful face, she cried out, "Sophia, I'm not pure anymore! My future knight in shining armor will despise me!" Her voice was choked with sobs, filled with helplessness and despair.

"You really are..." Sophia was a little amused and exasperated. This silly girl, why does she always get hung up on the same things? She's already worrying about things that haven't even happened yet. She comforted her, "Besides, who would dare to look down on you, a duke's daughter? Once they marry you, they'll have to treat you like royalty, unless they're people who don't care about the duke's threats. Don't overthink it. The most important thing right now is to get your health back."

With Sofia's comforting words, Lydia gradually calmed down. However, she still felt uneasy, but she knew that what was done was done, and she could only accept it slowly.

197. Joke

On the second floor of the oak tavern, the carved wooden windows were half-closed, letting in a few rays of dim sunlight that added a unique atmosphere to the slightly noisy space. Upton, the young nobleman who had come to Winterfell with Lydia's fleet, was gathered there with a group of equally distinguished noble scions. They all looked anxious, their eyes frequently glancing towards the castle, silently hoping for the outcome of Lydia's treatment.

Originally, upon hearing of Lydia's accident, they were anxious to rush to the castle to investigate. However, when they arrived at the castle gates in a menacing manner, they were ruthlessly turned away by Lina. Lina's cold gaze and resolute attitude left them speechless with anger, only able to curse silently in their hearts. Helpless, these pampered noble scions grumbled their way to the Oak Tavern.

Entering the tavern, they disregarded all decorum, finding a large table to sit at and ordering a lavish spread. Soon, steaming dishes were served: fragrant roast chicken, golden-brown grilled fish, various delicate pastries, and delicious soups. These noblemen, already ravenous, eagerly grabbed their utensils and began to devour the food.

At first, they tried to maintain a certain aristocratic reserve, carefully picking up food with their utensils, their movements elegant and slow. But soon, the allure of the food made them abandon all pretense. They began grabbing food directly with their hands, stuffing it into their mouths like a pack of hungry wolves fighting over food. Before long, the table was a mess, with various soups and oil stains splattered everywhere, and their mouths and chests were covered in grime, but they were completely oblivious, still immersed in the world of food.

"Burp!" Upton suddenly let out a loud burp, leaning back contentedly in his chair with a chicken bone still dangling from his lips, chewing it occasionally. His hooligan-like demeanor was completely at odds with the elegant manners expected of a nobleman. He wiped the grease from his mouth and said dismissively, "Gentlemen, how's the food here? While it can't compare to the top restaurants in the capital, it's quite remarkable that such dishes can be made in this remote little place."

A nobleman named Toby with a mustache immediately chimed in upon hearing Upton's words, "It is indeed quite rare, but the portions are too stingy. Look at this plate, it's gone in just a couple of bites. If the portions were larger, it could really rival the grand restaurants in the capital." As Toby spoke, he gestured with his hand to indicate the size of the plate, a look of disdain on his face.

Upton sneered inwardly. He already knew what kind of person Toby was. Toby, like himself, was a viscount, and the nephew of an earl. Lately, Toby had been trying every means to curry favor with the second prince, scheming and maneuvering throughout noble circles. What Upton despised even more was that Toby was also trying to woo Sophia. But because of Lydia's brother, he didn't dare to act too openly, resorting to underhanded tactics—a complete coward.

The way these two were blatantly lying made the waiter roll his eyes. He muttered to himself, "When you're saying these disgusting things, can't you at least look at the plates on the table that's been licked clean?" At first, these aristocratic young men pretended to be demure as they ate, but soon they started grabbing food with their hands, and finally even licking the plates clean. And this wasn't the first time; this "frenzied eating" had already happened twice in a short period of time.

That's right, the meal laid out before them was the second one Upton and Toby had ordered. When the first meal was served, they didn't really have much of an appetite. After all, Lydia was still lying in the castle, her life hanging in the balance, and their hearts were heavy with worry. But after they forced down a bite, the deliciousness instantly melted in their mouths, as if opening the door to a new world. Lydia's illness was immediately forgotten; their eyes were only on the food before them, and they began to devour it frantically.

The first table of food was quickly devoured, with a minor incident of bloodshed occurring during the struggle for it. However, in the face of such delicious food, these incidents were insignificant. After finishing the first table, they didn't hesitate to order a second one, leading to the current scene of them wolfing down their food.

After a satisfying meal, Upton was in high spirits. He turned to the waiter and said proudly, "Your chef is quite good. Tell the chef who made these dishes that I'll give him a hundred copper coins a month and invite him to cook in the capital. In the capital, a chef with his skills will definitely be able to make a name for himself and earn a fortune." Upton was secretly calculating in his mind. He felt that a chef from a small country town who could make such delicious dishes was a godsend. If he could bring this chef back to the capital and open a restaurant, with these unique dishes, he believed that the place would be packed with customers. Then, he could set the prices a bit higher and earn many silver coins a day, which would be much more profitable than his businesses in the capital.

Toby's eyes flashed with a hint of defiance upon hearing Upton's words. He continued, "I'll give him one hundred and twenty copper coins to cook in the capital. A chef with such talent deserves a bigger stage; the capital is his true home." He then glanced at Upton, his eyes seeming to say: Don't think you can easily take the chef away.

Upton narrowed his eyes, inwardly annoyed: Is he trying to intimidate me? Hmph, I won't give up so easily. So, without hesitation, he said, "One hundred and thirty copper coins."

Toby said nonchalantly, "One hundred and fifty copper coins!" His tone was full of confidence, as if victory was assured.

Upton scoffed, "Hmph, I'll give you two hundred copper coins." He thought to himself, "I don't believe you can offer a higher price."

Toby sneered: "Two hundred and ten copper coins!"

Upton said dismissively, "I'll add ten more."

And so Toby and Upton began to haggle, the price soaring from one hundred copper coins to over five hundred. Later, instead of increasing the price dramatically, they raised it one coin at a time, as if each coin represented their prestige and dominance in the competition.

“Um…” The waiter stood to the side, his expression full of strangeness. He thought to himself that these customers were really odd. Last time, a few of them ordered a table full of soup and drank until they were completely drunk, and this time they were trying to poach the chef. The business at this Oak Tavern was really getting more and more interesting.

Toby waved his hand impatiently and said, "Just say what you want to say. Whoever offers the highest price will have him come with us. In the capital, a head chef's salary is just so-so. I don't believe that if I offer more than five hundred copper coins to this chef who has never left the countryside, he won't obediently come with me."

The waiter chuckled and said, "Excuse me, gentlemen, our chefs will not be leaving Oak Tavern. Moreover, their monthly salary is at least one silver coin." Based on what he knew about the chefs on the second floor, their monthly salary was at least one silver coin, and those with exceptional skills would earn even more.

"Pfft..." Some of the people present couldn't help but burst out laughing. They looked at Toby and Upton strangely, never expecting that the two of them would argue back and forth, offering only half of the other's actual salary. It was simply a farce.

"Cough cough cough..." Toby and Upton turned their heads away awkwardly, secretly annoyed: So they'd been making a fool of themselves the whole time?

Upton awkwardly changed the subject, saying, "I wonder how Miss Lydia is doing. Does that nobleman know how to treat illnesses? She's been inside the castle for hours, and we haven't heard a word from her." His eyes revealed a hint of worry, but more than anything, he wanted to get out of the awkward situation as soon as possible.

Toby said coldly, "Hmph, what good witch doctors could there be in such a remote little place? Let's see how they take responsibility after what happened to Miss Lydia. If anything happens to Miss Lydia, the Grand Duke will definitely not let it go."

Upton asked the old woman beside him, "Witch doctor, what do you think? Can Miss Lydia's illness be cured?" The old woman was a well-known witch doctor in the area. It was said that she possessed some unique medical skills, and many people would come to her when they encountered difficult and complicated diseases.

The witch doctor Zhu slowly shook her head and chuckled, "It's too late. Miss Lydia probably won't make it..." She didn't finish her sentence, but everyone present understood what she meant: Lydia was likely in grave danger.

In fact, the witch doctor had no confidence in curing Lydia. She had treated similar patients before, and without exception, they had all died. She had tried various methods, including bloodletting, but none had worked. Therefore, she knew in her heart that Lydia was likely doomed this time as well.

A nobleman's son said in a panic, "If anything happens to Miss Lydia, the Grand Duke will not let us off the hook. We came here with Miss Lydia, and now that something has happened to her, we will definitely be implicated." His voice was full of fear, as if he could already see the Grand Duke's angry face.

A cold glint flashed in Toby's eyes. He said in a deep voice, "Hmph... What are you afraid of? Miss Lydia didn't die because of us. She was killed by the nobles of this city. And that Sophia, she's also responsible. She's been hindering our help. If it weren't for her, we would have sent Miss Lydia to a better place for treatment long ago."

Upton stared blankly at Toby, secretly surprised: He actually used Sophia, whom he wanted to pursue, as a scapegoat? This really suited his taste; he would do anything to get himself out of trouble.

Upton stood up and shouted, "Let's go, everyone! We're going to punish that nobleman who killed Miss Lydia. We can't let Miss Lydia die in vain; we must get justice for her!" He was secretly plotting to extricate himself from the matter. If he could shift all the blame onto that nobleman, the Grand Duke wouldn't come after him.

"Let's go! It was that damned nobleman who killed Miss Lydia. We must make him pay the price."

"And that Sophia, she's clearly a murderer, constantly obstructing the witch doctor's treatment. She must be jealous of Miss Lydia's talent, so she's deliberately causing trouble."

A group of people stormed out, all knowing that the bigger the commotion, the better. This would lessen their responsibility and leave the Grand Duke with no excuse to punish them. And the Lord of Winterhold would become the perfect scapegoat in their eyes.

When the waiter saw them about to leave, he quickly stopped them and said, "Gentlemen, please settle the bill first. The total is seventeen silver coins."

Upton's eyes widened in disbelief. "What? Seventeen silver coins? Why don't you just rob us? Even if this dish is delicious, it can't be this outrageous!" He thought to himself that this was an astronomical price; he had never eaten such an expensive dish in his entire life.

The waiter calmly spread out the menu and said casually, "Esteemed guests, you have ordered five signature dishes, each costing three silver coins. We have already rounded down the price, which is already a very favorable price."

“Uh…” Upton was speechless. He looked at the prices on the menu, and they were indeed as advertised. But he still felt a pang of regret; seventeen silver coins were no small sum.

The waiter's smile faded, and he said, "You're not planning to dine and dash, are you? The city lord said that anyone who doesn't pay for their meal is a dine and dash person, and those people will be sent to the first floor to wash dishes. The dishwashers there are very busy." A hint of threat flashed in his eyes, as if to say: If you dare not pay, you'll be in for it.

Upton gritted his teeth and said, "How could that be? It's just seventeen silver coins. I, Upton, am not so poor that I can't afford it." Although he was very unwilling, he did not want to lose face over such a small amount of money, and he certainly did not want to be sent downstairs to wash dishes, which would be too humiliating.

The waiter took the silver coin from Upton's hand, a polite smile returning to his face, and said, "Please come again next time."

Upton turned and left with his entourage, secretly vowing to himself: "Next time? Next time I won't order such expensive dishes." Yes, that was his decision. He couldn't be so impulsive again, or his wallet wouldn't be able to handle it.

The waiter tossed the silver coins in his hand, watched the departing crowd, shook his head and sighed, "Truly...ignorant! They don't even know that the City Lord saved a dying man. If they knew the City Lord possessed such miraculous medical skills, they probably wouldn't have underestimated Winter City so much."

198. Foolish

"Tap tap tap..."

Upton and Toby's group walked hurriedly and heavily, having just dragged the knights out of the first-floor hall, one by one, who were indulging in a drunken revelry. The knights, who had been immersed in their enjoyment of food and wine, were interrupted and began to curse, but seeing the grim faces of Upton and his men, they dared not be too outrageous. Upton and his companions were seething with anger; they knew that what they were about to do was crucial. They had to portray themselves as complete victims; only in this way could they secure a chance of survival in the ensuing situation.

They marched briskly towards the castle, their imposing presence evident. Along the way, they attracted numerous glances—some surprised, some doubtful, and some subtly scrutinizing. But Upton and his companions paid no heed to these stares; their minds were solely focused on what lay ahead.

Soon, they arrived at the square, the open space in front of the castle. However, the sight before them made them stop in their tracks, their faces showing surprise. The square was densely packed with a crowd, bustling and lively, the noise and cheers of the crowd mingling together to form a noisy sea.

"What are all these people doing in that crowd?" Upton asked, frowning and looking puzzled. His gaze swept across the crowd, trying to find the answer in the excited or agitated faces, but to no avail.

“Ignore them, let’s get down to business before word gets out,” Toby said coldly, a hint of ruthlessness in his eyes, as if he were utterly disdainful of everything around him. He knew that time was of the essence, and every second wasted could worsen the situation.

“Hmm…” Upton sighed, a hint of helplessness and worry in his eyes. This incident was undoubtedly a huge disaster for him. Even if he managed to escape with his life, his life would certainly not be easy. Lydia's death made him deeply aware of his dereliction of duty. The Second Prince had always had extremely high expectations of those around him, and now that such a mishap had occurred, the Second Prince would definitely hold him in high regard and eventually exclude him from the center of power. Thinking of this, Upton couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness.

"Hmph, this has nothing to do with us in the end. The only mistake was that we came along too," Toby said coldly, his voice filled with mockery of fate and helplessness towards power. "That's the allure of power. We're just in the same boat. When Lydia is in trouble, we have to live in fear and worry about being punished by the Grand Duke."

“I don’t need you to teach me anything,” Upton said calmly, his tone steady and firm. “This was our own choice. From the moment we decided to climb to higher positions of power, we should have expected this kind of risk.”

Just then, a burst of enthusiastic cheers and shouts erupted in the square, seemingly capable of lifting the entire sky. "Go! Team Four, swing your bats and take down Team One's big idiots!" "Team One, defend! Watch out for Team Four's sneak attacks!" It turned out that a fierce ice hockey final was taking place in the square. The surrounding civilians were incredibly excited; some waved their flags, others shouted at the top of their lungs, cheering for their favorite teams. The excitement of this match far surpassed that of a typical boxing match, attracting countless eyes.

"Hal! Hurry up, or the match will be over!" Fat Bear shouted, turning to Hal, who was moving slowly. His face was full of anxiety, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.

"Can't you come and help carry it?" Hal gasped, his steps faltering as he carried a large wooden box full of lollipops on his back. The two had originally planned to set up a stall outside to earn some extra money, but they hadn't expected to encounter such a lively competition, and the crowds made their movements even more difficult.

"With your strength? You want to marry me?" Fat Bear frowned, his eyes showing dissatisfaction. "Your strength is still too weak, you need to work on it."

"I..." Hal stammered, a look of dejection on his face. He had always tried to prove himself, to give Fat Bear a happy future, but reality was always so cruel; his strength never seemed to meet Fat Bear's demands.

"What do you mean, 'what do you mean, 'what do you mean'? Get moving! Aren't you going to see Grandpa Pete tonight?" Fat Bear shouted. Reluctantly, he went to help carry the large wooden crate. The two of them, desperate to earn a little more money, struggled through the crowded streets.

Such interactions between humans and orcs are not uncommon in the plaza. For example, after a goal is scored in a football match, orcs and humans supporting the same team excitedly embrace each other, their faces beaming with genuine smiles, as if there were no barriers between them. In this city, humans and orcs seem to have become accustomed to this way of getting along; they live and play together, forming a unique and harmonious atmosphere.

However, this scene was particularly jarring to Toby. "This city is special; I want to destroy it." Toby's face was grim as he surveyed his surroundings, his eyes filled with disgust and hatred. In his eyes, the fact that humans could coexist peacefully with orcs was a profound disgrace. He had always looked down on orcs, considering them lowly and foolish, fit only to be slaves of humans. Moreover, the fact that orcs ate more than humans only fueled his resentment towards them.

"This Lord of Winterfell is truly rebellious; orcs are living freely in a human city," Upton sneered, a hint of disdain in his eyes. He wasn't alone in this sentiment; the kingdom's upper echelons, the nobles, had always despised orcs. In their eyes, orcs were born slaves, destined to serve them, the noble human race. The sight of humans and orcs living together as equals in this city was undoubtedly a challenge to their aristocratic authority, filling them with utter disgust.

They needed slaves to work for them, and orcs were the best choice. Orcs were strong and powerful, and could be driven to work as long as they were given some food, and they did not know how to resist. Especially in the inland areas, orc slaves were already the main force of the lower-level labor force. They built houses, cultivated land, and mined ore for the nobles, providing a solid guarantee for the nobles' luxurious lives.

In the city of Winterfell, and with its lord Link, Upton, Toby, and their group saw him as an anomaly, a heretic who defied the unspoken rules of the nobility. They decided to teach this lord a lesson, to show him the consequences of offending the nobility.

“I’ve heard that the Grand Duke also hates orcs. Do you think he’ll immediately bring his knights to kill Lydia if he hears that she died at the hands of such a heretical noble?” Toby said sarcastically, a sly smile on his face, as if he could already see the tragic scene of Link being punished by the Grand Duke.

"Is that even a question?" Upton sneered, a cruel glint in his eyes. "I'm afraid many orcs will be killed to vent their anger, and then this city will become a sea of ​​blood."

The group didn't go to watch the hockey game; they went straight to the castle gates and, without hesitation, wanted to walk inside. They were filled with confidence, believing that as nobles, they had the right to enter the castle and see whoever they wanted to see.

"Halt! No unauthorized personnel allowed!" the guard shouted sternly. He stood there straight, spear in hand, his eyes revealing a hint of vigilance and indifference. He pointed his spear at the group, as if warning them not to make any rash moves.

“We request to see Miss Lydia. Go in and report immediately,” Upton said grimly. This was the second time today he had been stopped, and he was filled with anger and resentment. In his view, it was a disgrace for a viscount to be turned away at the door by a baron from a remote place.

"The city lord has said that no one will be seen today," the soldier said coldly, his voice devoid of any emotion, like a heartless machine. Link had foreseen this from the moment Lydia entered the castle. A beautiful duke's daughter was bound to have some flies around her. He had long been prepared to not allow anyone to disturb the castle's tranquility.

"You? Do you know who I am?" Upton's face was grim, a hint of threat in his eyes. When had he, a viscount, ever been turned away at the door by a baron from some remote place, with even the knights guarding the gate daring to treat him with disrespect? This made him feel incredibly humiliated.

"I don't want to know." The soldier shook his head, pointed his spear forward, and said coldly, "Leave now. The city lord is not receiving guests today. Don't cause trouble here, or you'll face the consequences."

“Tap tap…”

Just then, Fiora strode in. Her movements were light and graceful, like a gentle breeze. She glanced at the crowd at the entrance, her eyes unwavering, then walked into the castle gate. She had just finished patrolling the streets and was feeling a little hungry, thinking of going back to get something to eat.

“How could she go in?” Upton demanded, his face growing even darker. The thought of an elf swaggering into the castle while he, a viscount, was barred filled him with immense anger and embarrassment.

"Miss Fiora lives in the castle," the soldier said coldly, a hint of disdain in his eyes. In his view, Upton and the others were no match for Miss Fiora.

"How dare you! You must have killed Miss Lydia! You're stalling for time!" Toby shouted, his voice filled with anger and agitation, as if afraid no one would hear him. He was trying to attract the attention of those around him and create a favorable public opinion for himself.

"How dare you cause trouble in front of the castle gates?"

Suddenly, a cold voice came from behind him, like a summons from hell. Before Toby could turn around, he was punched unconscious. His body lay limp on the ground, like a pile of mud.

Eight soldiers stood before them, their bodies radiating a cold, stern aura, their eyes revealing a fierce and resolute intent. They had just returned to witness this scene; when had anyone dared to shout and yell in front of the castle gates? This was tantamount to a challenge to their authority.

"You dare attack a nobleman?" Upton stared wide-eyed at the fallen Toby, his heart filled with shock and fear. He hadn't expected these soldiers to be so audacious as to lay a hand on a nobleman.

“Nobles, we only acknowledge the City Lord.” One of the soldiers clenched his fist, squinting at the people before him, his eyes revealing a hint of provocation and disdain. In his heart, the City Lord was their faith, and they would only obey his orders.

"Qiang!"

"How dare you!" Upton roared, his eyes blazing with fury. He drew his knight's longsword, its blade gleaming coldly in the sunlight, and pointed it at the group. Filled with anger and resentment, he resolved to fight for his honor.

"Clang clang clang..."

Upton drew his sword, immediately triggering a chain reaction. His followers also drew their swords, engaging in close combat, and the atmosphere instantly became tense. A thick smell of gunpowder filled the air, as if a great battle was about to break out.

"You guys are the ones who have the guts." Several soldiers sneered, gesturing with their mouths towards the castle. "Look over there." Their eyes revealed a hint of confidence and composure, as if victory was already in their grasp.

Upton frowned, turned his head to look, and his heart skipped a beat. He quickly raised his hands and said, "We mean no harm, we really mean no harm." There stood a dozen or so men on the castle walls, each holding a longbow, the bowstrings drawn, the arrows pointed at them. A dozen or so knights with spears stood at the castle gate, their eyes revealing a cold and ruthless expression. This made Upton and his men immediately realize their extremely dangerous situation, and they had no choice but to back down.

Whether there was malicious intent or not is not for you to decide.

The soldier turned to the group and said, "Please ask them to sit in the guard post. I'll go report the situation to the city lord." His voice was full of authority and left no room for doubt.

"Yes!"

Several soldiers responded and walked towards Upton and his men. Looking at their pitiful expressions, they sighed inwardly. They knew they'd likely be kept in solitary confinement for days; hopefully, they wouldn't be driven insane. They knew that once inside the guard unit, these men would face severe interrogation and punishment.

"No, I am a nobleman, you can't treat me like this..."

Amidst the shouts, Upton and the others were dragged away. Their figures gradually disappeared behind the castle gates, and what would happen to them afterward depended on Link's plans. This commotion, like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, created small ripples in Winterfell.

199. Building large ships

In the castle's grand and imposing hall, candlelight flickered, casting dances and shimmers on the walls, creating a mysterious and solemn atmosphere. A soldier in full armor strode in, his expression hurried. He knelt on one knee and reported in a loud yet tense voice, "My lord, just now, there was a disturbance outside the castle gates. That group was arrogant, claiming to be nobles and making baseless accusations against you, saying you killed a woman named Lydia. But rest assured, my lord, they have been quickly subdued and taken to the guard headquarters."