Is this cheat code from Bika? Just do it!

"It's true, the lord not only gives us wages, but also food. He wouldn't lie to us!"

The barbarian slave was immediately enraged. Her face turned bright red, and her hands clenched into fists, as if she were defending herself and her lord.

After being enslaved for so long, Link was the first nobleman to treat them as human beings, rather than as objects to be bought and sold at will.

Link respected their dignity, cared about their lives, and made them feel unprecedented warmth and dignity.

At that moment, she no longer cared about their status and angrily shouted, "You are not allowed to speak ill of the lord! He is the best nobleman in the world! The previous lord, Carter, only knew how to exploit us. When he made us work, he would only give us a meal of wheat, and only half a bowl at that. If we fainted from hunger, he would pour cold water on us. He didn't treat us like human beings at all."

“But Lord Link is different!” she said angrily. “Lord Link gave us clean clothes so we no longer had to be naked, gave us warm shelter so we no longer had to sleep in the open, not only made sure we had enough to eat every day, but also gave us wages so we could buy things ourselves and even have some money to spare! He also told us that as long as we worked hard, he would free us from slavery and make us free citizens of Winterfell. He is better than any noble I have ever met!”

Her voice grew louder and louder, and her emotions became more and more intense, as if she wanted to pour out all the grievances and gratitude in her heart.

Upon hearing the barbarian slave's words, the Winter City civilians who were working nearby all gathered around.

Some of them stopped what they were doing, while others rushed over from afar, surrounding Malen and Cole.

Upon learning that Maren and Cole had dared to speak ill of Lord Link, they were all filled with righteous indignation, staring intently at the two men with hostile eyes.

Those eyes were like sharp blades, as if they would beat the two of them up and throw them out of Winterfell if they dared to speak ill of Lord Link again.

Seeing this, Maren and Cole shrank back in fright, their bodies involuntarily taking a few steps back.

They were filled with fear, afraid that they would be beaten black and blue by these lowly people and then thrown out of Winterfell in a sorry state.

So they hurriedly and sheepishly left, their steps faltering as if a raging flood or ferocious beast were chasing them.

Once they were out of sight, he dared to mutter under his breath, "That Link is such an idiot. He's a disgrace to the nobility. He actually befriends those lowly people and takes care of those slaves, feeding them, providing them with shelter, and even paying them wages. Bah!"

Although Maren's voice was soft, it was filled with disdain and contempt.

Maren was a servant from a young age, serving in noble mansions for a long time, and his mindset had long been deeply ingrained in him through the daily service.

In his view, nobles were born in a position of unparalleled nobility, shining with an awe-inspiring light like stars in the sky. The common people, on the other hand, were nothing more than ants in the mortal world, born to work and be exploited.

In Maren's view, being able to work for the nobility was already the greatest reward for those commoners, who should be grateful to the nobles and obedient to them.

However, Cole thought differently.

He gave Malen beside him a deep look, his eyes revealing a complex emotion, but he did not speak.

Cole was born a commoner and had to grovel before nobles, carefully currying favor with them, before he had risen to his current position.

But what was happening before his eyes at that moment shocked Cole like never before.

In Winterhold, under Link's leadership, everything is different than before.

Commoners are no longer appendages of the nobility; they are free and have their own rights!

They can stand tall and strive for their own lives, instead of merely eking out a living in the shadow of the nobility as before.

This change, like the first ray of sunshine in spring, pierced through the thick gloom in Cole's heart, planting a seed in his heart—a seed about equality and freedom.

The two continued walking when suddenly, a clear and melodious reading voice reached their ears.

The two looked in the direction of the sound and saw a school ahead.

God!

It should be noted that in the human kingdoms, only the offspring of nobles are qualified to study in the royal capital, King's Landing, and enjoy the enrichment of knowledge.

Commoners had no opportunity to learn; they could only toil on the land generation after generation, creating wealth for the nobles.

And here, there's actually a school?

And it looks like there are ordinary people's children reading and writing inside?

This is incredible!

Filled with curiosity, Mullen and Cole quietly peered over the wall.

There stood a very beautiful female teacher on the platform, gently and patiently teaching the children.

Her voice was soft and melodious, like a spring breeze, making people feel extremely comfortable.

"When people are born, they are inherently kind. However, although their innate nature is similar, differences in environment and education can lead to increasingly greater disparities. If they are not educated, their kind nature will change. The most important methods of education are to emphasize focus and perseverance..."

That's Sakura Miyajima. She's holding a textbook she wrote herself, teaching younger children the most basic principles of being a good person.

"Hey! What are you two doing here?!"

Just as Maren and Cole were engrossed in watching, suddenly, two men in their fifties or sixties came running over menacingly, carrying sticks.

Their faces were filled with anger, as if Malen and Cole were some heinous villains.

Seeing that something was wrong, Maren and Cole were alarmed and immediately ran away.

Although the two elderly men tried their best to catch up, they were too old to catch up with them.

Watching Maren and Cole walk away, the old men grumbled, "Those two guys, they're obviously no good!"

"His face is unfamiliar; he's definitely not from Winterfell!"

"What's wrong, Uncle Mike, Uncle Jim?" At that moment, Chifuyu Ogata came out of the school.

She was dressed in a simple yet appropriate outfit, wearing glasses, and looked very capable.

"Oh, it's Principal Chifuyu! Oh! It's nothing, it's nothing! It was just two guys eavesdropping by the wall, we've already chased them away!"

"Another stranger?"

Chifuyu Ogata pushed up her glasses, a hint of wariness in her eyes.

There have indeed been more and more strangers coming to Winter City lately, and she knows in her heart that many of them must be spies from various cities.

They may have come to investigate the true state of Winterfell, or perhaps to uncover Lord Link's secrets.

Lord Link must have been prepared for them, right?

Chifuyu Ogata pondered to herself.

She looked back at the school, where all the children under fifteen in the city now studied.

In Link's words, now that everyone is safe and has access to food and lodging, young children must go to school, and the school even provides lunch.

The school was packed with students the day the news spread.

The children's faces were filled with happy smiles. Here, they could not only learn knowledge, but also make many friends.

Occasionally, Link would come to the school for an hour or two to "brainwash" the students... cough cough, I mean, tell them stories.

“Hmm, security measures definitely need to be improved,” Ogata Chifuyu stroked her chin, thinking. “We should go find Lina and send some city guards over. We can also ask Lord Link if he can train some exorcist warriors.”

Keep in mind, she's the head of the exorcism department, so don't underestimate her abilities!

The author says:

Author's Note: PS: The next chapter will be about Ogata Chifuyu's play. There will be two versions. The version that doesn't meet the censorship requirements will be posted in the full subscription group. Let's go!

102. Ogata Chifuyu's situation

Amidst the solemn and dignified atmosphere of the city lord's mansion, Link stood quietly on the spacious terrace of his castle.

A gentle breeze stirred the hair on his forehead, but it could not dispel the deep and unwavering light in his eyes.

He leaned down slightly, his gaze sharp as he looked down at the city before him, a city that resembled a colossal beast and belonged to him—Winter City.

Winterhold is now booming at an astonishing pace.

The streets were bustling with traffic and pedestrians, a scene of prosperity and abundance.

The most eye-catching aspect is the large-scale application of cement.

Whether it was the houses that rose from the ground or the flat, wide ground, everything began to be built using cement.

The gray-white cement seems to be a mark of the city's growth, witnessing Winter City's gradual march towards glory.

Link knew in his heart that before long, this huge city built of reinforced concrete would truly become impregnable, an indestructible fortress that would resist all external threats.

"Lord Link, this is the situation in the city today."

A clear and steady voice sounded behind Link. He turned his head slightly and saw Asagi appear behind him like a ghost.

She moved with a light and silent grace, as if she had become one with the surrounding air.

She walked slowly toward Link with graceful steps, holding a document in her hand.

Link raised an eyebrow slightly, a hint of curiosity flashing in his eyes, and asked, "Oh? Is there something going on?"

Asagi is now responsible for more than just Link's security; she also oversees intelligence coordination across three cities.

Her job was similar to that of the Ministry of State Security and the Security Department in her previous life, requiring her to be constantly vigilant and aware of every little thing happening in the city.

Of course, her strength alone was far from enough, and Luca also did his best to help her.

Link secretly planned that if he ever drew another character from the Demon Ninja faction, he would definitely recruit them into Asagi's ranks to further strengthen her power.

Externally, there is the Black Knife Assassins' vast and secretive intelligence network, like an invisible net, gathering intelligence from all over the world; internally, there is Fiora's rigorous and responsible oversight department, and Asagi's security monitoring department. The three work together seamlessly, ensuring that there are no oversights, both internally and externally, allowing Link to govern the city with peace of mind.

Okay, back to the point.

Generally speaking, unless there are special circumstances, Asagi will not come to him easily.

Only when special circumstances arise will Asagi carefully organize the information and then inform Link.

He took the document from Asagi, gently opened it, and quickly scanned the document with his eyes.

Soon, his gaze fell on a message that clearly described the appearance of several unidentified people in Thorn City, Grayvale County, and Winterfell City.

Judging from their movements, they were clearly investigating intelligence in the city; their furtive manner made them seem like a group of rats hiding in the dark.

Among them, the newly built school in Winter City encountered two strange and unidentified people today.

They were sneaking around outside the school, secretly listening to what was going on inside, when they were eventually discovered and chased away by the security guards Mike and Jim.

Link closed the file, a look of considerable interest on his face, and asked, "Do you know who the other party is?"

Asagi said in a deep voice, "They are very good at disguising themselves. Some of them deliberately disguise themselves as merchants or travelers, making it difficult to detect their true identities. However, judging from their routes and behavior, they are closely connected with the cities and towns around Ashvalley County."

During this period, the likelihood of people coming to Winterfell, Stranglethorn Vale, and Ashenvale dressed in non-commoner attire is much lower.

Link already had a few guesses in his mind. He sneered and said, "Ignore them. They're probably just spies sent by the surrounding lords. But we should still send people to keep an eye on them and prevent them from causing trouble in the city. The Lord of Terror hasn't made any statement yet. If they really were sent by those minor lords, believe me, it won't be long before they come knocking on our door."

Asagi nodded and said respectfully, "Yes, I understand, sir."

Link thought for a moment and then said, "By the way, tell Lina to deploy more city guards around important buildings such as the school, church, and granary. There are too many people and too many eyes in the city now, we can't be unprepared, we must ensure the safety of these important facilities."

“Yes, my lord,” Asagi replied.

Just then, a crisp knock sounded on the door. Ogata Chifuyu knocked and then slowly walked in.

“It’s Chifuyu,” Asagi said with a smile when she saw that it was Ogata Chifuyu who came in. “I was just about to come and talk to you about sending more city guards to the school.”

“Ah, what a coincidence. I also came to discuss this matter with Lord Link. There have been more and more strangers in Winterfell lately, and we do need to increase manpower for some of the city's important facilities,” said Chifuyu Ogata.

Link looked at Asagi and said, "Asagi, I'll leave this matter to you and Lina to coordinate. Get it sorted out as soon as possible so there are no worries later. We need to ensure the stability and safety of the city and not allow any potential threats to affect the development of Winter City."

"Okay, then I'll go find Lina now."

Asagi nodded, then turned and left the room, leaving Link and Ogata Chifuyu there.

"Alright, Chifuyu, you came to see me for more than just to increase manpower, right?"

Link slowly sat down, a meaningful smile on his face, his gaze gently falling on Ogata Chifuyu.

Adding guards to the school was a trivial matter in his eyes; he could just ask Lina for help, and there was no need for her to make a special trip to ask him for permission.

Therefore, Link could almost conclude that Ogata Chifuyu must have other important matters to discuss with him during this visit.

That's why he let Asagi leave first, so that the two of them could have a private conversation.

“You’re right, Lord Link.”

Chifuyu Ogata nodded slightly, her expression serious. "I've come to see you today because there's another important matter. I hope you can allow me to train a..."

“Train a demon-slaying army?” Link blurted out, and this sudden remark startled Chifuyu Ogata.

However, she quickly calmed down and did not deny it. Instead, she nodded again and said, "Yes, it seems that you are also aware of this, Lord Link. That's good, then I don't need to explain any further."

As Link gazed at Chifuyu Ogata, he unconsciously stroked his chin, lost in thought.

Images of the JK Exorcism Club's doujinshi flashed through his mind; Huangye's art style was truly exceptional. However, the series of corruption and defeat scenes in the doujinshi also left a deep impression on him.

He couldn't help but worry that if the task of training the demon-slaying force were entrusted to Ogata Chifuyu, would the female warriors trained afterward be as worrisome as depicted in the doujinshi?