Is this cheat code from Bika? Just do it!

Link paused for a moment, then solemnly instructed, "Remember to bring back the remains of those martyrs who sacrificed their lives. They were heroes who gave their lives for the peace of Hailin City, and we must give them the respect and honor they deserve."

A flicker of sadness crossed Kuratia's eyes, but she nodded firmly. "Understood, sir. I've made the arrangements. All nine warriors' remains have been collected, and I will arrange for their safekeeping. They are our eternal pride!"

Link nodded in satisfaction, then turned to the old city lord and said, "Old city lord, let's continue. Kuratia and I still have things to discuss, but you don't need to worry, everything is under control."

The old city lord nodded, indicating his understanding.

The group continued on their way, while Kuratia remained where she was to continue handling military affairs.

She knew that although the battle was temporarily over, the work was far from finished. She and Claudia needed to manage the army well, ensure the safety and stability of the soldiers, and prevent any chaos.

Link and the old city lord continued walking towards the inner city. Along the way, the old city lord pointed to the inner city gate and said, "This is the inner city. There are too many things piled up inside the main gate. They were prepared to resist the previous attack by the fishmen, so it can't be opened yet. However, we have a small door that we can go in through."

As he spoke, he led Link to a small door on either side of the inner city gate. The two squeezed through and stepped onto the path leading to the city lord's mansion.

As Link walked, he asked curiously, "Old Lord, Kuratia just saluted me. That's a military salute, a kind of etiquette in our army. Subordinates salute their superiors to show respect. Don't you find this etiquette a little strange?"

Upon hearing this, the old city lord smiled and said, "It is a bit strange, but it looks quite imposing. Is this a custom unique to your army?"

Link put his hand down, smiled, and explained, "Actually, this is just something I came up with on my own. I think the military should have its own etiquette and rules to demonstrate our discipline and unity. Moreover, saluting is also a sign of respect, which allows subordinates to feel the care and attention of their superiors."

After listening, the old city lord nodded in agreement: "Your idea is very good. An army does indeed need strict discipline and rules. Only in this way can combat effectiveness be guaranteed. It seems that the reason why your army is so powerful is inseparable from your unique ideas."

The two walked and talked, and soon arrived at the city lord's mansion.

The city lord's mansion looks rather old, and it's clear that it's a very old building.

Moreover, there aren't many decorations. If you had to name any decorations, there would be some monster skeletons hanging on the wall.

These skeletons varied in shape; some were grotesque and terrifying, while others appeared quite peculiar. Link couldn't help but take a few more glances, secretly speculating about the origins and stories of these monsters.

As Link entered the courtyard, he immediately smelled a strong fishy odor.

He frowned, looked around, and noticed a pile of fish drying in the yard.

The fish were neatly arranged on the shelves, emitting a pungent odor.

Seeing this, the old city lord smiled apologetically and explained, "I'm sorry, Link. For the past month, our Hailin City has hardly gone out to sea to fish, so we've been making a living by these pickled fish. The taste might be a bit strong, please bear with me."

Upon hearing this, Link immediately felt relieved.

He nodded understandingly and said, "It's alright, old city lord. In these special times, it's already quite good to have fish to eat. We shouldn't be picky."

After saying that, he followed the old city lord into the room.

The room was also simply furnished, with only a few tables and chairs and a bed.

However, this place gives people a warm and peaceful feeling. Perhaps it is because this is the residence of the old city lord, so it is filled with his presence and warmth.

After they sat down, they continued their casual conversation.

They talked about the history and culture of Hailin City, and shared their experiences and stories. Time flew by, and before they knew it, it was evening.

At this moment, a burst of footsteps came.

Kuokas entered the room and saw Link and the old city lord chatting. She immediately bowed.

Then, she walked to the old city lord's ear and whispered, "Your Excellency, I have a general understanding of our losses."

Seeing this, Link immediately stood up and said, "Um, should I excuse myself? After all, this is an internal matter of Hailin City."

The old city lord quickly stood up, pressed Link's shoulder, and laughed, "No need, Link. I don't consider you an outsider. Kuokas, just say it. Link is our friend now, and he has the right to know these things."

Upon hearing this, Kuokas glanced at Link and then began to report the current situation of Hailin City to the old city lord: "Your Majesty, Hailin City originally had over six thousand civilians, including more than a thousand soldiers. Now, after this catastrophe, only a little over a thousand civilians remain, along with a little over two hundred soldiers. Houses and property have suffered heavy losses, and our food reserves are less than a week's worth. Fortunately, we still have more than half of our fishing boats left, which will allow us to resume production quickly."

She paused for a moment, then continued, "Also, I had someone examine the things left behind by the Naga. There are quite a few various magical materials and rare treasures. We estimated their value to be at least over 100,000 gold coins. This is a considerable fortune that can be used to rebuild Hailin City."

The old city lord sat in his chair, his expression relatively calm.

However, Link could see that his hands were trembling.

Clearly, this calamity dealt a heavy blow to the old city lord.

He clenched his fist and said in a deep voice, "What's the use of having so many of those things, no matter how important they are? Can they bring back the fathers those children have lost? Can they win back the husbands those wives have lost? Can they bring back the children those parents have lost? Can they restore those broken families?"

At this point, the old city lord's eyes welled up with tears.

He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down.

Link and Kuokas stood quietly to the side, not disturbing him.

They knew that the old city lord needed time to process and accept this harsh reality.

146. Decision

"Alas, we are too weak. In the eyes of others, we are someone they can bully at will, and the kingdom doesn't care about our lives at all."

Kuokas said angrily, her hands clenched into fists, her nails digging deep into her palms, yet she seemed to feel no pain.

Through this incident, she has completely lost all feelings for the kingdom, and has even developed a rebellious mentality.

She thought to herself that if one day she had enough power, she would make those who had looked down on them pay the price.

Link also sighed, his eyes filled with helplessness.

In this dog-eat-dog world, the weak are bullied and the weak are attacked; this is an eternal law.

On this continent where strength reigns supreme, this principle is demonstrated to the fullest extent.

"I'm getting old too. In a few years, I won't be able to take care of everyone in this city anymore," the old city lord sighed, his voice filled with weariness and helplessness.

He found that the older he got, the more he sighed, as if physical aging was taking away his energy and determination.

He looked at Kuokas and Link in front of him, his heart filled with emotion.

"Lord, what are you saying? You're still young." Kuokas's eyes also showed a hint of worry.

She knew the old city lord's health had always been poor, and this incident had only worsened his condition. She was truly afraid that this blow would cause him to lose all his strength.

The old city lord gave a wry smile. He knew his physical condition and that Kuokas was just trying to comfort him.

He waved his hand, indicating that Kuokas didn't need to continue.

"Sigh... By the way, Link, when are you planning to go back?" The old city lord changed the subject, not wanting to dwell on this heavy topic any longer.

Link thought for a moment and replied, "The situation in Hailin City has stabilized, and there's nothing more for us to do, so we plan to go back tomorrow. We'll rest a bit today and treat the wounded." Their team suffered considerable losses in this incident and needed to return as soon as possible to regroup.

Upon hearing this, the old city lord said with some reluctance, "Are you in such a hurry to go back? Why don't you stay a few more days? I haven't even hosted a banquet for you yet!" He hoped to fulfill his duty as a host and properly entertain these friends who had come from afar.

Link shook his head and said helplessly, "There's nothing I can do. There are still many things waiting for me to deal with in the North."

The old city lord nodded understandingly, "I see. Then there's nothing we can do. But you must be careful and avoid any further mishaps on the road."

After saying that, he turned to Kuokas and instructed, "Kuokas, go and organize all those monster materials and treasures, and let Link and the others take them away. These things should be of some use to them."

Kuokas responded and turned to leave. She knew that these monster materials and treasures were painstakingly accumulated by the old city lord, and now she was giving them away to someone else, which made her feel a little sentimental.

Link waved his hand and quickly said, "No way! Your Hailin City has suffered so much loss. These things are meant to make up for it. How can I take them away?" He resolutely refused to accept this generous gift.

The old city lord laughed and said, “What use would I have for these things? If the houses are damaged, we can rebuild them ourselves; if the city walls fall, we can put them back up; if the ships are gone, we can cut down a few trees and make another ship; as for food, there’s plenty in the sea. So these things are useless to me. I might as well give them to you to take back; perhaps they will come in handy.”

Link wanted to say something more, but the old city lord interrupted him: "There's no 'buts' about it. Besides, you came all this way and suffered so many losses. Consider this compensation."

The old city lord adopted a serious expression, his eyes filled with determination and unwavering resolve.

He knew his decision might put Link and the others in a difficult position, but he still hoped to do everything he could to help them.

Link scratched his head, feeling a little touched.

After thinking for a moment, he proposed a compromise: "How about this, I can take the monster materials and stuff, but you can leave the jewels behind to rebuild Hailin City."

The old city lord laughed and said, "No need to say anything more, Link, just do as I say."

Kuokas confidently replied, "Yes, Lord Link, you don't need to be so polite. Although our Hailin City has suffered heavy losses, it is not so fragile."

Link nodded and said gratefully, "That's settled then, thank you so much. By the way, I actually came here with another reason."

The old city lord generously said, "Just tell us what you need our help with. We will do our best to help you if it's within our power."

Link asked directly, "I've always heard that you have saltpeter mines around here, is that right?"

A flicker of expectation and longing shone in his eyes. He knew how important saltpeter was to their northern border.

The old city lord nodded and replied, "Yes, our Hailin City is surrounded by mountains on two sides, faces the sea on one side, and faces a river on the other. Two of these mountains are mines containing saltpeter. However, saltpeter is not a rare commodity here, so it is not usually mined."

Kuokas asked, puzzled, "What, are you interested in this saltpeter? Saltpeter is just used for heating here. Does it have some other use where you live?"

Link nodded happily and said, "Yes, we in the North are very short of saltpeter. We've always relied on buying it from merchants outside, which is very inconvenient and expensive. So I wonder if you have any extra saltpeter you can sell to us."

The old city lord thought for a moment and said, "I don't know much about these things. Kuokas, why don't you tell me? You usually know more about the mines."

Kuokas responded and turned to Link, saying, "These two mines do indeed have a lot of saltpeter, but because we don't use much of it regularly, and the demand for saltpeter on the continent isn't high, we only send people to collect some for warmth when we're preparing for winter. Otherwise, no one bothers with it. We don't have much saltpeter in stock either. And we're currently busy restoring Hailin City, which has seen a huge population decrease, so we don't have the time to collect saltpeter. I'm truly sorry, Lord Link, we may not be able to meet your needs."

Link felt somewhat disappointed upon hearing this.

But he also knew that this was not Kuokas's fault.

After all, they also have their own difficulties.

He thought for a moment and said, "I see... But if possible, could we send our own people to mine here? Of course, we'll follow the rules and won't cause you any trouble."

Kuokas was taken aback; she hadn't expected Link to make such a request.

She glanced at the old city lord, and seeing that he didn't object, she said, "This... I need to think about it carefully. After all, the mine is a resource of our Hailin City, and allowing outsiders to mine it might cause some unnecessary trouble."

Link nodded understandingly and said, "I understand your concerns. However, we can sign an agreement that clarifies the rights and obligations of both parties. This will protect your interests while also allowing us to obtain the saltpeter we need. What do you think?"

The old city lord smiled and said, "Link, you're a clever man. That's a good idea. However, I still need to discuss it with Kuokas, since she's more familiar with the mines."

Link nodded in understanding.

He knew that this matter could not be rushed and that he needed to give the old city lord and Kuokas some time to consider it.

Just then, the old city lord suddenly spoke up, "Link, how about this? We don't have anyone managing those mines. If you're capable, you can send people over to collect the saltpeter anytime. You could even build a mine here, no problem. Anyway, once it's mined here, it can be transported to your side by waterway very quickly. What do you think?"

Link was overjoyed upon hearing this.

He hadn't expected the old city lord to agree to his request so readily.

He quickly replied, "That's great! Thank you so much! I will definitely follow the rules and won't cause you any trouble."

The old city lord smiled and said, "Link, Kuokas, I don't consider you outsiders. Ever since my son died, I've treated Kuokas like my own child. Your affairs are my affairs, how could I not help?"

Kuokas bit her lip, unsure of what to say. Her heart was filled with gratitude and emotion.

She knew the old city lord had always taken good care of her, and this time he had made this decision especially for her. She secretly vowed to work hard and live up to the old city lord's expectations.

The old city lord looked at Kuokas again and continued, "I know I can't support Hailin City for many more years. I plan to pass Hailin City to Kuokas in the future. Kuokas, are you willing to take on this heavy responsibility?"

Kuokas was stunned for a moment, then immediately knelt on the ground and said, "Old City Lord, you mustn't! I'm just a child you picked up that no one wanted. It was your great kindness and compassion that raised me to adulthood. How could I possibly be qualified to be the City Lord? Please choose someone more capable!"

The old city lord patted Kuokas on the head and smiled, "I know you prefer the life of a knight, and I understand you're not cut out to be a city lord. But Hailin City needs someone to hold it up! Although it's just a neglected seaside town, I don't want to see it decline. Kuokas, take on this responsibility for my sake and for the people of Hailin City!"

Kuokas listened to the old city lord's words, her heart filled with conflict and struggle. She didn't know whether she should accept this heavy responsibility. She knew she didn't have the ability, and she also worried that she would let the old city lord down.

However, the kingdom's laws seem to stipulate that a lord's territory can only be inherited by his descendants, which caused Link considerable doubt.

She frowned as she looked at the old city lord, as if trying to find the answer in his eyes.

"Old City Lord, this...this seems a bit against the rules, doesn't it?" Link finally voiced his question.

The old city lord chuckled softly, a laugh that seemed to carry a hint of helplessness, yet also a touch of worldly-wise indifference.

"The kingdom itself is in the midst of a storm, how can it have time to care about a small place like ours?"

He shook his head and continued, "Furthermore, I'm planning to announce in a few days that I will be adopting Kuokas as my goddaughter. Kuokas, I wonder if you would be willing to be this old man's daughter and take care of me in my old age?"

No sooner had the old city lord finished speaking than a series of crisp kowtowing sounds rang out in the room.

bump bump!

Kuokas had already knelt on the ground, his forehead slamming heavily against the hard ground with a loud thud.

She looked up, her eyes filled with determination and gratitude.

“Actually, I’ve always regarded you as my father. I’ll always remember your kindness to me!” Kuokas’s voice was a little choked up, but every word was full of strength.

The old city lord looked at Kuokas, a hint of satisfaction flashing in his eyes.

He reached out and gently patted Kuokas on the shoulder.

"Good child, get up. From now on, we are family."

After saying that, the old city lord turned his head and suddenly said to Link, "As I just said, you can come to my territory to build mines or whatever, it's up to you. Actually, this old man has his own little schemes. Chaos in the kingdom is bound to come sooner or later, and I know that Kuokas alone cannot withstand it. I saw your amazing army before, and I don't want to know what it is, but I'm asking you here to treat Hailin City as your territory."

Upon hearing this, Link was somewhat shocked.