A strange world

Chapter 488 Section 145. Compensation

The hostility between Annan and Mad Dog Archduke presents a funny and cruel truth: Mad Dog Archduke’s men only burned a few buildings and injured some residents. But the mercenary group invited by Annan to protect Liberty City first killed dozens of innocent villagers.

Annan decided to follow the woman to her village to take a look and take responsibility.

Ingrid specifically reminded him not to apologize to them as a perpetrator.

"Why?"

"The ignorant villagers will blame you for their mistakes... Do you want to accept the remaining villagers, right? They will bury their hatred deep in their hearts, and it may disappear over time, but it may explode at a certain moment."

"Just leave everything to the mercenary group."

Annan felt that Ingrid was being alarmist, but she knew the world better than she did.

"I'll pay attention."

Fermi led an elite musketry team to follow Annan to the village. The anxious surviving villagers were relieved when they saw the woman.

Strictly speaking, they are also the subjects of Annan - they have lived in Gem Bay for generations without paying taxes or being enslaved until a lord appeared.

Annan was undoubtedly kind and did not mess with these locals, but it was his kindness that killed these villagers.

"You can choose to move to Liberty City now. I will give you free accommodation, fresh food and endless work." Annan assured the remaining women and children: "You can start over."

The villagers who were frightened by the killings responded in fear, and did not even dare to ask "Is it true?" for fear that the nightmare would come again.

This kind of depression made Annan uncomfortable, but he was afraid that the villagers huddled together like quails would be upset, so he had to vent to Femi: "You scared them."

"Sorry, sir." Femi moved aside.

One can only hope that time will wash away their pain.

Annan didn't smile again until the villagers ate hot food in the square outside the city lord's palace, and the children laughed.

Then they will be sent to the bathroom to clean out lice, give them clean clothes, and arrange accommodation.

The tragic situation in the village reminded Annan that the Mad Dog Archduke might do the same thing.

"How many villages are there in Gem Bay?"

"Three. There is also a fishing village to the east of us."

Annan recalled Fast, who was still in Syltovis, and gave him and Fermi a task: "Move all the villages in Gem Bay."

As for Francois, Annan asked him to question the mercenary guild with the ears of Machiavelli, the leader of the Rem mercenary group, and Armando, the deputy leader.

People close to Annan know that he is angry - the last time it was the knights of the Kingdom of Ruikan who disguised themselves as rat men and massacred villages and towns.

The mercenary guild moved very quickly - given Annan's status as the city lord.

The investigating guild members rushed to Liberty City on the third day. They first went to the temporary dungeon to take a look at the members of the Rem mercenary group who were about to be tortured into mud. They were afraid of the cruel dark elves and promised to investigate and find out the truth. .

"Aren't you going to see it?"

After the torture, Della was like a lady who had been crazy all night after a banquet, her cheeks were filled with joy and satisfaction - because of the prisoner's painful struggle and wailing.

"No, I'm worried that their miserable condition will make me unbearable."

Annan can face his shortcomings: kindness. Whether they are humans or aliens, their wails will inevitably make Annan feel like creatures hurt other species.

Except the Skaven.

With solid evidence, the guild personnel quickly investigated the truth and confirmed the Rem mercenary group's massacre of Gem Bay villagers. They announced that the Rem mercenary group would be kicked out of the mercenary guild and handed over to Annan for disposal.

"Inform all residents that the criminals will be hanged in the square tomorrow at noon."

The guild members who had not yet left hesitantly reminded: "Mr. City Lord, they are a master mercenary group..."

"I know."

Annan's gaze fell out of the window:

"The warm sun shines on the earth, the flowers are swaying, and the birds are singing... People like them should be burned in hell!"

"Uh...of course."

Ingrid sent the guild members out and asked when she came back: "Have you thought about it?"

Annan's answer was simple: "Those who do not respect life do not deserve life."

Ingrid asked without embarrassment, "Would you still make such a decision if they were a group of women?" and silently arranged the hanging ceremony for tomorrow.

…

As the dispute between Annan and Mad Dog Archduke gradually became more intense, the eyes of surrounding forces began to focus on Liberty City.

Annan's influence is also spreading - the title of "Mad Dog Archduke" spread among the nobles as Annan said it countless times in public.

But they are not optimistic about Annan. How does a champion warlock who is not even a legend fight against the de facto controller of a principality? Even the city lord of Syltovis asked Annan if he needed help, but Annan refused.

Moreover, the 'Mad Dog Archduke' was a veritable mad dog, and too many nobles were killed by him because of trivial offenses.

But standing idly by doesn't mean they don't do anything... They don't have the courage to support Annan, but they have the courage to use Annan to make money. They are also very bold.

Those towns that projected magical images used the excuse that Gem Bay was blocked by the Mad Dog Archduke and held on to the hundreds of gold coins that had not yet been delivered. Their idea was good: if Annan lost, the wealth and the magical imaging business would be theirs. Annan didn't lose, so he'll give it back.

And the one who added insult to injury was the envoys from the Principality of Keating who were visiting the surrounding areas of the Tatooine Empire.

They heard about the dispute between Annan and Mad Dog Archduke, and said that Annan would definitely lose: "He doesn't even have a noble in his territory. Without private soldiers, what can he do to stop the enemy? Charisma? Hahahaha..."

Annan knew that they could not represent the Principality of Keating, and this was not what Minister Franning meant, but he still had a bad feeling for this trading country.

Amidst this prejudice against Free City, a merchant ship loaded with weapons and armor came to Freeport in the early morning: the person who offered help was Girardi, whom Annan had met at Srtovis's banquet.

"Who is Girardi?" Annan didn't remember him.

"The sixth heir to the Principality of Montabourlock and the titular 'Grand Duke' of the Principality," Ingrid said.

"Where are numbers 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5?"

"They were all hanged by the Mad Dog Archduke."

"I knew it."

Facing Girardi, who came to Liberty City in person to encourage Annan, Annan tactfully told him that he did not lack weapons or food, only people.

"As long as you join me in resisting my brother, I will make the decision to let the people migrate to your territory." Girardi promised.

The long journey around made the young Grand Duke who was supposed to be sitting on the throne look as haggard as a middle-aged man.

"With all due respect, how much territory do you have left?"