The First Hospital of Dawning City.

The Duke of Galava, lying on his bed, stared blankly at the first rays of the morning light over the window, his pale face as if he had just recovered from a serious illness.

These days, he has been suffering from insomnia all night long, and every time he closes his eyes, he will be awakened by nightmares, and then find himself covered in cold sweat.

He couldn't figure it out.

Why did the trump card that the Willantes helped them lose.

I can't understand how they lost at the hands of more than 500 people. 「.... Technology?"

His heart throbbed slightly, his lips trembled and moved, and there seemed to be a hint of realization in his cloudy pupils.

There was a way to cure the diseases that the court physician couldn't cure here, and he vaguely heard anyone say that it was because of some technology and technology or something.

And the most surprising thing is that not only princes and nobles like him can be rescued here, but their medical resources are even abundant enough to equip those poor ghosts who look poor and white with mechanical prosthetics.

Nyan even told him that they had set up a homeless house where survivors who had lost their hands and feet could receive an interest-free loan to replace their basic mechanical prosthetics if they were willing to learn life skills and accept job placements.

The Duke of Galava, who had calmed down, only felt that his back was once again soaked in cold sweat.

It was only then that he gradually realized what kind of opponent they were provoking. But.

This failed temptation was not a blessing. At least he found a recipe for how to make the empire stronger.

Relaxing his shoulders and neck and sinking the back of his head on the pillow, the Duke of Galava comforted himself in his heart, and felt a little better.

... We've got to find a way to get some technology."

Just as he was thinking, there was the sound of footsteps outside the door.

He was startled when he thought he had read his heart, and sweat broke out of his back again, until he saw that the person who appeared at the door was his henchman Niyang, and then he relaxed his tense shoulders slightly.

"Your Excellency, are you awake?!" Niyan, holding a stack of papers in his hand, stood in the doorway, looking at Duke Galava, who had opened his eyes, with a look of surprise.

Galava looked at him with a sinking face, and was about to summon him in, but when he saw the stack of papers he was holding in his hand, his heart suddenly tightened.

"Take the newspaper away!"

He didn't want to see this thing now.

Anyway, there is certainly no good news to be expected.

"This ....... It's not the newspapers, my lord, it's the coalition side that drafted a ceasefire agreement. Seeing that the Duke was so excited, Niyang Zhongzhong said honestly, "Do you need me to help you throw it away?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the Duke of Galava bounced out of bed as if he had touched an electric door.

The spirit did not look like a patient at all, and his bloodshot eyeballs seemed to fall out of his sockets, and he stretched out his hand with all his strength.

"Take ...... Give it to me!" "Yes, Your Excellency."

Niyan bowed his head respectfully and stepped forward with the draft in hand, but his buried face flashed with a subtle hint of loss.

It's a pity.

He used all his strength to arch the fire, which should have caused the crumbling building blocks to collapse to the ground, but was held down by a hand he couldn't see.

If this war is carried out to the end, and the bad blood that smells of corpses is drained at one time, and the worms that lie on the giants to suck the blood are drowned, there may still be a glimmer of hope for nirvana in his hometown.

But now, he can only sigh that his luck is not good...... The war is over.

At least for a while.

The ruins of the Golden Gallen Harbor, in front of the Governor's Palace, the smell of blood that could not be washed away even after several rains.

A group of clothed people knelt on the ground and folded their hands in prayer to thank the guardians for sheltering them from death and calamity, while others in ragged clothes carried baskets and searched through the rubble and threw everything of value into baskets.

Those corpses and those who fell next to the corpses

The weapons on the side have long since been collected by the militia in the settlement, but there is still something left that is worth recycling.

For example, some bullet casings that fell to the ground, or warheads embedded in the wall, or something.

These orange-yellow metals are all good things, a pound can be exchanged for a bean or two, and there are some merchants near the port who are buying them.

At this moment, someone suddenly picked up a leather belt with an ammunition bag hanging from under a pile of broken bricks, and immediately lifted it above his head in ecstasy and waved his hand at the guard who was sitting not far away. The warden saw this, yawned, got up from his chair, walked up and took the belt, looked through it for a while, and then counted a few bills and threw them to the man.

The scavenger bowed with a smirk. "Thank you!"

The guard waved his hand, and without even bothering to reply, he took the leather belt and turned back to sit in the chair.

Everyone cast envious glances at the lucky one, and turned their heads to search for the ruins even harder.

Hearing that barges had not docked in the river ports for a long time, His Majesty ordered the inland ports downstream to be blocked, and no more grain would be brought from the west.

Looking at the rising price of beans, many people already smell the famine. They have to prepare for a rainy day...

In the distance, some scavengers tried to enter, but were stopped by a group of able-bodied young men.

The lads were thin but fierce in their shirts and clubs, baring their teeth like hyenas on the prairie.

"Get out of here! This is our home!" "You cockroaches!"

"It's better to give money! Or go somewhere else! 「

The ragged scavengers were clearly no match for the guys, and a few of them took out two Xilan coins and handed them to the boys, while others really couldn't afford it or didn't think it was worth it, so they cursed and looked elsewhere.

On the other side, decent people who had finished praying rose from the ground one after another and bid farewell to the land where they had lived for many years.

As they left the ruins, they nodded to the boys who were standing by the ruins with sticks, thanking them for not taking a penny for the sake of their friendship.

And when he looked at a certain rat guy, all that was written in those eyes was reverence and gratitude.

They should have been the ones who were lying there picking up garbage and begging.

If they had listened to the werewolf villain named Vikram and asked for more from the Iron People, they would have had nothing but rotten bricks by now, and would have had to fight over a few pieces of garbage and a bunch of scavengers from other neighborhoods.

Basking in the admiring gaze, Ah Xin nodded lightly at them, but not too enthusiastically.

He could probably feel that behind those grateful eyes was not actually gratitude, but awe that they might not have realized themselves, just like when they were facing the gods.

It's hard to be a great person, but it's not hard to imitate a great being, and he knows better than anyone what virtues these guys are.

He only needs to keep a proper distance and majesty, and occasionally give a small favor, and they will praise his kindness and generosity.

It's so easy for him now, and it's not even something that costs money. And in return, when they came home, they would tell the children or their younger brothers and sisters not only to be as careful as rats in the night, but also to learn from the good lad named Asin, and to be a good fellow like him.

After that, they don't even need to open their mouths, their children will consciously find him, treat him like a brother, and ask him for a job that will make him get ahead.

These people have become his strongest foundation. Maybe he should come up with a name for his family.

As he watched the neighbors leave, Ashin withdrew his gaze from their backs and looked at his most loyal servant.

"Kunar, we have won this war." Kunar was slightly stunned.

"We?"

Isn't this a war between the Iron Man and the Empire? He couldn't remember when he went to war.

He spent the two days with his family, at the warehouse he had bought in the port area, at Wangxin's request.

Looking at the puzzled Kunar, Ah Xin nodded and said slowly.

"Yes, and it's not just us who won, the survivors of the entire Golden Gallen Harbor won." Kunar looked at him incomprehensibly, his eyes full of confusion.

Knowing what he was confused about, Ah Xin said with a faint smile.

"Two weeks ago, could you believe that a rat-tribe man owned a mansion of two or three hundred square meters on Tulip Street?"

The hint of vigor floating between his eyebrows matched his age, after all, he was only a seventeen-year-old young man.

Kunar subconsciously shook his head, but soon came back to his senses that his boss was a rat clan, and hurriedly and cautiously added.

I didn't mean to offend you......

"I know," Ah Xin didn't care, just squinted his eyes in the direction of the Governor's Palace, and continued, "Two weeks ago, it was impossible for a poor ghost of the Rat Clan to be a neighbor with the nobles there, and he didn't even have the qualifications to pay for it, but now at least he has money."

He didn't feel sorry for the smashed Golden Gallen Harbor, which had never been his home, but His Majesty's.

It would be better to smash the broken jar so that they could build a new home on the ruins with their own hands.

That's their own.

As for the nobles who are high up, and the citizens who cry for their fathers and mothers after eating a few meals, let them cry their noses. Anyway, when he was hungry, they didn't give him a single coin, and he had no reason to sympathize with them.

But to be honest, he was actually a little surprised when he saw the reactions of those people.

Especially when he found that the people who had lost the most were not only crying, but even their minds changed faster than they had nothing, it almost subverted his original impression of those guys.

He thought about it, and in addition to his identity, bloodline, and pampered living habits, the only thing that was different between him and those people seemed to be education.

The guys who were dressed and nibbled on white bread were literate and had read a few books. He had everything now, but this thing couldn't catch up with them.

And this made him determined to hire a teacher for his younger brother and sister, or simply send them to Dawn City to study.

And also

Be sure to find them a sister-in-law who has gone to school!

However, Kunar did not fully understand his words, or only the word money.

Money is indeed a good thing.

In the past, when he mixed with Vikram, he also had a lot of face, but at most, he could only make those poor ghosts bow their heads, and the citizens in clothes would not look at him twice because of that guy's identity as a werewolf, they would only dislike him for being mixed with a group of rotten people, and he would have to be blinded by himself.

But now everything has changed, and since he has money in his pocket, even the girls in the skirts will look at him twice, and even hold his hand and talk about poetry and dreams. The girl promised him that she would do anything if he would buy her a ticket to Silvermoon Bay.

"Boss, you're right...... We'll have to find a way to get some more money," Kunar muffled, "It's too slow to collect the scavengers' management fees, and we won't be able to save a ship in a lifetime, one coin at a time."

Ah Xin was stunned, and he didn't know why he wanted to buy a boat, but he still agreed with his first half of the sentence.

They do need money. And it's many, much more...

"Kunar, my friend, of course we can't make a fortune from the money of the scavengers, but don't underestimate the buying and selling of these coins, the money we don't look down on, some people will naturally look down on it."

He pointed with his chin at the lads with sticks and continued.

"It's not just us who need to get ahead, they're too

We need to be proud of our family, we give them the power to collect management fees here, and they get dignity and money from us. When we need to get rid of the guys that we can't handle, they do it for us."

Kunar's face was filled with a hint of surprise, and his mind was like a pause, but he quickly continued.

"What about us?"

"Let's make a bigger deal," Ah Xin glanced at the ruins in front of him, narrowing his eyes slightly, "This is right next to the Governor's Palace, if a building is built here, how much do you think it will sell for?"

Kunar was stunned for a moment, so that he didn't think about the money, but asked nervously. "But what if the people of the Empire come back?"

And this is a shooting buffer zone for the iron people, and those people paid for them to move out, how can they be allowed to move back?!

Asin pursed his lips.

"Empire, you say? Impossible, they were already frightened, and if they were still planning to come back, they would not have retreated so far. And even if they returned, the battlefield would not be here, but the trenches outside the settlement. 「

He had already consulted the adult called "Family" about this matter yesterday.

The Iron Men weren't happy to see such a large area of land go unearthed, especially one so close to the port area.

They are completely different from the Governor, they don't seem to see people living too hard, and this may have something to do with the bighorn god they believe in.

But whatever they wanted to do or want, he would serve them as he pleased.

What's more, he is equally optimistic about the potential of this land.

During this time, both the poor and the rich wanted to live closer to the iron people, and if they built a house on this ruin, they would definitely sell it for a lot of money.

It just so happens that he also has some capital in his hands.

Therefore, when he offered to contract the land, the adult named "Family" was only surprised, and then patted him on the shoulder with a hippie smile and agreed, only mentioning the matter of land tax and transaction tax.

However, you don't have to worry about these things until the house is built, not even until the house is sold. That may change in the future, but at least for now, their most pressing hope is to get the building up as soon as possible, not how much it will sell for.

The man had a strange temperament, but he was a good man.

Ah Xin could feel that he was different from a rotten person like himself, he really wanted to do something good, and even refused to give him a kickback for honoring him.

It is precisely for this reason that he swore to that "family" that he would not disappoint his expectations and cultivation of himself, and handle this matter beautifully.

In order for the land to be constructed smoothly and safely, it is necessary to eliminate the problems of undetonated duds or explosives.

So, he asked the lads who had lived on the same street to spread the word that there were many treasures here that the iron men looked down on.

Not only that, but he also deliberately arranged a few "nurseries", picked up some "treasures" pressed under the bricks every once in a while, and showed them in front of those scavengers, and exchanged money from the guards.

The scavengers who were coaxed by the rumors turned into red-eyed vultures, and they were eager to dig three feet into the ground.

These coolies who don't spend money or even have to pour money into him will lick this battlefield clean, and there is not a single scum left.

Then he can recruit people to work here.

「…… Kunar, I thought about it, solidarity is important, even a little more important than the knowledge that we don't have. The lackeys of the Empire are vulnerable because they are not united enough, and they have offended all who can be offended in this settlement, whether they are knowledgeable or unknowledgeable, and we must not make the same mistakes as them."

The slightly younger face was written with an old age that did not match his age, and Kunar suddenly felt a little strange about him for a moment.

Looking at the servant who nodded blankly, Axin paused and continued. "So I'm going to let the guys live

Together."

Kunar asked, puzzled. "What do you mean by living together?" Asin did not answer directly.

"For a long time to come, I'm afraid that only places close to those iron men will be safe, and a lot of dirty things will come out. Don't look at the ruins in front of you, only the scavengers are interested, and when the buildings are built there, the rich people of the whole city will rush here like them. I can bet you that one brick here will buy them all over, and even their brothers and sisters, their children and grandchildren."

Kunar held his breath, as if shocked by this astonishing fact, and held back for a long time before he could say a word.

"But...... Iron Men forbids human trafficking."

"Why are you as stupid as a pig, did Lao Tzu say that you want to do human trafficking?"

Ah Xin kicked him with hatred, but seeing the servant's aggrieved look, he still hooked his shoulder and patted him.

"Listen to Kunar, you are the first person to stand on my side, although you are my servant to the outside, I have always regarded you as a friend and family...... I'm not telling you so much to show you how rich I'm going to be in the future, but I'm telling you that you'll have something here, too, and it's a whole building!"

"One, a whole building?!" Kunar was stunned, and for a moment his voice stuttered.

"Yes, they can only get one suite, but you can get a whole building," Ashin pointed to the young men in the distance and patted the short-breathing Kunar on the shoulder, "so you have to listen to anything I say." From now on, as long as it's all on the street, they're all part of our family. No matter what they have done to me or you or anyone else, don't settle accounts with them, be polite to them, and of course don't be too nice. Only by winning them and their relatives can our fists be turned outward, and others will not dare to bully us."

Kunar swallowed hurriedly and nodded nervously, wanting to shut up, but couldn't help but ask more.

"Okay boss....... May I ask you one more question? "Ah Xin let go of his shoulders and gave him a casual look." You ask."

Kunar asked cautiously.

What exactly do you want to do

Hearing this, there was a rare moment of confusion in those fierce eyes, but it was only for a moment.

He quickly replied.

"I haven't thought about it yet, maybe I'll think about it later, at least for now I just want to make money and protect my family."

He had no ambition to become an emperor, and it was somewhat out of touch for a rat to do it, and besides, he had already obtained a wealth that he could not have imagined in his life, both spiritually and materially.

His only thought now was to hold on to it. But this well is not easy.

To do this, he needs the right forces to match.

He knew very well that the reason why those iron men cooperated with him was not because of how powerful he was, or how rich he was, but because he didn't have those things.

The reason they really chose him was because he could convince some people to do things for them that were inconvenient for them to do on their own, or even to say inconvenient.

In order not to lose what he has now, he must continue to roll the snowball in his arms, and he can only keep rolling it all the time.

If you don't want to be eaten as fat by other hyenas in the wasteland

Asin is not the only one who feels confused about the future, but Lassy, who has just won a battle, is also confused.

Looking at the murderous dagger that brought the ceasefire notice, he only felt a breath in his chest, and the flames in his stomach were choked.

Unable to resist the flames of soul-scorching ambition, he shouted at the exoskeleton-clad iron man in a loud tone for the first time.

"Why a ceasefire? The Emperor's army is simply vulnerable! With your help, we can make it to Tiandu! When the time comes, the treasures, the palaces, everything will be yours, and we will only want the blood of those men! Nothing!"

Just clean

With those mongrels who have the blood of the Japanese and Niu clans in their veins, he will be able to rebuild the dynasty that belongs to the Moon Clan!

He will be the new emperor and correct the mistakes of the past. When the reckoning is over, he will inject a little alliance into the theory of the thousand races and gods, such as unity, equality, and abolition of slavery, just like the kings of the desert are doing.

The reincarnation that curses this land will end once and for all in his hands!

And the empire reborn by Luohuo will also be more stable and united than the one it once was!

To be honest, the Killer Dagger doesn't particularly like this guy, although there are quite a few people on the forums who do like this NPC.

This is normal, even if they are all fun people, not everyone has the same point of having fun.

For example, the mosquito brother wants to see the explosion, Ah Wei wants to give the cute girls a home, and the guy with the big eyes in debt is the same, but the direction of force is different.

But it is undeniable that there is something in him compared to those slaves who only have a burning blood.

"Calm down."

Looking at this red-faced and thick-necked guy, the killer dagger didn't move his shoulders, but said calmly.

"You should know whose help you have to defeat the Gray Wolf Army. We don't deny the credit for your deeds in the battle, but you have to recognize yourself, you and your men are no match for that Alayan, and how easy it is for us to pinch them to death, it is as easy for them to pinch you as it is for them."

Lassi looked at him in astonishment. "Aren't we friends?"

Knowing that the stunned expression was pretending to be cunning, the murderous dagger simply ignored it directly, and continued in a calm tone.

"Yes, but they have friends of their own, a little further west....... The big-nosed guys were even a little closer to us by boat. You know what I mean? If we continue to fight, it will be an all-out war, and we will not only have to spend hundreds of millions of silver coins, but we may also give more dangerous enemies an opportunity to take advantage of it. Ask yourself, are you worth the money now?"

It's not just about money.

The attitude of the faction bosses is more important than money, and they must always consider whether their actions are in the overall interest of the alliance.

But there's no need to tell this guy.

Realizing her rudeness from that sharp tone, Lassi took a deep breath, trying to restrain her excitement.

He didn't know what the bigger threat was, but he wanted to try to make a last effort for the people of the land.

Looking at this instructor, he said sincerely.

"Please let me meet Mr. Fang Chang!"

The Murderous Dagger said seriously.

"This was Fang Chang's idea, and of course it was the result of our joint discussion.

Lassi was utterly desperate.

No—

Nor can it be considered despair.

It's just possible that the flame called ambition that burned in my heart was slightly extinguished by a basin of cold water.

He realized that it was impractical to become emperor by relying on the power of outsiders, and that no one would be generous enough to do anything for their good.

And his own power is too small to match his ambitions.

maybe

He should be more practical, such as starting with a warlord or something like that, and the throne can be slowly planned.

His Adam's apple moved, and he continued.

"What about the gray wolves? What are you going to do with the captives?"

The Murder Dagger gave him a strange look, and for some reason he suddenly asked about it.

However, he was still satisfied that this guy did not continue to dwell on the previous issue, so he said in a soothing tone.

"We're going to let them build a prisoner of war camp outside the city, and it's our usual practice there to use labor to reform those who need to be reformed."

Lassi was stunned for a moment and asked subconsciously.

Battalion!"

"Why don't you keep them in Camp Lowell? We can go and live for them

It's a killing dagger.

The murderous dagger looked at this guy who suddenly got nervous, and couldn't figure out who it was for a while

"It's a prisoner of war camp, are you crazy?"

Lassi took two steps back with her arms outstretched, then folded her hands together and pleaded.

"Please, I promised my men that I would put those brutes in cages............ At least let them feel what happened to us, and the wrath of our slaves against them!"

He needs to improve his prestige among his subordinates by humiliating those guys.

He doesn't ask for much, at least let them stay there for a few days!

I didn't know what this guy was carrying in his stomach, but the murderous dagger seriously considered his appeal for a while.

Although he thought about telling these people that it was unreasonable to vent his anger on his fellow citizens who had also been fooled and lame, he quickly thought of what Fang Chang had said to him before—

Something was too far ahead of their time for them. Thinking of this, the murderous dagger spoke.

"This request is reasonable, and I will ask others for their opinions, but it will only delay for a week at most. Our appeal to those captives is not only punishment, but also to use their labor to rebuild the port of Golden Gallen, and construction is the number one priority at the moment."

Lassi was overjoyed when she heard this, and hurriedly said.

"Thank you! It won't take that long, three days is enough!" The Killer Dagger nodded.

"Wait for my news."

With that, under the respectful gaze of Lassi, he got into the armored off-road vehicle parked at the gate of the camp and drove in the direction of the port.....