"Is that the Lord's Mansion over there?"
Bede, covering her brows, tiptoed to take a look. "In general, the central area of a city houses its most important buildings."
Night San Geng pinched his brow, sighed, and then ran towards the source of the noise.
"Hey? Boss, are you going to meddle in other people's affairs? That doesn't seem like your style," Bede said in surprise as she followed him.
"Meddle in other people's affairs? My armor is still in Ong Ling's hands! Hurry, hurry, hurry! Can't let people take it!"
Bede: ...
Sure enough, as the old man said along the way, everyone in the city had left. However, as they approached the central part of the city, Night San Geng noticed that the buildings along the street were getting better. The transition from wooden houses gradually shifted to brick and stone structures. Even decorative wall carvings started to appear later.
With wider and wider streets, enough for ten horses to run abreast, it was evident how splendid Lorand City used to be. Unfortunately, now it had become an empty city.
"It's there!" Bede pointed to the distance.
Seeing a cloud of dust rising in the front, a grayish-white tall building looming in and out of view, Night San Geng slowed his pace and became cautious.
There was more than just Ong Ling present!
Crossing the intersection, they saw Ong Ling standing next to a partially demolished building, panting heavily while holding her iconic large black hammer. Surrounding her were ten unfamiliar individuals.
However, one of them was lying on the ground, continuously spitting blood. Beside him, a woman was hurriedly treating his injuries.
"Lord Ong! I never expected a sanctifier like you to be so ruthless. Do you have no shame?!" An old man with a white beard anxiously questioned.
Looking at his white robe and the crystal-studded staff in his hand, he seemed to be a mage.
"Hmph! The identity of a sanctifier lost its validity when I became the Lord. It's you who came to Lorand, displaying arrogance, deceiving and luring away my subjects. Who is the one without shame?!" Ong Ling smashed her hammer onto the ground and proclaimed.
"Hehe, water flows downhill, and people go where the conditions are better. Lorand has declined to this extent, so it's wise to seek better treatment in Heavenly Stone City. How are we the ones without shame?" the old man retorted.
Ong Ling snorted and reached behind her, tearing off a poster from the wall.
"What about this evacuation notice posted at the Lord's Mansion? What's that about?" Ong Ling stepped on the flyer, sternly asking.
"Today, each person moving out gets a gold coin as relocation compensation. Heavenly Stone City is quite generous. No wonder they left in such a hurry, even abandoning the nearly ripe wheat. Aren't you going too far?" The old man sneered.
"Hmph! Going too far? We are just taking what you don't want. If you have the ability, can you use money to snatch people away?" A female swordsman in armor mocked.
Ong Ling's face turned pale. Indeed, as she said.
They were not refusing to pay; she had no way to stop her subjects from going wherever they wanted.
But she still felt unwilling. Was Lorand City really going to end like this?
"Who says she has no one!"
A majestic voice suddenly echoed, and Night San Geng slowly stepped out from behind a wall, surprising everyone.
The wind blew, and his messy hair floated...
Seeing that stingy guy who always angered her, standing up at this moment, Ong Ling's eyes welled up with tears.
"Who are you?"
The old man turned around, only to see a man with a pale face, covered in dirt, accompanied by a golden-haired beauty walking towards them. His expression suddenly became serious.
"Are you adventurers hired by Ong Ling? The extermination order has been lifted. You can leave now!"
The female swordsman leaned forward, blocking Night San Geng's way with her two companions.
Night San Geng shook his head and suddenly asked a question that made Ong Ling's heart skip a beat:
"Uh, just heard you say that each person moving out of Lorand City gets a gold coin?"
"Are you also a resident of Lorand City? Why haven't I seen you before?" A big man with an axe frowned and asked.
"I am the ranger of Lorand City, just got unemployed yesterday. You first confirm if it's true, right?" Night San Geng urged.
"That's right, as long as you report to Heavenly Stone City today as someone from Lorand City, you can receive a gold coin," the old man replied, shaking his head towards the others.
Night San Geng smirked, "Can you give it to me now, or do I have to go report first?"
"You want it now, it's not impossible. Just you two?" The female swordsman took out a money pouch as she spoke.
"Oh, of course not. I still have 123 brothers who haven't come. Can you settle the payment for all of us together?" Night San Geng opened an empty money pouch and grinned.
"How much... how much?" The female swordsman hesitated, holding two gold coins.
"One hundred and twenty-three, plus the two of us, exactly one hundred and twenty-five gold coins. Thank you!" Night San Geng opened the mouth of the empty money pouch.
The female swordsman slammed the money pouch into a long sword, raising her eyebrows high:
"Are you playing me?!"
"Hey, wait a minute." The old man suddenly reached out and gently tapped her sword hilt.
"Little brother, if you're after money, Heavenly Stone City can offer you a better reward. How about avoiding this trouble? We hope you can find your teammates soon. We're leaving!"
After saying that, the old man, with a smiling face, led his men away.
Of course, it didn't include the unfortunate man still spitting blood.
"Thank you."
Ong Ling retrieved her hammer, expressing gratitude towards Night San Geng.
Although this guy only stirred up trouble in the presence of everyone, not really doing anything, his support at such a moment was still touching.
But Night San Geng waved his hand, saying righteously:
"Thanks for what? We haven't settled the cost of our armor yet, which is much more than a hundred gold coins!"