After Noah Sullivan left the Blackthorn family, Edmund Blackthorn warned everyone in the family to never associate with Sinbad's bandits again. Dealing with Sinbad was like doing business with a tiger—one wrong move and they would be devoured. What happened today was a clear lesson!
However, Edmund Blackthorn didn't know that right after they left, Magnus Valorion ordered his men to burn down the Crimson Vultures' stronghold, along with the 300-plus corpses and Tuco's residence. If Tuco could do it all over again, he certainly wouldn't have chosen to rob Magnus Valorion's grain store. The people from Magnus Valorion's grain store were simply too ruthless.
Now, over 300 lives of the Crimson Vultures had been wiped out, except for Tuco and his deputy, the "One-Eyed Man." Magnus Valorion left a team to support Noah, and the rest of the people, along with the captured bandits, returned to Green River Town.
Paraquat, a highly toxic pesticide, had no antidote. Drinking it gave you time to regret, but not the chance to survive. On the way back, Magnus Valorion feared that Tuco and the "One-Eyed Man" might not survive, so he sent a small team ahead to escort the two back to Green River Town.
It took them nearly three days to walk from Green River Town to the Crimson Vultures' stronghold, but now, with the captured horses, they returned to Green River Town in just over a day. By this time, Tuco and the "One-Eyed Man" were barely alive due to the poison and the arduous journey.
When Tuco saw the tall, sturdy walls of Green River Town, he mistakenly thought it was the heavily fortified Ironclad Pass with 200,000 troops. As soon as they entered the city gate, Magnus Valorion ordered a soldier, Michael Harris, "Go and announce to the whole city that the town mayor has captured the bandit leader and his deputy from the Crimson Vultures. Today, we will execute them in the marketplace."
"Oh, and fetch my official robe from the town hall. I will parade these heartless bandits through the streets."
The soldier, Michael Harris, ran off immediately, shouting as he went, "The mayor has captured the bandit leader! He's going to execute them in the marketplace!"
"Mayor Magnus Valorion has caught the leader of the Crimson Vultures! They're going to be executed!"
Soon, the news spread among the citizens of Green River Town. The city now had about four or five thousand people, half of whom were original residents, and over two thousand were refugees from Willowbrook Town. A few, like Robert Miller, had come from Greenwood City.
The people from Greenwood City were under the protection of a large garrison, so they were curious but not too concerned about the execution. However, the people from Green River Town and Willowbrook Town were different. The 300 bandits of the Crimson Vultures, led by Tuco, had terrorized both towns, robbing and killing the innocent.
The citizens of these two towns were tormented by the Crimson Vultures and hated the bandits deeply. They longed to see the bandits punished severely. Previously, the mayors of both towns were powerless against the Crimson Vultures. But now, their mayor, Magnus Valorion, had captured Tuco and the "One-Eyed Man," bringing great joy and excitement to the people.
As Magnus Valorion paraded Tuco and the "One-Eyed Man" through the streets, those who recognized them shouted excitedly.
"It's him, it's Tuco! I'd recognize him even if he turned to ash!"
"And that 'One-Eyed Man,' he cut off my son's finger!"
An elderly woman in the crowd cried out, "And my poor daughter, Eric Wilson, was taken by these monsters. I still don't know if she's alive or dead!"
Hearing this familiar name, Magnus Valorion had the procession halt and addressed the elderly woman, "Ma'am, did you say Eric Wilson is your daughter? The one who was in love with William Anderson from Oakridge Village?"
The woman, sobbing, nodded, "Yes, that's my poor daughter!"
"Don't worry, Ma'am. Your daughter Eric was also rescued by me. She and the others taken by the Crimson Vultures are weak and traveling back slowly with William."
"Is it true? Is my Eric really alive?" The woman's eyes filled with tears of joy.
"Thank God, thank the heavens!" She cried, hands clasped in gratitude.
A local citizen interjected, "Thank God and the heavens? You should thank Mayor Magnus Valorion!"
Realizing her mistake, the woman quickly corrected herself, "Yes, yes, thank you, Mayor Magnus Valorion!"
"Long live Mayor Magnus Valorion! Long live Mayor Magnus Valorion..."
The crowd joined in, chanting their gratitude and admiration for their mayor.
Magnus Valorion felt elated by the people's support. He truly understood what it meant to "Take care of your people, and they will take care of you."
Meanwhile, Tuco and the "One-Eyed Man" were not receiving such kindness. They were pelted with spittle, stones, and garbage. The trash rained down on them like a storm. Already weakened by poison, Magnus Valorion worried the crowd might kill them before the execution. But then he thought, "Whether they die from poison or the people's wrath, they will still be executed, and it will strengthen Green River Town's unity."
Having made up his mind, Magnus Valorion let things proceed as they were.