Duncan Thorngate's words were like a bomb thrown into a pile of anger, igniting the fury of the people completely.
"What, this crooked official even stole the relief grain left for us by the lord?"
"This crooked official is truly despicable!"
"Crooked official, give us back our grain!"
"Crooked official, give us back our grain!"
At this time, Duncan Thorngate added:
"This crooked official not only stole our grain but is now here to levy high taxes from us. If he doesn't die, there is no justice in the world!"
"Kill the crooked official, take back the grain!"
"Kill the crooked official, take back the grain!"
"Kill the crooked official, take back the grain!"
…
Seeing the crowd about to lose control, Henry Vander shouted: "Someone, someone, arrest this instigator Duncan Thorngate for me."
He spoke, but none of the people believed a single word coming out of Henry Vander's mouth.
At this moment, William Brown, who had been hiding in the town, shouted among the crowd: "The 'Spring Fountain Well' that the lord left us is not producing water because of this pig-like monster. Let's kill this crooked thief monster!"
In an instant, the people's chant changed from "Crooked official, give us back our grain" to "Kill this crooked thief monster."
Henry Vander was completely panicked now and could only use his official status as a shield: "Do you know that killing a government official is punishable by the execution of your entire family according to the law?"
"Do you really think there is no one in Green River Town who dares to kill you?" Duncan Thorngate's hand moved towards the long knife at his waist.
"Hmph! Who dares to kill me!" Even in the face of death, Henry Vander remained arrogant.
"Who dares to kill me!"
"Who dares to kill me!"
…
"I dare to kill you!"
As Henry Vander's voice echoed through the crowd, an old farmer carrying a load of cow dung put down his yoke and drew out a machete from his waist.
Puff!
The old farmer stabbed the machete into Henry Vander's round belly like slaughtering a pig.
As the blade sank in, Henry Vander's eyes widened, and blood flowed from his mouth, but he couldn't make a sound. His hands weakly grasped the old farmer's clothes, his eyes full of shock and fear.
He couldn't believe that someone dared to attack him. He was the mayor, the ruler of Green River Town; how could anyone dare to kill him? But the intense pain and the gushing blood reminded him that it was all real.
Henry Vander fell to the ground, his body twitching like a dying fish, and the scene before him blurred. He tried to speak, his lips trembling, but only broken whimpers came out.
As for Thomas Blackwood, he had cleverly slipped away before things got out of control, leaving Henry Vander behind.
After killing Henry Vander, the old farmer took out a piece of cloth, wiped the machete, and solemnly said to the crowd:
"I am an old man with no family, no children. Everything was done by me alone. I will explain everything to the court myself and will not implicate anyone!"
At this moment, everyone felt that the old farmer, with his wrinkled face and hunched back, exuded an unprecedented aura of heroism.
His deep-set eyes sparkled with determination, his bent back seemed particularly straight. Even though his temples were gray, his heroic spirit couldn't be hidden.
Some widows in the crowd even had their eyes light up, their usually cold faces blushing slightly.
At this moment, the old farmer felt that his decision was absolutely right. If it weren't for that stab, he would have been an unknown farmer all his life. Now, he was a hero remembered by everyone. Even if he had to go to the execution ground now, he would feel no regrets!
…
After Henry Vander's death, the old farmer's words were like a curtain falling, and the commotion in the town gradually subsided. Just as the crowd was about to disperse, a child ran over from a distance, his face full of excitement, waving his hand and shouting: "Everyone, come and see! The Spring Fountain Well is producing water again!"
This shout was like a thunderclap, stopping everyone in their tracks, their faces full of surprise and curiosity. They exchanged glances and then all rushed towards the Spring Fountain Well. The child led the way, running fast, with the adults following closely behind, afraid to miss the miraculous sight.
"Is it true? Is the Spring Fountain Well really producing water again?" someone asked incredulously.
"Go and see for yourself!" others urged eagerly.
When everyone arrived at the Spring Fountain Well, the sight before them left them all stunned. The originally dry well was now gushing clear spring water, flowing out like the long-lost vitality had returned to this land.
"It's really producing water!" a townsperson shouted excitedly, tears glistening in their eyes.
"The Spring Fountain Well is producing water; our lord is coming back!"
The Spring Fountain Well producing water meant the lord was coming back, and all the people of Green River Town firmly believed this.
And indeed, Magnus Valorion, leading a large force with abundant supplies, had arrived at Green River Town the day before.
However, they hadn't entered the town immediately. Magnus Valorion was waiting for Henry Vander to be completely dead.
Originally, Magnus Valorion had planned to use a carrier pigeon to remotely control from outside the city and create a disturbance to eliminate Henry Vander.
But Henry Vander was so greedy and foolish that Magnus Valorion barely had to use any strategy; just a little push, and Henry Vander was buried.
However, the grain in the town was indeed not stolen by Henry Vander. As for the drying up of the Spring Fountain Well, it had nothing to do with Henry Vander either.
Shortly after setting off, Magnus Valorion had the system retrieve both the water and the grain.
Now that Henry Vander was dead, he could return to the town.
Soon, the townspeople saw Magnus Valorion, Noah Sullivan, and others, leading the city guards and bringing in a large amount of grain and supplies.
"They're here! They're here!" a little boy shouted, pointing to the end of the street. The crowd burst into cheers, all eyes on that direction.
Magnus Valorion rode a tall warhorse, clad in silver-white armor, his helmet gleaming, looking like a god of war.
Behind him followed the neatly arranged city guards, all looking vigorous and heroic.
"Long live Lord Magnus! Long live Green River Town!" The crowd erupted in enthusiastic cheers, the sound reaching the sky. Bouquets of flowers were thrown into the air, colorful petals flying like a grand celebration.
No one had time to wonder how the crowd, which had just protested, had prepared flowers. It was simply a great thing that Lord Magnus had returned.
As the procession moved slowly forward, an old farmer with a hunched back and graying hair rushed out from the crowd, kneeling on one knee before Magnus's horse.
Magnus Valorion quickly dismounted and helped the old farmer up, asking knowingly: "Elder, what are you doing? Everyone is so happy, why do you look so sad?"
The old farmer sighed deeply and said: "To answer the lord, I have committed a grave crime; I killed Henry Vander!"
Magnus Valorion pretended to be stunned, then covered his face and wept.
While using his wide sleeve to cover his face, Magnus Valorion secretly sprinkled a grain of sand into his eye.
In an instant, tears welled up in Magnus Valorion's eyes.
Magnus Valorion shouted angrily: "How could this happen? We've only been gone for a few days, and how has Mayor Henry Vander met with such a disaster?"
"Killing an official is a crime punishable by death for the whole family. Elder, please tell me honestly, which villain dared to do such a thing? I will have him torn to pieces to appease Mayor Henry Vander's spirit in heaven."
The old farmer was confused, thinking the young lord must be hard of hearing.
The old farmer cleared his throat and solemnly said: "It was… it was… it was me!"
Magnus Valorion glared angrily and shouted: "What?"
Magnus Valorion looked up at the sky, tears streaming down, and shouted: "God, how could you be so unjust?"
"How could you let our Mayor Henry Vander meet such a fate? Sinbad! Sinbad! I, Magnus Valorion, will never share the sky with you."
Magnus Valorion's sudden words made the old farmer's head buzz. He pointed to himself and said: "Lord, I said I killed Henry Vander, not Sinbad!"
"What? You said Mayor Henry Vander was killed by Sinbad's gang of 500 bandits ten miles outside Green River Town while measuring the land?"
The old farmer still hadn't reacted, thinking Lord Magnus was so shocked that he was somewhat mentally unstable.
Not only was the old farmer shocked, but even Noah Sullivan and others who had accompanied Magnus Valorion on the "bandit suppression" mission were equally stunned.
Who was Sinbad? Wasn't Sinbad the "alternate identity" created by our lord himself!
We had just returned from robbing the wealthy landlords under the name of Sinbad.
The old farmer waved his hand in front of Magnus Valorion and shouted desperately: "Lord, lord, it wasn't Sinbad; it was me. I killed that pig-headed Henry Vander!"
Having seen foolishness before, Magnus Valorion couldn't believe the extent of the old farmer's stupidity. He rolled his eyes and continued his performance: "What? Sinbad has 500 bandits under his command?"
"Elder, you were stabbed dozens of times trying to save Mayor Henry Vander, but still couldn't prevent the tragedy?"
Unable to bear it any longer, William Brown shouted from the crowd: "Yes, yes, our lord has sharp insight. It was that bandit Sinbad who killed our Mayor Henry Vander while he was measuring the land!"
With this reminder from William Brown, everyone present understood that Magnus Valorion's seemingly incoherent conversation with the old farmer was actually providing an alibi.
The most critical point was that Magnus Valorion was mobilizing the entire town to provide an alibi.
The old farmer finally realized that Magnus Valorion was helping him. He had been foolishly admitting to killing Henry Vander.
Originally, he was going to lose his life, but now, with the lord's arrangement, there was suddenly a scapegoat—Sinbad.
The enlightened old farmer quickly changed his tune: "Yes, yes, it was that crooked thief Sinbad who killed our Mayor Henry Vander. We people of Green River Town swear to be mortal enemies with Sinbad!"