Chapter 158: The Tyrant’s Heir and a Ruthless Escape

Everyone stared in stunned silence, their eyes fixed on the brutally slain City Lord. Not a single person stepped forward to offer aid.

Instead, a fervent cheer erupted within their hearts.

The City Lord, who had oppressed them for so long, was finally dead. It was a deserved end.

Yet, the sheer savagery of the scene was so terrifying that many parents quickly ushered their children away.

Outside the restaurant, more and more ordinary citizens gathered, and whispers began to circulate. “Who could be so powerful as to slaughter so many of the City Lord’s personal guards?”

“I don’t know, but this is truly a huge relief,” another muttered. “If that City Lord had continued his reign, I doubt I would have survived the winter.”

A chorus of voices rose in discussion, some even fretting about the next City Lord. If the successor proved to be just as oppressive, their lives would remain unchanged.

‘Considering he’s the previous one’s offspring, it’s unlikely anything will improve,’ some thought. “Ah, it’s too difficult…”

The crowd shook their heads continually, lamenting their future prospects. Not a single soul spared a thought for the deceased City Lord or his fallen guards.

The situation only shifted when officials and other soldiers from the City Lord’s manor finally arrived.

“What are you looking at? All of you, get lost!” At that moment, a young man, flanked by a large contingent of soldiers, strode forward and dispersed the surrounding crowd.

The onlookers glared at the youth and his soldiers with angry eyes, but dared not voice their resentment.

This young man was the son of the slain City Lord on the ground, destined to be the next ruler.

Judging by his demeanor, he would likely be another tyrant, just like his father, bent on oppressing the populace.

However, the common folk had little recourse, for they were mere low-status civilians.

Thus, the young man advanced, surrounded by his soldiers.

As he gazed upon the corpse hanging from the city wall, no trace of sorrow marred his face. Instead, a flicker of joy and excitement danced in his eyes.

Witnessing this, everyone understood without a word needing to be spoken.

This father-son duo of City Lords had never been anything but despicable.

It was no wonder the young man hadn’t appeared earlier; clearly, he was no better than his father.

Step by step, the young man ascended to the position of City Lord. He had the body taken down from the wall, placed it in a tattered sack, and ordered the soldiers to carry it away.

Then, facing the surrounding populace, the young man declared loudly, “I am the City Lord of this city!”

He shouted with all his might, fearing that someone might not hear him.

The surrounding citizens merely watched him with complex expressions, remaining silent.

The young man, however, paid them no mind. He turned to the soldiers and officials nearby and proclaimed, “Your task is to execute all the deceased City Lord’s officials!”

His words instantly sent a ripple of shock through the crowd; they had never imagined such a declaration. Even the soldiers and officials present wore expressions of utter disbelief.

The young man met their gazes and continued. “These dead men—their personal guards and officials—all deserved to die. They treated my father as a mere puppet, regarded this city as their personal domain, and oppressed us without mercy. Their deaths are nothing less than their just deserts.”

“As for the rest of you, if you follow me, I promise you will live better lives in this city!”

Everyone present was stunned by his pronouncement.

With those words, many suddenly understood. The young man’s message was clear: follow him, and they would prosper within the city, free from further oppression.

Many faces lit up with excitement upon hearing this.

Previously, they had endured lives of hardship and suffering under the City Lord’s oppressive rule.

Now, a young man had suddenly appeared, promising them a better life if they pledged their allegiance.

Many did not hesitate to choose to follow him.

After all, the young man’s words had truly stirred their hearts.

A citizen stepped forward and asked the young man, “City Lord, is what you say truly real?”

The young man nodded, addressing the citizen directly.

“Indeed. Follow me, and I will ensure you live prosperous lives in this city!”

As the young man finished speaking, the surrounding populace erupted into instantaneous cheers.

Before, they had only held hope for the young man. Now, with his promise, they could finally place their trust in him.

Observing the crowd, a smile spread across the young man’s face; he knew he had succeeded.

The young man then turned to the soldiers and officials. “Now, go and execute all the officials from the deceased City Lord’s manor!”

“Yes, sir!”

The soldiers and officials promptly acknowledged his command and departed. The young man watched their receding figures, a faint smile gracing his lips—a smile, however, laced with undeniable ruthlessness.

He had no intention of allowing those officials to live, for they had oppressed far too many citizens within the city.

If they remained, the populace would never truly trust him.

The young man then entered the City Lord’s manor, beginning to attend to the various minor affairs.

The moment he assumed the City Lord’s mantle, he grasped a fundamental truth: in this world, only strength determined everything.

Yet, the citizens had nothing left to say, for they lacked the power to resist the fully armed guards.

Soon enough, the scene was devoid of onlookers, leaving only the young man and his soldiers.

“Father!” The young man collapsed to the ground, weeping loudly, his body draped over the deceased man. “Who dared to kill you? I will tear them limb from limb!”

He cried out with a furious, yet overtly theatrical, tone.

Wiping away tears, he let out a continuous wail to the heavens. His chest-beating and foot-stomping seemed like a rehearsed performance.

Finally, in a voice loud enough for everyone to hear, he declared, “I will inherit your position as City Lord. Rest assured.”

While his lips spoke of agony, his heart swelled with immense excitement. ‘Finally, the old man is dead! This entire city is mine now.’

‘Otherwise, who knows how long it would have taken for that old fool to die of old age. I never expected such sudden fortune, granting me the chance to become City Lord directly.’

The young man was ecstatic, yet a hint of fear lingered within him.

Who was this person who had killed his father, possessing such formidable power?

If he didn’t eliminate that individual, he too would eventually meet the same fate as his father. He could never accept that, nor would he allow anyone to usurp his authority.

In this city, he would be the sole ruler!

A cold glint entered the young man’s eyes as he shouted to the surrounding soldiers, “From this day forward, I, Tolgrem, shall inherit my father’s position as City Lord! Does anyone object?!”

Tolgrem’s expression was a mixture of intense fury and tears, as if genuinely grieving his deceased father. Yet, profound darkness festered in his heart.

All the officials and soldiers present bowed their heads, daring not utter a single word of defiance. They were mere lackeys of the nobility; any attempt at rebellion would see them crushed by the aristocratic class.

They had witnessed such events countless times before. Those with extraordinary abilities were entirely under the control of the nobility and the Church, leaving them no means of resistance.

“Yes, City Lord,” the officials and soldiers all knelt, prostrating themselves before Tolgrem in submission.

“Hmph hmph hmph, excellent!” Witnessing this scene, Tolgrem’s ambition swelled relentlessly. Simultaneously, he harbored a deep apprehension towards the killer of his father.

As long as that murderer remained alive, he would never find peace.

“Now, commence a city-wide search!” Tolgrem commanded furiously. “Find the murderer who killed my father!”

“Furthermore, order all extraordinary knights from the City Lord’s manor to report to me!” Tolgrem’s eyes darted, and he swiftly summoned the few subordinates with supernatural abilities to his side.

He would not let his guard down like his father had. It was precisely because his father had strayed from the protection of extraordinary individuals that someone had seized the opportunity to kill him.

While Tolgrem and his father were both extraordinary individuals, their pampered lives had long made them forget how to fight. Possessing supernatural abilities merely served as a symbol of their noble status.

The knights under his command were the true fighting force, the lowest-ranking nobles who fought on the front lines.

Within the aristocratic class, apart from the greater and lesser nobles, the remaining aristocrats were mere ornamental figures, possessing extraordinary abilities but lacking true combat prowess, serving only as symbols of nobility.

“Yes, City Lord.” The communications soldier immediately began summoning all the knights from the City Lord’s manor to rush over and ensure Tolgrem’s safety.

The others, meanwhile, initiated a city-wide search for the City Lord’s murderer.

In an instant, the entire city was gripped by panic. Everyone worried if the killer might appear near them, knowing that if they did, their own fates would not be pleasant.

****

At this very moment, Bai Yu and Ellie Roth Charlotte had already fled the town with lightning speed. Due to their deliberate concealment and remarkable swiftness, no one could possibly detect their presence.

Moreover, Bai Yu had cast `[Aura Concealment]` on both herself and Ellie Roth Charlotte. This concealment effect was utterly potent against ordinary people; not a single soul discovered their traces from beginning to end.

They even walked past the pursuing soldiers completely unnoticed.

“Sigh,” Bai Yu exhaled softly.

As for why she hadn’t used `[Aura Concealment]` immediately upon entering, it was because she had intended to gather information and clues under a normal identity. After all, they were searching for a way to leave, and they couldn’t remain hidden forever.

Now, however, there truly was no other option. This place was a veritable hell for ordinary people.

In such a highly oppressive environment, accomplishing anything was incredibly difficult.

Therefore, peaceful methods were almost impossible.

Given the circumstances, Bai Yu and her companion were left with no choice but to resort to force.

While Bai Yu did not wish to take other lives, she was certainly no bleeding-heart saint. She consistently prioritized herself and those around her above all else.

Bai Yu’s face was cold as she cast a final glance back at the town. This grudge, she, Bai Yu, would remember.

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