Chapter 2254: Journey to Imaskar 10

————Some parts ahead were blocked, everything will be sorted out tomorrow~

————

Savile Territory, White Sheep Village.

Compared to the cold of winter, the coldness of the human heart is even harder to adapt to.

Before dawn this morning, the small courtyard of Laoyantou's home was already packed with people—some there to watch the excitement, some to bolster the momentum, and others who had simply come to check on the situation out of concern for Laoyantou.

"Laoyantou, the three days are up. How have you considered the matter of the land exchange?"

"I won't exchange. The young Mage from the south said long ago that White Sheep Village and Grey Rabbit Village will soon merge to build a town. I know exactly what kind of scheme you're harboring by trying to swap your half-barren land in the west for the land in White Sheep Village!"

Laoyantou looked like an ordinary country farmer, but his speech was very clear and his attitude was extremely firm.

However, his firmness infuriated the middle-aged man dressed as an Adventurer before him. Considering there were many onlookers in the courtyard, the middle-aged man suppressed his anger and tried to persuade him again:

"Setting aside when the village merger and town construction will actually begin, even if they do merge and build a town, what benefit can you get out of it? You can go to the West District of Savile Town and see for yourself—clinging to the status of a town resident is not even as comfortable as farming in the countryside!"

"If the status of a town resident is so bad, then why are you fighting to get it?" Laoyantou asked in return.

"It's not that the status of a town resident is bad, but it's useless for lone individuals like you and me. It's the masters above who truly need it. I'm still standing here talking to you nicely, but if you don't agree, the masters don't have as much patience as I do!"

As soon as the middle-aged Adventurer finished speaking, a chorus of boos erupted in the courtyard, though his words truly frightened Laoyantou, who had been stuck in the fields for half his life.

"Even if the masters above want it, they can't just use half-barren land to exchange with me! Give me cultivated land or cash, and I will move immediately."

Seeing that Laoyantou's stance had softened, the middle-aged Adventurer immediately pressed on, "You want cultivated land? Won't it become cultivated if you farm it for two more years? At most, I'll give you a few Gold Coins to make up for it. If you really anger the masters above, I won't be able to save you!"

"You—"

Laoyantou nearly lost his breath; his withered fingers trembled as he pointed at the middle-aged man before him, unable to utter another word for a long time.

"Hurry up, have you thought it through? When I leave this courtyard, the next time I come back, it won't just be me alone!"

"I—"

Laoyantou's mind was in chaos. Those in the courtyard who loved to watch the chaos were jeering, but some gave very sound advice: "What they are doing violates the Daxia Code. Go to the south and report them; every report is sure to stick."

These words stood out clearly amidst the noisy crowd. Laoyantou seemed moved, but the middle-aged Adventurer was genuinely startled. He tried to remain calm and continued to threaten:

"What Daxia Code? How could the south decide the affairs of our Savile Territory? I tell you, the masters above have already spoken: whoever keeps the Daxia Code on their lips is a traitor to Savile Territory and will be sent to the stake in the future!"

"Is that so? If mentioning the Daxia Code means going to the stake, then what kind of punishment should I suffer for constantly explaining it to the villagers?"

"Who?" The middle-aged Adventurer turned around abruptly, but no one answered him. However, the sudden silence in the courtyard let him know that trouble might have arrived.

The next moment, the crowd quietly parted a path from the courtyard entrance to where the middle-aged Adventurer stood, and a youth wearing ordinary coarse cloth clothes walked in slowly.

"Me! Puxini, the Legal Lecturer stationed in White Sheep and Grey Rabbit Villages by Daxia Territory! And who might you be?"

The middle-aged Adventurer looked at the bright, calm eyes of the youth standing less than three steps away and was stunned on the spot, unable to speak for a long time.

"Another petty person attempting to sabotage the integration of the two regions. Fellow villagers, help me seize him and hand him over to the peace officers from the south."

Puxini was just a Legal Lecturer, but he was also an Official Mage. In the north, unlike the south, the words of a Spellcaster could almost be taken as a formal order.

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Plus, Puxini said to hand him over to the peace officers from the south, not to kill him outright. So, after a moment of hesitation, the crowd swarmed forward and hauled up the now-demoralized middle-aged Adventurer.

"Fellow villagers, next time there are matters like land exchange, land purchase, or threats and coercion, you can all go to the peace officers for help. If the situation is urgent and you are forced to agree, it doesn't matter; you can appeal to the peace officers afterward. Daxia law absolutely does not support any agreements that go against the will of the parties involved!"

"Good!"

A burly man in the crowd responded loudly, followed by various cheers and applause. The middle-aged Adventurer, who could no longer move, finally regained his senses and stiffened his neck, continuing to be stubborn:

"You bunch of traitors, the masters above, the masters—"

No one stopped him from continuing, but he himself knew that no matter how tough his masters were, they could not be tougher than a Mage master.

At this moment, Puxini walked up to the middle-aged Adventurer and said to him in front of all the onlookers: "I don't know who these masters you speak of are, but they certainly wouldn't be Lord Xia Duo and Lady Niya."

"The plan to integrate the two regions is a major territorial policy jointly issued by Lord Xia Duo and Lady Niya. Anyone who interferes with or sabotages this plan is an enemy of Lord Xia Duo and Lady Niya."

After saying this, Puxini waved his hand to have this now-useless pawn taken away.

……

Not far south of White Sheep Village and Grey Rabbit Village is the 【Daxia-Savile Passage】. The temporary station for the peace officers from the south is located within the passage.

After handing the middle-aged Adventurer over to the peace officers, Puxini stepped forward to comfort the villagers once more before arriving at the station to meet with the Coordinator, Aidelian.

"Just as you guessed, those people are becoming increasingly unable to keep their cool."

"Even if they could keep their cool, what would it matter? The village merger and town construction here is only the first step. Next, land will be measured and redistributed throughout the entire Savile Territory. If those vermin don't jump around a few more times now, they will never have the chance again."

"How is your family doing? Is the impact significant?"

"It doesn't have much to do with my family. My father is a follower of the old lord; all land and income are documented. The integration of the two regions is actually beneficial to my family because it integrates into a system with more prospects."

Speaking of this, Aidelian sighed deeply, "Actually, my father and those uncles of mine mostly support the integration of the two regions. It's just that this day came too quickly, and they are still a bit nostalgic, to the point of being blinded by the people below.

"But as long as the facts are clearly presented, making them realize the depth of the harm caused by the vermin below, I believe they will not choose to shield those vermin."

"Let us hope so!"