Chapter 167

Just as Brook was swaying as he stood up from the snow, following the tracks of his fellow villagers and limping into the camp gate, several mounted figures stood in the forest not far away, staring fixedly at his back.

The leader was none other than Adlai, the magistrate and militia captain of Silver Pine Town, and also one of the Demon King's pawns planted in Silver Pine Town.

Following behind him were his trusted aides—including the Silver Pine Town militia, among them "Shield-Loser" Hebaer.

Watching the last refugee disappear into the camp entrance, several militiamen wore expressions of surprise, whispering in low voices.

"Saint Xisi above..."

"They actually really sold their souls to the devil!"

"It's fortunate that Master Guss had the foresight to keep these guys outside... If they had been allowed into Silver Pine Town, who knows what terrible things might have happened!"

Some wore expressions of relief, while others made the sign of the cross on their chests, praying piously.

Choosing torture after death for the sake of surviving while alive...

They didn't know why those refugees would make such a choice, but no matter how one looked at it, it wasn't a smart idea.

Unlike the whispering militiamen, Adlai could understand why those people would make such a choice.

Or rather, they actually had no choice at all.

Just like himself.

But then again, throwing in one's lot with that lord wasn't a bad choice. At least from what he knew of that lord, those who worked for him all received benefits.

Putting away the monocular telescope in his hand, Adlai kicked the horse's belly lightly, pulled the reins, and turned the horse around.

"Prepare to withdraw."

Shield-Loser Hebaer sidled up to Magistrate Adlai and said obsequiously.

"Do we need to report to the lord?"

Adlai replied without hesitation.

"No need for that; Master Guss doesn't care about such trivial matters. We just need to ensure there are no beggars in Silver Pine Town."

Having said this, he left first.

At the same time the militia group left, the refugees from the Twilight Saint Saint Xingsheng were also guided by the players to settle down in the inn at the foot of North Peak Mountain.

This abandoned inn appeared silent and desolate in the howling wind and snow, but at least it had sturdy walls and a tiled roof that could block the wind and snow.

Although the life-skill players of the Great Graveyard had built a large batch of uninhabited "haunted houses" before this, it was still somewhat difficult to solve the housing problem for two or three hundred people at once, so they temporarily placed these NPCs here.

Although this long-abandoned inn was a bit dilapidated, it still had the basic function of sheltering from the wind and rain, and many rooms had ready-made beds and furniture; if they squeezed in, accommodating two or three hundred people was not a problem.

Finally having reached the indoors to shelter from the wind and rain, the people who had suffered through the journey finally relaxed their weary shoulders, all revealing expressions of relief.

They either leaned against the walls or sat on the floor, and some perhaps could no longer support their exhausted bodies and actually lay down on the floor and fell asleep... although they hadn't even closed their eyes before they were shaken awake by their companions and pulled up from the ground.

Although there was no snow here, it was far from warm; once they fell asleep, it was very likely they wouldn't wake up.

Several enthusiastic players moved extra wooden boards from the warehouse and, with the help of a few young and strong villagers, nailed shut the broken windows on the walls of the first-floor lobby.

After finishing these tasks, 【Emotional Stability】 pushed a cart full of coal into the inn's lobby and, under the instructions of the mission issued by the Guardian Clan acolytes, worked with a few good brothers to light several charcoal fires in the lobby using discarded iron barrels.

The fire crackled in the blackened iron barrels, plating the pitch-black room with a layer of warmth and allowing hope to shine once again on those frozen faces.

At this time, a lizardman acolyte wearing robes walked in front of the crowd, signaling the skeleton soldiers beside him to distribute the potions contained in ceramic bowls.

Looking at the refugees who were looking at each other in dismay, he didn't offer much explanation, but simply walked up to Yang Yang Andi and Old Old Ma Ji, and looking at the father beside the two children, said.

"Drink it."

Dave did not hesitate for a second; under the gaze of many eyes, he drank the potion in his hand in one gulp.

Soon, the medicinal effect of the potion took hold.

He only felt a warm current surge from his lower abdomen, which then flowed through his entire body like a scalding hot spring, dispelling the chill from his body.

A look of surprise appeared on Dave's face, and then he looked gratefully at the lizardman acolyte before him, saying in a hoarse voice.

"... Thank you."

"You should be thanking the Demon King." The lizardman acolyte replied in a pedantic and serious tone, then offered a prayer in a low voice.

Dave looked at him with a pious expression, learned to pray just like him, and offered his heartfelt gratitude and prayers to the Demon King.

Seeing that Dave, who had drunk the potion in one gulp, was perfectly fine, the surrounding villagers finally let down their guard and downed the bowls of dark green liquid radiating an ominous aura in their hands.

The warm current dispelled the cold within everyone's bodies and simultaneously prevented an otherwise unavoidable plague.

And just as everyone relaxed, a fragrance suddenly drifted in from the half-open door, entering everyone's nostrils.

"Sweet potatoes are here!"

【Gulping Down Chemical Pool】 shouted with a cheeky grin, pushing a huge iron barrel in from outside with 【Gou Shi】.

The Demon King had already paid, and they only needed to be responsible for roasting the sweet potatoes and distributing them to the people here, and the mission would be considered complete.

The alluring fragrance soon filled the entire room, and the starving crowd made sounds of swallowing saliva one after another.

Although this stuff was pig feed in the Kingdom of Ryan, for them who were already starving, no one cared at all.

On the way to fleeing here, they had even gnawed on tree bark. Something like a sweet potato could already be considered a rare delicacy!

Especially after being roasted at high temperatures in the iron barrel, they were pleasantly surprised to find that this stuff was even more delicious than they had imagined!

It didn't even lose to sweet pumpkin!

Enduring the hunger in his stomach, Dave carefully tore a piece off the sweet potato and handed it to his two children.

However, facing the food handed over by his father, Yang Yang Andi shook his head and gently pushed his hand back.

"Dad, we've already eaten, you eat it."

Dave was stunned for a moment.

"You... have eaten?"

Old Old Ma Ji, beside him, nodded her little head excitedly and said.

"Yeah! The Demon King's minions treated us to hot pot! It was so delicious!"

Yang Yang Andi also said with a smile.

"That's right, that's right! There was even beef!"

Hot pot?

What was that...

Dave looked at his two children blankly, then a heartfelt smile appeared on his face, and he reached out to pat their heads.

And not far away, Brook, who was wolfing down a sweet potato, had a look of astonishment on his face; his jaw, which had just healed, almost cracked again.

Meat?!

There was actually meat to eat?!

Saint Xisi above... no, it should be Demon God Majesty above.

In any case, no matter who is above, is this damn thing still a Demon King?!

He felt his worldview had been collided with.

Not just him.

Luo Luo Bote, who was floating nearby watching, also had an expression of disbelief, looking at the skeleton soldier beside him and complaining.

"Unbelievable... are you guys worshipping the Demon God or Saint Xisi?! Taking in these wandering humans is one thing... you actually let them eat so well!"

He had worked for the lord his whole life and had barely managed to get enough to eat. Watching this group of refugees eating so happily, he wished he could possess them and taste what that roasted sweet potato tasted like, to be able to make people show such a happy expression.

Looking at the ghost who was drooling with envy, 【Emotional Stability】 chuckled and said.

"Strictly speaking, neither; we only owe allegiance to our boss."

Luo Luo Bote looked at him in confusion.

"Boss? Does that mean Demon King? Alright, I don't really understand, but can you tell me... why he would do this? Or rather, what good does this do you?"

【Emotional Stability】 said with a smile.

"Good? There's too much. If nothing else, isn't it better for the server to be lively? Players also have more immersion."

"Players? Server?" Luo Luo Bote looked at him blankly, feeling their conversation was completely in different dimensions. 【Emotional Stability】 didn't explain, but changed the phrasing.

"We don't really understand either, anyway, having more believers is good for our Demon King; just understand it as the eggs given out when proselytizing."

Luo Luo Bote was even more confused.

"Why give them out when proselytizing?"

This time 【Emotional Stability】 was also stunned.

"You guys don't give them out?"

Luo Luo Bote shook his head, then suddenly said with a sentimental expression.

"I don't understand why you would take these guys in; clearly turning them into corpses would be more useful to you... but then again, I suddenly feel your Demon King isn't bad, and can even be said to be much better than my master. If there's still a chance to be reincarnated, perhaps I'd rather be a citizen of the Great Graveyard."

"It's not too late now; not just the living, we welcome the dead too," 【City Servant】 said with a giggle, "Speaking of which, I've always forgotten to ask, how did your head become like this?"

"You mean this?"

Luo Luo Bote pulled his head off his neck, and seeing it scared the children nearby, he quickly put it back on.

=9+Shu_ba

"... I built a new double bed for my lord, but for some reason, he collapsed the bed while doing the deed with his old flame. I swear I didn't cut corners, but no one believed me, and then I was sent to the gallows by the lord... and to punish me, that petty guy even specifically instructed the executioner to use the bluntest axe, chopping me several times before my head was chopped off."

Several players gasped upon hearing this.

"Hiss—"

"That's really unlucky..."

"Right? I think so too! Other ghosts in the mass grave told me that because of this, I couldn't go to heaven!"

The more Luo Luo Bote thought about it, the angrier he got, cursing indignantly.

However, perhaps thinking that it was all many years ago, the object of his curse might already be dead, or even reincarnated somewhere else, the furious ghost suddenly deflated like a punctured ball.

That guy wouldn't go to hell for killing a carpenter, and in his next life, he would probably be reincarnated into a noble's family again.

And as an heir.

"Forget it... there's no point in saying this now; at least I hope my descendants can live a little better." Luo Luo Bote muttered, casting his gaze toward the few skeletons he had just met, "Does what you promised me still count?"

"Of course it counts," 【Emotional Stability】 nodded and continued, "I've already entrusted others to help you send it."

A look of relief appeared on Luo Luo Bote's face, quiet as a cloud floating on the ground.

"Is that so? Thank you... you guys will definitely be rewarded."

【Emotional Stability】 shrugged.

He actually didn't care much, after all, this was just a game to him. However, hearing his heartfelt gratitude, he still felt warm inside.

Not far away, a skeleton soldier holding a translation crystal walked into the inn's lobby and shouted at the villagers who had eaten their fill.

"Is there anyone here who knows how to raise animals? Preferably someone who has raised cows!"

His ID was 【Beast Senior】, and he had originally intended to play a Druid, which was why he chose this name, but after entering, he discovered there was no such profession.

However, this had no impact on him at all.

Especially after discovering that the freedom of this game was even higher than he had imagined, he soon found a new life pursuit—owning a huge farm!

Although there was no arable land around the Great Graveyard for the time being, he could start by developing animal husbandry.

Now he had already saved up the money to buy livestock through doing missions; the only problem was that he neither knew how to farm nor how to raise cows... even building a barn had exhausted him, and a pile of building materials was just sitting in the open space without moving.

Just when he didn't know what to do, he happened to see this group of refugees fleeing from the Twilight Saint Saint Xingsheng.

These people might not know many characters, but doing farm work should be no problem at all; after all, that was how they made their living.

Recalling the decree previously issued by the Demon King, helping NPCs arrange work could earn contribution points, and 【Beast Senior】 suddenly had an idea.

And these refugees indeed did not disappoint him.

Not long after his voice fell, a middle-aged man in rags immediately wiped his hands, which had been dirtied by the sweet potato, and hurriedly raised his arm to say.

"I, I've raised them before!"

【Beast Senior】 looked at the surrounding villagers, and from the expressions on their faces, he could tell this guy wasn't bragging.

Realizing this guy might even be a skilled worker, 【Beast Senior】 immediately revealed a joyful expression, walked up, and enthusiastically grabbed the man's shoulder.

"That's great, I plan to build a barn nearby and raise a few dairy cows... do you have any good suggestions?"

Although he was a bit frightened by being grabbed by the shoulder by a skeleton, thinking that the undead here hadn't hurt him, the man still summoned his courage and said.

"As long as you give me some materials, I can build it for you... it's just building a shed, that's not a difficult thing."

For an experienced herdsman, that was indeed not a difficult thing. Especially for him, he had not only built barns but also pigsties and stables for the lord.

【Beast Senior】 patted his shoulder with joy upon hearing this.

"Then let's do this, you just work for me! I can pay you a salary and arrange a place for you to live! Better than here!"

The man asked cautiously.

"Can I bring my family?"

"Of course you can!" 【Beast Senior】 said generously, "Beast Farm welcomes you! Although we currently have nothing but land... but I can guarantee you that everything that should be there will be there in the future!"

At worst, he would just take on a few more missions to earn money.

Hearing that the Demon King's minions were willing to take him in, a joyful smile appeared on the man's face, while the surrounding villagers cast envious glances at him.

Everyone present knew in their hearts that charity was only temporary and could at most solve their immediate hunger, but not their future hunger.

Even if the Demon King were benevolent, he couldn't keep supporting them forever.

Only by obtaining work did it mean they truly had a place to stay.

Looking at those eager eyes, the lizardman acolyte pondered for a moment and cast his gaze toward the old man among the refugees who was suspected to have the most prestige.

"After you settle down, we will arrange work for you. I hope you will register the professions you previously engaged in by family unit, so I know what you are good at."

"No problem! Can you give me paper and a pen? I can register for you now, and I can finish it by dusk tomorrow at the latest." Village Chief Pierre nodded seriously and said in a sincere tone.

He naturally also hoped his fellow villagers could take root here as soon as possible.

On the way to fleeing to the coast of the Vortex Sea, they had seen too many wanderers just as hungry and exhausted as they were.

As the war continued, there would be more and more refugees who lost their land.

He had a strong premonition that perhaps before long, other homeless refugees would find this place just like them.

Job opportunities were limited.

The faster they settled down, the more advantageous it would be for them.

The lizardman acolyte looked at the old man before him with slight surprise.

"You can read and write?"

"I can a little... I previously served in the army of the Kingdom of Ryan, and the instructors there taught us spelling. After retiring, I returned to my hometown, Holy Oak Village, and relied on the appreciation of the local lord to become the village chief..." Village Chief Pierre didn't hide anything and confessed his resume truthfully.

He hoped to gain the other party's appreciation through this method.

And just as he expected, the lizardman acolyte nodded approvingly after hearing his resume, then said in a hoarse voice.

"I will prepare paper and a pen for you."

"Additionally, the Demon King is very interested in your resume. Perhaps before long, we will arrange work more suitable for you."

A look of surprise appeared on Village Chief Pierre's face, and he subconsciously looked around, but didn't see the man in the cloak.

"That lord... is He here?"

"He is everywhere."

The lizardman acolyte put his hands together piously, looked meaningfully at the old man with the surprised gaze, and said as if praying.

"So never try to deceive that lord."

"He is always watching you."

(End of chapter)