Chapter 204: A Hundred Voices Can't Argue

"Lord, where did you go?" Ai Mi Li Si rose and asked.

She wore a smile, looking no different from usual, but Lei En felt a bit uneasy, as if there was hidden meaning in her words.

Ao Xi Li Ya's gaze was also blazing; she said nothing, yet she exerted even greater pressure.

"I have personal matters; I went out for a walk."

Lei En pretended nothing was amiss and sat behind the desk. Ai Mi Li Si was skeptical, and Ao Xi Li Ya's mouth twitched imperceptibly.

If I go, they won't find out, right?

Lei En couldn't help but doubt, thinking that he had double‑checked no one was following him, so how did they know?

Unless Fabian's side leaked the news.

This wind spirit, such a loose mouth!

Although I went to Pink Pony for official business, a man sneaking off to such a place and then claiming he did nothing is hard for anyone to believe.

Doing nothing feels even more humiliating…

"Ahem!" Lei En forced a dry laugh twice, his gaze flicking between the two ladies, suddenly wondering how they could appear together.

Inside the castle, only Xi Ka Liu Si and Pan Xi Er had ever seen Ao Xi Li Ya.

Ai Mi Li Si might know Ao Xi Li Ya exists, yet she has never appeared before her.

"You two know each other?" Lei En changed the subject.

"Hmm." Ai Mi Li Si nodded and replied, "Sister Ao Xi Li Ya just came looking for you, but you were nowhere to be seen, so she asked me."

"Sister Ao Xi Li Ya... such an intimate address; how long have you known each other?"

Lei En glanced at Ao Xi Li Ya, the dragon disguised as a human, who was quite fond of Ai Mi Li Si, the draconic apostle; the two were half‑kindred, likely intending to make an appearance and befriend each other.

Ai Mi Li Si was not as pure as she seemed; she was shrewd and could be called scheming.

Obviously, she already knew Ao Xi Li Ya's identity as Master An Xi's student, and would certainly try to leverage that connection; with her wit, she could easily win Ao Xi Li Ya's favor.

These two women were a case of one willing to hit and the other willing to take it; a turtle and a mung bean, they met eye to eye.

Ao Xi Li Ya turned her attention back to Lei En and asked, "Lei En, you went out on official business—was it related to Mo Du nobles, and how did it turn out?"

"I'm not sure either; we have to wait for news."

Because Ai Mi Li Si was present, the matter didn't involve her, and Lei En didn't want to drag her in, so he gave a vague answer without revealing details.

Ao Xi Li Ya could understand, but Ai Mi Li Si grew even more suspicious.

Lei En saw her soul color shift, feeling helpless; now even jumping into the Yellow River wouldn't cleanse it.

The following days passed in tranquility.

Lei En worked from dawn to dusk each day; aside from training and meditation, he spent all his time governing the domain.

Every official entering the castle, regardless of rank or post, was personally interviewed by him to ensure no schemers infiltrated, all must be utterly loyal.

After recruiting enough staff, Lei En immediately took over that half of the holdings, audited assets, and the domain's order gradually returned to normal.

The Dragonstone Mercenary Corps' mercenaries and centaurs were split by Lei En into several squads, stationed at multiple key sites within the domain, guarding ports and road checkpoints, handling security, patrolling regularly, and the entire Glamorgan territory completed its handover smoothly.

From Lei En's arrival at Mo Du, within less than a month he secured the position of Earl of Glamorgan, becoming a genuine lord.

Moreover, he received public recognition from the Mo Du aristocracy.

This astonished countless people—a twenty‑year‑old achieving what the previous seven Earls of Glamorgan never did.

He forcibly forced the Mo Du nobles to spit out the profits they had swallowed.

This is absolutely a miracle!

Although Lei En declined everyone's invitations and had never appeared at any formal Mo Du event, he is now Mo Du's hottest figure, a topic of conversation over tea and meals.

After ten consecutive days of intense work, Lei En finally could relax a bit.

In a previous life he was just an ordinary librarian, never a minor leader; this life he became a lord and finally realized that being on top isn't easy.

So many people count on you to decide; a single word from you could change tens of thousands of lives, even take some lives.

Such pressure is beyond what ordinary people can bear.

Fortunately, the Soul Eye easily discerns others' true emotions and attitudes, tracking their mental shifts, saving Lei En a great deal of effort in personnel management and making work easier.

In truth, he has little interest in managing the domain.

If Glamorgan weren't so crucial and valuable—yielding hundreds of thousands, even millions of Gold Shield annually—he would have long ago wanted to quit.

The simplest solution is to have the Yin Xing Duke send someone to take over the domain's governance, letting him become a hands‑off manager.

That way, Glamorgan's tax revenue would surely end up in the Yin Xing Duke's pocket.

He admits he hasn't reached the point of seeing Gold Shield as dirt, so he must keep toiling himself.

"Ah, the weather is wonderful!"

Lei En lounged half‑reclined on the study's balcony, dressed in loose clothing, with a small table beside him holding fresh juice and delicate pastries, a gentle early‑spring breeze blowing, feeling very content.

From the balcony, his eyesight allowed him to see nearly half the domain.

Across the endless vast farmlands, thousands of farmers were tilling, sowing spring seeds.

At the edge of his view stood the skyscraper skyline of the Six‑Deep‑Angle Commercial District; higher still, Weizelan Fu Kong Cheng floated aloft, a spectacular sight.

He took a sip of juice, propping his hands behind his head, utterly relaxed.

If not for that prophecy, without Master An Xi's investigation mission, without fighting for others, he could just be a lazy noble parasite, and the lord's life would still be pleasant.

Moreover, it wouldn't delay his pursuit of extraordinary power.

By spending a little effort managing the domain, transplanting some Earth things, and creating a few "inventions," he could gain "money‑making ability" within years.

Regular meditation training and daily consumption of demonic pills kept his soul power growing steadily.

If he wanted a certain demon soul, he could buy it; if unavailable, he could pay others to hunt it; magical gear was no issue—enough money could even buy epic equipment.

Converting Gold Shield into power was both easy and stable.

"What a pity…"

"A Fu Kong Cheng this beautiful— wouldn't it be best to let it keep running properly? Why would anyone have designs on it?"

Lei En gazed at the Fu Kong Cheng, shook his head and sighed.

Sitting on another lounge chair beside him, the quietly reading Ao Xiliya, upon hearing his words, couldn't help turning their head over, just as they were about to speak, they suddenly looked toward a corner of the balcony, their expression wary.

Lei En also sensed the change, turned his head and saw a semi‑transparent humanoid outline flash into view.

It was Yisu.

He hurriedly stopped the casting Rainbow Dragon: "Xiliya, he's one of us."

(End of chapter)