Just then, Lina beside him softly said, "Lord, that's the slum ahead. Should we head back?"
Link snapped out of his thoughts and replied, "No matter, let's go take a look."
Link no longer bothered with the level issue and stepped forward, following Lina into Winterfell City's slum.
What met his eyes were rows of extremely crude thatched huts.
These makeshift dwellings, worn down by the relentless passage of time, were already riddled with holes and on the verge of collapse.
When winter arrived and snow piled on the roofs, they would be unable to bear such weight. Once they collapsed, the residents inside could only resign themselves to fate, allowing injury or even death to befall them.
Looking at the curious onlookers along both sides of the road, they wore thin, tattered linen clothes, some barely covered, their emaciated bodies showing a sickly weakness.
Their eyes were hollow and vacant, as if crushed by the burdens of life, with no hope left for the future.
"Lord, those who live here are mostly abandoned orphans from Winterfell City, and old Soldiers disabled in past battles. Additionally, there are some…"
Lina spoke, then abruptly stopped, swallowing the rest of her sentence.
"Speak freely, don't hide anything. I won't blame you," Link said with a calm expression.
"Lord, because you once overly trusted Orlando and entrusted many government affairs to him, he used his authority to arbitrarily eliminate dissidents and amass wealth. Those he suppressed to the point of desperation could only struggle to survive in this slum…"
Link scratched his head helplessly; this matter truly had nothing to do with him!
Upon his arrival, he had decisively eliminated that treacherous Orlando, not giving him a chance to stir up more trouble.
He had already acted with swift decisiveness.
However, he naturally couldn't stand idly by in the face of the current thorny situation.
"Enough, I understand. I will arrange things properly later. Lina, lead the way back to the manor."
"As you command, Lord."
After a simple dinner, Link held a cup of coffee, its steam rising in the lingering twilight of the night.
That night, he didn't rest for a moment, planning the blueprint for Winterfell City's future.
The next morning at nine, Link summoned Lina.
"Lina, take some Soldiers immediately and gather all the residents of Winterfell City in the large square at the North Gate. In half an hour, I have something to say to the residents."
"As you command, Lord Link!" Lina bowed slightly and left with the order.
Half an hour later, the large square at Winterfell City's North Gate was already bustling with people.
The first to flood into the square were a group of ragged, staggering paupers.
The North Gate Square was adjacent to the slum, so they naturally arrived the fastest.
This was also part of Link's plan, as most of what he was about to announce was closely related to these paupers.
Following closely behind, the ordinary commoners of the city also arrived one after another.
Among the crowd were white-haired old people, haggard women, and innocent, naive children.
Their eyes were a mix of anticipation and unease, like travelers waiting for dawn in the darkness, both longing for light and fearing that hope would be dashed.
Apart from hunters out hunting and farmers working in the fields, almost all the other men, women, and children of Winterfell City were gathered here, under the orderly arrangement of Lina and others.
Lina, with five or six hundred City Guards, barely managed to maintain order at the scene.
Everyone craned their necks, waiting for their Lord Link—to appear.
In the crowd, whispers rose and fell, various speculations and rumors spreading like wildfire.
"Hey, have you heard? Our Lord executed that scoundrel Orlando yesterday!" A young man, flushed with excitement, raised his voice a few octaves.
"Hmph, nonsense! The Lord previously entrusted Orlando with important responsibilities, how could he suddenly execute him?" An old man, full of disdain, frowned and retorted.
"That young man isn't lying to you! Yesterday at the city gate, Commander Lina personally arrested Orlando's wife and daughter!" A woman nearby eagerly interjected, her eyes filled with certainty.
"Really? Is it true? That scoundrel Orlando actually died like that?" Someone else in the crowd asked, their tone full of doubt.
"Sigh… I don't care about their noble squabbles. I just hope this Lord can be more benevolent and not exploit us like before!" Another woman sighed helplessly, her eyes filled with weariness.
Everyone whispered among themselves, discussing animatedly, their words full of distrust towards Link.
Just then, the large bell in the square was struck heavily.
"Clang—!"
"Everyone! Silence! Now, your Lord will come to the stage to speak!" After striking the large bell, Lina respectfully retreated to one side of the elevated platform in the square.
This shout, like an invisible command, instantly quieted the noisy residents, their gazes all turning towards the high platform.
Link, dressed in a magnificent noble robe, walked with steady steps onto the temporarily erected wooden platform.
Author's Notes:
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