Niu Zida's original plan was for Aponia to control Spring's family while ambushing the castle, using them as hostages to force a surrender if the castle couldn't be quickly occupied.
Now, it was equivalent to directly capturing Spring's family.
"Spring has no children, only a wife, Amelie, married for two years, who is the adopted daughter of Duke Maybach of Atair Kingdom."
"Isn't she the adopted daughter of the old king?"
"That's just a popular misconception."
"Speaking of which, what about Comte, that scoundrel who tricked us?"
"We haven't found him yet.
The city is still quite chaotic, Master.
Do you want to go and stop it?"
"Hmm, I'll handle things outside, Misato Shizuku.
You just take your people and guard the castle.
No one is allowed in except me.
Also, ensure the safety of Amelie.
She is the Viscount's wife and will be very helpful to us later."
"Hmph, that woman is quite beautiful."
"Eh? Misato Shizuku, that's not what I meant."
"I didn't mean anything else either."
"Then you're being boring."
"So, Master, what do you mean?"
Misato Shizuku gave Niu Zida a roll of her eyes, and Niu Zida could only retreat, knowing that he could never win an argument against this proud, cunning, and sharp-tongued beautiful young woman.
Handing over the concentrated knights to Misato Shizuku and the Goblins for safekeeping, Niu Zida rode Yor out of the castle to stop the rogues who were already looting in the small town.
At first, he merely shouted at them, but it had little effect.
Later, Niu Zida simply stopped talking nonsense.
Riding Yor, he would kill any looting rogue he encountered with a single strike, and it was purely through killing that he finally suppressed these rogues.
Finally, he managed to stop these looting rogues.
Because most of the Militia had fled and the knights were captured, the city's defenses outside were in a vulnerable state.
Niu Zida used the Goblin bone whistle to call in dozens of Goblins to control the city gates, led by Goblin Demon Swordsmen and Goblin Thunder Element Shamans, instructing them to temporarily take over the city's defenses and deal with other issues at dawn.
After simply arranging the city's defenses, Niu Zida rode Yor back into the castle.
He first appeased the disarmed knights, telling them:
"Lord Spring's death in battle was an accident.
As long as you don't offer unnecessary resistance, I will not endanger your lives.
Your property and land will remain as they were.
I will also release you soon, provided you can ensure you won't cause trouble."
The knights never expected such a promise after being captured by a Goblin.
Goblins were consistently portrayed as a particularly cruel, brutal, stupid, and short race, yet the terms offered by this leading Goblin were even better than the treatment from human armies.
At least, if defeated by a human army, they would have to pay a large ransom to be released, but this Goblin in front of them didn't mention ransom at all, and it sounded like he would release them without any demands?
Seeing that the knights had no objections to his proposal, Niu Zida ordered the Goblins to imprison them in the castle's dungeon.
This place was originally for residents who couldn't pay taxes or grain, or who violated the territory's laws, but now it was used to house these knights.
The few prisoners already in the cells were pardoned by Niu Zida and made into jailers, but Niu Zida also strictly ordered them not to abuse these knights.
After all, these people would be important assets for his future rule of Dore Territory, and he couldn't treat them too poorly and provoke deep resentment.
After simply settling these knights, Niu Zida rode Yor into the castle's inner chambers.
This was the second floor of the castle, usually inhabited by the lord's family and maids.
Duōléi City was just a small city, so the castle wasn't large, only two stories.
If it were the castle of a wealthier or larger city's lord, it might have four or five stories, with more rooms inside.
At this moment, Aponia was alone, guarding a pretty woman holding a baby, and behind the woman were two maids.
The three of them became uneasy as soon as they saw Niu Zida enter.
After all, rumors of Goblin brutality were deeply ingrained, and it was said that captured women would become breeding machines, or even be cruelly eaten.
They never imagined that Goblins could break into a human-guarded city, and that other humans were also being commanded by this Goblin.
It felt like a dream.
"Master, have things outside settled down?"
"Yes, the situation is under control.
Is this Lord Spring's wife?"
"Yes, Amelie.
This is my master."
"Hmm... ah..."
The pretty woman called Amelie, around twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, had a good figure and was wearing a long dress.
She was holding a baby that looked a few months old, and her beautiful eyes held a hint of fear and surprise as she looked at Niu Zida, who was lying on Yor's beautiful back.
She hadn't expected Goblins to speak human language.
Niu Zida, on the other hand, recognized her as the eldest sister-in-law from "Hachinan tte, Sore wa Nai Deshou!"
"Lady Amelie, hello.
I am Niu Zida, the Goblin Lord.
I have come to take over Dore Territory.
As long as you cooperate with us, I can ensure your and your child's personal safety.
I deeply regret your husband's death.
The battlefield is merciless; it was just an accident.
I will give him a proper burial."
Amelie held her child, watching the approaching Niu Zida with fearful eyes, expecting some brutal abuse, but she didn't expect him to speak to her so politely.
If his face were covered, she would have thought she was speaking to a human noble.
"My husband, is he really dead?"
"Unfortunately, yes."
Hearing the news of her husband's death, Amelie took a deep breath, but she didn't lose control of her emotions as Niu Zida had expected.
She merely said, a little subdued:
"If that's the case, since you have occupied Duōléi City, please treat its residents well."
"Don't worry, we won't be excessive.
If anyone plunders the common people, I will deal with them first thing tomorrow morning.
And I also hope you can cooperate with us to restore order in the city as soon as possible.
This will also benefit the city's residents."
"You mean you want me to appease the people in the city in my name, right?"
"You are very intelligent, Lady Amelie."
Since the other party was truly intelligent, Niu Zida also felt relieved; at least he wouldn't have to beat around the bush so much.
"What's in it for me?"
"First, I can ensure the safety of your and your child's lives.
By the way, is your child a boy or a girl?"
"She is my daughter."
"Secondly, I can even ensure your daughter inherits the Baron title. You wouldn't want your daughter's title to be revoked by the kingdom, or for a collateral branch to inherit your husband's estate and territory, would you?"