The Education of Cassian!

To encounter two Brockmans in Newin Port within a single day – how truly intriguing! Du Chen stroked his nose, a cold sneer forming in his heart.

The true Brockman had a Tyran Beast cub by his side, making direct tracking inconvenient. The imposter, too, proved exceedingly cautious. Deboning reported back that he and his mercenary companions had already vacated the dilapidated courtyard and reappeared at another stronghold. However, as long as they remained within Newin Port, escape was impossible – for this city ultimately belonged to the Du clan!

After two days of surveying the city, Du Chen gained a deeper understanding of the post-disaster situation. As expected, it was far grimmer than what the officials had described. Yet, one detail left Du Chen profoundly perplexed: everyone, including beggars and displaced commoners who had witnessed the calamity firsthand, claimed that tens of thousands of Merfolk had attacked the city. However, only a little over a thousand elderly, weak, women, and children who couldn't escape in time had perished. Tens of thousands against a mere thousand – such a ratio was utterly perplexing. Even if three to five Merfolk shared a single human meal, the casualty count would have been far greater.

Could it be that these human-devouring Merfolk had suddenly grown benevolent, unmoved by such a vast bounty of potential prey?

Furthermore, while the city lay in ruins, the actual loss of valuables was surprisingly minimal. The most telling sign was that the vaults of the city's banking houses bore no signs of having been plundered… meaning, not a single coin was missing from within.

It seemed the official who had reported the situation to Du Chen had not conducted a thorough on-site investigation at all, merely memorizing a few key figures before spouting fabrications to the Lord.

Responding to this, Porter adjusted his spectacles and speculated, “No rampant slaughter, no looting of vaults… did the Merfolk and bandits collude merely for a stroll through Newin Port? Or… were they engaged in some other endeavor, too preoccupied to plunder the city and its populace?”

Lacking sufficient intelligence, Porter could offer no further deductions. He stood behind Du Chen, gazing with considerable interest alongside the others at a small beggar by the distant roadside.

It was dusk. The sky was overcast, heavy clouds obscuring the heavens, and a desolate, cold wind whipped through the streets. Debris swirled and danced around the street corners, occasionally settling on the small beggar. The child’s clothes were ragged, his body caked in mud, and he huddled by the roadside curb, his expression a mixture of fear and stupor. His legs were rigid and outstretched, while his cracked lips could only emit a low, whimpering sound.

His mouth opened and closed, producing a 'wah-wah' croaking sound, like a lost toad.

Below his eyes, two lines of dried tears had carved two pale, tender streaks down his grimy cheeks. He struggled to shift his body, trying to evade the gazes of scorn and pity from passersby. Yet, his pathetic appearance only intermittently brought forth a sporadic clinking sound before him – another few copper coins being tossed.

“I-I don't want money! I'm not a beggar!”

He stared blankly at the dozen or so copper coins before him, his mind a complete blank!

“Have mercy, noble sirs!” Around the small beggar were several older beggars and displaced commoners. They opened their mouths to beg for food from passersby, humble and sorrowful. One of them, who had just obtained a piece of dry bread and was wolfing it down, saw the small beggar’s pathetic stupor. His heart softened, and he nudged him. “Hey, speak up! If you don't say something pleasant, who's going to give you food? There are so many disaster victims in the city now, and the rations from the Holy Church aren't enough. If we beggars don't want to starve, we have to…”

Suddenly, the small beggar's dull eyes rounded with sudden fury. He whimpered, flailing his hands wildly.

'Damn it, damn it! How can I, Cassian, Crown Prince of the Nano Empire, beg others for food?! Heavens, this is too humiliating!'

'And you wretched beggars, get away from me! You reek!'

Cassian, mute and unable to walk, could only flail his hands desperately, pushing away the beggars beside him.

“Hey, you stinking brat! I'm kindly offering you advice, and you dare to push me!?” The beggar instantly flew into a rage, grabbing Cassian and tossing him onto the street. “We felt sorry for you, a little kid begging for scraps, that's why we let you hold a spot in our 'territory'. But now you're acting up? Get lost!”

“Waaah! Waaah!” Cassian lay prone in the middle of the street, frantically pounding the ground in a fit of rage, yet still unable to utter a single coherent sound.

'Francis, you bastard! You dare make me a beggar?! Just you wait, I'll never forgive you! Damn it, I don't want to be a beggar!'

No one reacted to Cassian’s inner wails of despair. Oh, except for the heavens, it seemed. Before long, the already gloomy and dim sky grew even more oppressive, and a drizzling rain began to fall, soaking Cassian’s head directly.

“Waaah!” Cassian covered his nose with one hand. His body was covered in dried, putrid mud, and now, soaked by the rain, it immediately gave off a sickening stench. His other hand, however, tightly clutched his pocket – inside was his Senior Brother's gift: ten days' worth of 'antidote,' which absolutely must not get wet. 'Francis, you're truly ruthless! I-I will never let you off! Just you wait for my revenge!' He gritted his teeth and endured.

From a distance, Porter, with a hint of unease, said to Du Chen, “Is this truly wise? Cassian is but a child, after all. To make him a beggar is one thing, but to also ask Mr. Brook to summon the rain just to torment him!”

Du Chen shrugged, smiling faintly. “Whether this proves good or ill, we shall know in due time.”

The rain in the street grew heavier. Cassian, sprawled in the middle of the street, was inadvertently trampled several times by passersby rushing to escape the downpour. The pain made him wail hysterically, yet his 'wah-wah' sounds echoed unheard by heaven and earth… only the incessant patter of rain seemed to resonate with him.

Eventually, the very beggars who had thrown him out earlier took pity on him and hauled him back. “Sigh, so he's a lame mute. Never mind. Your appearance can also inspire many noble sirs to show great mercy. From now on, just stick with us, and we'll ensure you get your share of food!”

Cassian was carried into a dark alley by the beggars, his hands flailing wildly in alarm, his eyes filled with terrified unease. It was as if that dim alley were a man-devouring monster itself…

Taking all this in, a bittersweet pang arose in Du Chen's heart. Hadn't he, too, joined the Clandestine Circles in a similar fashion back then? Cassian would now witness the dark underbelly of society's lowest strata and experience the hardship of its very foundations… Whether the outcome would be for him to despise Du Chen to his very bones or to be deeply moved by this experience would depend on the Goddess of Fate's decree. Oh, ptooey, no, it depends on his own destiny!

Having lived in the Battle God World for so long, he was almost becoming assimilated into this place.

Shaking out his robes, Du Chen straightened up, shedding the common garments worn over his attire. His expression darkened. “I have a sufficient grasp of the situation. Let us go to the Lord's Manor and take command of this city!”

The Lord's Manor stood at the very heart of Newin Port. It was the most heavily afflicted area, yet also the first to be restored after the calamity. The sprawling aristocratic manor, with its three courtyards and intricate passages, had now been freshly painted and restored, and even its entrance halls and floral arcades replanted with new flora.

“Halt! This is the Lord's Manor! Unauthorized personnel are forbidden entry!” Two rows of guards at the entrance barred Du Chen's path with their horizontal spears. The original guards who knew Du Chen had either fallen in battle or fled in terror during the Merfolk raid, and these newly conscripted guards, it seemed, did not recognize him.

Du Chen let out a snort. Frost and ice manifested before him, shattering the spears. He strode forward, stating coldly, “Command all individuals with government positions, from Viscount upwards, to appear before me! I am Francis, the rightful lord of this city!”

Behind him, Harry had already displayed his token and credentials. The guards, startled, were instantly overcome with wild joy, shouting, “The Lord has returned to the manor! All personnel, pay your respects! Relay the Lord's command: all Viscounts within the city…”

What does a city most need in the aftermath of a great catastrophe? Food, supplies, rescue teams… these are secondary. What the hundred thousand commoners of Newin Port most urgently needed now was a leader who could offer them hope, a chieftain who could show them a vision of the future! In times of disaster, a spiritual pillar is paramount. While the Holy Church could provide this, and the Imperial Government also had its sway, neither could compare to Earl Francis, the Lord of Newin, who wielded both political and divine authority.

For the master of three hundred thousand Newin nationals bore but one name: Francis!

Soon, over two dozen officials appeared before Du Chen. A portion of them bowed their heads in fearful silence, while another, originating from the Lotus Charitable Foundation, gazed excitedly at their lord, seated on the main dais.

Scanning the officials below, Du Chen tapped the armrest of his chair and said indifferently, “I have been back for three days now, and everything I needed to know, I have seen with my own eyes. This time, the Merfolk attacked from the southern docks, ravaged their way through the East Gate, and finally retreated to the ocean via a Newin River tributary forty li away from the eastern suburbs. The plunder lasted an entire night, leaving over a thousand dead among the city's one hundred sixty thousand citizens, and more than ten thousand injured. Countless buildings in the two southeastern districts were damaged, while the northwestern districts remained relatively intact… From the invasion route and casualty numbers, this was by no means a simple collusion between Merfolk and bandits. Otherwise, the banking houses and densely populated areas of the northwestern districts would not have been spared by the Merfolk…”

As Du Chen spoke, his icy gaze swept over the dozen silent, downcast officials. After describing the city's situation, he waved a hand at them. “Raise your heads. I am pleased that you were able to remain in the city after the disaster, enduring hardship alongside the common folk!”

A collective sigh of relief echoed through the hall. The title of 'The Butcher Lord,' utterly unbecoming of nobility, had clearly exerted immense pressure upon them!

Immediately after, Du Chen roared, “But what of the others? The moment the Merfolk arrived, they fled inland, abandoning the commoners to seek refuge alone! Most amusingly, my City Defense Commander actually watched helplessly as the coastal defense fortress was breached by bandits, then ordered soldiers to escort his family members out of the city! As a result, on the second day after the disaster, with no one to manage security in the port, order collapsed, and the Merfolk disaster escalated into a man-made calamity!”

The officials instantly dared not breathe loudly again.

Du Chen snorted. “Since he has departed, there is no need for him to return. From this day forward, all armed forces along the eight hundred li stretch of the Newin River shall be personally commanded by me. Brook, my Battle God Retainer, shall serve as the Port Garrison Commander, and the internal affairs of the Lord's Manor will be managed by Porter and Harry… Additionally, I shall invite the Holy Church to send personnel to assist in defending the port. Do you all understand?”

“Y-yes, we understand!” the crowd assented in hushed tones. Several of Du Chen's confidantes, hailing from the Charitable Foundation, exchanged glances. One of them whispered, “My Lord, the Holy Church, after all, has an agreement not to interfere in the internal affairs of various nations. Inviting them to assist in defense temporarily is acceptable, but it's impossible to rely on them indefinitely… After this great calamity, the port's garrison strength is now less than five hundred men…”

Du Chen nodded. “That brings me to my second point…” He cast a glance at Porter.

Porter stepped forward, unfurled a scroll in his hand, and proclaimed loudly, “Now, I hereby announce the commencement of the Newin River Territory's Military Expansion Plan…”