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At this point of connection stood a high platform of the castle. From here, one could look down below, feeling a sense of superiority while maintaining a distance from these filthy people.

Richard looked at the crowd before him, suddenly filled with emotion.

No wonder the nobles in my previous life liked to curse others as filthy swine. How fitting!

As soon as his figure appeared on the high platform, the dense crowd below began to stir.

“The Lord has appeared! The Lord has appeared!”

Everyone was overwhelmed with excitement.

If Richard had shown up in the morning, the crowd wouldn’t have reacted this way; they would most likely have been indifferent and bewildered.

But now, Richard had become the person they were eagerly waiting for, even if his appearance did not bring them blessings.

After the crowd quieted down, the scribe immediately shouted:

“Shut up, all of you! Show your respect to our Lord at once!”

Realizing their blunder, the people hastily bowed under the scribe’s direction, fearing to upset Richard.

“Greetings, my Lord!”

“Greetings, my Lord!”

After the disjointed voices quieted, the crowd gradually calmed down.

Richard took two steps forward, releasing a powerful aura.

Instantly, the crowd, which had just quieted down, was further subdued by Richard’s imposing presence, not daring to make a sound.

Richard looked coldly down at the crowd, pacing on the high platform, his voice booming out,

“This is Long Eagle Territory. I am the Viscount of Long Eagle, the master of this land, Richard!

“You worthless trash, filthy swine! You live on my land, and the ground beneath your feet is mine! The air you breathe is mine!”

“The trees in the mountains, the rivers—everything, all of it is mine!”

“Now look down at this land, filled with your filth; smell the air tainted by your stench; see the mountains and rivers defiled by your waste!”

“You have used all this without my permission; you have stolen my wealth!”

“Not only stolen but also defiled it! You deserve death!”

As Richard’s words sank in, panic spread across the crowd, their faces filled with fear.

They knew that everything Richard said was true.

According to the law, Richard was the master here, and if he wished, he could expel everyone from Long Eagle Territory and live here alone, and no one could complain.

Not even the king would say a word.

Because that was the right of a lord.

But if he killed them all, who would work, who would serve him?

They couldn’t understand. Was he really going to kill them?

“Please, have mercy, my Lord! Have mercy!”

The crowd knelt down, pressing their faces to the ground, not caring that they touched filth.

Richard seemed to ignore all this, continuing at his own pace.

“And the punishment I give to you…”

Everyone held their breath.

“Is a fine of one gold coin each!”

This was the privilege of a medieval noble. They could exercise absolute power within their territory, with no one able to interfere.

They could control life and death, build armies, establish tax policies, and engage in various types of production.

They were like regional rulers, and he was the god of this land!

As the saying goes, in chaotic times, strict laws must be applied. There was no way to manage these people without dealing with them harshly.

When they heard his demand, everyone was dumbfounded.

A fine of one gold coin per person. A gold coin was no small amount for any of them.

A knight’s squire earned 30 copper coins a day, which amounted to nine silver coins a month. To earn one gold coin, even a knight’s squire would need nearly a year.

And that was a knight’s squire. The common people of Long Eagle Territory had even less chance of earning such an amount.

Even the most frugal among them might not have a gold coin in savings, let alone these lazy, filthy swine, most of whom had no savings at all.

Some didn’t even know where their next meal was coming from, resorting to theft and drifting through life.

Richard’s demand was practically a death sentence for them.

The crowd erupted in wails, begging Richard for mercy, hoping he would spare their lives.

Even the scribe and tax officer standing near Richard felt their hands and feet grow cold.

They had thought Richard intended to dig deep into their resources, but they never expected the new viscount to go so far as to drain the well completely!

They felt as if their world had turned upside down, their future bleak, and feared that the territory was doomed.

“If the lord doesn’t give us a way to survive, what’s the point of begging!”

One man shouted as he stood up.

A few others in the crowd also began to stand.

Richard merely sneered. His knights immediately drew their swords.

Seeing the flash of steel, those who had stood up quickly backed down.

Richard’s eyes flashed with disappointment. He had hoped they would show some spirit and give him a bit of a surprise, but he hadn’t expected them to be so spineless.

They had stood up, only to back down in fear at the mere sight of two guards drawing their swords, despite numbering over a hundred.

Richard knew full well that his demand was impossible for them to meet, but he had his reasons for making it.

He wanted to see where their breaking point lay.

“You all disappoint me so much!”

Richard curled his lip, his face dark as he shook his head:

“My sword hasn’t tasted blood in a long time. Those who just stood up, why don’t you come forward and try? Maybe, just maybe, you can kill me, and the next lord might be kinder to you.”

“After all, if you kill me, the next one can only inherit this place thanks to your help.”

As Richard’s voice echoed, the crowd looked at each other in disbelief.

They couldn’t understand why anyone would suggest they kill their own lord.

But the more Richard spoke, the more uncertain they felt.

Not only had their courage evaporated, but even if they had any left, Richard’s words threw them into confusion, making them too nervous to act.

The crowd remained utterly silent, like obedient lambs, bowing low before Richard, hoping for his forgiveness.

Richard quietly waited, his eyes sweeping over the crowd, yet he found no one daring to lift their head.

The scene fell into an eerie silence.