Samsara Paradise: Dream Weaver of Connections.

Leonard looked around the empty castle. Although there was nothing left in the castle, the traces left behind still gave a vague idea of ​​how glorious the castle had once been.

"Sir, should I pry this old man's mouth open?"

"No rush." ​​He naturally understood that Leonard wanted to squeeze something out of the old butler, but at this moment, he needed the other party to take the initiative to reveal the truth.

If he weren't hoping to get information from this old man, he would have thrown this eyesore out of the castle gate long ago.

"Tell me, why has this territory fallen to such a state? I remember that although this land was not the most prosperous, it was certainly not this desolate and barren." After sitting down, Lin Yi looked at Old Barton. Old Barton shivered after feeling Lin Yi's gaze. He could tell that Lin Yi was different from the heirs who had come here before, and was not so easy to fool.

Old Patton hesitated for a moment before beginning to explain to Lin Yi why the place had become what it was today.

This town was originally a major commercial center built around Bloodclaw Fortress. When Earl Edwin, the grandfather of the identity Lin Yi was impersonating, was in power, it was the commercial heart of the empire, with caravans coming and going and gold coins flowing in like water.

It was thanks to his astonishing wealth that Earl Edwin was able to build this magnificent castle.

After enjoying all the world's riches, the count gradually grew tired of the monotonous extravagance.

Just then, some unsettling rumors began to spread throughout the territory—some said that a door lay hidden deep within the forest, leading to some unspeakable being.

At first, people thought it was nonsense, but Earl Edwin became obsessed and devoted himself to excavation and research.

He squandered his family's wealth, hired a large number of workers, and sent them deep into the dense forest with shovels and torches to dig day and night.

At first, it was just the count's eccentric hobby, and no one took it seriously, but everything changed after a beautiful hunter appeared at the banquet.

“That night, I happened to fall ill and was unable to witness what happened.” Old Patton’s voice trembled slightly, and his cloudy eyes revealed deep fear.

"But then... the servants who attended the banquet disappeared one by one. As for the guests, they all went mad after they returned home, as if possessed by something, and kept coming back to the Earl demanding some kind of 'item'. In the end, they all disappeared too, and no one ever saw them again."

The town's decline began at that time.

Earl Edwin's madness caused a huge uproar, and the family had to pay a huge sum of money to quell the trouble.

However, the real nightmare had only just begun—soon afterward, monsters appeared in the port.

They resemble fish-men, but are even more twisted and terrifying, with a viscous black liquid seeping from beneath their scales, and sharp claws that can easily tear apart ship planks.

Merchant ships were attacked one after another, and the crew members were either dragged into the deep sea or mutated into some kind of inhuman creature amidst screams.

Gradually, no merchant ships dared to approach this cursed water, and the town's prosperity collapsed completely.

"Over at the port, those things are becoming more and more numerous and ferocious. Now they even dare to swim in the shallows during the day, like sharks smelling blood, dragging anyone who is alone into the water. Merchant ships? Ha, forget about docking. Nowadays, sailors would rather take a three-day detour than sail this cursed coastline if they even see it in the distance."

"As for the land route, those monsters that emerged from the forest, and those bandits more ferocious than wild beasts, swarmed like locusts, devouring everything they could. No matter how elite the caravan's guards were, they couldn't withstand the endless harassment and ambushes. The 'Iron Hammer' Merchant Guild, which had veterans escorting their goods, still managed to send back only a few smashed empty wagons and blood-stained pieces of armor."

Hearing Old Barton's explanation, Lin Yi couldn't help but rub his temples. With so many problems, it was a miracle that the people in this town hadn't run away.

"What about the 'ruins'? You said it attracted the undead and sealed away the castle's treasures?"

"Yes, yes, sir!"

"The entrance to the 'ruins' is deep, deep beneath the cellar. The old count dug through ancient rock layers and supposedly discovered the tomb or altar of a lost dynasty, but it alerted the guards inside. Those skeletons, wearing rusty armor and wielding glowing green swords, guarded the entrance and the deeper passages. I saw it with my own eyes once; a daring thief tried to sneak in and was slashed to pieces. Those skeleton swordsmen, with green fire shooting from their eye sockets, were terrifying."

"The castle's last reserves, some of the old earl's private collection, and, moreover, the legendary true treasure of the family, are all sealed down there! But no one can get in! Before the old earl disappeared, he seemed to have been trapped somewhere inside as well."

"Missing?" Lin Yi's fingertips stopped tapping.

“Yes! Yes!” Old Patton exclaimed rapidly, as if grasping at a straw. “Not long after that damned banquet, he locked himself in his basement study and wouldn’t see anyone. Then… then no one ever saw him again, leaving only orders for everyone to keep digging, saying… he’d found clues to the ‘key’.”

The old butler's voice lowered again, filled with confusion and deep fear, "Later, the spirits started to haunt the area below. The excavation was completely halted."

"Hmph, all talk and no action. I bet you're just an old gambler who's lost all your valuables and's making up this ghost story to fool the adults. If there really were a treasure, you'd be dead down there already!"

"No! No, sir! I swear!" Old Barton knelt down again with a thud, kowtowing repeatedly in Lin Yi's direction, his forehead hitting the stone slab with a dull "thump-thump" sound.

"Even if I had a thousand lives, I wouldn't dare lie to you! It's truly eerie down there! That chilling aura, that deathly aura... it seeps into your very bones from a great distance. If you don't believe me, sir, I can lead the way to the entrance. I only beg you not to send me in to my death." Old Barton wailed, tears streaming down his face, his fear genuine.

"stand up."

Old Patton felt as if he had been granted a pardon. He scrambled to his feet, hunched over, and humbly lowered his head, not daring to look Lin Yi in the eye.

“I see the state of the castle. It’s in ruins, riddled with holes. But this land is mine now.”

"Go and recruit a group of capable people. Remember, they must be capable."

Before he finished speaking, Lin Yi casually tossed a bulging leather bag onto the broken wooden table.

The bag wasn't tied tightly, and it burst open a crack as it fell.

In an instant, dazzling golden light flowed out as if it were a tangible substance, instantly dispelling the gloom that had settled in the corner of the hall and illuminating the pupils of Leonard and Old Barton.

Gold coins! A whole bag full of gold coins!
The dazzling light seemed to possess a magical power, captivating their gazes.

Leonard instinctively held his breath, and his heart, hardened like iron on the battlefield, began to pound uncontrollably.

He glanced quickly at Lin Yi's calm profile, and only one thought surged in his mind: This man's wealth is probably far more than what he sees!

“Reinard, you go with this old guy.” Reinard was taken aback, then a knowing smile spread across his face.

He understood that Lin Yi didn't trust Old Barton, that notorious gambler with a long history of bad deeds. Entrusting this bag of wealth, enough to drive the entire town crazy, to Old Barton to recruit people? It was tantamount to letting a hungry wolf guard a sheepfold.

To follow along is to become the sword hanging over the old man's head, ensuring that every coin is spent wisely, rather than flowing into the bottomless pit of "Lame Jack."

“Yes, sir!” Leonard’s voice boomed, carrying an almost excited sense of mission.

He strode to the table, grabbed the heavy bag of gold coins without hesitation, and felt the weight of the metal transmitted to his palm through the rough leather bag.

He even deliberately weighed the bag in his hand, making a pleasant metallic clanging sound, under old Patton's expectant gaze, before carefully tying the bag shut and holding it firmly in his hand.

“Let’s go, old man.” Leonard turned to the old butler, a smile still on his face, but his eyes held an undisguised warning.

“The master said he wants someone who is ‘usable.’ Don’t try to fool me, and don’t even think about taking these gold coins. The sword in my hand is not just for show.” He deliberately patted the hilt of the sword at his waist.

Old Patton was dazzled by the golden light and trembled at Leonard's blatant threat. The glimmer of greed that had just risen within him was instantly extinguished by chilling fear.

He swallowed hard, forcing a fawning smile that looked more like a grimace onto his sallow face: "Yes, yes! Rest assured, sir! This old servant will do his utmost to find truly capable people for you! I would never dare to have the slightest selfishness! Never!"

"That would be best." Leonard snorted, turned around first, and strode towards the hall exit, his heavy boots echoing clearly on the dusty stone slabs.

Old Patton hurriedly jogged to catch up, glancing back every few steps, his eyes constantly drifting towards the bulging leather bag in Leonard's hand.

The two of them, one after the other, passed through the huge black iron gate covered with spikes once again and returned to the lifeless town streets.

The bleak afternoon sun cast a listless glow on the muddy road and the crooked shacks, the air thick with the stench of rotting garbage. The streets remained deserted, save for a few pairs of numb eyes peering at them through the cracks in the broken doors and windows.

"Where are we going to find someone?" Leonard looked around. This godforsaken place seemed to have hardly any living creatures around.

“Go…go to the ‘Muddy Pit’ tavern, Lord Leonard.” Old Barton quickly pointed to the depths of a narrow, filthy alley. “That…that’s where the men in town who can still move gather. Dockworkers, former guards, and…and all the idlers with no other work, they all go there.”

As they entered the low-ceilinged tavern called "Mud Pit," a strong smell of cheap ale hit them.

The tavern's door was askew, with a wine glass scribbled on it in charcoal.

Rough laughter, curses, and indistinct singing could be heard coming from inside.

Old Patton took a deep breath, straightened his hunched back, pushed open the creaking wooden door, and went in first.

The murky air and dim light made Leonard squint; the tavern was dimly lit and filled with smoke.

Around several greasy wooden tables sat a dozen or so ragged men, most of them with numb or menacing eyes.

Behind the bar, a one-eyed, burly owner was slowly wiping a grime-covered wooden cup.

Everyone's attention was instantly drawn to the uninvited guest at the door. When they saw that it was Old Barton, some people showed undisguised contempt and disgust on their faces, and some even spat a mouthful of phlegm on the ground.

"Hey, isn't this our 'honorable' Mr. Barton?" a drunken burly man chuckled. "What's wrong? Didn't go to 'Lame Jack's' place to win back your losses today? Or... did you lose everything again and now you're here for a drink?"

Laughter erupted inside the bar.

Old Barton's face turned a deep shade of liver, but he suppressed his humiliation, coughed forcefully, and tried to project the authority of a castle steward: "Silence! Silence!"

But his voice sounded weak in the noisy tavern, and no one paid any attention to him.

Leonard impatiently stepped forward, his tall figure instantly bringing a powerful sense of oppression.

His gaze swept across the entire room, and the laughter and mockery stopped abruptly as if they had been choked. Everyone was stunned by this unfamiliar mercenary who exuded a cold and ruthless aura.

"Listen up, you good-for-nothings!" Leonard's voice drowned out all the noise in the tavern. "The new lord of Bloodclaw Fortress needs men! Men who can work hard, who are willing to put in the effort, and who are not afraid of hardship or fatigue! As long as you have some strength and your hands are clean, you now have the opportunity to serve the lord and earn real money!"

As he spoke, he untied the drawstring of his money bag in front of everyone, and poured out about half of the glittering coins onto the bar.

The blinding golden light ignited a flame in the dimly lit tavern, instantly igniting all the numb eyes!

Dead silence.

Absolute silence.

The next second, heavy breathing filled the air.

Those eyes, which were originally filled with hostility, were now fixed on the pile of gold coins on the bar, gleaming with a greedy green light like that of hungry wolves.

Even the one-eyed owner behind the bar froze as he wiped the cups, his one eye fixed on the gold coins.

"Gold coins...it really is gold coins!"

The crowd began to stir, as if a red-hot iron had been thrown into a calm, stagnant pool.

Countless eager eyes scanned back and forth between the gold coins and Leonard.

Looking at the scene of gold coins ablaze before him, and feeling Leonard's almost tangible gaze behind him, Old Patton knew that he had to do a perfect job this time; any mistake could mean he wouldn't see the sun rise tomorrow.

He cleared his throat, trying to make his voice sound more confident: "That's right! The new lord has arrived! He urgently needs manpower, and the lord will not hesitate to reward anyone who is willing to work hard. Anyone interested, come and register with me immediately. Those who try to cheat or fill positions without doing anything, get out of here as soon as possible!"

As soon as the words were spoken, the crowd surged forward with a whoosh, jostling and pushing towards the bar, shouting and yelling as if afraid of missing out on this windfall of money.

"Me! Mr. Patton! Count me in! I'm strong!"

"I used to be a stable boy at the castle! I know how to take care of livestock!"

"I've worked as a bricklayer! I can repair walls and lay bricks!"

"My lord! Choose me! I can endure any hardship!"

……

The tavern instantly transformed into a bustling marketplace. Leonard, arms crossed, coldly observed the frenzied scene, his gaze like the most precise sieve, carefully scrutinizing everyone who squeezed in.

He noticed several men in the corner with shifty eyes who didn't immediately approach but instead observed warily, seemingly assessing something.

There was also a tall, thin man leaning against the innermost pillar, his cloak covering half his face, revealing only a pair of cold, sharp eyes, looking at the gold coins on the bar and Old Patton.

According to Leonard's assessment, these few people are probably the strongest among them, and they might be exactly what the adults need.

While Leonard and the old butler went out to look for people, Lin Yi inside the castle was not idle either.

Silently, like ink dripping into clear water, pure black shadows flowed, coalesced, and rose from the shadows beneath Lin Yi's feet, from the darkness in the corners of the hall, and even from the areas unlit by the beams of light cast from the arrow slits in the dome...

After these shadowy soldiers appeared, they immediately knelt on one knee, awaiting Lin Yi's orders.

Lin Yi's thoughts, like invisible commands, instantly reached the core of consciousness of every soldier in the Shadow Legion.

Objective: Deep beneath the castle, to the passage leading to the "ruins".

Task: Exploration. Draw a detailed route map, marking the location, number, and characteristics of all obstacles, traps, and hostile creatures. Assess the threat level and search for valuable item information.

Instructions: Remain concealed and avoid unnecessary combat. If you encounter an unassessable or extremely dangerous target, immediately retract the message and prioritize your own survival.

Key points: Search for clues about "Earl Edwin" and "key".

Once the command was given, without a sound, hundreds of shadowy soldiers instantly transformed into streaks of shadow that flowed along the ground, moving so fast that they left only afterimages on the retina.

Following the cracks in the brickwork, the soldiers entered a sealed stone door in the basement. Instead of pushing the heavy door, they seeped through the cracks like liquid and disappeared completely into the darkness leading underground.

The entire territory is currently in ruins and urgently needs a large amount of money, which Lin Yi is not prepared to solve out of his own pocket.

He had money, but supporting an entire territory was still too much, so Lin Yi planned to take out some start-up capital from the underground ruins first.

Lin Yi's current priority for solving problems is: underground ruins → wilderness → port.

The underground ruins are located right under the castle, so they are definitely the highest priority.

The next step is to eliminate the bandits and monsters roaming the wilderness and open a new route to attract caravans.

After the caravans are secured, the port issue can be addressed last. (End of Chapter)