Samsara Paradise: Dream Weaver of Connections.

"Will the lord be satisfied with just a few people?" Old Barton rubbed his hands nervously, glancing back at the sparse dozen or so figures, his wrinkled face filled with embarrassment.

According to the previous lord's practice, this number of people wouldn't even be enough to fill a gap in his teeth.

Leonard grinned: "Old man, you think the adults want useless filler?"

Leonard didn't take Patton's concerns to heart at all.

Although he hadn't followed Lin Yi for long, he keenly sensed that this new lord was different from others—he wasn't the kind of spoiled brat who craved extravagance.

Therefore, for this recruitment, Leonard selected only those with a special skill.

Among the crowd, one figure stood out: a man wearing a golden mask, his entire body completely covered by a snow-white cloak, not a single inch of skin exposed.

He was as silent as a statue, his only possession being the ancient longsword at his waist.

In this chaotic world, the principle of not flaunting wealth is something even a three-year-old child understands.

After all, these civilians are capable of anything to survive.

But this person not only wore a priceless gold mask, but also paraded around in such a ostentatious manner.

They are either reckless young fools who are not afraid of tigers, or true masters who are fearless and confident.

Based on Leonard's observation, this person was most likely the latter, because the aura emanating from him made Leonard a little intimidated.

If the two were to actually face off one-on-one, the odds of Leonard defeating the man would be approximately 80/20.

Yeah, the other side is number eight, and Leonard is number two.

So Leonard was very curious as to why such a master would live in a run-down bar.

A master of this caliber, needless to say, could easily have no shortage of money simply by joining any noble family or powerful organization.

The man in the golden mask walked at the back of the group, his steps so light they were almost silent, as if he were a ghost floating behind everyone.

Leonard would glance back at him every now and then, always feeling that the eyes hidden behind the mask were coldly watching him, sending chills down his spine.

“Hey, you masked guy,” Leonard finally couldn’t help but ask, “What’s your name?”

The masked man did not answer, but merely turned his head slightly to look at Leonard, the eerie patterns carved on his mask gleaming coldly in the sunlight.

Old Barton swallowed hard and muttered under his breath, "This guy... could he be mute?"

“No, he can talk.” Leonard squinted. “He just doesn’t want to talk to us.”

"Fine, I don't care who you are, but don't get any funny ideas here." Leonard glanced at the masked man, said this, and then strode towards the castle.

The moment Leonard stepped through the castle gates, he abruptly stopped.

He blinked incredulously, then rubbed his eyes a few times, wondering if he had gone to the wrong place.

Just an hour ago, this place was a dilapidated hall filled with dust and so empty that you could hear echoes.

A dazzling crystal chandelier hangs gracefully from the towering dome, casting a slightly dim light that reflects the smooth, mirror-like dark wooden floor below, creating a shimmering effect.

Thick, ornate woven carpets covered the main passageway, and were exceptionally soft to the touch.

Large landscape tapestries hang on the wall, their exquisite weaving and somber colors silently testifying to their considerable value.

Several heavy oak tables with metal trim, large armchairs upholstered in dark leather, and even a fireplace decorated with strange animal heads...

Everything was in perfect order, exuding a sense of understated luxury and majesty, completely out of place with the dying town outside.

Old Patton's jaw nearly dropped to the floor; he knew better than anyone what the castle had looked like before.

These pieces of furniture… these decorations… where did they come from? Magic? A miracle? Or…?

Where did all this furniture come from?

Lin Yi changed into a more formal dark-colored casual outfit, leaning back on the sofa, his posture relaxed yet exuding an inexplicable sense of authority.

These pieces of furniture were naturally taken out of Lin Yi's space capsule. He then recruited several soldiers from the Shadow Legion to rearrange the furniture.

How can a lord whose own castle is empty, dilapidated, and dirt poor inspire confidence to serve his new subordinates?
Maintaining a certain level of "decency" is the first step in stabilizing public sentiment.

We're all doing jobs that risk our lives, and you're so poor you're practically selling your pants, so don't put on airs.

“My lord.” Leonard suppressed the turmoil in his heart, stepped forward, and bowed respectfully. “As you instructed, the recruited men are all here.”

Lin Yi raised his eyelids, his gaze calmly sweeping over the crowd. After lingering briefly on the man in the golden mask, it finally settled on several people with distinctly different auras.

Leonard immediately understood and stepped aside to introduce her: "This is Miss Springhall Anne, who studied at the Alchemy Academy in the capital."

The woman he was pointing to was slender and wore a scholar's robe that was washed to a pale white but was exceptionally clean; the worn edges of the robe silently testified to her poverty.

She had slightly messy chestnut-brown short hair and a somewhat pale face, but her eyes were unusually bright, carrying a scrutinizing gaze and a hint of barely perceptible vigilance.

Upon hearing her name, Annie merely bowed slightly. Her gaze quickly swept over Lin Yi and the luxurious surroundings, a subtle, enigmatic smile playing on her lips.

Alchemy is a bottomless pit that devours gold coins, and her purpose for this trip is very clear: to earn enough funds for her money-burning experiments.

She casually raised her hand to tuck a stray hair behind her ear, a gesture that caused a string of differently colored and uniquely shaped glass medicine bottles hanging from her belt to clink together gently, producing a crisp yet unsettling tinkling sound.

Noticing Lin Yi's gaze, Springhall Anne tilted her head, revealing a series of potion bottles at her waist.

“This is Mr. William Malken and his companion, the mystic,” Leonard said, pointing to a middle-aged man beside him dressed in fine travel attire and wearing gold-rimmed glasses.

His hair was neatly combed, and he held a cane inlaid with an unknown gemstone, exuding a refined and scholarly air.

William and his companions came here specifically to explore history after hearing the ancient legends of Bloodclaw Fortress and Whispering Forest.

William himself gave Lin Yi an elegant bow, his gaze intense: "It is my honor to serve you and explore the truth of this land shrouded in mist, my lord."

Leonard paused for a moment, then turned to the next person with obvious respect: "And this is Ruth Jack." He pointed to a man who was not particularly tall, but had a broad frame and stood as straight as a javelin.

He was wearing an old military uniform that was washed to a pale color but was starched and ironed to be exceptionally smooth, with a worn leather armor over it.

What is most striking is the rough-made black leather eye patch covering his face, obscuring his left eye, while his right eye is as sharp as a hawk's, exuding a calmness and insight honed by years of battlefield experience.

He carried a blue metal shield with slightly dented edges and a faded sun emblem inlaid in the center, slung diagonally across his back, and a heavy warhammer with an ancient-looking hammerhead engraved with flame patterns hung at his waist.

Even standing in a corner, the iron-blooded aura of an elite soldier emanating from him could not be concealed.

"Former Sun Legion, Eighteenth Army, Centurion." Leonard's voice echoed clearly in the hall.

The words "Solar Legion" seemed to possess a certain magic, instantly freezing the air in the hall for a moment.

The Sun Legion—the sharpest sword and the strongest shield under the Papacy's command—are guardians who walk on the edge of darkness, facing monsters and cultists head-on. They represent order, sacrifice, and supreme glory.

For these people living on the outskirts of the empire, suffering from chaos and fear, the name of the Sun Legion itself carried a sacred aura.

It can be said that the reason this world still has a certain degree of order is precisely because the Papacy's legions are constantly suppressing monsters; otherwise, this world would have been in chaos long ago.

Upon hearing Ruth Jack's identity, several quick-thinking mercenaries even instinctively straightened their backs and gave a respectful military salute in Ruth Jack's direction, though it wasn't a perfect salute.

Faced with the reactions of the crowd, Ruth Jack's single eye showed no arrogance, but rather a hint of helplessness and vicissitude.

He raised his large, calloused hand and waved it casually: "Alright, old man, I'm just a one-eyed cripple now, there's no need for you to be so respectful to me."

He patted the handle of the warhammer at his waist. "This hammer can only be used to hammer nails and chop firewood now."

“Lord Ruth is too kind. If you wish, the Holy See is always at your command.” Everyone looked in the direction of the voice and saw a young woman dressed in a plain gray-white nun’s habit and wearing a matching headscarf stepping out from William Malken’s companions.

Her face was delicate, her eyes were clear and serene, and her hands were folded in front of her, her posture humble but not subservient.

Ruth Jack turned his one eye toward the nun who had suddenly appeared, his gaze lingering on her for a moment, seemingly surprised, before turning into a look of understanding.

He gave a soft hum: "Alright, this old man is just here to join in the fun."

His rough fingers unconsciously rubbed the handle of the warhammer, and a barely perceptible glint flashed in his single eye.

The reason he appeared at the "Mud Pit" bar this time was simple: he sensed the presence of a high-level undead near the castle.

Although the aura was very faint, almost completely obscured by the town's decay and despair, it was as dazzling as a phosphorescent light in the darkness to a veteran of the Sun Legion who had fought his way through countless mountains of corpses. He couldn't bear to leave it and had come to investigate.

His gaze returned to the young nun, and his tone softened: "You must be a nun who has just been baptized, right?"

He noticed the simple pattern on her nun's habit that signified her new membership. "Is she out this time to complete her 'mission of praise'?"

The young nun nodded slightly, a smile appearing on her face: "Yes, Lady Ruth. My name is Arya. I have come to this land shrouded in shadow by my mentor's command to spread the Lord's light and to complete my first purification hymn."

In this world, the Vatican is not some lofty religious organization.

Apart from a few high-ranking members who reside permanently in the Holy City, the vast majority of members of the Holy See, whether combat monks, priests, or nuns, are required to regularly venture into every corner of the continent to eradicate the growing darkness and rescue the suffering, thereby practicing their faith and completing so-called "praise" or "pilgrimage" missions.

They are not high above, but warriors and healers who walk among humans, fighting against darkness head-on.

Lin Yi felt a sense of amusement at this unexpected "combination".

A seasoned veteran of the Legion, a fledgling nun who clearly possesses purifying abilities, a dangerous alchemist, a fanatical mystic... this combination seems tailor-made for exploring underground ruins.

After the introductions, Lin Yi's gaze did not linger on the key figures, but slowly shifted to the corner—the man wearing a golden mask who had remained silent from beginning to end.

Although the other party stood still like a cold sculpture, Lin Yi could clearly feel a probing gaze fixed on him through that strange mask.

The gaze contained no obvious hostility, but was filled with indifference, as if assessing something.

"Alright, that's enough chit-chat." Lin Yi took out a piece of parchment and placed it on the table.

Old Patton immediately understood, took quick steps forward, and respectfully held up the parchment with both hands.

His eyes swept over the crowd, and without much hesitation, he walked straight toward Ruth Jack.

The dignified presence and natural leadership qualities that this former centurion of the Sun Legion had already subtly secured him a central position in this hastily assembled team.

"Your mission this time is simple: clear out the monsters in the ruins below the castle. Of the money and valuable items you obtain, after deducting the necessary portion for rebuilding your territory, the remaining 50% is yours."

Lin Yi offered an extremely tempting deal: a 50% cut. This was unprecedentedly generous in any mercenary expedition, enough to make even the most cautious mercenary gasp for breath.

The danger of the ruins was instantly overshadowed by the enormous profits.

“I have gold coins.” Lin Yi put down the book in his hand and looked at the people Leonard had recruited.

"As long as you demonstrate the corresponding value, it will be endless. But remember, my gold coins only buy loyalty, ability, and hard work. Cheating, deceit, or attempting to challenge my rules..."

An invisible pressure spread out, causing several timid new recruits to instinctively shrink their necks, and even Leonard felt a slight tightening in his back.

"Now, old Patton, take them to familiarize themselves with the surroundings, arrange temporary accommodations, and distribute basic tools. Leonard, Miss Anne, Mr. William, Centurion Ruth Jack, and Sister Arya, please stay behind," Lin Yi instructed.

"Yes, sir!" Old Barton breathed a sigh of relief and quickly ushered the newcomers, who were still in shock and had not yet fully recovered, out of the hall.

Before turning around, the man in the golden mask glanced at Lin Yi one last time, his gaze lingering for a moment on the newly appeared nun, before disappearing into the departing crowd like a ghost.

Leonard's gaze swept over the closed door, his brow furrowed. He stepped forward and said in a deep voice, "Sir, that masked man... is there anything I can do for him?" He felt a pang of regret. When he recruited him, he only thought that this man's strength was unfathomable, but he did not expect that it might bring him additional trouble.

"No need."

"Yes."

"The map of the underground ruins has been handed to you this time." Lin Yi's voice broke the silence. He pointed to the parchment scroll that Ruth Jack was carefully holding in his hand—the very one that Old Patton had just handed over.

"The known entrances, passage structures, trap areas, and the preliminary locations of monsters are marked on it."

"Any questions you have? Ask them now. We'll depart promptly in 15 minutes."

Ruth Jack opened the map in her hand, and her face immediately turned grim.

Except for the area near the ruins' entrance, which is relatively safe, the rest of the map is teeming with undead creatures.

“Looks like there’s more than just rats down there… there’s a real high-level undead being in charge.” Ruth Jack chuckled, then folded the parchment up.

“My lord…” Sister Arya stepped forward, her clear eyes filled with a hint of pleading and compassion as she looked at Lin Yi on the sofa.

She seemed to hesitate for a moment, nervously twisting the hem of her plain nun's habit in front of her, but finally mustered her courage and spoke: "If... if I can come back alive from this mission and complete it... I can forgo my reward. But... but could you grant me a request?"

"explain."

Arya took a deep breath, clasped her hands together in front of her chest in a devout prayer gesture, and said in a voice filled with pure compassion: "I implore you to create a resting place for the departed souls in the town—build a real cemetery."

Her gaze swept across the windows of the luxurious hall, as if piercing through the walls to see the wilderness beyond the town. "After I came here, I discovered that even when people die, they are simply abandoned in the wilderness, left to be devoured by wild beasts. Their souls cannot find peace, and their resentment accumulates, which in itself is a breeding ground for darkness."

Why is no one buried here? Because every inch of soil on this land bears the mark of the lord.

Without Lin Yi's permission, no one dared to dig and start construction.

Lin Yi looked at the nun in front of him, who was new to the profession but had a compassionate heart, and remained silent for a few seconds.

Building cemeteries is not merely an act of kindness, but a necessary measure to fundamentally cleanse this land tainted by death and resentment, and to sever certain sources of power.

This request unexpectedly aligned with his long-term plans.

To truly rebuild this dying town and heal its accumulated wounds, a cemetery that can soothe the souls of the dead and quell their resentment is naturally an indispensable cornerstone. (End of Chapter)