He took the script of an exorcism legend, but became the number one anti-fraud expert.

At the entrance of the military camp in Windhowl Town, the anxious discussions gradually subsided.

The occasional curses that escaped were met with angry glares from the soldiers nearby.

The townspeople were puzzled as to why, no matter how much they cursed Lieutenant Avery, the soldiers remained silent, and even seemed to be encouraging their arrogance.

But when they pointed and gestured at Benjamin, their demeanor was completely different.

It was as if the newly promoted second lieutenant in front of them was their supreme commander.

The atmosphere was no longer so tense when faced with Benjamin's indifferent expression and silence throughout.

Everyone started to back down.

Seeing this, Father Robin grew anxious; he wanted to further inflame the crowd's anger.

But when he looked up, he saw Benjamin staring at him. For some reason, Father Robin's face stiffened, and he involuntarily leaned into the crowd.

"Are you done talking?"

Finally, Benjamin spoke.

Everyone exchanged glances, waiting to see who would speak first, but...

No one took the lead, and even the priest fell silent.

"Since everyone's silent, I'll speak then." Benjamin's eyes were grave as he stared at the townspeople below the steps. "According to the regulations of the Hamlet Federation, helping the townspeople resolve security issues is the duty of the Guard Corps..."

"That's right! But why bring evil spirits in!"

"..."

Benjamin kept his lips tightly shut and didn't speak, just staring at the person who was speaking.

This man was one of Jeff's thugs.

They expected this to reignite the criticism, but seeing Benjamin remain silent, and wanting to know what the lieutenant was going to say next, no one echoed him.

Some people in the crowd even put their fingers to their lips to hiss at the person speaking.

"Alright, I'll continue. Solving the town's security problems is our responsibility. So, we went to the coast and the Black Swamp early the day before and yesterday morning to fight the evil spirits with our lives. The ghoul heads on the ground are the best proof of that."

If you don't believe we fought fish-men on the beach, ask the families of the soldiers who tragically lost their lives.

Benjamin looked up and his eyes met those of a woman at the back of the crowd.

Everyone turned to look...

"No, that's right..."

A woman holding a child nodded in response.

It was obvious that she wasn't with the group of townspeople who came to cause trouble; she had accepted Benjamin's condolence money yesterday.

Seeing that someone was causing trouble for the guards, they followed them.

"Lieutenant, he... he even gave us a allowance, so we don't have to worry about food anymore..."

"..."

The air seemed to freeze, and some people began to murmur.

Some of them went up to the woman and asked if the story was true or false, and how much money she had lost.

The woman didn't mention the specific amount, after all, it's best not to flaunt your wealth, and given the current situation, having too many pounds on you would attract unwanted attention.

If it weren't to repay Benjamin's kindness, she shouldn't have even spoken up...

Now that it has been confirmed that the guard regiment has indeed been working diligently day and night for two days to purge the evil spirits from the vicinity of the town,

Most of the people's suspicions about the guard regiment have dissipated...

Seeing that the situation was about to reverse again, Father Robin immediately stepped forward: "Let's put one thing at a time, we're here today to seek justice..."

"Fairness? What the hell is fairness?!" Benjamin immediately shouted, startling everyone. "Seventeen of us, along with an Indian, ventured into the lion's den to protect the town. Is this what we're supposed to do? Don't forget the guard's duty is to protect the city walls! Without the royal order, we don't need to leave town to eliminate evil spirits."

Such actions are high-risk and unrewarding. Ask the soldiers present; they risked their lives in the fight, did anyone receive any benefits?

Benjamin spoke passionately, and the townspeople, upon hearing this, looked at the guards with pity.

Some of them were even minors!

The soldiers of the guard regiment knew, of course, that they had received payment from Benjamin for their attendance, but none of them would be foolish enough to say it out loud at that moment.

"With a meager salary of £1.15 a week, why are you making them work so hard?! Is this what you call fairness?!"

Father, answer me!

"..."

"The holy water you sell costs almost a month's salary for these young soldiers. You're the last person here who has the right to speak!"

"Well... I'm just trying to do something for... the town, right?"

Father Robin stammered, his voice growing weaker with each word.

He noticed the dissatisfaction and hatred in the eyes of the townspeople looking at him.

"Doing things? Hmph, we'll talk about that later. Now, I want to ask everyone here a question: have you all properly examined these ghoul heads?"

"No...no," a child replied, bowing his head.

Benjamin's tone softened slightly: "Why don't you look? Didn't the soldiers tell you that these people... are heroes?"

"hero?"

"Huh? Wasn't it supposed to be those missing people?"

"Yeah, what hero?"

Not only were the townspeople puzzled, but even Art and the others looked at Benjamin with bewilderment.

"That's right, they are heroes. They are not a guard, nor are they exorcists; they are just ordinary townspeople, but..."

They knew a great cold wave was coming, and they knew the black swamp outside the town was teeming with evil spirits, but in order to feed their families and to ensure everyone had something to eat, they had no choice but to try digging in the ground to find food...

hiss--!

Some of the townspeople gasped, and everyone stared wide-eyed, unsure of what to say.

So, he quietly watched Benjamin.

"Some of them are husbands, some are fathers, and some are the pillars of their families. Even if some have no relatives, our guard unit guarantees that the places these people have been to are not places they fled for their own safety. They are people who have truly sacrificed for Windhowl Town!"

"..."

"That's right! I guarantee it. The Black Swamp is fraught with danger. If you're trying to escape, even encountering fishmen at the beach is safer than facing ghouls!"

John stepped forward and assured everyone.

"Yes, I can assure you, they are heroes even greater than us!" Art echoed.

"I promise!"

"..."

The townspeople looked around, some lowering their heads in silence, then stared at the already rotting human head on the ground.

Finally, the child who had just spoken, timidly tearful, choked out:

"My father, he wasn't a coward, he was... a hero!"

After saying that, he tugged at the sleeve of the woman beside him, who was already sobbing uncontrollably, and said, "Mom, you're right, aren't you? Father, he's a hero."

The woman covered her mouth with her hand and nodded hastily.

In Benjamin's eyes, perhaps some people were indeed running for their lives.

But now, he is more inclined to believe that these people truly sacrificed themselves so that the townspeople could have food to eat.

"So, can you bear to let these heroes become ghouls roaming the Black Swamp, and even later become evil spirits that breach the town's walls, thus desecrating their once valiant souls?"

"No, I don't want to!"

"I don't want to either!"

"That's right, Lieutenant, you're right, they are heroes!"

Benjamin pursed his lips, his eyes reddening. "So, I brought them back, brought them home, and I won't charge you a single penny. In fact, if you want to bury them, we'll help you free of charge. I won't mistreat any of them, no matter who they are..."

Benjamin took another breath: "I will preserve their dignity, and..."

Give him a proper burial!

The once bustling crowd was now completely silent. Some had tears in their eyes, while others had flushed faces. They stared at Benjamin without saying a word.