Is this cheat code from Bika? Just do it!

On the contrary, the agile people used their nimbleness and speed to skillfully dodge the big man's attacks and exhaust the big man's strength.

Then, after several rounds, they actually won the match. This underdog victory amazed the audience and added to the excitement of the game.

In a boxing match, it takes at least several days to determine a champion.

This was a small-scale event in Winter City, attracting spectators and fighters from all over.

Over the past few days, Winterfell has been filled with a lively and joyful atmosphere, with people immersed in the passion of the competition and enjoying this visual and spiritual feast.

174. The person who has their eye on me

As dusk falls, the afterglow of the setting sun, like a thin golden veil, gently spills onto the streets, bathing the whole world in a warm hue. Inside the steamed bun shop, the air is filled with the aroma of steaming buns, creating a cozy and lively atmosphere.

Having just finished watching the last, absolutely thrilling match of the day, Link brought a group of girls to this steamed bun shop for dinner. Actually, the main reason they wanted to eat here was because the lively atmosphere, or perhaps it was the irresistible allure of those plump, white, and fragrant steamed buns.

"That number five boxer was so weak today! He got knocked out with just one punch. He was utterly pathetic!" Dilva waved her slender arms and shouted with a disdainful expression, as if she were an invincible boxing champion. "If I were up there, I could definitely knock him out with one punch and show him what real power is!"

"Oh? How come I didn't know our Dilva was so powerful? He can actually knock someone out with one punch?" Fiora chewed on a steamed bun, the corners of her mouth slightly upturned, and said with a hint of teasing, "I wonder who it was the day before yesterday that I easily threw off the ring. That scene was truly unforgettable."

"You..." Dilva's face turned red with anger, his eyes wide open like an angry little beast, and he shouted, "You stinky Fiora, you...you shut up, don't mention that again!"

"Oh? There's such a thing?" Asagi's lips curled up into a playful smile as she asked, "That person wouldn't happen to be Dilva, would it? This is so interesting."

"How, how could that be? Absolutely, absolutely not me!" Dilva hurriedly waved her hands, shaking her head like a rattle drum, her eyes revealing a hint of panic. She would never admit that she had been thrown off the stage by Fiora during their fight the day before yesterday; that would be too embarrassing.

"Of course... mmm..." Fiora wanted to tease Dilva a bit more, but Dilva reacted quickly, grabbing a steamed bun and stuffing it into her mouth. She glared at Dilva and threatened fiercely, "If you dare say another word, I'll expose your embarrassing moments, and then we'll see who's more embarrassed..."

"Uh..." Fiora blushed, nodded awkwardly, and dared not say another word.

The girls that Link summoned were all very close, like sisters, and sometimes they even slept together. They knew a little bit about each other's embarrassing moments, which became a source of fun and banter among them.

"I think Dilva is right, right? Those guys are really weak. With my strength, I could knock them all out by myself." Xuefeng's mouth was stuffed full of buns, and he mumbled indistinctly, looking quite adorable. "It's a pity that Lord Link won't let me go on stage, otherwise first place would definitely be mine, and all those prizes would be mine too." After saying that, he looked at Link pitifully, his eyes full of expectation. This kind of exciting and challenging boxing match really appealed to Xuefeng.

"Uh..." Link rolled his eyes, inwardly grumbling. He knew all of them were incredibly skilled, which was why he wouldn't let them go on stage. Otherwise, how could anyone else compete? The competition would just become their personal showcase. In fact, the organizers rarely send representatives to boxing matches to avoid any accusations of behind-the-scenes manipulation and ensure fairness. Besides, who could predict the future? If Link didn't restrict people from the City Lord's Mansion from registering, the final result might be that the top three spots would all be taken by the City Lord's Mansion. What would ordinary people think? They would definitely say, "You set such good rewards, but it's just for your own people; it's all hypocrisy."

“You’re someone who’s supposed to be patrolling the city, with important responsibilities on your shoulders. Where would you find the time to play matches?” Link gently reminded Xuefeng, trying to make him understand his good intentions.

"Oh right!" Xuefeng was stunned for a moment before realizing that she did indeed still have the important task of patrolling the city. She could only channel her grief and anger into her appetite, quickly finishing a steamed bun, and then called out, "Inessa, another steamed bun, I'm not full yet."

"Okay!" Inessa was busy in the store and responded quickly when she heard Yukikaze's call.

The steamed bun shop is now under Inisa's name. Link's main purpose in doing this is to generate income for the orphanage so that the children can have better living conditions.

Girls like Yukikaze, Dilva, and Asagi often come to the shop to eat steamed buns, treating it like their second home. Of course, the steamed buns that Yukikaze and Dilva eat are specially filled, with the whole bun covered in meat. One bite and the aroma of meat fills the air, which is one of the reasons why they are so willing to come to the steamed bun shop.

"The steamed buns are here!" Inessa said with a light laugh as she placed the steaming buns on the table.

"Hey... Yukikaze, don't eat so fast, leave some for me." Dilva leaned over the table, reaching for the buns, afraid that he wouldn't get any.

"Here's one for you!" Xuefeng generously pushed the bun over, then tossed her long hair and stuffed another bun into her mouth, eating it with great relish.

"There's still some left, eat slowly! Don't choke," Inessa said softly, her eyes full of concern.

As she spoke, she secretly glanced at Link, her curiosity about the master who had summoned her still burning. She longed to understand the structure of Link's mind—how could it be so different from other nobles? Other nobles spent their days thinking about how to exploit the people and how to fight for power, while Link was able to create such a novel city, full of life and vitality, where the people lived in peace and contentment.

Suddenly, a pair of eyes met Inessa's; Link had noticed her gaze. Inessa paused, her cheeks flushed slightly, and she walked away somewhat embarrassed.

"Miss Fiora is really perceptive. I only peeked at her, and she noticed," Inessa thought to herself.

"Click!" Just then, the door was pushed open, and a police officer from the Ministry of Public Security hurriedly came to Fiora's side, leaned down and whispered a few words in her ear before leaving in a hurry.

“Young Master, we have an operation tonight.” Fiora leaned close to Link and whispered in his ear, her voice low. “We’ve identified twelve slave traders, and they’ve decided to make their move tonight. We must prepare in advance.”

“Oh?” Link raised an eyebrow, his expression calm, and said indifferently, “Your people can do it. The coal mine has been complaining about the lack of manpower. Arrest these slave traders and send them there to make them pay for their crimes. It will also solve the coal mine’s manpower problem.”

"Yes!" Fiora nodded, a resolute glint in her eyes. She truly couldn't understand how some people could make money through human trafficking, how they could do such a heinous thing.

After this period of development, Winterfell has become famous, and its reputation, like the biting winter wind, has quickly swept across many surrounding areas.

For example, in several nearby cities, stories of Winterfell were circulating everywhere. People knew that Winterfell had a unique inclusiveness, accepting and sheltering many orcs and slaves. Hearing of Winterfell's friendliness and the opportunities it offered, many orcs came to visit.

However, now, due to the continuous snowfall, the biting wind and icy temperatures have made the roads extremely difficult to traverse, and the number of orcs coming to Winterfell has decreased significantly.

Even so, the beastmen population in Winterfell still numbers nearly a thousand. This large and unique group, like a tempting piece of meat, attracts unscrupulous individuals seeking easy riches, such as the utterly despicable slave traders. Driven solely by greed, they disregard morality and law, extending their evil reach to innocent people, kidnapping them, and selling them as slaves without any dignity.

This situation is not unique to Winterfell; it's playing out in major cities across the country. Wherever slavery, something so inhumane, exists, there will always be greedy, lazy people seeking something for nothing. In fact, human trafficking has always been a highly profitable industry, regardless of location. Take human traffickers on Earth, for example. They know they're risking imprisonment or even execution, yet they still recklessly engage in human trafficking. Why? Because there's market demand, and this heinous trade can generate huge profits. Faced with the lure of money, many people don't care how ethical the business is; as long as they can make money and satisfy their own desires, that's all that matters.

The twelve slave traders Fiora mentioned lived in the same rented room. They initially appeared in Winterfell as two furtive individuals, like two malignant tumors hidden in the shadows. The longer they lived in Winterfell, the more these two, like greedy wolves, gradually discovered that the city had too many high-quality "goods." Especially the elf Lushe, who frequently visited the city lord's mansion and the grand market; her elegant demeanor and stunning beauty were like the most dazzling star in the night sky, radiating an irresistible charm. And then there were the female orcs named Firebud and Water Bloom, who, whether lively and agile or gentle and charming, also possessed a unique allure.

The two men believed that these three female orcs could fetch an extremely high price, allowing them to make a fortune. Therefore, they leaked the information through special channels, summoning all their gang members to Winterfell. This is what attracted the attention of the intelligence organization. They were observed to be staying in the same rented room in several groups, all of them strong men behaving suspiciously, clearly indicating they had a clandestine secret and were highly suspicious.

The entire slave gang stayed in the rented house for five or six days. During this time, they were like a group of venomous snakes lurking in the shadows, going out every day to gather intelligence and gathering together at night, sitting around the dim light, discussing things in low voices but intensely.

For example, tonight, they sat together as usual, the atmosphere so tense it felt like it could ignite the air, and they began a heated discussion...

"One-Eyed Boss, it's time to make a move. If we don't, the higher-ups will blame us. We've been dragging this out for so long; they must be getting impatient by now," a weasel-faced slave trader said anxiously, a hint of panic in his eyes.

“That’s right! We’ve dragged this out for too long. If this continues, we’ll be punished. Then none of us will escape unscathed.” Another burly slave trader chimed in, his face full of worry.

The leader of the twelve slave traders was a man called One-Eyed, around thirty years old. His name came from the one blind eye on his cheek, a scar that looked like an ugly centipede across his face, making people shudder.

"Stop arguing. Do you want everyone to know what we do? Are you trying to attract the city guards by making such a racket?" One-Eyed said in a deep, cold voice, as if it could freeze the air.

Everyone fell silent, staring at the one-eyed man with a mixture of awe and anticipation in their eyes, waiting for him to speak.

"Didn't I say before that we would make our move when the time was right? Why are you in such a hurry?" One-Eyed said coldly, a hint of displeasure in his eyes.

"When would be a good time? One-Eyed Boss, please give us a definite answer." Someone asked anxiously, leaning forward slightly, looking very anxious.

"Tonight is perfect." One-Eyed said calmly, a glint of ruthlessness flashing in his eyes. "Haven't we thoroughly investigated Lu Xie's lifestyle? The boxing match just ended today, and many people are dining at the restaurants in the market, it's bustling with activity. She'll be there tonight settling her bills, she'll definitely be unguarded. This is an opportunity that's been given to us by heaven, we absolutely cannot miss it."

It was no surprise that Lucia was targeted by One-Eye and his gang. Her temperament and appearance were absolutely outstanding; in Winterfell, she was like a flower blooming in the cold winter, beautiful and captivating. To One-Eye and his profit-driven slave traders, Lucia was a top-quality "commodity" that would bring them a fortune.

Lucia is now a household name in Winterfell. She is beautiful and gentle, speaks softly, and is kind and friendly. As some commoners say, if Miss Lucia were born in the palace, she would be a princess; her nobility and elegance are innate.

The One-Eyed Clan's human trafficking business specializes in the high-end market, excluding the large-scale, low-priced slave trade. Some nobles and merchants live luxurious, pleasure-seeking lives and are very fond of beautiful women. The One-Eyed Clan's business focuses on finding exceptionally beautiful women, whether human or orc, as long as they are pretty and cute.

Furthermore, they have special channels for grooming women. As long as the slaves are beautiful, after a series of training sessions, each one can be sold for several gold coins, which is a considerable sum. This is far more profitable than capturing a group of civilians or orcs and selling them as slaves. Every year, there are some special auctions, where beautiful women are also a rare "commodity" and often fetch high prices.

"Good, as long as we capture that Lushe, our mission for this year will be complete. Then we can take the money and live a life of pleasure," a slave trader said excitedly, his eyes gleaming with greed.

“I think those female beastmen in the city lord’s mansion are quite good, like the Huoya and Shuiyun sisters. They’re so pretty. If we capture one more, we could probably get a lot of copper coins and never have to worry about money again.” Another slave trader licked his lips and said greedily.

"I think so too! If we could get our hands on those two female orcs, we'd be rolling in money." Another slave trader chimed in, his face full of anticipation.

The eleven people started discussing it all at once, but the one they talked about the most was Lu Xie. After all, she had appeared in Winter City the most times, and in everyone's eyes, she was like a shining gem, making people drool.

"Bang!" One-Eyed slammed his hand on the wooden table, the loud noise startling everyone. He coldly scolded, "Idiots, do you want to die? Huoya and Shuiyun are in the City Lord's Mansion. What kind of place is the City Lord's Mansion? It's the core of Winter City, heavily guarded. Are you trying to storm the City Lord's Mansion? Even if you capture them, do you think we'll have a chance to escape? We won't get far before the city guards catch up with us and arrest us all."

Having stayed in Winterfell for several days, he knew all too well how formidable the city was. Take, for example, the knightly camps outside the city. Those knights were all highly trained and well-equipped. If they dared to attack the city lord's mansion, how could they possibly escape far? They would be caught up by the cavalry immediately and meet a gruesome end.

Unlike Lu Xie, who, judging from her schedule, will most likely stay in the large market tonight, where the population is diverse and the security is relatively weak. If they act quickly and efficiently, they only need one night to escape with their men. Even if the city guards discover them, it will be too late to catch up.

"We all listen to Boss One-Eyed."

"Yes, we'll do whatever Boss One-Eyed tells us to do. You're our boss, we'll all listen to you."

In the blink of an eye, the slave traders were all obedient. They knew that the man before them was a ruthless character. They had heard that he had committed a crime in the capital and fled to the northern border, where he later became their leader. They dared not disobey the one-eyed man's orders, or the consequences would be unimaginable.

"Set off immediately. Once we succeed, leave the city and depart from Winterfell's territory tonight. We can't stay here long. If things are exposed, we'll be trapped." One-Eyed solemnly instructed, a hint of determination in his eyes.

"Yes!"

The twelve men left the rented house in batches, moving silently towards the location of Lu Xie's house in the Grand Market, like a group of ghosts in the night. This wasn't their first time doing this; their division of labor was very clear: some were responsible for lookout, some for breaking down the door, and some for controlling the target—everything was according to their plan.

Winterhold was eerily quiet at night, especially now that the weather was cold. A biting wind howled through the streets, and many people huddled indoors by their fireplaces, enjoying the warmth. This provided the slave traders with the perfect opportunity to carry out their plan. They were secretly pleased with themselves, confident that their operation would surely succeed.

175.Protect

"La la la..." A light and slightly playful song echoed in the room.

Lucia sat comfortably in front of the warm stove, humming an unknown tune. She squinted slightly, enjoying the heat emanating from the fire, occasionally adding firewood to make it burn brighter. Her other hand held various documents submitted from the market, carefully flipping through them page by page, sometimes frowning in thought, sometimes nodding gently. Beside her lay the notebook Asagi had given her; it was somewhat old but well-preserved, filled with dense notes about two new flavors of steamed buns.

Lucia's gaze fell on the notebook, a slight smile playing on her lips. She murmured to herself, "As expected of Miss Asagi, she can even come up with these kinds of buns. Fish-flavored shredded pork buns... they're not made with fish? That's a truly unique idea. And those potato and beef buns, I wonder what they taste like. Just thinking about them makes my mouth water." She could almost picture the long queues outside the bun shop, and couldn't help but sigh again. She continued, "I'm sure the bun shop will have even more customers then, and business will definitely boom." With that, she reluctantly closed the notebook and placed it aside.

"Ah..." Beside the warm stove, the comfortable environment made Lucy's eyelids gradually grow heavy, and drowsiness washed over her like a tide. She tried hard to prick up her pointed ears, trying to hear the sounds outside, but the soft snoring uncontrollably escaped from her throat.

"Dong, dong, dong..." After a while, Lu Xie heard ten sounds of tapping on the bamboo tube. The sound was crisp and loud, and it was especially clear in the quiet night.

Lu Xie jolted awake, instantly becoming more alert. She rubbed her eyes, yawned, and said, "It's already ten o'clock. Looks like it's time to go to sleep." She stretched and moved her stiff neck.

The sound of bamboo tubes outside had only started in the last few days. Lu Xie had heard others mention them; they were used for telling time, to inform everyone of the time at night. She couldn't help but think to herself, "The night watchmen are really something." Now that they could even know the exact time at night, she was becoming increasingly satisfied with this city.

The Night Watchman is a profession Link created by combining the ancient Earth watchman's method of telling time with the requirements of this era. Since there are no watches or clocks in this time, a large bronze bell would have been too loud and would likely have startled everyone awake, causing chaos. After much deliberation, Link had to settle for the ancient Earth watchman's profession. However, considering practicalities, he only needed to strike the horn before midnight; the night watch would be suspended in the latter half of the night, especially in winter, as it was cold and everyone was resting, so there was no need to disturb them.

"Let's go to sleep." Lucy stood up, went to the bathroom, and then immediately climbed onto the bed with the thick down mattress. The mattress was soft and comfortable, like a cloud, making you never want to get up once you lay down.

Winter nights are silent, so silent you could hear a pin drop. Even the slightest sound is amplified; a soft footstep outside, though faint, sounds like a thunderclap to Lu Xie. She abruptly opened her green eyes, a look of wariness and tension in them.

"Hmm?" Lucia tiptoed out of bed, afraid of making the slightest sound. She put on a thick, warm coat that wrapped her up completely. Then, she pulled out a bow and arrows from under the bed, skillfully checking the bowstring and arrows to make sure everything was in good working order.

In summer, Lucia might have been too distracted by the chirping of insects to hear anything outside. But it was winter, and all was quiet. Since she wasn't sound asleep, even the slightest sound couldn't escape her ears.

"Why would anyone be here at this hour?" Lucia wondered to herself, her elven instincts immediately kicking in. She nocked an arrow, aimed it at the door, and stared intently at it, as if trying to see right through it. She was waiting for the other party to break down the door. Although the door was thick and made of sturdy wood, it could be easily broken open with an axe if someone really wanted to.

Outside the door, One-Eyed and three slave traders stood furtively outside Lushe's door. They were all tense, their eyes constantly darting around, afraid of being discovered. Half of them were keeping watch around the building, carefully concealing themselves and trying not to make a sound. After all, they had almost been discovered by the night patrol. The night patrol were part-time positions within the Ministry of Public Security, a duty they performed at night. These were fully armed patrol officers, and they worked in groups of three. If One-Eyed and his group had run into them, they would have been questioned and searched. A search would have definitely exposed them; they were carrying burlap sacks and axes, and if those were discovered, the consequences would be unimaginable.

The remaining two guarded the stairwell, weapons in hand, their faces menacing, vigilantly watching the stairs to prevent anyone from suddenly appearing. The four one-eyed men were responsible for breaking down the door and capturing the slave trader; their eyes gleamed with greed and ruthlessness, as if Lushe was already theirs. So, a slave trader gripped his axe, raised high, ready to burst through the door.

"Move!" One-Eyed commanded in a low voice.

However, before the slave trader could bring down his axe, a loud shout came from the left: "Stop!" The voice was like a booming bell, making people's ears hurt.

"What's going on?" The four one-eyed men turned around and immediately saw the patrol officers rushing towards them. Each officer was agile, wielding a broadsword whose blade gleamed coldly in the moonlight. In their right hands, they held shields, thick and sturdy, capable of effectively deflecting attacks. Two people lay on the ground, seemingly subdued by the officers.

"This...how is this possible?" The one-eyed man and his three accomplices were completely dumbfounded. Their eyes were wide with terror, as if they had witnessed the most unbelievable thing in the world. Their plan had been flawless, but how could the patrol officers have appeared out of nowhere? They cursed inwardly, wondering where the lookout had gone and why there hadn't been any warning.

"Drop your weapons, put your hands on your heads and squat down, or we will have to use force to resolve this!" a patrolman shouted, his voice loud and authoritative, like a thunderclap in everyone's ears.

Hearing this, the four one-eyed men, though unwilling, still wanted to struggle fiercely to show their power. However, when they saw the large, fully armed patrol team opposite them, they immediately cowered. They knew that they had no choice but to back down now; there were four or five more officers waiting below, and even if they wanted to jump off the building to escape, they had no chance.

"Right now, squat down immediately!" the lead patrolman shouted again, his brows furrowed and his face full of anger. He took a step forward and slammed his sword against the shield, making a loud "clang" that hurt the ears.

"Clang! Thud!" The loud sound struck the four one-eyed men like a heavy hammer blow. They exchanged a helpless glance, then obediently complied, burying their heads in their hands and slowly crouching down. They were still in a state of utter bewilderment, filled with doubt and resentment. How had they been captured? Who had exposed their whereabouts?

Seeing this, several patrol officers immediately stepped forward and swiftly and skillfully pinned the four men to the ground. They took out chains and tightly bound the four men, specifically instructing them to interlock their fingers and clench their fists, then bound their hands tightly with strips of cloth. In this way, the four men had no chance to struggle and could only obediently accept their fate.

"Take them back!" With the order from the patrol officer in charge, the officers shoved the four people away from the scene. Their movements were swift and efficient, leaving behind only a messy scene and a crowd of stunned onlookers.

Afterwards, the patrolmen escorted the twelve slave traders back to the Ministry of Public Security in a grand procession. Their figures gradually disappeared into the night, leaving only a series of firm footsteps and occasional conversations.

"Click!" After a while, the door slowly opened, and Lucia cautiously peeked out, only to see Fiora standing outside. She was slightly taken aback, then her face lit up with surprise. It turned out that Fiora was just about to raise her hand to knock on the door, but unexpectedly, the door opened by itself.

"Miss Fiora?" Lucia was a little confused. She had been anxiously waiting inside, hoping for the door to be broken down, but nothing happened. She only heard a commotion and shouts outside, followed by immediate silence. Finally, unable to contain herself any longer, she opened the door to peek, only to find Fiora standing there. This left her bewildered, wondering to herself, "What on earth is going on today?"

“Slave traders came to arrest you, but they’ve been taken away by police officers from the Public Security Bureau,” Fiora said softly, her voice gentle and calm, as if she were recounting something perfectly ordinary.

“I’m so sorry, Lucia, I didn’t let you know in advance. I may have startled you. Lord Link said you can take two days off, and it’s paid.” Fiora added with a smile, her smile as warm as a spring breeze.

"Huh?" Lushe stared in astonishment, her mouth agape. It took her a moment to process what she'd said. "Slave traders? They...they want to capture me?"

"Well then, goodnight!" Fiora nodded gently and walked away. She still needed to go back and report on the progress; she couldn't stay here any longer.

"This..." Lucia stood there dumbfounded, clutching her chest, muttering to herself, "Is this what it feels like to be protected?" A warm feeling welled up inside her. So, in secret, Lord Link had been protecting them so well all along, and she had been completely unaware. Thinking of this, the corners of her mouth couldn't help but turn up slightly, revealing a happy smile.

"Hurry up! Don't dawdle!" The patrolmen led the twelve slave traders down the street with firm and powerful steps. They kept the slave traders under tight guard in the middle of the procession, their sharp, eagle-like eyes scanning the surroundings warily, not missing a single suspicious corner.

The torches, held high, danced wildly in the dark night, sparking and creating a bright glow. The flickering light reflected on the dejected faces of the slave traders, making their hearts sink even lower, as if they had fallen into an endless abyss.

The heavy footsteps were particularly clear in the quiet night, waking many sleeping civilians. They groggily pushed open their wooden windows and looked outside, their eyes widening in shock at the scene on the street. A group of policemen, their expressions serious, were escorting a dozen or so dejected slave traders towards the Ministry of Public Security.

"What happened? Why are the Ministry of Public Security's patrol officers out so late at night? And why have they arrested so many people?" A civilian rubbed his eyes and asked, his face full of doubt.

"These bastards must have done something bad, otherwise they wouldn't have been arrested by the police. The Ministry of Public Security isn't to be trifled with; they must have evidence to arrest people," another civilian said confidently.

In Winterhold, whenever the Public Security Bureau arrests someone, it doesn't take long before a detailed announcement is posted on the city's bulletin boards, clearly stating what crime the person committed, the punishment, and so on. The benefits of doing this are obvious: on the one hand, it serves as a warning to those with malicious intentions, deterring them from committing evil; on the other hand, it informs the common people what constitutes wrong and right behavior, guiding everyone to abide by laws and moral norms.

“Indeed, I should just go to sleep. With the Public Security Bureau set up by the City Lord protecting me, I’ve been sleeping much more soundly these past few nights. I no longer have to worry about bad guys breaking into my house in the middle of the night.” A young man stretched and said with a relieved expression.

"Yes! The city lord is wise. He established the Ministry of Public Security, which gives us commoners a sense of security. Unlike before, when we were always living in fear," the old man next to him said with emotion.

In this era, for a territory to develop, besides ensuring its people have food, shelter, and clothing—basic necessities—the most crucial element is stability and security. With these foundations in place, it's difficult for a territory not to develop. The Ministry of Public Security is a vital entity that brings a sense of security to the people, calming the restless hearts of many civilians and alleviating their anxieties about when their homes will be breached and a pack of ravenous slave traders or bandits will storm in.

One-Eyed and his men were taken to a gloomy cell in the Public Security Bureau, filled with a damp and putrid stench. The patrolmen ignored this and immediately began interrogating them that very night. They needed to get the slave traders to talk as quickly as possible, to find out if they had any accomplices in Winter City, so they could wipe out this evil force in one fell swoop.

176. Threat

In a small, dimly lit interrogation room, One-Eye was tightly bound to a chair, unable to move. Two men sat before him, one of whom was a burly orc. The orc patrolman, his face contorted with menacing features, glared with large, bell-like eyes and barked, "You have some nerve, daring to arrest someone in Winterfell. Tell me, do you have any accomplices?" He hated slave traders more than anything—no, most people hated slave traders, but orcs harbored the strongest hatred for them. The orc race had suffered greatly from the slave trade, many of their people sold into slavery and subjected to torture and humiliation.

"Heh...naive!" One-Eye sneered, a disdainful smile playing on his lips. Did he think the patrolmen could scare him with a few words? One-Eye had been in this business for years; he'd seen it all.

"You..." The orc patrolman was enraged by the one-eyed man's arrogant attitude. He stood up abruptly, clenched his fists, and shouted, "Don't be so arrogant! This is the Ministry of Public Security. You think you can get out of here? Don't even dream about it!"

"Trying to scare me?" The one-eyed man's face darkened, his eyes flashing with a fierce light. He said coldly, "When I was out there, you were probably playing in the mud. It's not like I haven't broken out of prison before. I even escaped from the capital's prison, let alone the prison in this small city." He secretly plotted to find a way to escape when he got the chance.

"Damn it, you..." The orc patrolman's arm veins bulged, his eyes wide with rage, and he wanted to go up and give One-Eye a couple of punches to teach this arrogant guy a lesson.

“Alright!” another patrolman said softly, squinting at the one-eyed man, his eyes revealing a hint of wisdom and composure. He recalled the documents Lord Link had given him, one page of which detailed how to interrogate prisoners, as well as the Ten Forbidden Tortures—the kind used against inhuman criminals. It seemed he'd have to figure out how to deal with this troublesome fellow.