Is this cheat code from Bika? Just do it!

Link nodded slightly, pondering the matter of homing pigeon training, and said, "Let's go have breakfast together, and we can talk about homing pigeons in more detail afterward." With that, he walked towards the dining room, constantly recalling the information on training homing pigeons that he had previously looked up, trying to find any details he might have missed.

Lina responded with a "Yes," and immediately followed Link. Her eyes revealed her respect and trust for Link; she always gave her all to any task Link assigned her.

Not far behind them, Fiora stood quietly, her deep blue eyes, like those of a lake, now gleaming with contemplation. She knew about the carrier pigeons; Lord Link, in order to transmit intelligence quickly, had a sudden inspiration to train obedient birds to achieve the feat of delivering messages over long distances. This was an unprecedented novelty in Winterfell, and everyone was filled with curiosity and anticipation.

Just then, Lydia skipped over, asking with a puzzled look, "Fiora, carrier pigeon? What's that?" This was yet another new word she had never heard of before. In Winter City, many novel things appeared every day, keeping her constantly busy.

Seeing Lydia's bewildered expression, Fiora smiled and explained, "I don't know exactly what it is either, but we'll find out when we go and listen."

Sophia, who overheard their conversation, immediately grabbed Lydia's hand and said, "Come on, let's hurry up and catch up. There are so many new words going around in Winter City, like boxing, pizza, steamed buns, hockey, and so on. We can only understand what these mean if we see the actual food or have someone explain it to us. Otherwise, just hearing the names is really baffling."

So the three quickened their pace and chased after the dining room.

Before even entering the dining room, a lively and adorable voice came from inside: "Bernie, you've been stealing food again! Lord Link hasn't arrived yet!" The voice was clear and loud, and it belonged to Mizuki Yukikaze.

Immediately afterwards, Bernice's slightly cheeky voice rang out: "What does it matter? I only ate a tiny little bite." Her voice was drawn out, with a hint of coquetry.

Mizuki Yukikaze shouted in exasperation, "You... you big cow, you've changed! You've become a shameless cow!"

Hearing the conversation inside, Link couldn't help but shake his head with amusement. He knew that everyone spent their days together, always happily joking and playing around, and this relaxed and cheerful atmosphere made him very happy. He gently pushed open the dining room door and went inside.

With a creak, the noisy dining room fell silent. Everyone turned to look at the door, and upon seeing Link, they greeted him warmly.

"Good morning, Lord Link," Yukikaze Mizuki, Bernice, and Kim Mi-ting called out in unison, their voices clear and loud.

Link smiled gently and said, "Good morning, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting." After saying that, he walked to the main seat and sat down, then waved for everyone to sit down.

Seeing Lydia and Sophia standing to one side, Jin Meiting beckoned them to sit beside her. In this castle, Jin Meiting was the person the two women knew best, so upon hearing her invitation, they happily ran over and sat down next to her.

After everyone was seated, breakfast was served. This morning's meal was steaming hot noodle soup; the snow-white noodles snaked and coiled in the bowl, sprinkled with vibrant green scallions and topped with large, enticing chunks of braised meat. Those who liked spicy food could add some bright red chili oil, its vibrant color instantly whetting the appetite.

"Slurp..." The sound of slurping noodles rang out one after another, like a cheerful symphony. Everyone took another sip of the broth, which was carefully simmered with bones. The rich and mellow flavor instantly spread in their mouths, making them addicted. Especially in this cold winter, drinking a sip of bone broth warms the whole body, as if being wrapped in sunshine.

"Delicious!" Bernice exclaimed repeatedly, slurping the noodles with astonishing speed. She finished the soup in the bowl in a few gulps, then immediately grabbed a second bowl, her eyes glued to the noodles as if afraid they would escape.

Bernice's favorite food is noodles. Ever since Link cooked noodles for her on the ship, she has completely fallen in love with this dish. Every time she eats noodles, she eats them with exceptional relish, as if they were the most delicious thing in the world.

Lydia ate with great relish, one hand constantly rubbing her round belly as if savoring the satisfaction of the noodles, while the other hand kept grabbing more noodles and stuffing them into her mouth. Her golden eyes sparkled with excitement, and her face beamed with a happy smile.

Seeing Lydia's gluttonous appearance, Sophia couldn't help but tug at her ear and remind her, "Hey, eat less, or your stomach won't be able to handle it. Don't blame me for not warning you, or you'll embarrass yourself in front of Lord Link."

Lydia was engrossed in her meal when Sophia tugged at her ear, bringing her back to her senses. She clumsily picked up some noodles with her chopsticks and stuffed them into Sophia's mouth, saying, "Sophia, this is really delicious, you should try some too."

Sofia chewed the noodles in her mouth, the unique flavor spreading, and she couldn't help but swallow slowly. Then, she reached out and pulled Lydia's noodles, snatched the chopsticks from her hand, and started eating quickly, no slower than Lydia.

"I, you..." Lydia's golden eyes glazed over for a moment. She pouted and stared at the other steaming noodles on the table. She wanted to eat, but her stomach was already round and full, which was really disappointing.

Seeing Lydia's adorable expression, Jin Meiting licked her lips and asked with a smile, "What? Doesn't it taste good?"

Lydia's cheeks flushed slightly. She leaned close to Jin Meiting's ear and whispered coquettishly, "Jin Meiting, I ate steamed buns this morning, and my stomach can't hold any more."

"Hehe..." Jin Meiting covered her mouth and chuckled softly, her laughter as clear and melodious as a silver bell. She also leaned close to Lydia's ear and whispered back, "If you want to eat it next time, I'll make it for you."

"Really?" Lydia's golden eyes lit up, as if she could see countless delicacies beckoning to her.

"Mmm." Kim Mi-ting nodded gently, her eyes filled with tenderness and care.

Twenty minutes later, the "battle" at the dinner table finally ended. Jin Meiting waved for the maid to clear away the empty bowls, leaving behind a group of people slumped in their chairs, rubbing their bellies. Everyone was full, their faces beaming with satisfaction.

Link leaned back in his chair, his hand on his stomach, occasionally tapping his index finger, looking rather lazy. He cleared his throat and asked, "What kinds of birds are being chosen as carrier pigeons now?"

Lina immediately replied, "Lord Link, there are three kinds of birds now. The first one to fly back is the white-headed bulbul." Her voice was clear and crisp, and her answer was very accurate.

Link knew about the white-headed bulbul. It was a bird characteristic of this era, very gentle in nature, unlike some wild birds that were fierce and aggressive. It was twice the size of a pigeon on Earth, mostly gray with white spots, and most notably white on its head, hence its name. From a distance, it looked like a group of gentlemen wearing white hats, quite amusing.

Link then asked, "Are there any White-headed Bulbuls among the last pigeons to return?" His eyes revealed a hint of concern, after all, the White-headed Bulbul was a pigeon breed that he favored.

Lina said confidently, "No, sir. The white-headed bulbuls were among the first to fly back." Her tone was full of confidence, and she was very certain of the results she had observed.

Link nodded slightly, pondering the next question he would ask. He then asked, "What do you feed the carrier pigeons?"

Lina replied, "It's all wheat." Her answer was concise and clear.

After hearing this, Link shook his head and said, "Wheat alone is not good; it's unlikely to entice the homing pigeons to return home." A hint of wisdom flashed in his eyes, as if he had already seen through the crux of the problem.

He was now certain that of the three types of carrier pigeons, the last one to return was definitely trying to escape. These birds might have initially hoped to find a chance to flee this unfamiliar place when they were first captured. But because it was winter and there was no food outside, they had no choice but to return to the castle three days later after enduring several days of hunger.

Link pondered to himself, knowing that once these birds found food outside, given their free-spirited nature, they would undoubtedly set free and escape. Therefore, he needed to find a way to keep these carrier pigeons. Suddenly, a brilliant idea struck him: get the birds to be picky eaters. It's easy to go from frugality to extravagance, but difficult to go from extravagance to frugality, even for birds. If the carrier pigeons got used to the delicious food in the castle, then when they encountered food outside that wasn't as good, they would surely miss the castle's cuisine and fly back.

Thinking of this, Link looked at Lina and said earnestly, "Please give me your instructions, Lord Link." Lina immediately stood up straight, her eyes filled with anticipation and seriousness. She quite liked this task of raising carrier pigeons and hoped to get more guidance from Link.

Link chuckled, "Use food to lure these carrier pigeons. Feed them their favorite food for a few days, then test the transmission distance. Mix several kinds of food, compare them, and feed them whichever they prefer. That way, when the carrier pigeons fly out, the food outside is not as good as the food in the castle, and they will definitely fly back."

Lina was stunned by Link's words. She hadn't considered this method at all. She had assumed that birds would fly back to Winterfell in winter because they had no food, but she hadn't expected that they could be raised to catch birds with beaks. Her eyes revealed a hint of admiration, and she was full of praise for Link's wisdom. She immediately nodded and said, "Yes, sir. I'll go and arrange it right away." After saying that, she hurriedly left the dining hall to carry out Link's plan.

Watching Lina's departing figure, Link was filled with anticipation. He believed that with his efforts, these carrier pigeons would become invaluable assistants in delivering intelligence, making significant contributions to the development of Winterfell. Meanwhile, the others in the dining hall were also lost in thought, filled with hope for the future. Winterfell was undergoing a dramatic transformation because of Link's arrival, each day filled with new surprises and challenges.

222.Conversation

In the spacious and brightly lit castle dining room, sunlight streamed through the huge stained-glass windows, dappling the polished marble floor with vibrant, multicolored light and shadow. Link sat at the head of the long table, his dark eyes gleaming with intelligence, a slight, nonchalant smile playing on his lips. He suddenly tapped the table lightly, breaking the relaxed atmosphere, and said, "If you keep a bird so picky about its beak, aren't you afraid it'll fly away and never come home?"

These words were like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, instantly creating ripples. The girls present were all stunned. They had been laughing and joking, or whispering, but now they all stared blankly at Link, as if frozen in place by his words. Their faces were filled with confusion and bewilderment; why did it feel like he was talking about them?

Mizuki Yukikaze blinked her clear, lake-like eyes, thinking to herself: "Indeed, these girls are like birds carefully fed by Link. The food in the castle is their most tempting birdseed. Their palates have become quite discerning. Occasionally, they eat food from outside the castle, just for novelty and fun, like birds occasionally escaping their cages to soar through the sky and see the scenery. But if they were to eat the same things all the time, they definitely wouldn't last more than a few days before they longed for the castle's food, for that familiar taste, for that warm atmosphere."

Link looked at the women's stunned expressions, his dark eyes narrowed slightly, and the corners of his mouth turned up even wider. He joked, "(￣▽￣) What? You want to fly away?" His tone was teasing, yet also carried a hint of barely perceptible tension.

Mizuki Yukikaze was the first to react. She sat up straight, shaking her head like a cute little squirrel, and quickly said, "No, no, my mouth has been spoiled." Her voice was clear and melodious, with a hint of urgency, as if she was afraid that Link would really misunderstand them.

Bernice, stroking her slightly protruding belly, said lazily, "I'm not leaving. I'd rather die than leave." There was a hint of coquetry in her tone, and her slightly protruding belly seemed to be the best proof of her satisfaction with life here.

The ravens also pledged their loyalty, saying, "Wherever Lord Link is, we will be there." Their eyes were filled with determination, as if Link were the guiding light in their lives, and they would follow him closely no matter when or where.

Fiora's blue eyes narrowed slightly. She pulled her chair closer to Link, her cautious manner like that of a kitten afraid of being abandoned. She flicked her tail and whispered, "I have nowhere else to go." There was a hint of dependence in her voice, as if she had completely surrendered herself to Link. She thought to herself, "I'm already Lord Link's woman, how can I leave?"

"Me too, I won't leave Lord Link, waah..." Suddenly, Fiora let out a soft moan, her cheeks flushed, and her eyes glistened with tears. It turned out that Lord Link had pinched her elven ears. Those ears were her most sensitive spot, and now, with Link's gentle pinch, a tingling sensation instantly spread throughout her body, causing her to let out that soft moan.

Jin Meiting gave Fiora a strange look and asked with concern, "Fiora, are you alright?" Her eyes were full of concern, as if she was afraid that Fiora had been hurt.

"No, it's nothing." Fiora shook her head slightly, trying to suppress the tingling sensation in her ears. Her cheeks were still flushed, like a blooming peach blossom, beautiful and captivating.

Lydia suddenly panicked. She turned to look at Sophia; the topic had come so suddenly, catching her off guard. Her eyes were filled with panic, like a lost fawn.

Sofia, hidden under the table, tugged at Lydia's sleeve, blinking her blue eyes twice to signal Lydia to calm down. Her gaze was full of composure and confidence, as if telling Lydia that everything was under her control.

Lydia breathed a sigh of relief, trying to calm herself down. After all, suggesting moving out was considered quite impolite among nobles. In the world of nobility, would constantly staying in someone else's home make people think the noble family was bad? Or would the nobles kick them out? The delicate relationship involved made her have to be cautious.

"Lydia, Sophia, is there something you want to say?" Link asked softly, resting his chin on his hand. He noticed their slight unease and spoke gently. His voice was warm and concerned, as if giving them a chance to express their thoughts.

"I..." Lydia's mouth opened slightly, but she couldn't speak. She looked at Sophia pleadingly; she absolutely didn't want to move out. Especially since the taste of the noodle soup still lingered in her mouth—its delicious flavor was unforgettable. The thought of moving out meant she wouldn't be able to eat the noodle soup anymore, and she wouldn't be able to play cards with Jin Meiting every night. Her heart was filled with reluctance.

Sophia picked up the conversation, saying, "Lord Link, we...we want to move out of the castle." Her voice was soft, but firm. "Lydia's illness has improved, and it's really not good for us to bother you any longer in the castle." There was a hint of apology in her eyes, as if she felt she was causing Link trouble.

“Lord Link, I must go now.” Before Link could respond to Sophia, Lina suddenly stood up. Her eyes were filled with a strange look, and she glanced at Kim Mi-ting, her gaze seemingly concealing some secret. Then she whispered in Link’s ear, “Lord Link, Lydia is the Duke’s daughter. There will be rumors if she lives in the castle all the time.” Her voice was low, but it exploded in Link’s heart like a bombshell.

After speaking, Lina gave a peaceful smile and stepped out of the dining room. She thought to herself, "How to raise a homing pigeon with such a discerning beak is quite a challenge, but challenges are what I enjoy. I love this kind of life full of variables and challenges, like a thrilling adventure."

Link blinked his dark eyes, processing the information Lina had given him. He quickly realized what she meant and gave Lydia and Sophia a strange look. His eyes were thoughtful, as if he were weighing something. If Lina hadn't reminded him, he wouldn't have thought of this at all. What kind of girl lives with another boy's family without being married? If word got out, people would say she's shameless. In this era that values ​​reputation and etiquette, such rumors could ruin a girl's reputation.

"You found a house?" Link replied calmly. No matter the era or the world, rumors can destroy a person's will to live. He recalled many cases he'd seen online—some were trivial matters, yet some marketing accounts seized upon them, embellishing and exaggerating them to attract clicks, turning ordinary things into suffocating verbal violence. This could instantly sway those with wavering convictions, making them part of the spread of rumors.

And in this era, a girl's reputation is sometimes more important than her life. The ignorance of the common people is the best means of spreading rumors, which is why Link emphasizes education. Only by knowing more can one firmly establish one's own stance and distinguish right from wrong. He hopes that through education, more people will have the ability to think independently and not be swayed by gossip.

"Yes! Found it, it's in Safina's house," Sofia said softly. She hadn't expected Link to react so calmly; it was completely unexpected. She had thought Link would be angry or object, but he was surprisingly composed.

“Okay.” Link nodded, then turned to Yukikaze and said, “Yukikaze, you can handle this. Bring the keys to them.” His voice was crisp and decisive, as if it were the most ordinary thing in the world.

“Okay.” Mizuki Yukikaze frowned. She was a little puzzled. She was living comfortably in the castle, so why did she have to move out? Her mind was full of doubts, but she didn’t ask any more questions. She just silently accepted Link’s arrangement.

“Lord Link, I…” Lydia mustered her courage, her head spinning, wanting to say that she was sick again. She really didn’t want to move out; everything here made her feel so comfortable and at ease.

“Alright, I understand.” Link released his hand from playing with the black elf’s ears, waved his hand gently, and said, “When you don’t have control over the power of rumors, saying anything else is useless. Even if you’re upright, you can’t escape being slandered.” His voice carried a hint of helplessness, but also a hint of determination. He knew the harm of rumors, but he also knew that when facing rumors, he couldn’t just run away, but had to face them bravely.

"Huh?" Lydia was a little confused. The power of rumors? How could anyone control that? People can say whatever they want. Her eyes were filled with confusion, as if she had lost her way in the dark.

Sophia was also pondering this question. She stared intently at Link, feeling that something was puzzling her. Could rumors be controlled? Could other people's words be manipulated? Her mind was filled with questions, like a tangled mess, from which she couldn't find a solution.

"You'll understand later." Link smiled slightly, offering no further explanation. Could rumors be controlled? Of course, they could. Once the cheap ink needed for movable type printing was produced, the newspaper—a powerful tool for controlling speech—could be developed. He had his own plan; he wanted to use newspapers to disseminate accurate information and guide public opinion.

Unable to read? Then train some storytellers, bring over some novels, and let the storytellers occasionally chime in with their own words. That way, the direction of public discourse will be controlled. He imagined a future where people sat around storytellers, listening to exciting tales while simultaneously receiving correct ideological guidance.

“Thank you for your understanding, Lord Link.” Sophia lifted the hem of her skirt, bent her knees slightly, and bowed gently in a noblewoman’s greeting. Her movements were elegant and graceful, like those of a true noblewoman.

"Can I still come to the castle for dinner?" Lydia bowed, her voice a little hurried. "I really, really want to..." Her eyes were full of anticipation, as if the food in the castle was the most important part of her life.

“I know, don’t worry about it too much.” Link interrupted with a light laugh. Some things don’t need to be said explicitly. He understood Lydia’s thoughts and knew how reluctant she was to leave this place.

Lydia froze, her golden eyes fixed on Link. She was deeply moved; she hadn't expected Link to understand her so well.

Link stood up, turned and walked outside, casually waving his hand and saying, "You're welcome anytime. I don't mean to send you away." His back was tall and upright, like a mountain you could lean on.

"Yes!" Lydia's exquisite face broke into a captivating smile as she nodded firmly. "I'll come over for dinner every day." Her voice was firm and resolute, as if she were making a promise to Link.

The sunlight still streamed into the dining room, but the girls' feelings were all different. Some were filled with reluctance to part, while others were full of anticipation for the future. Link, on the other hand, strode confidently towards his own future, believing he could control the rumors and create a better world.

223. Confess

In the backyard of the Guard Division, a dark and stench-filled area of ​​small, dark rooms resembled a forgotten purgatory. Even before approaching, an extremely pungent stench of excrement and urine assaulted the senses, so strong that it seemed to penetrate the nasal cavity and seep into the lungs, making one want to vomit.

Axe frowned, his footsteps unconsciously becoming extremely light, each step feeling like walking on cotton, as if afraid of making the slightest sound. These small dark rooms employed a unique partitioned design, each seemingly isolated in another world; even the slightest cough was extremely difficult to transmit between two small dark rooms. All sorts of people were imprisoned here, from commoners who had committed minor offenses in a moment of impulse to nobles who had once been high and mighty but were now prisoners.

Today is a special day; some people are being released. Last time, these noble youths, ignorant of their place, dared to cause trouble at the city lord's mansion. Now their imprisonment period is over, and it's time for them to see the light of day again. However, there's no such thing as a free lunch. They won't be eating and drinking for free in the small dark room; every bite of porridge they eat requires a corresponding amount of money. This money is their "toll" for regaining their freedom.

Axe slowly approached a low, dark hut. The wooden door of the hut looked dilapidated, and the iron lock on it was rusty, as if telling the tragic stories of countless imprisoned people. He slowly crouched down, his movements cautious, as if afraid to disturb the unknown horror within. With a creak, the door slowly opened, and a faint beam of light shone in from outside, instantly illuminating the gruesome scene inside.

Axe saw Jesse lying on the ground, his eyes vacant, emaciated, as if a gust of wind could blow him away. His hair was a tangled mess, like countless twisted black snakes, obscuring most of his face. He wore a tattered prison uniform, stained with dirt and blood, emitting a nauseating stench. The ground was covered in excrement and urine, the stench overwhelming, and Jesse lay there unresponsive, looking several times more wretched than the starving and poorly clothed refugees on the streets.

This scene was nothing new to Axe. Anyone locked in this small, dark room, even for just two days, would turn into this grotesque, inhuman state. The person before him, having been locked up for four or five days, was a miracle to be alive.

"Hey! You can come out now," Axe shouted coldly, his voice echoing in the corridor of the small dark room, carrying an undeniable air of authority. In his eyes, these people dared to cause trouble at the city lord's mansion; they were simply courting death. Only four or five days of confinement was already a show of mercy from the city lord. If it were up to him, he would have thrown them directly into the black mine to dig, letting them taste real hardship—that would have been much more satisfying.

This seemingly insignificant sound was like a bolt of lightning, piercing the chaotic darkness in Jesse's mind. His dull gaze slowly regained its light, as if a soul had been re-infused into him. He struggled to get up, but his body wouldn't obey him; his legs felt as heavy as lead. Ignoring the excrement on the ground, he crawled on all fours, inching his way out of the small dark room, finally collapsing helplessly in the hallway, gasping for breath.

Axe didn't even glance at him, then turned to open the doors of the other small dark rooms. As each door opened, Kunzhan and the noblemen were released one by one. Soon, the corridor was filled with a group of nobles who looked like refugees. They were disheveled, ragged, and reeked of a pungent stench; they could easily be mistaken for beggars.

And so, Jesse, Quinzan, and the others lay on the ground for three minutes. During those three minutes, their eyes gradually regained a spark of life, as if they were slowly waking from a terrible nightmare. Just then, Axe's cold figure reappeared before them.

"Get up, all of you. You can leave now. If you don't want to leave, you'll be taken to mine," Axe said coldly, his voice laced with sarcasm. He knew perfectly well that these pampered noble children would never endure the hardships of mining, and this tactic would definitely work.

"Ah? No..." Sure enough, the scare tactic worked immediately. Everyone scrambled to their feet as if electrocuted. However, their movements were unsteady, like they were drunk, and they kept falling over. After all, they had been locked up for four or five days, and many of them were in a dazed state, their bodies and minds in a state of extreme weakness.

“Follow me,” Axe said coldly, then led the way outside. He walked ahead, his steps firm, like an unshakeable mountain. Soon they arrived at the backyard. Warm water had been prepared there, specifically for Jesse and the others to bathe. They were wearing thin prison clothes; if it weren't for the coal burning in the small dark cell's partition for warmth, they would likely have frozen to death in the cold winter.

"It's so cold," Jesse said, his mouth trembling, his teeth chattering uncontrollably. He had just stepped out of the small, dark room, and the winter chill felt like countless tiny needles piercing his skin, making him shiver uncontrollably.

"Damn it, how dare they treat us like this..." Kun Zhan's face was grim, his eyes filled with anger and resentment. These past few days of imprisonment had been like an endless nightmare for him, making him want to die. If it weren't for the fact that he still had a large sum of gold coins to spend, he probably wouldn't have been able to endure it all.

"Say less, I don't want to be locked up again." Jesse's eyes widened, his pupils bloodshot like burning flames. He said fiercely, "Whatever nonsense you have to say, say it outside." In this dark room, he had thoroughly tasted the bitterness and never wanted to go through it again.

"..." Kun Zhan nodded firmly. He was also afraid of being sent back to the dark room. It was dark, damp, and smelly inside; every second was torture. He never wanted to go back there again in his life.

When everyone had gathered in the open space in the backyard, Ryan walked over. He stood tall and straight, his steps steady, and a serious expression on his face. He called out, "Take off your prison clothes."

"Huh? Take it off here?" Jesse and the others were dumbfounded. Their eyes widened as they stared around in disbelief. People were coming and going here, and although they were all from the Guard Bureau, they were nobles! How could they be asked to undress in such an open place? This was an absolute insult to their dignity.

"Hurry up, do you want to spend a few more days in the dark room if you don't take your clothes off?" Lys said coldly, his voice carrying an undeniable authority. He knew in his heart that these noble children deserved to be taught a lesson; if he didn't show them what they were made of, they wouldn't behave.

The back gate slammed shut behind them, and no one was allowed to enter or leave at this time. It's important to know that there were girls working in the guard unit, like Ryan's wife, Lizhao, who held a clerical position. It would be disgraceful to let these noblemen's sons run around in prison clothes stained with excrement and urine.

"Ah...no, let's take them off."

“We’ll take it off right now, immediately.”

Jesse, Quinzan, and the others cried out in panic. Given the choice between being locked in the dark room again and having to undress, they preferred to take their clothes off, even though it would bring them immense shame. After all, they never wanted to experience the torture in the dark room again.

Soon, a group of naked men appeared in the backyard. Some covered their genitals, their faces full of embarrassment and shame; some squatted on the ground, trying to cover their private parts with their bodies; others covered their faces, not daring to look at the people around them. The scene was both comical and pathetic.

"Splash water!" Ryan shouted, his voice echoing through the air.

Buckets of warm water were brought over and forcefully splashed onto Jesse, Quinzan, and the others. The warm water washed away the excrement and urine clinging to their bodies, making a sizzling sound. The pungent odor gradually dissipated with the water, but a faint stench still lingered in the air. Otherwise, if this group of people walked out of the guard post covered in excrement and urine, the guard post's reputation would be completely ruined.

Three minutes later, the warm water ran out. Axe and the others immediately called out, "Jesse, come up and get your things back."

"Kunzhan, come up and get your things back."

"..."

This startled Jesse and Quinzan, but they immediately rushed forward, as if seeing a lifeline, shooing their little birds away. They retrieved the noble clothes and gold coins they had been forced to remove when they were locked in the small dark room. Although the clothes were somewhat wrinkled, their former splendor was still evident; the gold coins gleamed alluringly in the sunlight, as if proclaiming the immense wealth of their former owners.

Soon, they had all changed their clothes again. Although they still smelled slightly of feces and urine, it was much better than before. This made them look somewhat human again, no longer like walking corpses.

“Now, go to the front desk of the guard post and pay for your stay in the solitary confinement room,” Axe said coldly, one hand resting on the hilt of his sword. His eyes held a hint of disdain, as if he were looking at a group of clowns. “You can leave after you pay.”

"Huh?" Jesse, Quinzan, and the others stared wide-eyed, their faces filled with disbelief. So, they had to pay money to be imprisoned? Wasn't this just paying to suffer? They were filled with anger and resentment, but dared not lash out.

"Get out of here. Still want to go in?" Axe glared and said coldly, his voice carrying a hint of threat. This scheme of imprisoning people and then having to pay was an improvement on Ryan's plan. Previously, many people had tried to get in just to make a living, and those who couldn't afford the money were sent to mine for a few days to pay off their debts. Axe thought this method was excellent; it punished those who made mistakes while also generating additional revenue for the Guard Division.

“Uh…” Jesse, Quinzan, and the others shrank back and sheepishly left the backyard, heading towards the front desk. Their steps were heavy and slow, as if each step carried endless humiliation.