This young master truly has the ambition of a hero.

No matter how unwilling those conservative nobles were, they could not stop Dick's immense and powerful influence from invading their territory; it was only a matter of time before it took his shape.

Chapter 311: Winter Rhapsody

Even without the problem of extremely cold winters, winters in Laguge are still colder than in other places.

But it's unclear when exactly, but the locals seem to have lost their fear of the bitter cold. They now have enough to eat and wear, sleep in draft-free houses, and have brave soldiers standing on the towering city walls, ensuring that those things that once terrified them can never invade their homes.

People sometimes can't help but wonder, who gave them such a wonderful life?

Is it an empire? Is it that emperor, high above all others, in the distant capital?

No! All of this was given to them by the lord. The kindness of that lord is something the Laguge people can never repay!

In Lagug today, Dick's prestige is unmatched. In the eyes of the local people, he is a wise and powerful leader, an invincible military god, and an absolute savior!

Everyone is a huge fan of Lord Dick; he is a perfect being.

"Tell me, what does our Earl do on a daily basis?"

In a small tavern in the main city, a worker who had just finished get off work ordered his favorite beer and popcorn, enjoying his leisurely time after get off work. Suddenly, he felt a surge of curiosity about his lord's daily life.

Another coworker chewed on a piece of dried grilled fish and said slowly and deliberately.

"Lord Dick is extremely busy, so of course he handles official business at the lord's manor! To be honest, my sister-in-law works as a clerk at the lord's manor and often sees him going in and out of the office of the chief internal affairs officer, Lady Hongyu. Their closed-door meetings can last for one or two hours at a time, and the two of them will argue until they are red in the face over some important decisions. Without these two gentlemen being so dedicated, could Laguge have developed so well? You all just don't understand!"

With a smug look on his face, Brother Fish revealed some "insider information" about the lord's manor that he thought few people knew, which drew gasps of amazement from everyone present.

At this moment, another worker began to share his observations. He wore a pendant with the symbol of the god of winter around his neck, clearly indicating that he was a believer in the god of winter who had been baptized.

"Let me tell you, our adult is not only extremely busy with his affairs, but he is also a very, very devout believer in the God of Winter!"

"how to say?"

“I go to the Ice and Snow Cathedral every Sunday. Whenever I go in the afternoon, I often see the lord praying. The nuns in the church say that the lord is under too much pressure from work and is burdened by all kinds of mundane matters, which is both mentally and physically exhausting. Only by listening to the elder nun read the Holy Word can he regain peace of mind and return to a state of wisdom.”

"W-what is the sage state?"

"That's a religious term; how could you ordinary people possibly understand it!"

That's how bars are; once someone brings up a topic, everyone quickly starts bragging, talking at length about their various encounters with the lord, praising Dick for his kindness and wisdom, showering him with genuine compliments one after another, filling the bar with a joyful atmosphere.

Only a young man with an ordinary appearance in the corner looked extremely uncomfortable, as if he was sitting on pins and needles, which made his "same-sex companion" next to him chuckle.

"How does it feel? Aren't you happy to hear others praising you like that?"

"Stop talking, I'm almost digging a second cathedral out of the floor with my toes."

The young man was none other than Dick himself, who had used a disguise tool to travel incognito, while his companion was Koufeng Wuxi, who had used a transformation tool to change her appearance.

It was indeed a good thing that his people loved him so much, but Dick would have preferred that they admired him silently in their hearts rather than saying it out loud in public.

That was a good compliment, but don't do it again next time!

Moreover, if you listen carefully, it's not hard to find that in these rumors, it seems that Di is secretly doing some "bad things".

A closed-door meeting with the Crimson Eyes? The clerks coming and going in the corridor would never have imagined that the elegant, composed, and always intellectual chief lady in their eyes was lying on the door panel being violently assaulted by the scholar, her soft breasts almost squeezed into two meat patties.

As for the prayers inside the cathedral, they were indeed initiating prayers!

Enmity, Qigante, Kel Saint, and Tartu, the four most popular nuns in the Church of Winter, all used their Saint-level bodies to receive the gushing essence of sin from Dick's body.

It's just that the Winter God was fast asleep; otherwise, if he had known that Dick was having an affair with the nuns in his church, he would have frozen to death—that would have been the least of his worries.

Besides that, he also left traces of battles in other places.

He's done air-to-air combat; who dares say he's not a fighter jet among succubi?!

Therefore, Dick himself often admitted that he was a two-faced person. In the eyes of the people of Lagug, he was a wise and powerful lord with impeccable morals.

But behind the scenes, he's done a lot of despicable things!

After leaving the bar where people were still bragging, it started snowing again outside, turning the world into a white expanse. Yet, the bustling streets remained crowded with pedestrians.

It's unclear when exactly it started, but the locals, who were once accustomed to resting at sunset, have gradually begun to have a nightlife. Although the wilderness remains very dangerous, they are no longer afraid of the dark within the city.

This is probably what they call "prosperity".

"Actually, more than their praise, I want to hear their true thoughts and demands that they confide in each other in private. After all, the higher I am, the more difficult it is for me to hear the voices of the people at the bottom. If I refuse to bow down, I will really become a high and mighty master."

"But aren't the people's private praises of you also their true feelings? This shows that you have not disappointed everyone and are a beloved and remarkable lord."

As Dongfeng Wuxi spoke, she gently stroked Dick's head. Just then, a gust of wind blew by, stirring up snowflakes that obscured the view of passersby. Dongfeng Wuxi immediately took Dick's hand and led him through a side alley. At the same time, she deactivated the transformation effect of her magical artifact and returned to her original form.

This maternal beauty, exuding ultimate mature charm, tied her long, jet-black hair into a high ponytail, cupped Dick's cheeks in her hands, and lowered her head to kiss his lips.

In the narrow alley, the two were passionately kissing in the shadows, with people coming and going on both sides. Anyone who got a closer look would have discovered this erotic scene.

Although Dick didn't know he was afraid of being discovered, the feeling was strangely exciting.

After the two finished kissing, Dongfeng Wuxi used her ample body to press Dick against the wall. If Dick lowered his head slightly, a deep and alluring cleavage could be seen through the collar of his black fur coat, while Dong's mother lowered her head and breathed softly.

"My lord, let's find a quiet, undisturbed place later, and I'll 'reward' you properly on behalf of the people who have benefited from your kindness, how about that?"

Chapter 312: As long as the money is in place

Dong Ma's "rewards" have always been top-notch. This mature woman, brimming with maternal instincts and wifely charm, possesses the massage techniques passed down through generations of the Dong family, always managing to leave Dick in ecstasy.

The two found a small inn in the city to stay in, because according to the regulations issued by the lord's mansion, all inns in the main city of Lagug must register the identity of their guests.

Before Dick could speak, Dongfeng Wuxi spoke first, giving two false names and claiming that she was Dick's stepmother.

The hotel receptionist glanced at the two with some confusion, because although Feng Wuxi had used props to slightly alter her facial features, making her unrecognizable as a well-known private army gunner in the area, she still looked young, beautiful, and charming.

Dick, on the other hand, transformed into a human boy of about fourteen or fifteen years old (actually, his appearance from his previous life), who seemed to be only a few years older than his overly young stepmother.

The key point is that they only booked one double room!

The little girl suddenly thought of something terrible, and a blush appeared visibly on her freckled face.

After Dick and Dongfeng Wuxi went upstairs with the room key, the clerk secretly took out a book from under the counter. The book was titled "My Young Stepmother and I," and it seemed to be a novel about family affection.

After the two went upstairs, Dick was curious about why Feng Wuxi was pretending to be his stepmother, and Dong Ma smiled charmingly.

"Don't you find it exciting?"

"hiss……"

Dick gasped, feeling a sudden chill run down his spine.

The two entered the room, and as soon as the door closed, they couldn't wait to embrace. Dick's height allowed him to directly face the most prominent part of Dong Ma's body. He took a deep breath of the warm milky fragrance, which he found very refreshing.

As a seasoned "big truck driver," Dick's driving experience is undoubtedly extensive, while Dongma is definitely one of the best driving experiences. The advanced intelligent driving, full-process voice navigation, and the bright headlights that are irresistible make Dick want to floor the gas pedal and speed all the way until dawn!

Dick will not forget his promise to Feng Wuxi: he will give her a child!

With the added sense of taboo brought about by "role-playing," Dick felt that his driving skills were even more unrestrained. Feng Wuxi used a seductive voice to make alluring moans while affectionately calling him "my child," seemingly trying to learn from Frederick the Great's successful experience in order to increase her chances of conceiving.

Whether it increases the conception rate is another matter, but it does increase attack speed.

The two engaged in a fierce battle in the hotel room until dawn, making use of almost everything in the room and even successfully unlocking several new positions they had never tried before.

When the two of them came downstairs to check out, satisfied, the receptionist seemed a little listless, as if she hadn't slept well, and she didn't dare to meet their eyes.

Back at the lord's manor, Dick resumed his work. Nowadays, the factories in the light and heavy industrial zones of Lagug are heated, so they don't have to stop working in winter like agriculture.

The various goods produced were continuously transported to the south by sea, and even reached the capital city. Those inexpensive and high-quality daily necessities were very popular among the lower-class people in the capital.

These low-tech commodities are not unproduced in the capital, but their prices remain high due to the manipulation of aristocratic merchants.

A bar of soap and a bottle of face cream were sold by merchants at the price of luxury goods. It wasn't that they didn't want to make more money, but rather that they deliberately raised prices to prevent commoners from affording them in order to maintain the sense of superiority of the aristocratic class.

Merchants who were unwilling to do so were driven out of the capital by nobles using their privileges.

But Dick didn't have these aristocratic baggage; he preferred low profit margins and high volume, ensuring his own income while allowing more people to benefit from it.

Isn't the money of ordinary people money?

At this time, the capital city was in a special period, namely, the central government's control was declining, and the government's tax increases led to the bankruptcy of a number of small and medium-sized merchants and factory owners, which indirectly led to reduced production and supply shortages, ultimately causing soaring prices.

These daily necessities, smuggled into the capital, hit the pain points of the city's lower classes. Because of their uniform snowman logo, the products were affectionately known as "Snow Brand" by the public.

As a result, some mysterious conversations often occur in some ordinary shops in the capital.

Is this a members-only place?

"Yes."

Is it snow?

"Yes."

"Then bring it up quickly!" (Impatiently)

Meanwhile, the high-ranking officials in the cabinet, those aloof and unwilling to look at the common people, were unaware that small commodities from the north were quietly invading the country. Everyone was so engrossed in the lucrative profits from selling official positions that they could not extricate themselves.

Don't be fooled by the fact that when Rune made the proposal, many people present expressed their righteous opposition, as if they were all virtuous gentlemen defending the dignity and honor of the nobility.

Then, once the matter was settled, they relied on their flexible moral bottom line and, without any psychological burden, took a share of the profits.

Yes! The money from selling titles is for emergencies, but that doesn't stop the gentlemen from taking it.

If you don't take it and I don't take it, how will the Prime Minister take it?

If the Prime Minister doesn't take it, how can you and I make progress?

It's no exaggeration to say that the entire officialdom in the capital is now like a slide, with everyone sliding down it. Anyone who doesn't move will block others' path to "advance".

And Duke Rune was the one who poured lubricant onto the slide.

Before we knew it, it was February of the following year. With the help of the several hundred newly appointed nobles, the cabinet finally raised enough funds to solve the problems in the south.

Upon learning that the long-overdue military pay was finally going to be paid, the entire south breathed a sigh of relief.

Not only were the officers who were busy suppressing the lower ranks at ease, but even the local lords were finally able to put their minds at ease after being in suspense for more than half a year.

It should be noted that although the Empire and the Kingdom signed a ceasefire agreement, neither side's troops withdrew immediately. Instead, they merely separated by a distance and continued to maintain the "sit-in".

After all, the Empire's abysmal reputation is known worldwide, and the Maple Dew people have learned this the hard way.

The legions on the Empire's side are more complicated. They are the private armies of nobles who responded to the Empire's call, only to find themselves working for nothing and gaining nothing in return, and they are unwilling to disband.

These local ragtag groups aren't stupid. They know that if they obediently return to their hometowns, the officials in the capital will definitely renege on their promises and might even defeat them one by one. It's better to stay together like this to put enough pressure on the higher-ups.

Meanwhile, the lords in the south have been living in constant fear for the past six months, terrified that if the hundreds of thousands of troops were to mutiny, they, the unlucky ones living nearby, would be the first to suffer.

Chapter 313: Each Person's Journey Home

After a long wait of half a year, the long-awaited military pay was finally issued.

At this moment, Reinhardt could finally breathe a sigh of relief. Although the empire, which was turning a tragedy into a celebration, had used him as a propaganda tool to portray him as a hero who had turned the tide of the war, the ordinary soldiers below would not waive their pay just because his name was so famous.

Moreover, Reinhardt himself didn't consider himself a hero. He simply didn't have the ability to turn the tide. The person who truly saved him and hundreds of thousands of soldiers had already left without a trace, concealing his merits and fame.

When Reinhardt saw his fifth brother so indifferent to fame and fortune and leave so decisively, he felt admiration but also ashamed of his own deceitful and fraudulent behavior.

But now it seems that the fifth brother probably foresaw what would happen next and ran away beforehand to avoid getting into trouble!

Reinhardt had been under immense pressure for some time, to the point of mental exhaustion, but thankfully, he had finally overcome the ordeal. A decree of commendation from the capital summoned him and the legion's meritorious members back to the capital to receive their medals. King Hesse VII, who had been offline throughout the war, would personally present them with the awards.

After the news came, the generals of the former Second Eastern Army Corps came to congratulate them. After this war, they had vaguely formed a "small mountain" with Reinhard as its core. And the people with the most tense relationship with their faction were the people of the Third Prince's side.

Reinhardt still cherished the past and didn't want things to fall apart with his best friend. But Bailey, who was completely addicted to the drug, seemed to have become a completely different person. He was irritable and easily angered, like a psychopath, and exuded a hysterical madness.

Reinhardt attempted to communicate with the other party several times, but each attempt ended in disagreement.

In the most serious incident, Pele, for reasons unknown, cursed Reinhardt as a "treacherous villain" while drawing his sword to kill him.

If someone hadn't stopped him, Reinhardt would have almost lost his life.

"Don't be silly, kid. The imperial family is the most ruthless place. You treat him as a friend, but he treats you like nothing more than a servant. The key is that he has no tolerance for others. He is far inferior to the old crown prince back then."

The old Saint-level mage Quinn, who was beside Reinhardt, meant for him to abandon his illusions and face reality.

As a former member of the Prince of Wales's faction who once followed the old Prince Charles, Quinn made no secret of his contempt for the third prince, Bailey.

In his view, Pelé's past behavior was a clumsy imitation of the old prince, and not even a good one. To say that he was inferior to the original was an insult to that prince.

Prince Charles is a man with both obvious strengths and weaknesses. Despite his womanizing ways, he genuinely possesses the potential to become a wise and capable ruler. He is skilled at managing his subordinates and has a tolerant nature. Even in his later years, he never lost his temper with his followers. Instead, he would apologize to them after drinking, feeling that he had let them down.

Quinn knew the bitterness in Charles's heart during his sixty years as Crown Prince, and felt sincere regret and resentment over his unexpected death. Therefore, seeing the Third Prince's gloating and smug look only made him angrier! Now he felt that this boy was all bark and no bite, and did not look like a ruler at all!

In comparison, he found Reinhardt much more agreeable, but he needed to change his stubbornness, otherwise he might suffer a great loss in the future.