This young master truly has the ambition of a hero.

In the following days, everything was peaceful on Dick's return journey, but the situation in the capital changed drastically the day after he left.

The assassins of the Dead Tree Gang, who were lurking in the capital, assassinated several cabinet officials in succession, causing the political situation, which had just shown signs of returning to calm, to become turbulent again.

For politicians in the capital, assassination is usually a last resort, a desperate measure they would only use when they are desperate. Once used, it is very likely to cause a chain reaction.

During the reign of King Hesse V, assassinations were rampant in the imperial capital's political arena. Problems that couldn't be resolved verbally in court during the day would be dealt with by knifepoint at night. Eventually, the killings became so brutal that everyone was forced to calm down and agree on three rules.

Therefore, in the capital city today, assassinations are still used, but they are not targeted at the upper echelons.

However, the rules have now been broken. Although the higher-ups quickly discovered that the assassins were the Restorationist elves of the Dead Tree Party, no one could guarantee that there might be human employers behind them.

In order to quell public anger and divert hatred, the empire issued an official announcement to launch a full-scale crackdown on the Dead Tree Party. This caused the few remaining elven principalities in the west of the empire to tremble with fear, lest the empire take the opportunity to wipe them all out.

Meanwhile, Dick and his group docked at the pier in the Marquis of Ulen's territory. News from the capital had already appeared in the local newspapers before him. Dick bought a copy, read the contents, and thought to himself that the Dry Tree Party was going to suffer a lot this time.

From the Marquisate, the next leg of the journey can only be undertaken by horse-drawn carriage.

The road conditions in the northern region were far worse than those in the capital city. Even though the carriage that Dick and his companions were traveling in had shock absorbers, the ride on the bumpy dirt roads was still very bumpy. Xiao Ai, who was weak, couldn't handle it on the first day and vomited a lot.

"Yue... I feel so bad, I can't take it anymore..."

"Just bear with it, it'll be fine once we get home."

Xiao Ai was now deathly pale, lying weakly on the back seat of the carriage, her head resting on Dick's lap. Dick gently stroked Xiao Ai's hair, using his magic to ease her pain.

In the dazed and confused Xiao Ai's eyes, Dick was simply her angel.

But just then, Rita, who was sitting in the front row reading a book with an air of ease, suddenly slammed her book shut and glanced out the window.

"coming."

As soon as Rita finished speaking, two blazing fire snakes suddenly shot out from the forest on both sides of the road, flying towards the carriage with lightning speed.

Dick immediately recognized it as the high-level magic "Flame Serpent". The fire serpent has a temperature of nearly two thousand degrees Celsius and is controlled by the caster, so it can fly flexibly in the air at an extremely fast speed.

Compared to a year ago, the assassin's appearance has been significantly upgraded, but Dick's defenses are also vastly different now.

Without him even lifting a finger, Lucoa flew out of the car window immediately. The mini dragon, which looked to be only half a foot long, took a deep breath and sucked in both of the flying fire snakes.

The attackers hiding in the woods were stunned when they saw this.

However, that wasn't the end of it. Disguised as a coachman, Hongye raised her hand and launched a magic missile into the air. The arrow exploded in mid-air, and not long after, the sound of a large cavalry force approaching came from ahead. Two heavily armored knights, one in black and one in white, led the way, charging over a hundred cavalrymen straight towards the assassins who were trying to ambush Dick.

"Master! We're here!"

The first person to rush to the carriage was Black Gunner. The valiant female knight was carrying a disheveled mage in her hand and threw him in front of the carriage like a dead dog.

As for the other assassins, they were quickly dealt with by the arriving reinforcements. In addition to the Black and White Gunners, the sisters Kasumi and Ayane also arrived and together captured another magician who was trying to escape.

Ayane originally wanted to take credit, but her expression immediately turned very surprised when she saw Honoka getting off the carriage.

"My lord, she, she..."

Ayane and Honoka weren't close, but they knew of each other's existence as half-sisters, yet they felt awkward meeting each other.

The one who committed the atrocities was Raido, the main villain of the Dead or Alive series. Ayane was born after Raido raped his own sister-in-law, while Honoka was raised by her grandmother and had almost never seen her biological father, Raido.

However, Ayane and Honoka had no grudges against each other. Although they felt awkward when they met, it was not to the point that they had to fight.

Soon, the captured assassins were gathered together, all looking dejected and resigned to their fate.

Fortunately, Dick wasn't the kind of person who was bloodthirsty. Apart from the two magicians, all the other prisoners were sent to the Laguge Farmhouse to enjoy the pleasures of labor freedom for the rest of their lives.

"Master, shouldn't we interrogate them?" Bai Qiangdai asked.

"No need. I know perfectly well who sent these guys."

After joining up with the reinforcements who had come from his hometown, Dick saw that it was getting late and ordered them to set up camp on the spot.

Dick called over White Gunner and asked her about the situation in his hometown during his time back in the capital. They walked and talked as they entered the tent his subordinates had set up for him. Black Gunner followed him in. Seeing this, the private army's cavalrymen wisely kept their distance from the tent.

As the commander of the cavalry, Black and White Gunner's relationship with Dick was no secret.

If the two men had become cavalry captains simply by selling their bodies, their soldiers would certainly have been resentful. But the two men were simply too capable, so the soldiers couldn't say anything and could only silently envy the governor's good fortune with women.

No, wait! He now has a title and is a lord.

Damn it! I'm even more envious now!

Meanwhile, Xiao Ai, still feeling dizzy, stayed in the car, where Rita took over taking care of her. After eating some hot stew, she felt a little better and wanted to get out of the car for a walk to breathe some fresh air.

After getting out of the car, Xiao Ai was first stunned by the dazzling starry sky above her head, and then curiously looked around the camp. The soldiers around her saw that this sickly little beauty had gotten out of the lord's car, so they naturally labeled her "the lord's woman" in their hearts. At most, they would steal a few glances, but no one dared to make a move.

Over the past year, Dick's series of actions in Lagug have earned him both a reputation for virtue and prestige. The soldiers and civilians in the territory respect and love him greatly. His mere lust is of no serious consequence!

In some people's eyes, this minor flaw is even a plus, making it easier for them to cater to their preferences.

Xiao Ai wandered around the campsite and found that everyone was very friendly to her, so she gradually felt at ease. As she walked, she came to a large tent with no one around. She could vaguely hear some strange noises coming from inside the tent, but she couldn't hear them very clearly.

Driven by curiosity, Xiao Ai went over to investigate.

"Master, it's been a month, and you seem to have gotten even better... It's so strange, even though the size and position haven't changed, why does it feel so good now!"

The way you're saying this makes it sound like you were unhappy about something before.

"It's really different. Before, it was just ordinary pleasure, but now... it's heavenly!"

As the conversation continued, the woman's originally spirited voice gradually transformed into a seductive moan, making Xiao Ai's face flush.

Although Xiao Ai lacks "practical experience," she is not lacking in theoretical knowledge as she was born in a modern city in the internet age. In addition, she is surrounded by unkind people (actually, birds of a feather flock together), and there are many other repressed young women in love like her.

Soon after, a third person's voice rang out from inside the tent, giving Xiao Ai an even greater shock.

"Master, don't just think about Blake, I... I miss you too."

"Haha, White, are you missing your Master? I'm too embarrassed to call you out on it!"

The conversation inside the tent shocked Xiao Ai for a whole year. She discovered that this other world was indeed just like the situation described in light novels, with "Halim" being almost a fixed element.

However, just as Xiao Ai, who was blushing, was trying to slip away before she was discovered, Rita's voice suddenly came from behind her, which almost caused Xiao Ai to have a heart attack.

"What are you doing?"

"Miss Lili Lilita!? I... I wasn't eavesdropping!"

"..."

Faced with Xiao Ai's unwitting confession, Rita simply smiled. She thought to herself that the three people in the tent were all highly perceptive, and this silly girl had been discovered as soon as she got off the carriage.

Rita thought about it. Xiao Ai would have to see the scene inside sooner or later. Moreover, since Dick had a suitable idea for succubus bloodline to break through to the Saint rank with the help of Lucoa, it was even more necessary to let Xiao Ai get familiar with this business process as soon as possible.

Moreover, assisting Dick in his cultivation would benefit both parties. As a purely ordinary person, Xiao Ai truly has no means of self-protection. Therefore, she urgently needs to strengthen herself, just like Hongye, who can now use some low-level magic.

Without further ado, Rita pushed Xiao Ai into the tent and witnessed a scene that she would never forget.

Dick, who doesn't look big, is actually quite big at all!

Chapter 108: Some People Are Unconvinced

Since Lucoa pointed out the problem that his cultivation had hit a bottleneck, Dick began to consciously adjust his mindset, accept the "non-human" half of his genes, and no longer suppress his true nature.

So, faced with the older woman's flirtatious advances, Dick showed no embarrassment whatsoever. Instead, he retaliated with a swift and decisive French kiss. Blake hadn't expected that Dick would become so assertive after more than a month, catching her completely off guard.

However, Dick's initiative also has its own unique charm. The unruly knight king is pleased that his little pony has become more spirited, and feels that it is more fun to "ride" it this way!

The two embraced and kissed passionately inside the tent, caressing each other's bodies. Blake quickly became aroused under the combined effects of the succubus's skillful techniques and her bodily fluids. Being bewitched was essentially a state of poisoning, but Blake likened it to the "tipsy buzz" after drinking fine wine—just an aperitif before the real nectar was extracted!

Just then, Dick noticed White, who looked bewildered, and waved to her. White looked at the half-undressed, lecherous young man smiling seductively at her, and subconsciously swallowed, thinking to herself, "How can anyone resist this!"

As the saying goes, "In the warm embrace of the emperor, we spend the spring night in the boudoir; I and the general remove our battle robes!"

By the time Rita dragged Xiao Ai in to broaden their horizons, they were already neck and neck.

When Rita brought Xiao Ai in, apart from White, who was more serious and slightly embarrassed, Dick and Blake only glanced at her before continuing their lovemaking as if no one else was around.

Little Ai, still a novice, was witnessing such a real, large-scale battle for the first time. Her face was so red it was almost bleeding, and she didn't know whether to sit or stand. She wanted to cover her face with her hands, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't close her fingers; the gaps between her fingers were bigger than her eyes.

It has to be said that Dick and Black and White Gun are top-notch in terms of physique and looks. The male and female leads in the short videos she had secretly watched were no match for them, so the images were not exactly offensive.

Unlike Xiao Ai's embarrassment, Rita remained calm throughout, casually laying the mattress on the bed and asking Dick what he wanted for dinner.

This situation surprised Xiao Ai. Was the world really so open-minded? So Xiao Ai tried to ask Rita, who seemed very reliable, for help.

"Miss Rita..."

"what happened?"

"Them, me, this...should we go out and avoid them for a while?"

"Don't be surprised. Let me tell you a little secret that can't be told to outsiders: our young master Dick has one-quarter succubus blood, which allows him to generate magic through sex. And Black and White, those two female knights, are actually spirits known as Heroic Spirits. They also need to obtain the magic from our young master in this way to maintain their existence. So what they are doing now is not a terrible thing. It's just like eating and drinking; it's a basic physiological need."

"Oh, I see, so that's how it is..."

After hearing Rita's explanation, Xiao Ai was still skeptical. After all, this was a magical world, and Rita was speaking with such seriousness. Then she quickly realized that since the other party had taken the initiative to bring her in for a live demonstration, could it be some kind of "business training" before she officially started working?

And so, with a learning mindset, Xiao Ai watched attentively from the sidelines.

Meanwhile, in Lagug, Belfast, who had stayed behind, had just received the Eagle Legend and learned that the cavalry unit that had gone to provide support had successfully joined up with Dick's team, and she breathed a slight sigh of relief.

I hope everything goes well...

While Dick was away in the capital reporting for duty for over a month, everything in Lagug was as usual. The army training was overseen by Black and White Gun, the external intelligence gathering and internal security management were handled by Tia's "Forget-Me-Not", the industrial and agricultural development was handled by Ruby Eyes, and the commerce was handled by the ship girl Ding An who had recently joined. Belfast, the head maid, acted as the acting governor, coordinating the work between the various departments.

It's no exaggeration to say that the top two positions in all the military and political departments of Laguge are currently managed by Belfast and her female colleagues. So much so that Tia jokes that what they're doing now isn't just harem politics, but a harem-style cabinet.

Everyone was a professional recruited by Dick according to his needs, so their abilities were beyond doubt. As the leader, Dick always gave them his complete trust, but some people were indignant about it.

Belfast learned from Tia that during the time Dick was away from Lagug, some people below were complaining. They felt that although Dick had indeed made "a little" progress in his year-long tenure, he was a lecherous and incompetent man who had allowed a group of women to rise to high positions by sleeping with him, which made them, the truly meritorious and hardworking officials, feel disheartened.

Judging from their tone, it was as if they were the ones charging into battle to suppress bandits, saving lives in clinics, and introducing corn to improve agriculture, which led to an unprecedented bumper harvest in Laguge.

If it were just drunken grumbling, Belfast would ignore these sour grapes. But according to the information Tia has recently gathered, these guys are drinking and bragging, as if they really think they are talented but haven't met their match. They've actually conspired in secret, wanting to cause trouble while Dick is away from Lagug.

Behind them, there appears to be support from the south.

After getting a general idea of ​​the group's numbers, positions, and skill levels, Belfast judged that they could at most cause some trouble, but didn't pose a real threat. So she told Tia to keep an eye on them for now and leave them alone until they gathered some like-minded companions.

When Dick first arrived in Lagug last year, he said that the territory was in dire need of reconstruction and that the population was the biggest problem. Therefore, he only attacked the Saxon family, a local gentry, to establish his authority, and left the other minor characters alone, as if to give them a chance to prove themselves.

Some of them are quite good at getting things right, but others are stubborn and incorrigible.

We're keeping them around for two reasons: first, we haven't had time to spare, and second, we're using them as bait.

Dick's return to the capital and the bestowal of a noble title were an unexpected surprise. This news has not yet been officially announced in Laguge, and most of the people below are still unaware of it.

Belfast pondered for a moment, concluding that once this news was made public, those who wanted to cause trouble would most likely back down. Because once Dick became the lord of Lagug, he would be the true owner of this land, and opposing the governor and opposing the lord were not the same thing.

The former can use the pretext of defending the lord to whitewash their actions as "purging the court of corrupt officials."

The latter is a complete "rebellion," punishable by death!

So Belfast consulted with Tia, and they decided that they could use this information gap to set a trap to lure the snakes out, so that they could legitimately "cleanse" away these scourges.

Chapter 109: Good News, Dick is No Longer the Governor

Outside the town walls of Laguge lies a riverside settlement, which is similar to a slum. Locals call it "River Lowland." It is usually home to cheap taverns, gambling dens hidden in dilapidated wooden houses, and prostitutes soliciting customers in the shadows of alleyways. It is a gathering place for all sorts of people in the area.

Over the past year, Dick has been cracking down on various criminal gangs and eliminating bandits and local bullies, but he has not touched this place because it is a "garbage can" that he deliberately kept.

The continuous crackdown caused the snakes, rats, insects and ants to scatter and flee in all directions to avoid capture. Some left Laguge for other territories, while the rest basically hid here.

As night fell, the river hollow became lively, and Dog Egg Tavern quickly filled up with people. Scantily clad, busty waitresses moved through the narrow aisles, frequently making physical contact with the rude patrons around them. This was the secret to Dog Egg Tavern's success.

Meanwhile, in a corner of the tavern's main hall, a few customers, dressed noticeably better than the other patrons, sat together, chugging down diluted, low-quality ale while grumbling as usual.

These men were all low-ranking clerks working for the Governor's Office, and all veterans from the previous Governor David's era. In the early days of his tenure, due to a shortage of manpower, Dick selectively retained a group of less problematic former clerks.

Initially, these retained employees were indeed grateful to Dick and worked diligently and conscientiously for a period of time. However, as time went on, some of them, seeing that the iron fist from above hadn't struck them, couldn't help but start to harbor rebellious thoughts again.

During David's reign, the Governor's Office was a chaotic mess from top to bottom, with lower-ranking officials earning monthly salaries so meager they couldn't even support a normal life. David's attitude was, "I've given you power; how dare you ask me for money? Use your brains!"

Unlike Dick, who immediately improved the treatment of his subordinates after taking office, he also strictly required them to be conscientious in their duties.

If you dare to reach out to those below you on an economic level, I dare to chop them up on a physical level!

However, as the saying goes, "old habits die hard." Although Dick increased the salaries of civil servants by 150% compared to the David era (which was excessively low), and also established incentive mechanisms such as perfect attendance awards and model awards, it still couldn't compare to the rampant black income of the past. Moreover, many people who accepted black money were not just greedy, but also wanted to enjoy the thrill of bullying the weak.

These were acts of dereliction of duty that Dick could not tolerate, so he did not hesitate to take strong action!