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Chapter 217: I’ll save them

Each had their own attachments, and was unwilling to face death alone.

The brutal reality of war was matched only by the unforgiving nature of defeat.

It was no laughing matter.

A nation with an underdeveloped military was destined to tolerate incessant abuse, while its people, subjugated and reduced to slaves, had no other recourse but to endure exploitation.

How could rights exist for an enslaved race grappling with ceaseless suffering and affliction?

It was not strange for anything to happen to a race that had lost its sovereignty.

A Virgin Mary, who had never personally experienced war and viewed it as child’s play, might be inclined to unleash a righteous and indignant tirade against the savage trolls who devoured meat and fowl raw.

What they failed to grasp was that if they were to trade positions with the Asiatic Cats, who had resigned themselves to adversity, they would likely be more terrified. Their legs would tremble, and they might even stammer as they pleaded for mercy and submission.

“Everyone, silence!” The admonishment from the troll captain subdued the terrified Asiatic Cats, who were having a lively discussion below.

“Our Governor, in all his good virtues, has decided to appease the residents of his town with his benevolence. Thus, he had chosen to reduce the initially planned food tax of 1000 stones to just 500. This act of benevolence is already remarkably generous! Seeing the rosy complexions on everyone’s faces and the enthusiastic bargaining going around, it seems you guys must still have some surplus food, right?”

“So… I kindly request everyone to pay your food taxes without hesitation. After all…” The troll captain smiled. He then cast a glance at the frail women and children, which were overwhelmed by fear to the point that their faces were ashen and their legs trembling in fear.

“The safety of everyone’s family is still in question.”

“But milord, what should we eat once we turn in all the food we have…” A bitter-faced middle-aged Asiatic Cat man voiced the heartfelt concern shared by every of his brethren on the scene.

Putting aside the task of gathering 500 stones of food which they were nowhere near accomplishing, even if they somehow managed to do so, the consequences would be severe. After depleting their food supply, how would they survive this winter?

“Huh? What to eat, you say? How could there be no food for you? Aren’t there plenty of options available?” The troll captain said, with a feigned expression of surprise. “Midwinter is about to pass, and fresh grass is already growing on the streets. If you mix it with some snowwater that hasn’t evaporated, wouldn’t it make a delicious dish!”

“H-…How could that…?!”

“Alright, enough with the nonsense! There’s actually another option for you all, besides obediently turning in your food tax. And that is… Collecting the corpses of your family.” As if he had lost interest in concocting his story, the troll captain completely dropped any pretense of cordiality and bore his teeth in a sinister smile.

He did not seem to be morally burdened by such ‘scorched-earth’ actions in the slightest.

If things went as he expected, it was almost certain that this city would soon break away from troll control.

The problem he needed to face at this moment did not revolve around finding ways to impede the vampire’s arrival. Rather, it was about how to extract the remaining value of this city to the greatest extent possible.

Thus, what harm would it do, even if he slaughtered all the inhabitants of this city?

“The number of stones you fall short of the food tax will be the number of Asiatic Cats I’ll kill. If, within the next half hour, the amount of food you turn in is less than the amount of food I requested…”

“You can start getting the coffins ready for your loved ones. Hehehe…”

The Asiatic Cats’ eyes grew wide one after the other as they gazed at their families on the tall platform, whose lives were in jeopardy. In the end, they made the choice to lower their tightly clenched fists.

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Having inspected his room and witnessing the entire situation, Ji Bai turned around to leave.

“Where are you going?” Fishbone, who had been ordered to accompany him, flickered his eyes upon seeing his actions. He then called him out in a cold tone.

“Isn’t that obvious?” The man with the metal helmet coldly responded and began to depart the scene.

In that instant, Ji Bai’s premonition alerted him to danger. His well-trained muscle memory compelled his body to move backward, evading the silver needle that had blended into the gentle breeze.

“What is the meaning of this?” While Fishbone’s attack failed to make him turn his head around, it managed to stop him in his tracks.

“This is an internal affair of us Asiatic Cats. We don’t need the meddling of an outsider like you.” Leaning against the wall, Fishbone sauntered toward him, idly playing with the silver needle in his hand. Despite lacking any murderous intent, his tone exuded a strong sense of unfriendliness.

“Indeed, I would much prefer to steer clear of this messy situation. That is, if you guys can genuinely handle it yourselves.”

“Whether we can handle it by ourselves is none of your concern. You’re just a human! How dare you act all self-righteous and pity us?? You’re truly laughable beyond words!” Fishbone’s cold and arrogant tone was laced with disdain.

“…Are you guys going to execute some major operation soon?”

“Oh? What is this baseless speculation you are coming up with now?”

“You guys must be planning some major operation, which is why you’re stopping me from reporting this matter, isn’t it?” Ji Bai spoke, as if muttering to himself. “And I suppose you don’t want this ‘minor and insignificant matter’ to interfere with your plans to rejuvenate the country, am I right?”

“I’m sorry, but I cannot let you go back and make your report today, no matter what you say.” Saying which, Fishbone assumed a fighting stance.

Although Ji Bai let out a few laughs, there was no sign of amusement in his demeanor. “So that’s how it is.”

“Even though it’s not my place to do so, I’m still going to share my thoughts about the matter.”

“The fact that none of you comprehend the basic principle of ‘people’s will’ is the reason your nation has been subject to foreign rule for so long. You have no one but yourselves to blame for that.”

“You…” Fishbone narrowed his eyes. The silver needle in his hand was already poised to strike. “How naive and foolish! What could a human like you possibly understand?! You’re nothing but a lowly species! Sacrifices are necessary to restore a country. How can a country reclaim its sovereignty without any bloodshed? Hmph! This is not a game we’re playing here!”

“Then let me ask you a question. If sacrifices are necessary to restore a country, why aren’t you and your kind the ones being sacrificed here?” Ji Bai’s gaze fell upon the red-faced Fishbone, who seemed to be venting his thoughts in his mind.

“You hold yourself in such high regard that you consider your own lives more valuable than that of the general populace, don’t you?”

“I…”

“Even before you’ve restored your country, the sprouts of social hierarchy and bureaucracy have already taken root in your heart. Despite the destruction of your country and the impending annihilation of your people, a former noble like you still yearns for the privileges of a superior person and remains reluctant to stand alongside the common folk as equals.”

“You haven’t even made the slightest progress on the road to restoration, yet you’re beginning to entertain thoughts of being appointed as officials and nobility. Forgive my frankness, but it seems your aim is more towards safeguarding your family’s interests than working toward the recovery of your country.

“What do my actions have to do with a human like you?!” Fishbone’s rage had reached its peak.

“You’re right, it’s none of my concern.” After saying that, Ji Bai turned around and abandoned his original plans. He passed by Fishbone and approached the group of terrified and helpless Asiatic Cat commoners, who were in a state of shock.

“If you won’t save them, I will.”

As his silvery-white longsword was drawn from its sheath, a fearless and chilling glint radiated through the seams of his helmet, which was aimed directly at the troll on the high platform.

“Hmph! Just a boastful little worm. A mere human dares to challenge a troll, a superior being of tyrannical might? He truly has no sense of his own mortality.” As he watched Ji Bai gradually recede into the distance, Fishbone merely sneered.

He had no intention of going back and reporting this matter.

Sacrifices were a common occurrence in many endeavors. As long as the end result was positive, who would mind the process?

Maybe it was a fortunate decision he went there, as he could witness firsthand how that human’s ego would lead to his death!