Reminiscing was a lie; stalling for time was the real goal.
Eleanor knew better than anyone what the soldiers of Qinghe Town were worth. If a real fight broke out, they wouldn't even make a decent snack for the cavalry.
So, she could only use noble pleasantries to stabilize the situation first, passing the buck to a non-existent third party to keep the other side from figuring out where Qinghe Town's confidence lay for the time being.
Eleanor had originally thought of just bluffing because of the town's lack of combat power, but now that their powerhouse had arrived, what was she waiting for?
She took another half-step closer to Wu Yao and said with righteous indignation, “My Lady, if I may be so bold, it is absolutely no coincidence that Peiva Town chose this moment to send people! Ever since Ohm died, they have been poking around outside the town for two days. Today, they even sent Logan in person, fully armed and on horseback. Their greedy ambitions are as clear as day!”
Logan's face darkened completely.
He pulled his reins tight, glaring down at Eleanor, his voice laced with undisguised rage. “Mrs. Morceau, out of consideration for your recent loss of your husband, I have been patient with you at every turn, offering nothing but words of comfort. Yet you turn around and slap such accusations on me! Do you think—”
He was unable to finish his sentence.
Five vines erupted from the ground, wrapping around the five men with pinpoint accuracy. A series of dull thuds echoed as their iron armor slammed against the ground.
The five men lay in a neat row on the ground.
Wu Yao walked over and stepped on Logan's shoulder. “Still refusing to dismount upon seeing me? I've really given you too much face.”
Logan's face turned beet red. His lips quivered as if he wanted to say something tough, but meeting those black eyes, the words died in his throat, and his back teeth ground together in fury.
Wu Yao was just about to kill them all.
“My Lady,” Benita's voice came from behind her, asking with a hint of hesitation, “could you... leave a few of them alive?”
Wu Yao turned her head to look at her.
Benita looked a bit tense. Fearing that Wu Yao might misunderstand, she explained, “I have other uses for them.”
Wu Yao tilted her head, thought about it, and then nodded.
The wind element danced at her fingertips.
The purse in Logan's pocket was ripped open by an invisible hand, and gold and silver coins fell into Wu Yao's open palm in a neat line.
The remaining four knights were looted one by one in the exact same manner.
Wu Yao weighed the pile of coins in her hand and nodded in satisfaction.
Then she turned around to face Benita, her expression suddenly becoming solemn.
“These men are my prisoners. I would normally demand a ransom to release them.”
Benita froze, seemingly trying to find the right words.
“However,” Wu Yao raised a single finger, “seeing as we have such a good relationship, I'll waive the ransom. As long as you join my territory and become my resident, I'll give these men to you for free.”
Benita smiled with a hint of helplessness. “Of course I am willing.”
“I want to join too!” Phelin practically shouted. She shook Wu Yao's hand vigorously, then turned to wave at Suren. “Suren is willing too! Suren, hurry up and come over here—”
Standing in the back, Suren pressed her lips together bashfully, but her eyes were firm. “If Lady Wu Yao is willing, I would also like to join your territory.”
【Benita has joined the territory】
【Phelin has joined the territory】
【Suren has joined the territory】
【Current Residents: 6/100】
Wu Yao was just about to close the interface in satisfaction, when another prompt popped up right after.
【Detected that resident Benita currently holds the position of [Mayor of Qinghe Town]. Jurisdiction: Qinghe Town and surrounding villages.】
【Do you wish to designate this area as a Sub-Territory?】
【Yes / No】
Wu Yao stroked her chin and clicked 【Yes】 without the slightest hesitation.
【Qinghe Town has been designated as a Sub-Territory】
【Sub-Territory Panel has been unlocked. It can be viewed in the Territory Management interface】
Wu Yao clicked open the newly unlocked panel, and several lines of translucent text floated at the edge of her vision.
【Sub-Territory: Qinghe Town】
【Lord: Wu Yao】
【Delegated Manager: Benita (Changeable)】
【Population: 2,621】
【Primary Industries: Agriculture, Handicraft Manufacturing】
【Proxy Permissions (Adjustable): Internal Affairs Management, Civil Arbitration, Public Security Maintenance, Appointment and Dismissal of Low-Rank Officials】
Wu Yao scrolled down and found that the design of the Sub-Territory was unexpectedly simple.
Unlike the main territory, which required her to build everything brick by brick and manually recruit every resident, the Sub-Territory acted more like a semi-automatic resource output point.
She only needed to manage a few key matters, while the rest could be left to the delegated manager to worry about.
Excellent. This was the kind of treatment a player deserved.
“What is it?” Benita asked.
“Good news.” Wu Yao patted Benita's shoulder. “Work hard for me!”
Benita blinked, not quite understanding what Wu Yao meant, but she wisely chose not to pry. She had already grown accustomed to the Lady occasionally saying baffling things.
Eleanor stood to the side, a curious light flashing in her eyes.
Then, she stepped forward and bowed slightly. “My Lady, may I also have the honor of joining your territory?”
Wu Yao turned her head to look at the top of her head.
【Affection: 46】
Wu Yao withdrew her gaze and answered bluntly, “No. You don't like me enough yet.”
Eleanor froze.
What did she mean by... "don't like me enough"?
She had been rejected many times before, and she could always understand, analyze, and find ways to handle those reasons.
But what kind of reason was "not liking her enough"?
Just what were the requirements to join this territory?
Could it be that only Lady Wu Yao's admirers were allowed to join the territory?
On the way back, Phelin clung to Wu Yao's side, holding her hand and chattering away without stop.
She spilled everything about her life in Qinghe Town over the past two days.
Her mother went to work at the town hall in the mornings, Auntie Eleanor and Auntie Vance would teach her arithmetic when they were free, Auntie Suren took her to watch the guards train, and she had made many new friends...
She spoke with animated gestures, occasionally letting go of Wu Yao's hand to run to the roadside, pluck a wild flower, and run back to stuff it into Wu Yao's palm.
Suren followed behind with a few guards, escorting the prisoners.
Benita patiently waited until Phelin had talked to her heart's content before stepping up to Wu Yao's side to quietly report the town's situation over the past few days.
Wu Yao immediately covered her ears. “I don't want to hear about that. You're the mayor, so you have the final say.”
Benita helplessly watched Wu Yao cover her ears with an "I'm not listening" posture, leaving her with no choice but to swallow the words she was about to say.
Fine, she wouldn't talk about town affairs.
But there were indeed some matters that required Lady Wu Yao to make a decision.
So she changed the subject, softening her tone. “Then, do you have any plans for the future of Qinghe Town?”
Wu Yao lowered her hands from her ears and blinked.
Plans?
She clicked open the Territory Management interface. The newly unlocked Sub-Territory panel was still hanging on the sidebar, with the population and primary industries displayed next to it.
Rate on N.U.
