112: This is truly terrifying!

"Serfs from Viscount Connor Kimmler's Territory, I am the Lord of Ironthorn Territory, Lister Howard."

As Lister's loud voice, carrying a trace of Battle Qi energy, rang out, the slightly noisy crowd before him instantly fell silent.

"On behalf of Ironthorn Territory, I would like to express a sincere welcome to everyone from the Viscount Territory."

After a brief pause, Lister continued, "I know that only a small number of you are Freemen, while the rest are Serfs and Slaves."

"I do not know your true thoughts, but I suspect many of you are actually unwilling to be sent here as labor."

"Perhaps you feel that as laborers, you will get nothing but some simple meals and no extra income, despite working long, exhausting hours every day."

"But I tell you, such a situation will never exist in Ironthorn Territory."

"Today, I make a promise here: every laborer who comes to help Ironthorn Territory will be provided with free housing and three free meals a day, plus a daily wage of 5 copper coins."

"And what I want you to do is to do your best to help Ironthorn Territory complete the renovation of Ironthorn Town and the road construction work before winter arrives."

"If anyone dares to be lazy, I will revoke their work eligibility and send them back to the Viscount Territory."

As his voice fell, the air lapsed into an eerie silence.

The eyes of the more than three hundred people in the field were like those of zombies, staring fixedly at Lister on the small platform, filled with an indescribable shock.

They doubted their own ears, wondering if they were hallucinating... Free housing and meals!

A daily wage of 5 copper coins!

Since when did being sent as labor come with such treatment?

Could this young lord have drunk some fake wine?

But while their education level was low, it didn't mean they were fools; they heard one thing very clearly, and that was that Lister had made a public promise.

Setting aside their status as laborers, if a lord made a personal promise in front of so many subordinates, it was absolutely impossible for him to go back on it.

This wasn't because a promise was worth a thousand gold pieces, but because noble lords valued their 'face' extremely highly; this was the one thing they, as commoners and pariahs, understood best.

If Lister broke his promise today and word got out, he would become a laughingstock among other nobles.

However, the core reason for becoming a laughingstock wouldn't be breaking the promise, but making a promise he couldn't fulfill.

Overestimating one's own capabilities was the biggest joke of all!

As for a promise made to pariahs like them, no noble would truly care.

After a long while, as the first cheer rang out, one excited, high-pitched shout after another followed.

Soon, the entire military camp was completely submerged in the sky-shaking sounds of gratitude from more than three hundred people toward Lister.

Watching this scene, Lister had a faint smile on his face, his calm and composed expression fully displaying his lordly demeanor.

After he gave a few instructions regarding the group's settlement, he left with Brutus... In the afternoon.

In the lord's room, Lister sat in the main seat, his aura leisurely and steady.

Looking at Red, whom he had summoned, he instructed with a solemn face: "Red, today the security patrol level of Ironthorn Territory is to be raised to Level 3 execution."

"Any Soldier who discovers suspicious persons while on patrol should not act rashly but must immediately notify the Knight Squad to conduct surveillance."

"Then, after you leave, immediately go with Spartacus and Seguin to secretly protect Alastair Cecil. Be careful not to expose yourselves beforehand; that kid's alertness is not low."

"If you discover any suspicious people approaching him during the protection period, as long as he isn't harmed, just watch and wait for changes."

"But if he is truly about to be harmed, you must all act together. It's best if you can eliminate the threat as quickly as possible; if not, do your best to pin them down."

"I will be waiting inside Ironthorn Town with men tonight. Once we hear your movement, we will support you at maximum speed."

"You must remember, if you truly engage in combat with people of unknown identity, you must stick close to them for melee combat. Do not let them open up any distance."

"If there are no problems, go and make the arrangements quickly."

"Understood."

Although he was very curious and had some vague guesses, Red kept them firmly suppressed in his heart under the principle of obeying orders and did not ask.

As his silhouette disappeared from the room, Lister began to practice the Magic Shield.

Since the opponent was very likely to be a Wizard or a Mage, the Magic Shield would definitely be a very useful move when fighting them.

Bai Ze, who had been playing and frolicking on the side, began its miserable 'work'.

"Bang, bang, bang!"

As powerful Magic Fireballs were continuously spat from Bai Ze's mouth, intense explosions rang out one after another.

None of the Magic Fireballs that slammed into the Magic Shield could break through its defense.

Seeing this, Bai Ze, feeling slightly unwilling, stopped condensing Magic Fireballs in its mouth.

In the next moment, under Lister's surprised and suspicious gaze, the mysterious purple patterns spreading across its body instantly lit up with a faint glow.

Then that purple light, like a mysterious liquid flowing through its body, used the patterns as paths and rapidly flowed toward the domineering black horns on its head.

Zizizi~

Accompanied by the sound of electric arcs, Purple Lightning emitting a terrifying aura condensed between the horns within a few breaths.

Boom—!

In the next instant, a terrifying roar sounded, and the lightning bolt shot toward Lister's direction in a flash.

"Whoa!"

Startled and sensing an extremely dangerous aura, Lister immediately increased the magic energy output into the Magic Shield.

With a 'boom,' the Purple Lightning struck the front of the Magic Shield.

But unlike the Magic Fireballs, it didn't explode and dissipate immediately; instead, it surged frantically against the Magic Shield, and the two sides fell into a stalemate.

The 'zizizi' electric arcs, like swimming little purple snakes, shot out continuously toward the surroundings.

In an instant, the tables, chairs, stools, and ornaments in the room all suffered 'inhuman pain'.

They were either covered in cracks, had a large hole blasted through them, or were directly turned into fragments.

The terrifying destructive power scared the other little ones who were nearby, causing them all to quickly retreat and hide far away.

However, the one suffering the most was not them, nor the furniture, but the current Lister.

Compared to those tiny purple arcs, the thumb-thick Purple Lightning that was currently battering his Magic Shield possessed a far more terrifying and horrifying destructive power.

He felt that if he relaxed even slightly, the Magic Shield would be blasted through on the spot.

If that Purple Lightning hit his body, he would suffer a significant wound even if he wasn't heavily injured.

Fortunately, the Purple Lightning's duration was not long; in less than three breaths, it finally dissipated into the air due to insufficient energy impact.

Looking at the dense network of cracks spreading outward from the center of the Magic Shield, Lister's face was filled with shock.

For the energy output of the Magic Shield just now, he had used almost the highest point he could currently withstand.

Even so, the Magic Shield had almost shattered. This move of Bai Ze's... was truly terrifying indeed!

At this time, Bai Ze let out a weak and somewhat guilty 'awoo'.