Chapter 9 - Love for the People, Lord Richard

Chapter 9 Love for the People, Lord Richard

[Congratulations to the host, you have used your iron-fisted methods to display extraordinary dominance. The mountains sing of your story, the rivers speak of your fame, and you stand on the castle’s high platform, defending your authority.].[From today onwards, you have your own land, entirely yours. A new journey begins under your command!].[Congratulations, you have unlocked a new mode: Lord Mode!].[In this mode, you will see the loyalty levels of your subordinates. By developing your territory, you can unlock various benefits. You will also gain blueprints for special buildings—trust me, they will be very useful to you!].

Upon hearing this, Richard frowned slightly.

All he wanted was to use absolute power to dismantle everything old within his territory, to destroy and then rebuild, shaping his land according to his own will and vision. He didn’t expect to unlock a new system feature.

As for the loyalty of the people, whether they might rebel or not, honestly, he didn’t care. After all, the sword in his hand wasn’t just for show. He wouldn’t mind killing hundreds or thousands to establish his authority and earn points for slaughter.

Even though his territory only had around four thousand people in total, he would welcome a rebellion—it would give him an excuse to act.

However, reality proved that he underestimated the extent of the people’s submission. When he was learning about management under the Duke’s domain before having his own territory, his teacher had mentioned this aspect. But hearing about it was nothing compared to seeing it firsthand.

In this world, warfare was the business of nobles. To the commoners at the bottom, their only value to the upper class was in production. They lived and slept with livestock, treated almost as livestock themselves—except they were livestock that could raise livestock. Though they looked like humans, they had been bred to have the docility of beasts.

Richard stopped thinking about it and opened the system interface to check the data on his subordinates. Instantly, all their names and information appeared before him. The page would shift according to Richard’s thoughts, allowing him to quickly view all the data.

However, based on loyalty alone, the data wasn’t particularly impressive. Including the people in the castle and the citizens below, most of them only had a loyalty rating of around fifty to sixty, with only a few reaching as high as ninety.

He understood this well enough—after all, he hadn’t been here long.

It is said that a combination of grace and power is what truly wins hearts.

His methods so far had been mostly power, with very little grace.

In terms of leadership tactics, this approach wasn’t particularly remarkable.

Richard knew this principle well, but the current situation called for a pragmatic application of the concept. An imbalance between grace and power often leads to either indulgence or rebellion among the subordinates. But even in the worst case, where disloyalty leads to rebellion or assassination attempts, Richard’s personal strength ensures that they wouldn’t dare act against him. His powerful backing prevents them from seeking refuge elsewhere even if they did rebel.

So, in the beginning, Richard could freely demonstrate his dominance, lowering their expectations until he could achieve maximum loyalty at minimal cost. Even the smallest gesture of kindness would be enough to earn their gratitude.

Suddenly, Richard’s eyes lit up as he noticed Cinderella’s data on the system.

[Cinderella].[Alias: Cinderella].[Title: Witch].[Loyalty: 98.].

She’s been marked as a “witch” by the system, but he wasn’t sure if it meant the witch of magic or the witch of darkness. Either way, it seemed intriguing.

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Even her profile border was different, outlined with a dark glow.

Just then, the value changed again…

98.9, 99.

Richard curiously turned his head to look into the distance.

…

At the stone railing beneath the spire of the castle, “Witch” Cinderella stood quietly. Cinderella gazed at Richard from afar with deep admiration and reverence. She couldn’t hear Richard’s conversation with the people but could only see their actions.

She saw Richard standing proudly on the high platform, walking with confidence and poise like a true leader, more imposing than anyone she’d ever seen. Watching the citizens cheer for Richard’s arrival, she thought to herself that he must be a leader deeply beloved by the people, someone who truly cared for his subjects.

She watched as people fell to their knees at Richard’s words, even groveling in the dirt without hesitation. Cinderella could hardly imagine what Richard had done to earn such unwavering devotion from them, as if he were their deity.

Later, when one or two hundred people stood up, Cinderella finally understood—they must have also wished to follow Richard, but when the knights beside Richard drew their swords, they felt too ashamed of their inadequacy to join them.

The subsequent events were even easier to interpret. The people took turns speaking as if making vows. Although they were indeed pledging allegiance, it was more to survive, promising to hand over their lands and live by the river and in the woods. Yet this didn’t dampen Cinderella’s imagination; since she couldn’t hear them, her mind filled in the gaps.

Later, Richard said just a few words, and they erupted in cheers. Now they were lining up as if registering for something.

The citizens of Long Eagle Territory were truly blessed to have a lord like Richard who cared for his people as if they were his own children.

Cinderella’s heart beat wildly with excitement at the thought of being Richard’s chief maid. Her gaze toward him grew even more adoring.

Heavens, even Richard’s casual posture was filled with such steady majesty, as unfathomable as the ocean itself. Thinking of the ocean reminded her of that passionate night, where the waves crashed with fervor. She wondered when the tide might rise again—would she conceive the lord’s child?

Suddenly, she saw Richard turn to look at her. Cinderella froze in place.

The witch was convinced!