[Calling for monthly tickets again! Brothers and sisters, seeing as how Xiaodao has been so consistent and hardworking, if you still have any tickets, please cast them now! In less than two hours, the window will close...]

The aftermath of this incident was that all the nobles and wealthy merchants of Penzes City began lining up at the Viscount’s Mansion, seeking an audience with the Viscount.

Indeed, this was no longer a matter of a joint invitation for the Viscount. Instead, every last one of them arrived at the Viscount’s mansion bearing extravagant gifts. Those who had originally intended to bribe the guards for preferential treatment were frustrated. Although the two guards’ eyes lit up at the sight of wealth, they immediately became stern the moment they heard a request was involved. Their fierce, brutish demeanor reminded these people of the Penzesi Knight Order, who were still being brutally drilled to this day. A chill ran down their spines. ’It seems this Viscount is truly formidable; even his gatekeepers are such savages.’

As for Ling Xiao, he refused to see anyone who came bearing gifts. He had no desire to give the people of Penzes City the impression that he was a greedy and exploitative lord right after arriving.

However, Ling Xiao had Uncle Fu privately inform certain wealthy merchants—ones who had been vetted and selected by Meng Li. These merchants mostly came from humble origins, having struggled their way to their current positions. They had clean backgrounds and a good reputation for their integrity within their circles.

As for the various Knights, Barons, and other Viscounts, Ling Xiao refused to see any of them. Neither they nor their lavish gifts could even pass through the gates of the Viscount’s Mansion.

The common people of Penzes City were delighted. They had a new topic of conversation and were filled with curiosity about their new Viscount. It was the first time they had ever seen a Lord who dared to oppose all the city’s nobles.

Even Count Li Houlin, the City Lord whose family had run Penzes City for generations, had never dared to offend the entire nobility at once. After all, the consequences of doing so were dire.

The fief might be yours, but as long as they pay their taxes legally, you can’t just kick them out. Besides, as a Lord, without the support of the nobles and wealthy merchants who controlled over eighty percent of Penzes City’s resources, it would be nearly impossible to implement any of your decrees!

This was a world ruled by nobles!

In contrast to the nobles’ fury, many merchants were ecstatic. When it came to status, the gap between them and the nobility was immense. Many merchants were wealthy enough to rival a Count, but in terms of social standing, they were lower than even the most junior Knight.

And now, this young new Lord had sent his old, elegant butler to inform them that the Viscount would receive them in the coming days!

This news sent these wealthy, self-made men into a state of euphoria.

The ones who felt true terror, however, were the four noble lords who had taken part in the assassination attempt on Ling Xiao. They too had hypocritically sent lavish gifts, hoping to muddy the waters. ’What if the killer... wasn’t sent by Lord Ling Xiao?’ But when everyone was turned away, only the lords of these four families realized the truth: the new Lord clearly knew something and was planning to make a move against them!

Killing their most beloved women was a warning: ’Behave yourselves. Killing you would be as easy as crushing an ant.’ Then, by ignoring all the nobles and wealthy merchants, he was simply letting them stew. ’Don’t think you can be arrogant and domineering just because you have money and privilege. Here, *I’m* the one in charge!’

Indeed, now almost everyone in Penzes City, including the common folk, understood who the real boss was. This gave them so much to talk about that the gossip was practically endless.

All the commanders of the Penzes City Guard Army had been replaced by the Viscount’s own men. The well-informed claimed that these new men were members of the Tiger Roar Assault Team, a force renowned throughout the Empire. They had always been the Ling Family’s private army, so it was only natural for them to follow Viscount Ling Xiao to his new fief.

As for the replaced commanders, some were reportedly unconvinced. The new Grand Commander of the Penzes City Guard Army, Ling Wu, was a "reasonable" man. He told them to fight the new commanders. If they won, they could keep their posts. If they lost, well, too bad—they could either leave or quietly become a common soldier.

The result was predictable. The original commanders of Penzes City were long accustomed to a pampered lifestyle. Even those who once had some skill had let it go to waste. They were no match for the thuggish brutes of the Tiger Roar Assault Team, who hailed from the frigid north. They were beaten so badly they were wailing in agony, and in the end, they all meekly begged for mercy.

And it didn’t end there. Grand Commander Ling Wu seemed to have a sadistic streak. After tormenting the men of the Knight Order, he turned his attention to the original City Guard Army. The daily training regimen made the men complain endlessly. Penzes City was in the tropics, and when the blazing sun rose, even just walking outside could make one dizzy, let alone train. Yet, under these exact conditions, Ling Wu would strip off his shirt and enthusiastically lead the training himself.

This left the dissatisfied men unable to even voice a complaint. The Grand Commander was leading the charge, so what right did they have to complain? ’Don’t want to train? Fine! Pack your things and get out! I don’t want cowards in my army!’

Because of that one sentence from Ling Wu, many soldiers who had been on the verge of quitting gritted their teeth and stuck it out. ’We’re all men here,’ they thought. ’We’ve got the same parts as anyone else. Why should we let anyone look down on us?’