When the Saintess Arrives, No King Exist-Chapter 820 - 771: The Great Shepherd and the Autocratic Duke Are Doomed Sooner or Later!

"I think the Thousand River Valley is bound to fall sooner or later!"

The morning mist by the Nao'an River hadn't yet dispersed, but the Saint Razzo Market in Xia Lvcheng was already crowded with bustling people.

Amidst the bustling vendor streets, this critical voice was particularly jarring.

The street, which had been quite lively, suddenly fell silent for a moment.

Standing in front of a butcher's shop draped with faded canvas, the butcher Giovanni suddenly realized he had spoken too loudly and quickly slipped back behind the counter.

Unfortunately, the Night Watcher steward from the street corner had already approached.

"Don't speak carelessly, or you'll find the Nao'an River smashing your shop," said the night watcher with a gloomy expression, tapping the counter with his iron rod, making a thumping sound.

The butcher who had spoken shrank back: "Yes, yes."

But as soon as the night watcher turned to leave, the butcher disdainfully spat a thick glob of phlegm at their backs: "Dog Duke's running dog!"

"Giovanni, old buddy, you're alright?" asked the cabbage vendor from beside him, poking his head out from behind the tent.

"I'm fine, I'm fine…" Giovanni waved his hand, "They're probably just afraid of something like Oranbo happening again, so they didn't act."

"That King Ginijis, instead brought us some fairness."

"Indeed, hahaha."

While they were talking, Giovanni noticed two men dressed in black coming out from behind the silk shop opposite.

An old and a young one, walking straight toward the butcher's shop.

As they got closer, he could see that both were wearing military-style jackets with medals pinned to their chests.

With a stern face, Giovanni hurriedly returned to his position: "What do you two want?"

"Give us two pounds of blood sausage and three pounds of pork leg, the fatty kind." The young man's heavy Hotam accent instantly made Giovanni grin.

"No problem, did you just come back from the border?"

"Yeah, just got back."

"Still prefer the hometown sausages, right? Hahaha."

Saying that, Giovanni turned to get the sausages, while the middle-aged man behind the young one asked discontentedly: "Why can't I speak?"

"Old Laver, your mountain accent is too obvious, and these people in Hotam County despise mountain people."

Old Laver's tone carried a hint of resentment: "Mad, they're living this well all because of us fighting for our lives at the border. What are they so proud about?"

"After all, you've seen the outcome of the Shattered Stone Plain War…" Kaler patted the shoulder of the mountain man, "Nothing we can do about it."

Old Laver, after his anger subsided, was also helpless.

Listen to the voices of discussion around them.

"Useless things…"

"I heard Iron Gate Town was already occupied."

"I heard several fortresses have surrendered. If I knew this would happen, why pay any taxes?"

"With the Leia people here, fairness exists."

"Isn't Prince Kongdai also a Leia person?"

"What do you know? Prince Kongdai is from the Golden Finch Dynasty, enemies with our Lanfeng Royal Family, or else why would he treat us like this?"

"The King still loves us."

"Just learned the mountain accent, now have to learn the Leia accent."

"You're learning the Leia accent? I've already studied Falanese!"

In August, people were still singing praises of the Autocratic Duke.

By September, the tide began to turn.

Now in October, with war bonds collapsing, riots erupting, and the Leia people invading, all the praises have turned into curses.

Since Iron Gate Town fell five days ago, the Leia Army has been sweeping the surrounding fortresses along the border.

If not for the Royal Guard Captain Raffel's steady and prudent strategy, first attacking the surrounding fortresses to prevent being cut off from the rear, Xia Lvcheng would likely already be under siege by now.

But Old Laver had to admit, the Royal Guard Captain's judgment was quite correct.

Because Moliat's initial plan was to use Xia Lvcheng as bait.

She planned to lead elite soldiers in a rear assault, using fortresses to block the Leia retreat, and coordinate with the Horn Salvation Army to catch them like rats in a trap.

Unfortunately, Raffel had evidently studied Moliat's command style and decided to first consolidate his forces.

There was no choice but to change the original plan and enter Xia Lvcheng first.

As for the soldiers like Old Laver, before Moliat made a decision, they were given a few days' holiday.

Nowadays, the gambling houses, taverns, and inns around Xia Lvcheng are filled to the brim with soldiers returning from the frontier.

It must be said, Moliat shorted the debts owed to creditors, but didn't skimp on the soldiers' salaries.

Not only were they fully paid, but those who fought bravely even received a bonus.

Kaler and Old Laver then discussed, pooling money together to buy some meat and treat everyone.

Living is certainly good; if one dies, at least be a well-fed ghost.

"Two pounds of blood sausage, three pounds of pork leg meat, tied with grass rope for you." As he spoke, Giovanni offered a piece of meat with skin, "I'll give you half a pound of pork neck meat to roast; it's delicious."

Kaler naturally paid cheerfully, and as Giovanni was making change, he asked in a low voice, "I just heard you say the Thousand River Valley is bound to fall soon, what do you mean?"

Giovanni, who was previously bent over, stood up straight and looked Kaler up and down: "Are you Cheka?"

"No," Kaler shook his head naturally.

Giovanni glanced around, bent down, and continued while handing over the meat: "You don't know, do you? The Autocratic Duke, he's dead!"

"Dead?!" Kaler's voice suddenly sharp; impossible, Moliat was still giving orders before he set off.

Only three days, how could he be dead? Has his condition worsened so quickly?

"Shush, shush." Giovanni hurriedly went to cover Kaler's mouth, leaving it oily, "No more pretending, he was dead a week ago."

Kaler was at a loss for words, yet another rumor.

Old Laver had already anticipated it and merely scoffed.

"What are you laughing at? The end of the Thousand River Valley Monarch Country is here." Giovanni discontentedly patted the countertop, "Those two usurpers should have returned the Thousand River Valley to Leia long ago, making us suffer."

No need for Giovanni to explain; both Old Laver and Kaler knew who he was referring to.

"Is it really that serious?"

"Not serious? There are nine others like Thousand River Valley; how to fight? It's impossible to fight!"

"But in the end, it has to be fought."

"So, you brave lads from Hotam County must be careful." Giovanni said softly, "Sew a Lanfeng flag in advance on the battlefield; if Leia people come, show the flag, at least save a life. We are our own people, don't lose your life for those two."

Holding back for a long time, Old Laver couldn't help himself: "Not necessarily, isn't there the Salvation Army and Great Shepherd?"

Upon hearing Old Laver's mountain accent, Giovanni's expression instantly changed: "Oh right, right, your Great Shepherd is invincible, Salvation Army fights ten times, right? Oh, too right!"

Old Laver was first stunned, then chuckled lightly and didn't argue further, only patted Kaler's back and left.

Kaler cast a complex glance at the butcher, merely smiled bitterly and followed Old Laver's steps.

"Wasting my pork neck!" Giovanni continued to spit thick phlegm towards the backs of the two, "Dog Duke's dog lackeys!"

...

"I thought you would argue with him." Kaler caught up with Old Laver.

"Argue about what? What's there to argue about?" Old Laver said gruffly.

"You say, us fighting hard at the frontier for these people, is it worth it?" Despite being treated well by the butcher from start to finish, Kaler felt stifled.

Old Laver shook his head: "Why are you thinking about this? I'm here for money; money given, I fight, that's enough."

"But it's life."

"My life is cheap, living until now, earning so much for the family, each second I live is a gain."

Kaler was rendered speechless.

Carrying pork and sausage, they walked to the dockside.

At this moment, the river was crowded with boats, and looking around, all were fleeing citizens and artisans.

They could only run upstream because the downstream direction was where the Leia people were coming from.

In narrow spots, chains spanned the river, with continuous water gates and bankside Griffin Cannon defenses on both sides.

As for outside the city, numerous homes were pulled down, and inclined breast walls with small bunkers and rampart towers were being built.

Refugees and beggars huddled under trees, feeling the chilly October wind, occasionally casting hungry and hateful glances at everyone passing.

Thinking back to a year ago when Xia Lvcheng was prosperous again, and the vibrant Saint Razzo Market, Kaler felt extremely uncomfortable.

They had just reached the entrance of the outer camp when Kaler suddenly felt Old Laver beside him stand at attention:

"Loyal! Loyalty!"

Sitting on a tall horse, the Autocratic Duke glanced at the two soldiers carrying pork, nodded, and continued riding forward.

After Moliat left, Kaler and Old Laver exchanged a look, their smiles tinged with bitterness.