Chapter 2htening Monkey

  As Ralph spoke, he took out a pristiranslut white crystal and activated it.

  A beam of light illumihe air, creating vivid images in the ter of the voy.

  Each fighter's battle se and the sying of the mutated fish-men appeared vividly before everyone's eyes.

  "Wow...!"

  "What kind of magic is this?"

  "I've never heard of it..."

  "Look! Everyone’s fight is captured here..."

  "Oh my god, I see myself..."

  "…”

  Naturally, everyone marveled at the images appearing before them, their respect for the lord deepening once more.

  Ralph proudly addressed the crowd:

  "This is our lord's newly developed spell—Imaging Teique!"

  "Look closely here. When Kalrado was ambushed by the mutated fish-men, Ralph Carlisle came to his aid."

  "Ralph Carlisle had already severely ihe creature, but this coward, instead of helping, pushed him from behind out of fear!"

  The image froze on the moment Ralph Carlisle struggled in panic.

  The torn sleeve on his arm perfectly matched Kalrado, who y on the ground.

  With a calm expression, Ralph slowly drew his thin sword and quietly whispered:

  "May the Lady of Magic guide Ralph Carlisle on his journey."

  "As for you, the murderer who caused his death, I now, in the name of the Ser family and Lord Matthew Ser, sentence you to immediate execution!"

  "No...!"

  Kalrado, overwhelmed by fear, sobbed i.

  But Ralph, filled with pent-up frustration, carried out his and Matthew's will without hesitation, thrusting his sword through Kalrado's chest.

  In front of everyone, justice was served.

  As Kalrado fell, Ralph followed procedure, destroying his skull to prevent any mutations.

  The bloodied silver sword did not instill fear in the surrounding soldiers. Instead, they felt Kalrado got what he deserved.

  While the soldiers remained unafraid, others were terrified!

  The 16 other men Ralph had previously called out k in fear, trembling as they kowtowed.

  But Ralph merely cast them a cold gnce, his tone filled with disappoi:

  "You didn't fight, not evehe enemy was right before you!"

  "As punishment, you are stripped of the opportunity to bee soldiers and will have your years of bor extended by one year before you bee free men."

  To their surprise, the 16 cowardly porters who had narrowly escaped worse punishme out a long sigh of relief and hastily thanked Ralph.

  Ralph couldn’t be bothered to expin what they had lost. He turo look at the nine men who had lied about their tributions.

  Only now did the startled men realize what had happened.

  If the lord could catch Kalrado’s deceitful as, he could easily uheir lies.

  Panig, they k down and scrambled to return the s they had just received to Ralph.

  Ralph, with a sharp flick of his sword, sheathed it with a resounding click.

  He strode over to the first liar, , and snatched his money pouch, snarling:

  "Acc to heril Empire w, any oner or sve who deceives, steals, or robs a noble’s wealth will have a hand cut off and be sent to the mio work until death!"

  Cold sweat trickled down ’s forehead. He kneh wasn’t lying; Ralph didn’t o. k, kowtowing and weeping:

  "It was my greed; I deserve this punishment..."

  "Enough of the act! You fought bravely in battle, never retreating, and even saved a rade, so the lord won’t send you to the mines."

  "But every lie you told about your tributions will cost you three times as mu penalties!"

  "You were supposed to earn 1 gold, 65 silver, and 96 copper s, but as punishment, you owe 1 gold, 80 silver."

  "Remember, you still owe the lord 14 silver and 4 copper s!"

  "And stand tall—the lord may five you, but I haven't. You'll take three shes in front of everyone. Do you accept?"

  Upon hearing the punishment wasn’t death or a lifetime of bor in the mines, let out a long sigh of relief.

  But the thought of losing all the money he had just received and even ending up i left him with a look of deep regret. Hanging his head, he muttered:

  "I accept..."

  Whip! Whip! Whip!

  The soldiers nearby winced as they watched stumble back to the tent, gritting his teeth through the pain as he washed his wounds with diluted purification potion to prevent mutation and iion. He emerged in clothes, still trembling, and the soldiers swallowed nervously.

  At least it was only his pride that was hurt—not his life!

  Just then, Ralph cpped on the shoulder and spoke harshly:

  "This is the first and st time!"

  "Remember, our lord is merciful, but he is also just!"

  "Do not test his patieh your petty schemes!"

  "Now, it's your turn..."

  While Ralph started a new round of discipliside, delivering both punishment and warnings, Matthew was cheerfully reviewing his status:

  "You've achieved a resounding victory, earning 1,000 experience points and an additional skill point."

  "You gained 6,420 experience points from bat, along with 5 skill points (already used)."

  "In total, you've earned 7,420 experience points and have 6 skill points remaining (1 point currently unused)."

  "You have altered the fate of 120 individuals, gaining 642 Destiny s."

  "What a thrill! Large-scale battles really are the key to rag up experience points and skill upgrades. Too bad this kind of opportunity isn’t easy to e by..."

  "Still, now that I’ve started dowh of a lord, if I develop my territory and build an army, I regurly wage rge-scale wars, gathering experience points in droves."

  "Wait—this might work well in the short term to rapidly accumute power and increase my level as an arist..."

  "But without a solid foundation and proper development, the territory could suffer disastrous sequences."

  "It would be like those pyers in my past life who relied on their ability to respawn, being arrogant and failing to uand their ehat led to their plete downfall."

  "No matter how strong an individual is, they ’t entirely ighe power of numbers and anization. Just like my kingdom..."

  "Build high walls, stockpile grain, and rule with patience. If I want to achieve great things, I must first y a solid foundation."