Chapter 655 469: Surprised or Not, Unexpected or Not

"I, an ordinary person, trade the noble life of the County Magistrate for my own. Seems like quite a worthwhile deal." The assassin wasn't bothered at all by the captain's threats.

The County Magistrate was about to cry — why are they all so unreliable?

"Captain Han, you stay quiet as well."

After reprimanding Captain Han, the County Magistrate smiled apologetically at the assassin and said, "Hero, may I know your name?"

The assassin smiled faintly, "Master calls me Wolf Cub."

The County Magistrate's expression froze, although the other party didn't seem to mind the name much.

However, since his own life was in the hands of the other party, calling him by that name felt inappropriate.

If he accidentally hit a nerve, he'd be finished.

"Hero, you came here today with a premeditated plan, didn't you? Whatever you want, you can state now, and if possible, I will do my best to meet your demands."

Captain Han was immediately anxious: "Sir, how can you...?"

"I told you to shut up, Captain Han, don't you understand?" The County Magistrate raised his eyebrows sternly, exuding an authoritative air.

Captain Han reluctantly lowered his head, "I obey, sir."

The Zhao Family, too, follows the practice of civil servants overpowering military generals. Even the highest-ranked military generals are subordinate to civil servants.

Not to mention, Captain Han is just a mere captain.

Despite despising the County Magistrate's cowardice, he had no choice but to back off.

Xiaolang contentedly patted the County Magistrate's cheek with the dagger, "You're quite good. If all County Magistrates were as reasonable as you, perhaps they wouldn't have died."

"You're too kind... too kind. I..." The County Magistrate habitually tried to appear modest, then suddenly realized something was amiss.

"Wait, the previous County Magistrates..." An ominous feeling surged within the County Magistrate's heart.

Recently, a deadly star emerged in the Southern State, resulting in the deaths of three County Magistrates at their hands.

"Could it be..." The thought made the County Magistrate shiver uncontrollably, his pants instantly becoming soaked.

Xiaolang rolled his eyes irritably, "How come all of you are such cowards? I haven't even done anything, and you're already scared to this extent, it's disgusting."

"Hero, hero! Please don't kill me, as long as you spare me, I'll give you anything you want." If there were no knife at his throat, the County Magistrate might have already knelt before Xiaolang.

Captain Han looked down on the County Magistrate, but he couldn't let him be killed before his eyes.

"Boy, if you dare to harm a single hair on the County Magistrate, the Imperial Court won't let you off."

Xiaolang sneered disdainfully, "But I've already slain three heartless tyrants, so why am I still living well?"

The County Magistrate hurriedly defended himself, "Hero, there must be some misunderstanding. Since taking office, I've never committed any atrocities."

"You've never done it." Xiaolang sneered coldly, glancing at the ragged miners in the distance.

"If my investigation is correct, these people were originally farmers, right?"

"Just because you discovered Fire Rock Ore here, you forcibly conscripted them to mine."

"To meet the Zhao Family's demands, you forced the people to dig frantically. If slightly dissatisfied, you'd beat them to a pulp."

At this moment, the two brothers who were whipped by the soldiers had already fainted.

The brother protecting his sibling had a back of torn flesh, bleeding tangled with shredded clothing, looking especially harrowing.

The County Magistrate immediately panicked, shouting angrily, "Bastards, what have I always told you? Never, ever abuse and mistreat the citizens at will."

"Did you all just disregard my words?"

Such blatant scapegoating.

However, Captain Han and his men had no choice but to bite the bullet and admit.

The soldier with the injured wrist had a dark face, dripping with sweat: "I'm sorry, hero, I acted impulsively earlier. I really had no intention to kill."

"Dammit, impulsiveness isn't an excuse. You dared treat the citizens of my jurisdiction this way, I will not pardon lightly. Guards, drag him off and give him forty heavy lashes." The County Magistrate ordered, full of righteous indignation.

The soldiers' hearts were full of sorrow and frustration. Supervising the miners and enforcing strict punishments for slow speeds was all County Magistrate's verbal instruction.

Now disavowing it and wanting to frame them shamelessly.

Seeing no one take action, the County Magistrate became anxious and shouted sternly, "What are you all staring at? Didn't you hear my orders?"

Captain Han told his men through clenched teeth, "Obey the County Magistrate's orders."

But he also signaled to his subordinates to just make a show, not actually hit.

"Wait a minute!" Seeing them about to take the offending soldier away, Xiaolang suddenly spoke coldly, "If we're going to punish, do it here. Today, I want to avenge the bullied citizens."

Captain Han's eyes seethed with fury: "You... don't push it."

Xiaolang teased, raising an eyebrow at the County Magistrate, "It seems your subordinates don't quite obey you as the County Magistrate."

"Captain Han! Didn't you hear the hero's words? He dared to abuse the citizens, let him be punished before them!"

Captain Han wished he could chop this shameless man to pieces.

Regrettably, such thoughts could only remain in his mind.