Chapter 410 - 279: All They Know Is How to Run

Claude watched all this with satisfaction, knowing that his mission was already more than halfway complete.

He led his team of orators and soldiers, continuing to canvass every corner of the city and gather group after group of anxious citizens.

They endlessly repeated Henry's "great deeds" and constantly emphasized his "generous treatment" of his subjects, leading more and more citizens to believe that Henry's arrival was their new hope for a better life.

As a result of their propaganda, the citizens gradually let go of their fear and anxiety and began to look forward to Henry's rule.

After all, the city had already fallen into their hands. The people could only hope that Henry would be just as Claude had promised, that he would let them live good lives, free from poverty and oppression.

Meanwhile, Henry stood by a window in the Earl's Mansion, quietly listening to it all.

The tense atmosphere that had once permeated the city's streets gradually dissipated, replaced by a cautious bustle and order.

In just three short days, order in Akakarat City was swiftly restored under the rule of Count Henry, though he himself had little to do with the actual implementation.

But this was, nonetheless, a credit to the great Count Henry!

At dawn, the first rays of sunlight fell upon the ancient city walls, and shops on either side of the streets began to open for business.

The tempting scent of wheat drifted from the bakery's oven as the owner carefully arranged freshly baked bread in the window, a long-lost flicker of hope in his eyes.

Street vendors began setting up their stalls, their calls rising and falling, breaking the morning silence.

Their voices still carried a hint of nervousness, but the earlier panic and unease were gone.

Armored soldiers could still be seen all over the streets, but they were no longer fearsome oppressors. Instead, they were like guardians, silently maintaining the peace of the city.

Their gazes had softened considerably. They no longer scanned the crowds with vigilance, but would occasionally nod at passing citizens or even smile in response to a greeting.

Were these outsiders, who had previously killed without batting an eye, really so friendly? An uninformed observer might have mistaken them for the local Militia!

Citizens began to emerge from their homes, chatting with one another about the events of the past few days.

They were still apprehensive, but seeing order restored to the city, they slowly began to relax.

Some of the elderly sat on benches in front of their homes, basking in the sun and conversing in low tones, their faces breaking into long-absent smiles.

Children began to run about in the streets, breathing long-awaited life back into the city. Kids will be kids, after all—always full of energy.

In the city's central square, craftsmen were busy erecting a temporary market. The sounds of hammering planks and driving nails into wood grated on the nerves.

The faces of the market's builders showed a hint of fatigue, but there was hope: with Count Henry's governance, the city would soon regain its former prosperity.

Lord Henry said the market would be tax-free this month! 'Heavens, think how much more we'll earn!'

In various corners of the city, buildings damaged during the war were also beginning to be repaired.

Hired citizen laborers bustled amidst the ruins, hauling away rubble and erecting scaffolding. The work was arduous, but the city was recovering its former appearance piece by piece, and they were an indispensable part of that process.

Count Henry's Minister of State Affairs, Claude, continued to patrol the city with his team of orators and soldiers.

Seeing the citizens bustling about, their faces broke into gratified smiles.

Claude knew that even though the mission was essentially complete, this business of brainwashing had to be continued tirelessly.

With someone constantly droning on in their ears, the citizens couldn't help but start believing that Count Henry's arrival would truly bring them a new beginning.

Night fell, and the city's lights gradually came on. Oil lamps along the streets cast a soft glow, illuminating the way home for the citizens.

The people ended their busy day and returned home, weary but content.

Akakarat City, once ravaged by the flames of war, was slowly recovering its life and vitality. And all of this was just the beginning...

"So, you let Count Akakarat escape?! What kind of officers are you! For a year… I've given you the best food, the most comfortable clothing, and was it all just to raise a pack of worthless idiots?!"

Henry's expression was thunderous, his eyes blazing with fury. He slammed a fist on the table, making the teacup on it nearly jump into the air.

The Cavalry Officers standing before him bowed their heads, not daring to even breathe too loudly as beads of sweat rolled down their foreheads.

"My Lord, we… we gave chase the moment we received the report, but Count Akakarat had already fled with his men. By the time we reached the city outskirts, there wasn't even a shadow of them to be found," one officer explained, his voice trembling.

"Hmph! Worthless!" Henry cursed, throwing himself into a chair and panting with rage.

He closed his eyes, trying to calm himself, but his mind kept replaying images of Count Akakarat escaping with his men.

Count Akakarat was once the nominal master of this city, possessing immense wealth and vast family influence.

However, when Henry's army arrived at the city gates, the Count had already fled with his wife, mistress, children, Personal Guard, and a great deal of wealth.

That's right. He was just that decisive. By the time Henry's army arrived, he was already long gone!

He didn't even take the rest of his clan, leaving only a few death-sworn retainers in the Earl's Mansion to create the illusion that he was still there, attempting to buy more time.

'I'm not even after your damn head, so what are you so afraid of?' Henry wondered, grinding his teeth in utter bewilderment.

He had spent so much energy pacifying the populace and restoring order to the city, yet this Count Akakarat had just stabbed him in the back.

He had made off with the wealth, drastically reducing Henry's spoils and making the impending "division of the loot" incredibly difficult.

He himself might not care about the money, but what about Boman and the others? Besides, that wealth was a resource in itself—one needed to maintain the region's financial stability.

Count Akakarat's actions would undoubtedly cause the regional economy to stagnate for some time.

"My Lord, what should we do now?" one of the officers asked tentatively, his voice laced with concern.

Henry's eyes snapped open, a cold glint in their depths. "What should we do? Launch a city-wide manhunt! Round up every last one of Count Akakarat's remaining followers, torture them, and see what they know!"

'Remaining followers? What remaining followers? We've been rounding people up for three days. Anyone who could be shaken down for Gold Coins has already been dealt with…'

"Yes, sir!" the officers immediately replied, turning to carry out the order.

"Wait," Henry called out, stopping them. "Also, investigate all of Count Akakarat's fixed assets. Confiscate everything."

"As you command!" the officers replied in unison before quickly departing the room.

Nobles like Henry, who possessed large fiefs and many subjects, always kept their public and private accounts separate. This helped them maintain a clear understanding of their fief's potential and financial health.

Henry sat alone in the room, a complicated look in his eyes.

Just then, there was a soft knock on the door, and Claude pushed it open and entered.

He saw that Henry's expression was grim, so he hurried to his side and asked with concern, "My Lord, what is it? Are you feeling unwell?"

Henry looked up and shook his head. "It's nothing, Claude. It's just that Count Akakarat ran off with a considerable amount of wealth, and it's giving me a headache."

Claude paused for a moment, then smiled and said in a relaxed tone, "My Lord, how is that a problem? It's not like we're short on money. The funds we've scraped together over the past few days are more than enough to shut the mouths of Boman and those other Viscounts and Barons."