I'm Watching You

A carriage without any heraldic decorations stopped on a street not far from the Sound of the Tide Manor.

The Count Hoyce and his wife Annie were seated in the carriage.

The count gently pushed open the carriage window, revealing a crack, and looked out at the bright scenery. He tried to find a shadow, but saw nothing. The count, in the prime of his life, felt a surge of shame welling up from the bottom of his heart. He hated his own weakness and incompetence.

Someone is sacrificing their life.

But he placed his hopes on others.

I hope that person's sacrifice and dedication can save their career and... family.

Hoyce turned his gaze to the opposite side.

A faint fragrance wafted through the carriage, the rich aroma of a fully blooming flower. Sitting opposite him was his wife, her hair elegantly styled in a bun, holding a small ivory fan with intricate carvings. Her full, voluptuous figure, enhanced by childbirth, was delicately enveloped in a long, sea-blue dress, and the glimpses of her smooth, white skin peeking out from the cuffs and collar were enough to make any man's heart race.

This is his wife, his Annie, the mother of his daughters.

Renowned for her gentleness, elegance, and erudition, Distant Harbor hosted the most prestigious salons in the city and even the entire province. She was his treasure, a source of pride and honor for him, and the envy of every man in Distant Harbor. Such a wife deserves the tender care of any man who has her.

However, Count Hoyce, who had a successful career, a happy life, and a promising future, had a dark side that he couldn't tell outsiders. Even the most beautiful woman can become tiresome one day. Over the years, he had gotten used to seeking pleasure outside, but that wasn't the most outrageous thing. The most outrageous thing was that, looking at his elegant and dignified yet alluring and voluptuous wife, the darkest desires would occasionally well up in his heart.

He often fantasized that one or more large hands, not his own, would tear his wife's beautiful dress, revealing her tender, white body. Then, a dark-skinned body would forcefully pull her delicious white flesh into his arms. That body, not his own, could be strong or withered and aged, preferably emitting an odor and stained with filth. And then this filth would pollute the noblest and purest thing.

Those twisted, screaming, laughing, struggling, compromising, pure things defiled, steadfast things abused, the treasures in his heart tainted by ugly external things—he actually derived from this the joy of soaring imagination, just like when he was young and thought of the clean white body under the maid's skirt. Now, he has become an adult and craves more stimulation.

Such dark, immoral fantasies, enough to make his soul tremble, were the perfect spice for his waning passion and thirst for thrills in recent years. Fortunately, he could still control himself, understanding the difference between fantasy and reality. He only imagined his own wife being treated the same way when he was with other men's wives, which aroused even greater excitement and impulse. However...

However, he chose the wrong side, made the wrong choice, and incurred huge debts. The person who manipulated all of this was like a god in the clouds, who could crush him into dust with a single finger. All his struggles and resistance were futile. To survive and to protect his family business, he had to gain the forgiveness of that person.

His wife, however, uttered the word "sacrifice."

This guy from another world, who was working on an arched dam, naturally started to let his imagination run wild.

He vehemently objected, but a wicked voice whispered within him; his strong reaction was merely a cover for the turmoil in his heart. He had even ejaculated last night, something that hadn't happened in over twenty years, and the dream he had dreamt of still lingered in his mind—he dreamt that his wife was...

"--Governor, you should have arrived by now."

A voice, tinged with sorrow yet still gentle and melodious, rang in my ears.

The count snapped out of his daze, silently leaned forward slightly, pulled the thin blanket over his knees, and forced a smile.

"... Yeah, I think so."

Annie gave her husband a strange look, then, as if remembering something, softly comforted him, "Don't worry too much. You must be under a lot of pressure lately."

Looking at that beautiful smile, shame welled up in the Earl's heart once again.

"... Um."

That's all for now.

That's good.

Annie doesn't need to do anything, because the Governor will do it for us.

He gripped the letter in his pocket tightly.

This morning, Hoyce Manor received a personal letter from the Governor. In the letter, Lord Norman said that all of this was caused by his wrong decision, which had impacted the economy and people's livelihoods of the entire province. Respectable gentlemen suffered heavy losses, and some even ended their lives in despair. This matter must come to an end as soon as possible, and he would do whatever it takes to bring about a new lease on life for everyone.

He had initially harbored resentment towards the governor and also felt that the letter was nothing but empty rhetoric.

But soon after, the butler, who had gone out to gather information, brought back news that shocked him.

The governor wrote letters to all the nobles in the Distant Harbor overnight and sent them out this morning. Also this morning, Lord Norman bid farewell to his family members one by one in the Golden Moonlight Court. The scene was filled with deafening cries, and many people fainted from grief. From family members to guards and servants, everyone knelt down to see him off.

It was like bidding farewell to a hero who was about to be martyred.

The former governor took off his luxurious robes and shoes, wearing only a coarse linen shirt, carrying a bundle of thorns on his back, and knelt down in front of his own door, braving the biting morning wind.

Then, crawling on his knees, he bowed every three steps as he made his way towards the Sound of the Tide Manor.

From the most affluent and noble Tulip District in the Distant Harbor, through the bustling commercial area, through the civic district, and even through the slums, it knelt down step by step toward the Sound of the Tide Manor in such a disheveled and humble manner.

Upon hearing this, Count Hoyce was so shocked that he was speechless.

He even went to see it secretly.

The official who held the administrative power of a province, the powerful figure who wielded influence in the Distant Harbor, the spiritual leader of all the nobles in the Azure Waves Province, Goth's regional governor, crawled and writhed like a dog.

He saw many nobles, ordinary citizens, and even commoners at the scene.

He also heard the Governor's shouts, and in addition to kneeling and kowtowing in the Cathay rites, Norman loudly begged His Highness Kang De for forgiveness.

Please, Kang De, calm your anger. Please, Kang De, inflict all punishment upon this criminal. Please bring this matter to a swift end, so that there is no more bloodshed, no more soaring prices, and no more provincial unrest.

For the livelihoods of more people.

Seeing that scene from afar, Count Hoyce felt tears welling up in his eyes. He was deeply moved by that noble soul. A dignified and majestic adult, in the most humble posture, before the commoners, as lowly as dust, had cast aside all dignity and begged for mercy from Kang De like a dog, all to protect more people. He could not do that, no matter what.

If a lowly person saw him like this, he would be so ashamed and indignant that he would commit suicide on the spot.

He saw it with his Eagle Eye scroll: almost everyone wept, whether nobles, commoners, or even the lowest of the low. Seeing His Highness the Governor so humble and pitiful, an elderly nobleman shivering in the cold wind, everyone felt a pang of pity. But intimidated by Kang De's tyrannical power, they dared not say a word.

But a noble soul is enough to move everyone.

Even the most lowly and despicable commoners would be moved by such nobility.

So... they'll forgive us, right?

If the governor were to make such a request.

Hopefully, this will stop there. We've expressed our submission, and we will no longer oppose him. Hopefully, His Highness Kang De will forgive us then...

In that case, Annie won't have to go... everything will be alright.

He felt both moved and ashamed.

I was moved by the Governor's sense of responsibility and sacrifice, and ashamed of my own cowardice.

They rely on the sacrifices of others to protect their families.

"Lord Norman... is a saintly nobleman, our eternal role model."

I have no way to repay his immense kindness and virtue, so I can only praise him more.

This is also the rule of the nobility.

Just like when Kang De single-handedly ended the war and defeated the elves, the whole of Goth was singing his praises. Anyway, it didn't cost any money, so what's the harm in just praising him and flattering him?

When Kang De revealed his hostility towards the nobles, it was a different story.

Hoyce sighed, "From this day forward, his name will resound throughout Goth and even the entire continent. All the nobles will remember his forbearance and sacrifice today. This is his glory, not his shame. He suffered pain and made sacrifices for salvation and protection, but the gods will remember..."

He seemed absorbed in this gratitude and praise, unaware of his wife's unspoken words.

Anxiety flashed across Annie's face.

"Buzz..."

Just then, a sound like insects chirping came from outside the carriage.

Hoyce shivered, and Annie leaned closer. "What's wrong?"

Looking out the window, rows of dark, floating objects took off from the Sound of the Tide Manor and hurtled towards the city. The Earl glanced at them and his face paled. "Kang De's alchemical golems!"

These little flying creatures have dark, hollow eyes. The other day, he was cornered in the Justice Hall and forced to hold up a sign and spin around in front of that eye, just like Dong Ge.

He asked uneasily, "What is Kang De going to do? He..."

"--We surrender, Your Highness Kang De. We grovel before you."

A familiar voice drifted from afar.

Hoyce was taken aback. "Your Excellency the Governor?"

He looked outside but couldn't find the governor. The voice came from the sky. He looked up and saw that the aircraft was different from the previous one. It was carrying an alchemical device that looked like a morning glory.

The sound came from it.

Then another voice rang out, its tone full of disdain. "Heh."

The voice was young and very distinctive; even without hearing it in person, Hoyce immediately recognized it. "Kang De!"

After all, they were nobles, worldly-wise, and easily grasped the current situation.

"Kang De used alchemy to recreate his conversation with the governor!"

Hoyce asked blankly, "What is he trying to do?"

Annie didn't speak. The noblewoman pursed her lips and listened intently. His Highness Kang De's voice was somewhat different from what she had imagined... but more importantly, it was the emotion contained in that voice.

The woman seemed to understand something.

Her heart clenched... things didn't seem that simple.

"Oh."

In the study, Kang De looked at the old man kneeling on the ground with disdain, his expression unmoved.

He never allowed anyone to kneel before him.

This time is no different.

Norman's body trembled slightly; he sensed something was wrong from Kang De's 'heh'.

"Your Highness..."

His voice was deep and weak, as if all his energy had been drained away, leaving only a numb shell. The former governor whispered, "We have lost, Your Highness. You have shattered all our will to resist. We tremble before your majesty, daring not to harbor any more rebellious thoughts. You have won a great victory. The miracle two days ago is more dazzling than Forbidden Spell. The whole world will be astonished by your power..."

Kang De crossed his legs, stared at his fingers, and said nothing.

Norman whispered, "I've come to surrender, begging for your mercy and forgiveness. Post-victory pursuit is unnecessary. The world has witnessed your power; let them see your magnanimity as well. Appropriate forgiveness will not diminish your authority; on the contrary, it will earn you even greater respect..."

"Oh."

Kang De chuckled again, "So you're chickening out now, not going to fight anymore?"

"We dare not, Your Highness, we were wrong. We had no courage to resist you. Our arrogance and pride blinded us. We know we were wrong."

The former governor said tremblingly, "Please stop, please forgive us."

"--Why?"

Kang De said, "Why should I forgive you? Give me a reason."

"If I'm not mistaken, you were the ones who started this, weren't you? You think you're noble aristocrats, and that even if you betrayed me, opposed me, and even if you took money from the empire and spread rumors about me, I shouldn't have killed your entire family, and should even have pardoned them."

"If I don't do this, I'm disrespecting you, and I have to teach you a lesson—isn't this the purpose of your food war? What, you can't handle this?"

He said slowly, "You kids, even children know that if you lose and get hit, you have to stand firm. What's wrong with you? If I don't follow your rules, I'm not giving you any face. You fight me, I hit you, you feel the pain, and then you come begging me to stop. You hit me whenever you want, and when you lose you call for a stop, and you think you can leave safely, that I'm going to let you off the hook—there's no such thing as a free lunch!"

Norman whispered, "No, we are not so shameless. Just as the defeated offer ransoms, we will repay your kindness and forgiveness with sufficient compensation. The amount will certainly satisfy you, and you can take control of all our businesses. From now on, we will be your most steadfast followers. We will fight for you and wipe out all your enemies..."

"Are you worthy?"

A dismissive interruption.

Norman looked up in surprise, his face pale.

"A bunch of blustering but cowardly bastards banded together to make a big fuss, and all they did was start a grain price war. What a load of thunder, but all they brought down were a few raindrops. I almost laughed myself to death in the street."

"The nobles of the entire province saw an opportunity to make money and swarmed around like dogs eating shit. The nobility of an entire country were cheering for you, and then I just raised my hand and crushed them all. The entire province's elite were trapped in this mess—you disgraceful bastards, do you even deserve to be my dogs?!"

Kang De sneered, "Returns? Compensation? Control? The worthless junk you're holding onto would be too much trouble for me even if you gave it to me for free. If I wanted your assets, wealth, and women, would I need you to offer them up? Is there anything I can't get in Distant Harbor these days?"

"Everything you own will fall into my hands if I so choose. What I can take is mine. You try to repay me with my things and expect me to forgive you—you're dreaming! Norman, if all you've got to offer today is this kind of nonsense, you can go home and wait to die—you're wasting my time!"

At this point, Kang De's tone became increasingly stern.

Norman knelt before Kang De and remained silent for a long while.

"Yes..."

Then he said softly, "We have suffered a complete defeat. Before you, we pose neither a threat nor have any leverage. We are no longer in a position to negotiate with you, and it seems hopeless to offer any terms to persuade you to show leniency... So, Your Kang De..."

He looked up and said, "Pity, how about pity?"

Kang De frowned and asked, "What?"

"I beg your mercy, have mercy on us, and also have mercy on this city, this province."

Norman's voice was somber as he slowly said, "As far as I know, seventeen people committed suicide yesterday alone. Among them were nobles with centuries-old lineages, promising young talents, business geniuses, and exceptionally talented artists. They made foolish decisions, incurred huge debts, could not obtain new loans, their businesses could not operate, and their grain could not be transported out."

"Then they committed suicide, leaving behind enormous debts and desperate widows and orphans. Their brothers, servants, and subordinates were tearing each other apart, fighting over the inheritance, leaving the poor widow with no one to care for or protect her. Brothels or secluded courtyards were her only way out, where she would become a plaything, and even her daughters—the number would only grow."

"It won't just be them; countless nobles and merchants will go bankrupt, their shops will close, their employees will lose their jobs, they won't earn money, they won't be able to buy food, and they won't be able to support their families. This catastrophe will spread from the upper classes to the lower classes, sweeping through everyone, not just the Distant Harbor, but the entire province. Countless people will suffer, and they will have no way to help but pray..."

"Therefore I beg you, Your Highness, for their sake, have mercy on them, and please end this catastrophe as soon as possible. I am willing to take full responsibility for this incident and bear all the cruel punishment. Your Highness, enough have died, enough have been injured, I..."

His voice began to choke as he spoke.

The governor's voice rang out throughout the Distant Harbor through loudspeakers.

His deep voice was infectious, spreading feelings of despair and compassion. The nobles were already in tears, and the common people were also moved to tears, because the governor had mentioned them. Such a noble person, who would actually care about their livelihood.

Immersed in emotion and prayer, the Distant Harbor heard a resounding voice.

"--Pooh!"

The sound awakened them from their emotional state.

Kang De stared at Norman with a somber expression.

"I have something to ask you..." he said.

Norman looked up in surprise; he hadn't expected this turn of events—wasn't he supposed to be a kind person? Hadn't he always felt sorry for the commoners?

Kang De asked directly, "If this matter, this food war, proceeds smoothly as you intend, with food prices rising steadily, inciting popular uprisings, and I lose, then what are your plans?"

Norman immediately said, "I swear to God, the retaliation was a last resort. We still hold you in the utmost respect. We just want you to understand our situation a little. Even if we win, we will negotiate a good outcome with you in a respectful manner..."

No—that's not what I was asking.

Kang De stared at the other person, his gaze sharp as a sword.

"My question is, grain prices are soaring uncontrollably, rising from five copper coins to two silver coins, even three, four, or five, making it impossible for ordinary people to buy even two ounces of grain after a day's hard work. This leaves them starving for days, even weeks, suffering from malnutrition, driven to madness, eating anything they can grab in their endless agony—leather, dirt, garbage—until they die a grotesque, twisted death! My question is, what do you intend to do about this?"

He stepped forward, and the anger and murderous intent in his eyes finally erupted completely.

Norman was shocked and overwhelmed by the murderous intent, and involuntarily fell backward.

Answer me.

Kang De coldly said, "When I was planning my counterattack against you, I made Han Zezheng ensure that no one in Distant Harbor would starve to death. He prepared a plan and arrangements of more than ten pages for this purpose. Now I want to know, in your plan, is there any contingency plan to prevent the poor in Distant Harbor from starving to death due to excessively high food prices?"

"The first thing I will do after winning is to distribute five days' worth of rations to all the civilians in the city free of charge to make up for their fear, hunger, and excessive spending over the past few days—now I want to know, in your plans, is there any contingency plan for appeasing the situation after the victory?"

He took another step forward.

The killing intent had solidified like frost.

Norman instinctively stepped back, but couldn't utter a word.

"No."

"Fuck you."

"Really, there isn't any."

"I knew it all along, I knew it all along. I understand your character perfectly well."

"But, my noble lord..."

I still want to say it.

"Fuck your mother."

"You don't care if these people starve to death? You don't care if the lowly people starve to death? Yes, it doesn't matter. Even if a hundred or a thousand starve to death, the surrounding villages and towns will come to their aid. They're like weeds; even if you cut them down, they'll keep growing back. How can you even consider them a threat?"

Kang De reached out, grabbed Norman by the collar, and lifted him up.

"Do you remember what I asked Han Zezheng to tell you when you went to see Han Zezheng?"

I said—you're all insects.

Do you think I'm showing off? Do you think I'm insulting you?

"You're wrong, you're all insects, selfish parasites, greedy mosquitoes, cruel ticks! You motherfuckers, you actually dared to speculate on grain prices! Do you know how many people will starve to death because of your plans? You know, but you don't care at all! Damn it, I wanted to kill your whole family back then! And now you dare to talk about pity in front of me? Do you deserve it? Do you even deserve it?"

"You insects!"

He forcefully slammed the governor to the ground, who let out a scream.

Kang De stood with a cold expression on his back.

It was like crushing an insect.

"Begging for mercy, pity, saying someone committed suicide, what nobles, what great artists, what promising young businessmen—even if I killed every single one of you, your entire families, would your corpses fill this Sound of the Tide Manor? No way!"

"But if you win, the number of poor people who starve to death during this period will probably be so great that all the cemeteries in the city combined wouldn't be enough to hold them all!"

"Even with soaring food prices and famine in Distant Harbor, where more than 200,000 people starved to death, is that a lot?"

"Not many! Because of this continent, this land, this country, or even just this city, from ancient times to the present, for thousands of years, the corpses of those who died from famine, malnutrition, overwork, vigilante justice, and plague, those who died because of your inaction, cold-blooded cruelty, or even deliberate murder, could fill every inch of this city! Their screams combined are a thousand times louder than the wind on this sea!"

Have you ever listened to their voices? Have you ever cared about their lives?

"Is this the first time you've engaged in a food price war? How many times have you and your ancestors used the same tactics? Since when have you become so indifferent to the lives of the common people? When will you understand that your blood, like theirs, is warm? When will you understand that your life, like theirs, is fragile and precious?"

Kang De crouched down and grabbed the other person's hair.

"You ask me what I really want? Why not forgive? Why not stop? You ask me why I'm an enemy of the nobility? Why treat you in such a cruel way? This is my answer."

"I don't like killing. My goal has never been to eliminate you, nor to kill you all."

He said slowly, "What I want to eliminate is your self-righteous indifference, cruelty, and ruthlessness; it is your privilege and ability to trample on living beings at will. As long as anyone dares to wield such power again, using the suffering of all beings as a tool to achieve their goals, then I will appear before them."

"I will use his and his family's blood to deter other despicable villains. Execute their entire families, exterminate their nine generations. Whatever method can deter you, whatever method can eliminate these vile and depraved lower beings to the greatest extent, I will use that method. My merciful laws only apply to ordinary, unremarkable beings. I will not discriminate whether your family members are innocent, because even if they are innocent..."

"And there will be no innocent civilians whose deaths are decided by you, who have no say in their own lives."

"So, all of you listen up."

The camera controlled by the Iron Son turned its lens and came to Kang De.

"I am Kang De."

"I'm watching you."

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PS1: Update! 7000 words! Where are the votes?!