"Count Kaledmon, you were only half right," Velin said with a smile.
Count Kaledmon adopted an attentive posture and asked, "Lord Velin, please enlighten me."
Seeing this, Velin did not explain directly, instead saying ambiguously, "I'm punishing those who offended me, while also saving your territory."
Hearing this, Count Kaledmon's eyes filled with confusion. He could not understand how this God-Bestowed Count killing his citizens on his own land could possibly be connected to saving his territory.
"These people are your subordinates. Take them aside and question them, and you'll naturally understand what I mean." Velin pointed at the surviving men lying on the deck and spoke to the baffled Count Kaledmon.
"Then excuse me."
Count Kaledmon gave a respectful bow, then grabbed two of his stronger subordinates and headed toward the right side of the deck.
By the railing on the right side of the Floating Ship, Count Kaledmon set down the two men he had been carrying and stepped forward to slap each of them twice.
The Red-haired youth sat up from the ground. Feeling the pain in his cheeks, he cried out and was about to resume cursing those damned Famine Cultists and traitors when he suddenly noticed his lord standing before him.
Ignoring his dignity, the Red-haired youth rushed forward, hugged Count Kaledmon's leg, and wept bitterly. "My lord, I've finally found you."
Seeing the Red-haired youth behave like this, Count Kaledmon suppressed the urge to slap him twice more, hauled him up from the ground, and barked, "Stand straight."
The authoritative voice exploded by his ear. The Red-haired youth immediately dropped his weak demeanor, straightened his body, puffed out his chest, and waited for his lord's questions.
"Now answer me. What did Town of Tovek do to anger Lord Velin, the God-Bestowed Count?"
The Red-haired