Royal Roader on My Own-Chapter 173: Who Owns This Place (3)

“What...... Do you mean by that?”

Donstar had a blank expression after hearing my question.

Was my question that hard to understand? Then I will ask in a simpler way.

“High Village is under my jurisdiction. I never gave you permission to come in here. So why are you in here? Who gave you permission?”

“That......”

Donstar couldn’t finish his sentence. His eyes were just quickly moving.

There was no way he had anything to say. It was because I had given Humbley special instructions. I told him to let everyone in except Donstar and the other infamous power players from Titan Valley into High Village.

In other words, Donstar and the evil power players had forced their way into High Village.

There was only one type of punishment for those bastards.

I gave the order without even waiting for Donstar’s response.

“Get out.”

“W, what?”

“You are not qualified to be here. So get out of the city.”

Donstar looked anxious. He was so shocked that he was unable to say anything.

He didn’t even seem to realize that I was speaking informally him.

Donstar finally snapped out of it and seemed to have organized his thoughts. He seemed to be angry as he suddenly started to shout like a dog.

“Who the hell are you to tell me to leave?!” 𝐟r𝒆ℯ𝘄𝑒𝒃𝚗𝒐𝘃e𝗹.c𝘰𝐦

Makes sense. He probably finds this to be unbelievable. He is the Deputy Mayor for Titan Valley after all. And technically, High Village fell under Titan Valley’s jurisdiction.

But that’s because he doesn’t know something.

“Who am I? High Village’s temporary Commander.”

I was someone who could take control in special situations like this. In other terms, I was pretty much king inside High Village right now.

It made sense why Donstar would not believe me.

In fact, he raised his voice even more.

“What? Temporary Commander? Who would give a damn miner like you such title? On what grounds?”

Someone answered on my behalf from behind Donstar.

“Here is the decree from his majesty.”

It was Humbley.

We had already expected such a situation. That was why we got the ball rolling as soon as things started to happen.

One of those things was making me the temporary Commander for High Village.

Things went smoother than we had expected. The sick king handed power over to the first prince during this emergency situation, but the first prince and the second prince both knew that they were lacking and pushed the third prince into power.

The third prince who came into power was close with Harrison. He knew about how I was helping Harrison out as well.

Furthermore, he had heard that the fortresses I had created in High Village and Arlington for emergency situations were playing pivotal roles against the Jeppi invasion.

They were two of the few remaining safe areas as the Jeppi tribe aimed to take over the entire Batoru Kingdom.

That was why he had no issues granting Humbley’s request to make me the temporary commander.

In other words, I was no longer a miner turned businessman but an influential person at the level of the king. At least within High Village that is.

I took the decree from Humbley and showed it to Donstar.

The decree also stated that any territory I took back for the kingdom fell under my command as well. Of course, Humbley had requested that as well.

I then revealed a title I had not shown until now.

[High Village Temporary Commander]

Now does it make sense why I would talk down to Donstar who was the highest ranking person in Titan Valley at one point?

He seemed to understand. Donstar looked as if a cat got his tongue.

Donstar was rolling his eyes left and right trying to find a way out of this.

“B, but there is no reason to kick me out?”

“No, there is a clear reason I should.”

“What is that?”

Is he really asking because he doesn’t know?

Well, he probably wouldn’t have acted that way if he did know.

It was time for me to teach him what he did. Not that he would realize his mistakes even with me teaching him.

But it was time for him to pay the price for all of his sins until now.

“You hinder the harmony in High Village!”

“W, what?”

Do you think the people in Titan Valley followed Donstar because they wanted to do so? They were just scared because of all the power he had.

It was not just Donstar. Donstar had a lot of lackeys as well. And those bastards were trying to swing their influence around even in High Village.

They weren’t doing anything except giving orders. The citizens were serving as fodder just because they didn’t have any money or backing.

How would they have any favorable opinions about him?

They were holding back because they were suppressed by his power and influence, but if something allowed them to release their anger...they will probably be scarier than the Jeppi.

However, I could also create the reverse situation if I use that situation properly.

Of course, Donstar did not accept it.

“Such unbelievable......”

“Then you tell me. Is there any reason you should be in High Village?”

“I am also a citizen like them.”

“You want to be treated like the other citizens?”

Donstar quickly nodded his head as I asked back to confirm.

“Yes.”

Then I have no reason to say no.

However, I had a condition. It was the same condition I had for anybody benefiting from being in High Village.

“Fine. You can stay if you have such a mindset. Humbley-nim. There is something we need to do right away.”

“Please tell me what you need.”

Humbley quickly came over with a notepad as if he was going to personally be my assistant.

“The most important thing for us right now is harmony. We must all gather together with the same mindset in order to overcome this terrible situation.”

Everybody nodded their heads. It was because I was right.

“That is why we will make everything equal for everyone. Past wealth and titles do not matter. Anybody who wishes to rely on the safety of High Village must hand over their entire wealth and be a commoner. After the war, we will redistribute the wealth depending on the person’s merits during the war.”

I heard some gasps around the room.

It was obvious. The people who ran over as soon as I entered into High Village were all people who had wealth and power in Titan Valley.

The poor commoners had no time to come here. They were all on the walls throwing rocks and fighting against the Jeppi.

In other words, the people fighting on the walls will be able to improve their status because of this tribulation while the majority of the people here will lose status.

“Please create a contract. Only those who write their name and sign on the contract will be able to stay in High Village.”

“I understand. I will take care of it right away.”

Humbley quickly started to move.

We didn’t have any time to waste. The Jeppi were continuing to attack while we wasted time here, and the number of people dying on the walls were increasing.

Most importantly, I was concerned about Kaicher next to me. Kaicher’s mind is probably filled with only the Avanguarde Ares Temple right now.

We needed to take care of the Jeppi tribe outside the walls as quickly as possible.

Humbley created a contract right there and handed it to me. The contents were so simple that it took less than five minutes to create.

I was the first to write my name and sign it. 𝑓𝔯𝑒e𝘸e𝘣𝓷𝘰ѵe𝚕.c૦𝙢

Then I handed it to Humbley.

“Please write your name and sign it.”

Honestly speaking, Humbley was the one who would suffer the most from this contract. He was the one with the most wealth here. Donstar couldn’t even compare to him.

Humbley wrote his name and signed it without any hesitation. That was how strong his trust in me was. No, he probably already considers me to be a part of his family.

Kaldera who was standing next to Humbley wrote her name and signed it as well.

Then I handed it to Donstar.

“Sign it. Otherwise, I will send you outside the walls.”

“That unbelievable......”

I guess he doesn’t want to sign it.

I wasn’t losing anything from it. Donstar’s wealth will naturally belong to High Village once he dies.

Honestly, he probably doesn’t have much on him. The majority of his wealth was probably in Titan Valley and that was already conquered by the Jeppi.

So, it was the Jeppi tribe’s wealth and not Donstar’s right now.

But the fact that he was still hesitating showed how greedy he was.

Then there was only one thing left for him.

“Rohas. Send him outside the wall!”

My slave, the Dark Elf Rohas. He had no sympathy for humans.

Rohas did not respond with any words. He just slightly bowed his head and quickly started to move. He grabbed Donstar by the back of his shirt with overwhelming strength and climbed to the top of the wall.

“P, please save me.”

Donstar probably has reasons why he thinks he should survive, but I had no reason to save him.

He needed to quickly make up his mind if he wanted me to save him.

I ignored him and Rohas continued to drag him up to the top of the wall. Now all that was left was to throw him over.

Donstar finally shouted.

“I, I’ll sign it.”

“Stop.”

Rohas seemed like a machine that only listened to my orders. He stopped mid-motion of throwing Donstar over the wall once I gave the order.

His loyalty wasn’t very high, but he was the best slave when it came to usefulness.

“Bring him back.”

Donstar’s entire body was shaking once Rohas dragged him back in front of me. He wrote his name and signed it with shaking hands.

“Next is you. Hurry up because we have no time. Rohas! You can throw anybody who objects over the wall even without my order from here on.”

Everything went smoothly from there. They were all as greedy as Donstar, but they all quickly signed the contract because there was nothing more valuable than their lives.

Of course, there were some who objected. They seemed to think that I wouldn’t really throw them over the wall. That person was thrown over the wall.

He begged for forgiveness on top of the wall saying he will sign, but I didn’t even pretend to listen. I didn’t have time to waste on things like that. I needed at least one person as an example anyway.

He quickly turned into mincemeat by the Jeppi tribe’s spears as soon as he was outside the wall.

“Humbley-nim. Please create hundreds of these contracts and get all of the commoners to sign them as well. Of course, please explain so they understand where I am coming from.”

“I understand.”

Honestly speaking, it really wasn’t necessary to get all of the commoners to sign it. They never had much wealth to begin with.

Well, other than Jonnan, Batoom, Goultan and the other miners who worked with me in the Northern Mines of course.

However, they will all follow my will as well.

“Humbley-nim. Are the mercenaries ready?”

“Yes sir. We have 300 talented mercenaries ready to go.”

That should be enough to take care of the Jeppi tribe.

“Please bring them over right away.”

Humbley motioned in a direction. 300 Mercenaries quickly came down toward the gate. They seemed to have come when Humbley got here and were ready to go at any moment.

I could feel Humbley’s attention to detail.

“Then shall we get started?”

Goonto and the Dwarves picked up their weapons once I grabbed Goonto’s Twin Blades.

Harrison’s group and the newly gathered mercenaries seemed to wait for my orders as well.

I quickly explained the plan. I didn’t need to do this for my usual teammates, but the new mercenaries joining us could hinder our teamwork if they do something weird.

The core of the plan was simple.

“The mercenaries don’t need to over do it. Please just take care of the ones that make it past us. That is enough.”

“Yes sir!”

The mercenaries responded in a loud voice.

They were full of confidence. They must have seen how we made it through the Jeppi encirclement to get inside High Village earlier.

They all got into position. They formed a half circle similar to the Hakik-jin. (16th century Korean naval commander Yi Sun-sin’s one of the most famous strategy in the Hansando battle. This formation is designed to look like a crane with its wings open.)

The gate opened once I gave the signal.