Sean's expression showed visible hesitation.
"Don't worry, they won't be in trouble for now."
Lin Lan looked deeply at Sean, the golden thread at the corner of his eye quickly disappearing: "In fact, leaving you might make their symptoms lighter."
...
The night quickly passed.
Just at dawn, Sean left the Lord's Mansion with a heavy package on his back.
He clutched the package tightly, step by step heading towards the camp, the fatigue in his eyes seemed to have dissipated somewhat, replaced by deep confusion.
The townspeople who had rested for a few hours were already busy.
Some were leveling roads with shovels, some hurried to the shore with hammers, and large batches of trees were felled and sent to the newly built port.
The entire town seemed injected with some kind of vitality, even though there were no overseers wielding whips, everyone's face was filled with energy.
Sean paused at the edge of the camp.
With shelter and ample food, the new townspeople's mental state had significantly improved, and even without anyone asking, they were learning from the local townspeople to improve their surroundings.
They dug holes, had already shaped the toilets with wooden panels, and the camp surroundings were clean.
Soon, children noticed Sean's figure, and the crowd gradually surrounded him, gazing eagerly at the tall priest.
They feared their current life was just a fleeting illusion.
Until Sean cautiously untied the package.
The glass bottles filled with red liquid sparkled under the dawn.
He took a deep breath: "Folks! The Lord didn't deceive us. I brought the alchemy potion he granted us! Everyone gets a share!"
"Line up! Please maintain order!"
Sean loudy soothed the agitated crowd, then he looked at a woman holding a comatose child: "Pais, you go first."
The woman was startled, she quickly stepped forward and took the small glass bottle Sean handed over: "Priest sir..."
She was somewhat anxious: "How should I use it..."
"Pull out the wooden cork and drink directly." Sean spoke succinctly: "If the child doesn't wake up, feed her the potion through her mouth."
Under the gaze of the crowd, the woman knelt and tried to steady her trembling hands, pouring the potion into the child's mouth bit by bit.
One second.
Two seconds.
"Ugh... Mom..."
The comatose little girl suddenly muttered like she was in a dream.
The next moment, she slowly opened her eyes: "This vegetable juice is really sour, really sour..."
The crowd was silent for a moment, then...
They erupted into a thunderous cheer!
"Long live the Lord!!" "Long live the Lord!!"
The wrinkled-faced woman held the child tightly, tears streaming down.
Only Sean's eyes were confused, after learning the brutal truth from the Lord last night, he dared not face the people here.
·
The people's cheers were carried by the wind into the manor.
Lin Lan reclined on the couch, while the merchant in front of him babbled on.
"Lord Roland, giving those precious potions to the commoners for free, isn't that too wasteful?"
Charles held a steaming coffee cup, sighing regretfully: "You could have 'loaned' them the potions instead and demanded repayment with gold coins, that way those people would earnestly work for you..."
"Hmph, such a money-grubber."
Someone scoffed from the side.
"What do you know?"
Charles immediately huffed and glared, turning to stare angrily at the crude fellow with prosthetics: "Do you understand the value of alchemy potion?"
Ed's expression remained indifferent, unfazed.
"Here come the freshly baked cookies!"
The next moment, a small maid with pointed ears rushed in excitedly, presenting a tray like a treasure before Lin Lan: "Lord Roland, little Lisa learned to bake cookies today!"
The tray held some distorted pastries.
"Thank you, Lisa." Lin Lan patted her head and picked up a cookie.
Under the maids' handiwork, little Lisa had finally received a fitting maid's outfit.
Now she loved spinning around and showing off.
Lin Lan completely indulged Lisa's antics, especially since her sister was just wonderful! (Referring to culture)
The long-haired girl with gentle temperament sat beside Lin Lan, Wendy lowered her head, concentrating on writing something.
Lisa ran over to Ed, raising the tray: "Uncle Ed, have some too!"
"Keep away from me." Ed turned his head.
"Lisa, don't interrupt the adults' conversation." Wendy lifted her head and glanced at her sister.
The little maid hurriedly set the tray down and rushed out again.
Charles noticed Lisa's ears, his eyes flickered.
To think he'd make a witch a servant...
At this moment, deep in his heart, Charles had gained new respect for Lord Roland.
This steady young man surely wasn't a local noble.
Would Lion Heart nobles distribute food, money, and even precious potions to the commoners? Don't be ridiculous!
They'd rather let heaps of grain rot in warehouses than give the lowly commoners even a single grain.
From Charles' experience, nobles about Roland's age were often flamboyant, reckless, and privately debauched.
They ceaselessly hosted banquets pursuing powder-covered noble ladies.
Where did Roland truly come from...
As he pondered, Charles' gaze moved to the potion bottles on the table again.
Not to mention the potions' intrinsic value, even the pure glass holding the potions wasn't something common folk could afford.
He looked at the youth: "Lord Roland, where exactly do these potions come from..."
"Ahem..." Lin Lan looked at Charles with a peculiar expression: "That's a secret."
"I understand! I truly understand!"
Charles nodded heavily, licking his lips, eyes burning: "Name your price!"
"Let's discuss that thoroughly later." Lin Lan smiled.
Just then, someone knocked on the door, and Sean entered the room, his gaze somewhat dim, bowing his head: "Lord Roland, I'm back."
"Find a place to sit casually."
Lin Lan sat upright: "Now that everyone's here, let's get to the point."
"I'm gathering you this time, firstly for your help in developing the territory, and secondly..."
He glanced at everyone, his look somewhat sharp: "We need to discuss the Blood Plague Curse spreading across the kingdom."
The room's atmosphere instantly turned serious.
"Truthfully, before coming to Lion Heart Kingdom for business, I had a rough understanding of what the Blood Plague was."
Charles spoke first, his expression grave: "But I didn't expect the curse to spread to such an extent, it's unbelievable... that the Eldest Prince of Lion Heart Kingdom would commit such atrocities."
"Why are you so certain the culprit is the Eldest Prince?" Lin Lan looked at the merchant.
"I don't believe Princess Olivia would unleash the Blood Plague."
Charles shook his head: "Actually, she's an indecisive, even somewhat weak lady."