novelraw Chapter 2 – It's reasonable for me, a lord, to steal candy from children, right?
Chapter 2 – It's reasonable for me, a lord, to steal candy from children, right?
Within the Earl of Eaglehold's domain, there are eight major towns and several smaller ones. Sylvie's castle is located in the most bustling Winterfell City, hence it's also called Winterfell Keep.
Of course, this bustling nature is only relative. Compared to the cities near the Royal Capital, Winterfell City wouldn't even qualify as a minor city.
Winterfell City is circular in shape, divided into the inner and outer city.
A third of the inner city is occupied by Sylvie's luxurious Winterfell Keep, while the remaining area is generally inhabited by people with some status, who can afford the high rent of the inner city. These include down-and-out mages who couldn't make it in the Royal Capital, minor nobles without fiefs, and grand merchants temporarily residing here.
The outer city is mainly home to slave masters, small traders, mercenaries, and adventurers, among whom there are also many freemen.
The families of the butler and knights within the castle also reside in the outer city. Additionally, the outer city is lined with taverns, cathedrals, shops, inns, and blacksmiths.
Bypassing the beautiful angel statue and passing through the towering castle gates, one arrives on the bustling streets of Winterfell City.
The warm noon sun shines on Winterfell City, where pedestrians hustle and bustle. Upon seeing Sylvie surrounded by knights, people hurriedly step aside and bow.
"It's My Lord!"
"Good day, My Lord!"
"Wow! A tin can monster!"
"Brat, that's a knight, sir."
"My Lord is so handsome, I wish to spend a spring breeze with him~"
***
The news that the second son of the Goldlion Family has become the Earl of Eaglehold has already spread throughout the streets and alleys of Winterfell City.
Although people don't know exactly what Sylvie looks like, they recognize the emblem of the golden lion.
Sylvie, with a cold face and expressionless demeanor, rides his Dragonblood Steed hurriedly past, followed by a team of heavily armed knights.
In fact, he also wanted to greet these enthusiastic citizens, but thinking about what he had to do later, he had no mood for it.
To avoid the citizens developing any fond illusions about him, Sylvie had to portray an arrogant lord who looked down on everyone.
At the same time, his eyes discreetly scanned the pedestrians, searching for a suitable target.
Suddenly, Sylvie's eyes lit up as a Little Chub holding a lollipop came into view.
Three minutes later.
Little Chub was cornered by seven or eight towering knights with visors, looking bewildered and on the verge of tears as he leaned against the wall.
"Hehe, little friend, don't be afraid."
Sylvie crouched down to meet Little Chub's gaze, rubbed his face, and with a kind and friendly smile, asked:"Little friend, let me test you, do you know who I am?"
"Kn... know, you're My Lord."
Little Chub glanced fearfully at Sylvie and the knights behind him, stammering.
"Am I the biggest in Winterfell City?"
"Yes."
Little Chub answered honestly.
"Since I'm the biggest, does everyone have to listen to me?"
"Yes..."
Hearing this, Sylvie showed a confident smile.
"Then, little friend, can you give me the candy in your hand?"
Sylvie's intentions were revealed.
"No way!"
(o｀ε´o)
Little Chub stepped back abruptly, hiding the candy behind him.
The atmosphere began to grow tense.
Sylvie's body stiffened, and his smile gradually froze.
Unable to bear the oppressive atmosphere, Little Chub burst into tears, wailing loudly:"Waaah, the lord brought tin can monsters to steal my candy... waaah, My Lord is bullying children..."
"Hey? Don't cry, I'll take one and give you back two..."
Before Sylvie could finish, a crisp robotic voice echoed in his mind.
[Ding! Please don't treat the system like a fool.]
"......"
"Well, it seems taking it and giving it back won't work."
Sylvie gritted his teeth, looking at the bawling Little Chub, and couldn't help but feel a wicked impulse.
Since the kid was already crying, and his voice was so loud, if people were drawn over, it would be like mud on the pants, whether it was or wasn't, it would be.
So Sylvie decided to drop the act and signaled to the knights behind him.
But the knights exchanged glances, hesitant.
"My Lord, this..."
"Just do it, no more nonsense!"
The nearest knight had no choice but to snatch the candy from Little Chub's hand.
Seeing the target in hand, Sylvie immediately mounted his horse, calling his knights without looking back. In a few breaths, they vanished from the scene.
"No—! My candy! I just bought it!"
In the dim alley, only a Little Chub was left sitting on the ground, wailing for his lost candy.
That day was a nightmare for the children of Winterfell City, as they were barely out of the candy shop when a demon with a team of knights appeared from nowhere, dragging them into alleys and snatching away their freshly bought candy!
Not only did ten crying children appear in the alleys near each candy shop, but a legend of a candy thief also spread among the children of Winterfell City.
...
"Ding, daily task two completed, would you like to claim the reward now?"
"No."
Sylvie gritted his teeth under his visor.
But he had to admit, after snatching candy from ten kids, Sylvie felt a sense of transcendence.
Once a person's bottom line is broken, it's hard to restore.
So Sylvie decided to complete all three tasks, hoping to trigger a reward critical hit.
"Master Sylvie, I have a question, if you don't mind."
This was a tall knight with more refined armor. He rode alongside Sylvie, removing his visor to reveal an aged, square face with a full beard and a scar running from his right eye to his jaw.
He was Claremont, an experienced Earth Knight who had been in the Earth Knight stage for many years. If not for age limitations, he might have already advanced to a Sky Knight.
Claremont was originally the captain of the knights under Sylvie's father, Manhattan Goldlion. After Sylvie was ennobled as an Earl, Claremont was sent to protect him, becoming Sylvie's Royal Guard, and now also serves as the instructor of Winterfell Keep's cavalry.
"Claremont, there's no need for such formality between us. Just speak your mind."
Sylvie had a deep impression of this old knight.
In his previous life, this one-eyed, white-bearded old man guarded the scoundrel lord's castle gate, holding off the player army for over two months, fighting to exhaustion before dying.
In his previous life, the scoundrel lord only treated this loyal old knight as a tool, ordering him around.
But Sylvie truly respected this old man from the bottom of his heart. He was his fierce general, his strongest asset as a villain.
"Master Sylvie, I don't quite understand why you... um, took the candy from those children. You know, whatever candy you want, the castle can make for you, and it would be better than what these commoners eat."
Claremont carefully chose his words, hesitantly asking.
This question puzzled the other knights as well.
Sylvie smiled bitterly at this. Not only Claremont, but he also couldn't understand it.
He couldn't exactly say that he was being coerced by the system to do some scoundrelly things every day, could he?
With no other option, Sylvie put on a profound smile, speaking mysteriously:"Claremont, it's normal that you don't understand now, but I believe with time, you'll surely grasp my intentions."
Saying this, Sylvie gave Claremont a meaningful look.
Claremont nodded, pondering to himself:
Indeed, Master Sylvie has been wise and amiable since childhood. He must have his reasons for doing this. He couldn't possibly be so bored as to bully the city's children for fun, right?
Is it possible that this is a new way to interact with the citizens?
With this thought, Claremont's eyes lit up, looking at Sylvie with admiration. He felt he understood the master's intentions: to bring the lord closer to the citizens and effectively prevent children from getting cavities.
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The master is truly benevolent!
The old knight sighed inwardly, looking at Sylvie with increasing respect.
Sylvie was baffled by Claremont's series of expressions. He didn't know what the old knight was imagining, but it seemed his previous nonsense had successfully muddled through.
Proofreader & Editor: Peter Pan