Overlord: Start from the Goblin Lair.

Chapter 147 The Messenger from Carolina

Among these various outsiders, Ron finally found Bonnie, who was overwhelmed by the situation.

"They came together in several groups," the priest of Tymora looked a little depressed, "some of them are from Rose City and claim to be your acquaintances; the other part are some adventurers."

"As for those who are most elegantly dressed, they are the envoys from the Carolina city-state."

"Carolina?" Ron was stunned. He knew that it would be difficult for the other side to resist Karad's army, but he didn't expect that they would surrender so quickly.

It's just... looking at the expressions and behaviors of these people, Ron felt that they didn't seem to be here to make peace.

"Mr. Ron, you are finally back," several young men came to Ron under the leadership of Seymour. The half-elf girl in the lead had long, straight black hair. "Do you still remember us?"

"Constance," Ivy frowned, "Why are you here?"

In fact, she wanted to say, "Doesn't your adoptive father want you anymore?", but with so many strangers around, it was difficult to say it out loud.

"After watching your battle, I think I should go out for a walk," Constance put a strand of messy hair behind her ear, "and my father agreed. He thought it was time for me to get in touch with the outside world so that I could accept his business in the future."

"And me!" Behind her, a young man waved to Ron, "I'm Carlos, remember? I heard that Miss Constance was coming to Delusion Land, and I persuaded my father to let me out!"

"Carlos? What about your marriage?"

"Her family doesn't agree," Carlos shrugged nonchalantly, "but that doesn't matter. I care more about the adventure!"

"Let me join you, I'm strong and I'm good at fighting!"

Carlos said, and threw a few punches in a formal manner. His mediocre kung fu was more than enough for street fighting, but it was not enough to deal with the many dangers in the Delusion Land.

Behind them were some young people who also came from the Rose City. Most of these people were originally followers of Carlos and his brother. Under Carlos's instigation, they also came here.

"Most of these people are children of merchants or craftsmen. They may not be skilled enough, but they are not unable to do anything. They will not cause any trouble to you." Constance said.

"We are short of manpower here right now. I welcome anyone who wants to help," Ron smiled. "Ivy, please go and arrange for them. As for those from Carolina? Where are they?"

"Look, isn't it the one in front of the row of graves?" Sylvia raised her chin.

Sure enough, in front of the graves of the assassins who had come to assassinate Ron and others, some people were gathered together to mourn, whispering something from time to time, and glancing at Ron constantly.

Judging from their expressions, Ron guessed that they wouldn't say anything good.

"You are Ron?!" A skinny middle-aged man came over aggressively, with a white flower on his chest. "I come here on behalf of Carolina City-State and demand an explanation from you!" "Explanation? What explanation?" Ron looked at him. "I haven't asked you yet, what does this white flower mean? Are you paying tribute to the criminals in my territory?"

"Criminals in your territory?!" The middle-aged man's voice rose eight octaves. "These people are law-abiding citizens of Carolina City-State! They have not been heard from since they passed by you. Today we came here on official business, but we saw their graves instead."

"They were brutally killed by you here! You are the murderer and robber!"

As soon as these words were spoken, people around looked at each other sideways, but not at Ron, but at these Carolina people.

Isn't it written clearly on those graves: Unscrupulous murderer from Carolina! Is there any doubt about that?

"Should we dig them out and look for evidence?" Ron looked at Victoria. "Do you have any spells prepared for today? Go dig up the dead and talk to them. Ask them what they are here for."

In this kind of world, it is still very difficult to frame someone when there is both witnesses and evidence. Even living people find it difficult to lie, let alone dead people.

"This... it's better not to disturb the dead, right?"

As expected, when the middle-aged man saw that the priest was actually going to dig up the grave and let the dead speak, he was immediately scared. He cursed Mindatis for his delayed intelligence and tried to find other topics to evade the question.

He could take a gamble, betting that all traces of the death squad had decayed away, not even their mouths were left. But if he lost the bet, he would have no room for maneuver, and the negotiation strategy he had determined before would be completely impossible to implement.

"Let's not talk about that for now," the middle-aged man changed the subject. "Even if that's true, it's their personal behavior and has nothing to do with our Carolina city-state! Your Excellency, isn't it too much to order the army to harass our trade routes and kill civilians?"

"Instruct the army? How can you say that?" Ron blinked his eyes and refused to admit it. "You can see that we only have one trading post and a few villages. How can we afford to support an army? There should be a limit to your slander, right?"

"I have an army? Who's going to feed and pay them? You Carolina?"

A burst of laughter broke out in front of the trading post. Before Ron and his team came back, these outsiders had already visited the surrounding environment. Why would they support an army in such a place?
Rose City only maintains a standing army of a few hundred people, and a nearly equal number of conscripts. In previous wars, they basically relied on hiring mercenaries from outside. How could Ron's place be a place that could support an army?
“That big hobgoblin Karad—” the middle-aged man gritted his teeth and said with a dark face, “Can you guarantee that he is not your subordinate?!”

"I can swear to any god, devil, demon, angel or anything else," Ron raised his hand with a calm expression, "He is indeed not my subordinate."

"I do know him, and he once helped me gain a foothold in Delusion - but so what? What does this prove? Should he just obey my orders?"

"'If a person works for you, he is your slave.' This kind of thinking is probably only in Carolina, right? Oh, I almost forgot, there is also the Hailan Empire, right?"

"One of their elders is here with you and is being entertained by you. Am I right?"

(End of this chapter)