Samsara Paradise: Dream Weaver of Connections.

"No, no, Your Highness misunderstands. That would be extremely impolite and give others cause for criticism."

"August is a greedy, ruthless, and narrow-minded man. In his pursuit of power and resources, how many people has he offended in the capital over the years? He is like a seemingly deep-rooted tree, with lush branches and abundant leaves, wielding immense power. But beneath the roots of this tree, it has long been riddled with holes by countless resentful termites. Those whose power he has taken, whose achievements he has plundered, and whose relatives and friends he has harmed, are constantly nourishing those venomous termites that are gnawing at the foundation with their resentment. This tree is outwardly splendid but inwardly rotten, already teetering on the brink of collapse, only lacking an opportunity, someone... who can be the first to strike and break this delicate balance."

Alex's eyes flickered slightly, as if he saw a familiar scene in the picture Lin Yi was describing.

In the power struggles of the capital, August's seemingly kind but actually sinister old face was always there.

"What Your Highness needs to do is simply to casually hand this opportunity to those who have been sharpening their knives for a long time at the right moment. For example, to 'accidentally' reveal to those who have long suffered under Augustus's rule, to those alchemists whose research results he stole, or to certain families he has controlled with poison, that he sent his top assassins to infiltrate the fiefdoms of the Imperial Earls with the intention of assassinating Imperial nobles, disrupting the stability of the Northern Border, and even endangering a member of the Royal Family?"

“When the time comes, countless knives will naturally stab into the cracks you have pried open, Your Highness. We don’t need to do it ourselves; we just need to be responsible for ‘launching the attack’ and precisely igniting the fuse that connects countless powder kegs. The rest, those who have been hurt by August will pounce on him like a swarm of sharks smelling blood, tearing him to shreds, leaving not even a trace.”

"At that time, Your Highness will not only eliminate this potentially huge threat without bloodshed, but you will also win the gratitude and potential support of those anti-Auguste forces. Furthermore, you will be able to demonstrate your stance of upholding imperial law and eliminating treacherous officials before His Majesty. It's a win-win situation, and all I want is for that old man to disappear completely."

Alex fell silent. It was no exaggeration to say that August had made countless enemies.

His downfall was indeed the result that many forces and individuals in the capital had been eagerly anticipating.

By providing the opportunity themselves, the risks are manageable, but the potential rewards are enormous.

Not only can it obtain medication to alleviate pain, but it can also strike at potential hostile forces and even enhance one's own prestige.

“Start a fight…” Alex muttered, savoring the battlefield-tinged slang. “A very interesting statement. So, what’s the evidence? Is it just him?”

"Of course not. Miss Anne has already made a record, and it will all be organized later and handed over to His Highness along with this one. With witnesses and evidence, he will have no way to defend himself. Of course, how to use it is entirely up to His Highness's strategic planning."

Alex's gaze returned to the pale blue potion. He nodded slowly and carefully put the crystal bottle into his inner pocket.

"make a deal."

"As you wish, Your Highness." Lin Yi smiled and nodded, not at all surprised by the result.

This is exactly what he wanted—a collaboration based on an exchange of benefits.

Alex said no more and turned to leave.

The heavy wooden door closed, leaving only Lin Yi, Jack, Annie, and Viper, who was still kneeling on the floor, in the study.

Lin Yi walked behind the desk and sat down, his gaze falling on the viper. The gentleness he showed when facing the Second Prince was gone: "Your life is temporarily spared. But remember, your life or death depends on your performance from now on."

The viper felt as if it had been granted a pardon and struggled to its feet, its body still somewhat weak.

“Listen, after you return to the capital with the Second Prince, you need to completely forget everything that happened at Bloodclaw Fortress. You will still be August’s loyal ‘Viper.’ Your mission was only half successful; you successfully assassinated Anne Springhall. But when you attacked me, you were unfortunately discovered, and after a fierce battle, you managed to escape capture by sheer skill.”

You need to appear sufficiently terrified because your mission wasn't completed perfectly, but you also need to convey enough resentment and bitterness. As for how to gain the trust of that suspicious old fox, August, that's your business. I believe that an assassin who can climb to the top in the shadows of the capital possesses the survival instincts and acting skills to handle this role.

"Yes...yes, sir! I understand!" the viper quickly assured him.

“Remember, only Miss Springhall can cure the poison in your body. Whether you can ultimately obtain the antidote depends on your performance and the progress of matters concerning the Second Prince. If you make any unusual moves, or try to reveal even a single word to August… you should know the consequences.”

The viper shuddered. "No! Absolutely not! My lord! I... I just want to live!"

"Very good." Lin Yi waved his hand. "Jack, take him away. Treat him, change his clothes, and prepare to 'escort' him to meet up with the Second Prince's team. Remember, he 'escaped,' so he should look a little disheveled, but not too fake."

“Yes, sir.” Ruth Jack responded, gesturing for Viper to follow him as if escorting a prisoner.

The viper dared not resist in the slightest, hanging its head like a defeated rooster, and followed Jack out of the study.

“Annie, please keep out of the public eye for now, at least until the rumors of August’s downfall die down. Bloodclaw Castle needs an Anne Springhall who has been ‘successfully assassinated.’ Otherwise, that viper’s lies will be exposed immediately, arousing that old man’s suspicion.”

“It’s alright, sir. To me, it’s just spending a few more days deep inside the laboratory.” Annie shook her head, unconcerned about the matter.

“But my lord, do you really believe that treacherous viper will obey?” Anne’s voice carried a hint of doubt. “And the Second Prince… can he really bring down August?”

“Viper? That’s enough that he’s afraid of death. Poison is the strongest shackle around his neck, more reliable than any oath. He will do everything he can to survive, including playing the role we need.”

"As for Alex, he will make good use of him. August has long been the target of public resentment in the capital, with grudges piled up like mountains. He just lacks someone of sufficient weight to break through the impasse and withstand the initial backlash and pressure. The Second Prince's identity is just right. We have provided the sharp knife and the 'legitimate' reason to wield it. As for the rest, people will naturally rush to stab him and share the enormous profits. All we have to do is hand over the knife and then quietly wait for the storm to completely cleanse the filth."

After resolving the issue with the viper, Bloodclaw Fortress's trade routes flourished, and the foundation of Lin Yi's territory was rapidly strengthened.

He handles government affairs and plans development every day, and everything runs on an efficient track.

Current territory rating: B

Economy: Grade A (One of the economic centers of the Empire's North, an undisputed hub for the distribution and transportation of goods, with generous commercial taxes and a thriving market).

Entertainment: Grade C (Basic tavern and inn services are severely inadequate; entertainment relies on seasonal itinerant performers and merchants' spontaneous pastimes; there is a lack of fixed venues and attractions).

Security: Level C (Frequent theft and small-scale robbery on main trade routes; poor security in slums; adequate number of guards but lacking systematic training and combat experience; equipment needs upgrading).

Population: Level C (The population is barely enough to meet the general needs of the territory's operation, but the composition of the population is complex - a large number of migrants, merchants, and seasonal workers, with varying levels of quality, lack of a sense of belonging and professional skills).

Commerce: Grade A (Stable status as a cross-regional trade hub, diverse range of goods, bustling merchants, and vibrant market).

Food and supplies: Grade A (strategic reserves are sufficient, conservatively estimated to support large-scale consumption for more than three years).

At this rate of development, Lin Yi was confident that he could develop his territory to A-level by the end of the two-month mission. However, S-level would be too difficult, as two months was far too short for territory development.

Upgrading core infrastructure and completing large-scale functional buildings alone require a significant amount of time and resources.

Not to mention the soft indicators such as improving the quality of the population, cultivating distinctive industries, and establishing a mature cultural and entertainment system, which are by no means things that can be accomplished overnight.

Safety, entertainment, and population – these shortcomings are like limping legs, hindering the overall leap forward.

If it were two years, Lin Yi would be somewhat confident.

The first rays of dawn, carrying the biting chill unique to the North, finally managed to pierce the heavy shadow cast by the towering towers of Bloodclaw Keep.

The study door was pushed open silently, and the old butler, Barton Hawke, appeared in the doorway.

"Sir, are you looking for me?"

“I would like to know, regarding my grandfather, Earl Edwin… what do you remember from the last days before he disappeared? Any details, big or small.”

Old Patton was silent for a moment, seemingly searching carefully in that dusty corner of his memory.

After a long silence, he slowly spoke: "My lord, please forgive my frankness regarding the specific circumstances surrounding Earl Edwin's disappearance, but my knowledge is indeed limited. The Earl has always acted independently, and he prefers to handle many matters personally, especially those involving his personal interests, rarely discussing them in detail with others. Most of the people in the castle, including myself, are simply following orders and are unaware of the full story."

Lin Yi nodded. This matched the impression he had pieced together from his grandfather's partially fragmented diary: a lord full of curiosity, arrogant, and even somewhat autocratic.

"However, there is a personal matter. It happened about six months before the Earl disappeared? I remember it quite well because it was not like the Earl's usual style."

Lin Yi leaned forward slightly: "Go on."

"Shortly after that dinner party, for reasons unknown, the Earl suddenly kicked one of his lovers out of the castle."

A lover? That's a secret I've never heard of before.

It seems that his elusive grandfather didn't keep a record of everything, especially such private emotional entanglements. "That lady was no ordinary person."

"Rumors circulated in the castle that she was a witch. Her name was Margarita, and she was very beautiful and very mysterious. The Earl used to dote on her, allowing her to have her own quiet room deep inside the castle, filled with all sorts of strange bottles and books. But after that banquet, the Earl seemed to have become a different person. He became extremely adamant and, ignoring her pleas, ordered his guards to 'escort' her out of the castle grounds."

"Margarita was very angry and sad before she left."

Old Barton recalled, his eyes seemingly still seeing the scene: "She said something to the Earl, not loud, but full of anger. She said, 'Edwin, do you think you're in control? You've touched things you shouldn't have, getting involved with that vixen! You'll get burned sooner or later! You'll regret it!' Then she was forcibly dragged away by the guards, and no one ever saw her again, nor dared to mention her."

Do you know where she was exiled to?

Old Barton pondered for a moment: "The captain of the guards who escorted her died during a bandit raid, though he mentioned it briefly in the tavern. He said the woman was abandoned in a wasteland near the edge of Howling Stone Forest, a place of exile for the exiled and the cursed, about half a day's fast horse journey from Bloodclaw Keep, or more than a day for a regular caravan. It's a desolate place, nothing but rocks, withered grass, and monsters. The guards dropped her off there and rushed back; no one wanted to stay a moment longer."

After dismissing Old Barton, Lin Yi immediately summoned Ruth Jack.

"Jack, get ready. Take twenty guards, prepare warhorses and five days' worth of supplies. We're going on a long journey to the Exile on the edge of Howling Stone Forest. Be prepared for battle and harsh conditions."

Ruth Jack asked no further questions, simply straightening his back and slamming his right fist heavily onto his left breastplate with a dull thud: "Understood, sir! Assemble within one hour!"

An hour later, the heavy drawbridge of Bloodclaw Fortress was slowly lowered.

Lin Yi, dressed in dark hunting attire suitable for riding, with a short cloak adorned with his family crest, rode a magnificent black warhorse.

Ruth Jack followed closely behind, wearing half-body chainmail, carrying a round shield on his back, and a heavy warhammer hanging at his waist.

Twenty elite guards, also fully armed, stood silently in formation behind.

The group was also accompanied by several packhorses carrying necessary supplies and camping equipment.

Although Lin Yi knew the approximate location from Old Barton's description, he knew all too well how much luck and time it would take to find a deliberately hidden witch in such a wild and desolate place.

Five days' worth of supplies is a necessary precaution.

The horses' hooves pounded on the drawbridge with a dull thud as the group broke free of Bloodclaw Keep's protection and plunged into the vast wilderness.

Leaving Bloodclaw Fortress's territory, the primitive and savage atmosphere of the wilderness immediately hits you.

Sparse plants stubbornly sprouted from the barren land, the withered meadows undulated in the cold wind, and in the distance, the outlines of continuous gray mountains stretched out.

The sky was high and desolate, with the occasional black dot of a vulture circling overhead.

Everyone knows that the wilderness is a paradise for monsters and outlaws.

Shortly after leaving the main road, as we ventured into an area of ​​heavily weathered boulders, trouble ensued.

Several lizards lurking in the shadows of the rocks were startled by the sound of hooves. These monsters resembled enlarged lizards, with skin as rough as rock, strong and powerful limbs, and sharp claws and teeth. They were especially adept at ambushing in rocky terrain.

They roared and charged at the horses on the flanks of the column from different directions.

"Left side! Protect the adults and supplies."

Just as a Cracked Claw Stone Lizard opened its jaws and lunged at Lin Yi's hind legs, Jack's warhorse suddenly leaped to the side.

Jack used the horsepower to twist his waist, and the warhammer, with a wailing sound that tore through the air, drew a deadly arc.

"boom!"

A dull, teeth-grinding thud rang out as the warhammer struck the stone lizard's relatively vulnerable side of its neck with perfect precision.

The neck, covered in stone-like scales, snapped off instantly. The monster's head lolled to one side at an odd angle, and its massive body was sent flying by the immense impact, crashing heavily into a rock before twitching a few times and remaining still.

At the same time, the other guards, facing the charging stone lizard, did not blindly spur their horses into a charge. Instead, they tacitly reined in their horses, causing them to rear up and kick the monsters hard with their front hooves.

The battle broke out suddenly and ended extremely quickly.

Jack's thunderous strike instantly thwarted the monster's ambush, and the soldiers' coordinated attack left the remaining stone lizards with no chance.

In less than half a minute, the five attacking Cracked Claw Stone Lizards were reduced to several still slightly twitching corpses in the wilderness, their dark green blood staining the yellowish-brown earth.

Jack shook the sticky blood off his warhammer, glanced around to make sure there was no further threat, and then nodded slightly to Lin Yi: "Sir, it's done. These beasts are getting closer and closer to the road."

"Take care of it and move on."

The veterans quickly dismounted, skillfully using their daggers to carve out any potentially valuable claws and teeth from the stone lizards, then remounted, and the group set off again, leaving only a few monster corpses to become a feast for the scavengers of the wilderness.

Along the way, they also saw several groups of bandits wandering in the distance.

These outlaws typically hide in the leeward side of hills or along dry riverbeds, searching like vultures for lone travelers or poorly defended caravans.

But when their greedy and fierce gazes fell on Lin Yi's team, their expressions instantly changed.

Well-equipped and heavily guarded soldiers surrounded a leader who was clearly a nobleman.

The bandits were sensible; they silently retreated behind the rocks or bushes where they were hiding, not daring to reveal even the slightest intention to spy.

In this wilderness where the law of the jungle prevails, keen eyesight is the first essential element for survival.

To provoke such a clearly formidable private army, which might even be a regular army or a powerful noble family, is tantamount to courting death.

Lin Yi's entourage moved unimpeded, their horses' hooves pounding across the wasteland, leaving behind only streaks of greedy eyes that had been startled and scattered.

As the sun gradually sets in the west, it paints the wilderness in a golden-red hue.

Based on Old Patton's description and Jack's experience in judging the terrain, they finally approached the area known as the "Land of Exile".

The terrain here became even more rugged, with huge weathered rocks scattered around like the skeletons of monsters, and the soil so barren that almost no green could be seen, with only some thorns growing tenaciously.

The wind whistled through the jagged stone pillars, sounding like the weeping of the dead, echoing the name "Howling".

"My lord, it should be nearby. The Exile has no clear boundaries, but the closer you get to the Stone Forest, the fewer living creatures there are, and the stronger the smell becomes." Ruth Jack rode closer to Lin Yi and said in a low voice, his hand never leaving his hammer as he warily scanned every suspicious shadow around him.

After walking for about fifteen minutes, Lin Yi's gaze locked onto his target at the edge of a relatively flat depression backed by several huge stacked stones.

A building that was extremely simple and could barely be called a "house" suddenly appeared in this desolate place.

The walls appeared to be a haphazard pile of rough, uneven stones and mud, with withered grass and moss filling the gaps.

The roof was covered with rotten, blackened thatch and unidentified animal hides, with holes visible everywhere.

Scattered around the house were some dried bones, oddly shaped stones, and some dried herbs.

The most eye-catching thing is a huge iron pot set up in the open space in front of the house. The firewood under the pot has long been extinguished, leaving only cold ashes, but the dark green paste in the pot is still emitting an extremely pungent smell.

Lin Yi pulled on the reins, and the black warhorse snorted uneasily.

The door of the dilapidated stone house, cobbled together from a few rough wooden planks, creaked open from the inside. (End of Chapter)