The Path to Lordship Begins in the North

After the order was issued, the entire territory of Doug fell into chaos. Whether it was the order to mobilize troops or the permission for the demon army to enter the territory, it all indicated to everyone that something big was coming.

Isa wanted to continue resisting the demon army, but the resistance had already done its best to stop the demons from raiding. After several attempts and losing a number of men, Isa had no choice but to lead the resistance on a strategic retreat back to her base.

Something's not right. These demons are really acting strangely. The demon prisoners that Isha captured before were almost all insane and completely incomprehensible.

They were like cult members who had gone mad.

As Isha was leaving, a large number of people packed their bags, preparing to leave with the resistance army.

Although the demons have been spreading propaganda about how well humans are living under their rule, this may fool the uninformed people. However, those who live close to the demons' leased territory know the truth: it's simply a matter of people who are starving and dogs who are starving. The only ones who get enough to eat are the dogs that guard the demons' homes.

Everyone says that surrendering to the demons will lead to a better life, but in reality, the lower-class humans who surrender will not receive preferential treatment, and will even be exploited more severely. Farmers who surrender will become slaves, and serfs who surrender will become sheep.

These demons even deliberately deform humans for their own amusement, just for their own morbid curiosity.

The so-called preferential treatment was only given to nobles and generals who surrendered with their troops—people who were already of high status. Then the demons would push these people out and say: Look how well you humans live here.

A few truly ordinary people also received preferential treatment, but these people were either connected to the demons by chance and became their associates, or they were even more ruthless than the demons when it came to killing.

So the people risked their lives to leave with Isa.

Putting everything else aside, the resistance's rule is at least ten thousand times better than that of the demons and the madmen.

Even the nobles in the city prepared their luggage and carriages, intending to leave with the resistance army.

Logically speaking, these nobles should have lived quite well under the rule of the demons. They not only possessed the power they had in Doug's territory, but also enjoyed many privileges, almost receiving the same treatment as the demon lords.

If you are willing to work for the demons, your status will rise sharply.

In the past, these nobles might not have run away, but now, the demons demand that everyone under their rule change their faith. No nobles who are relatively human or not so perverse cannot accept this condition, so it's better to kill them.

Although the doctrines of the Resistance Saintess are somewhat heretical, she still uses the name of a goddess, and the Holy See has already recognized the saintess appointed by the Gray-White Collar.

Looking at the long tail, Layton said, "Your Grace, if this continues, I'm afraid we won't have time to move."

The resistance forces are best at guerrilla warfare, but with such a long tail, it's clear they can't wage guerrilla warfare.

"Have these nobles throw everything out of their carriages, put the old people and children in the carriages, and let the nobles who still have the strength walk with us!"

Isa refused to abandon these civilians and immediately gave the order.

Besides reducing baggage, the assets of these nobles might be able to slightly deter the demons. After all, although the demons are somewhat mad, they still value money immensely. Otherwise, they wouldn't have dared to plunder against the resistance army before; it was all for money.

"Take another squad of soldiers with me to cover the rear, and use up all the supplies."

After saying that, Isa was about to turn her horse around, but Layton stopped her.

"Your Holiness, those nobles still need your command, but we will take care of the rearguard."

Hearing what Layton said, Isa could only watch the rear guard go and silently pray. Although she really wanted to go with them, reason told Isa that she was the only one in the resistance who could command these nobles.

Soon, Isa personally went to the back of the procession and began directing the nobles to leave their carriages laden with gold and silver to make way for the elderly and children among the commoners.

"The gray-collar workers will not treat you unfairly. I will have someone make a record of these discarded items and give you a receipt. You can use these receipts to exchange for these supplies in the future."

Because it was semi-coercive, the resistance soldiers quickly began boarding the nobles' carriages, throwing down the heavy gold and silver jewels inside, and making simple records so that the elderly and children who could not walk could board the carriages.

Although Isa said that they could come back to her to exchange these supplies later, many nobles were still quite dissatisfied.

"Tch, all these old guys and little brats combined can't compare to this truckload of my goods. Why should we abandon our cargo to make room for these useless things?"

A nobleman watched as his goods were continuously dumped, and he grimaced. These goods contained not only all of his personal belongings, ensuring that his family could enjoy a comfortable life even in the impoverished resistance base, but also many precious items to allow his family to maintain their noble status after arriving at the resistance base.

But now, these things are being abandoned to make room for elderly people and children who have no value whatsoever.

Does this saintly woman think that these useless old people and children are more important than gold and silver?

One of the nobles couldn't stand it anymore and tried to stop the resistance soldiers who were throwing things away: "This can't be thrown away! This can't be thrown away! This is a magnificent pearl that I brought from the Duchy of Milan!"

But a nobleman who looked much older, even somewhat decrepit, stepped forward and slapped the nobleman holding the pearl squarely across the face, causing the basin-sized pearl to roll off his hand.

"You insolent fool! It's just a pearl, are you really that reluctant to part with it?"

Then, the elderly nobleman said to the resistance soldier who was being pulled, "I'm sorry, it's my fault for not teaching him properly."

Seeing the elderly nobleman being so polite to him, the resistance soldier returned the salute and said, "It's alright, sir, please go and rest. We can handle things here."

The old man nodded, then used his booming voice to direct his family to fully cooperate with Isa, discarding all the gold and silver supplies from the carriage, leaving only the food, and giving all the seats to the elderly and children in the group.

After completing the tally, Isa took out her cloak, cut it into several pieces, and wrote down everything the nobles had left behind on the cloak. She then handed it to the nobles, saying, "Everything has been recorded. If there are any omissions or errors, please let me know, and I will personally verify and record them."

Records inevitably contain omissions and errors, but none of the nobles present mentioned it again.

Seeing his several cartloads of wealth reduced to a small piece of cloth, the nobleman who had previously tried to hold the pearl said in dissatisfaction, "Father, all the wealth we've accumulated has been exchanged for this rag?"

The old man slapped his son across the face again and said, "From now on, you don't need to be in charge of family affairs anymore. Let your second brother take over."

"What? Father, why is that? Didn't we lose money on this business?"

The old man shook his head and said to a younger nobleman beside the nobleman, "This voucher is for you. Remember, don't use this voucher to exchange for the Holy Maiden unless the family is in dire need."

"No, even in the most difficult times, don't make any changes unless it's a matter of life and death, understand?"

The nobleman who had been holding the pearl was even more confused, but dared not ask. The younger nobleman, however, immediately understood and said, "Father, I understand. When the opportunity arises, I will have this certificate framed and kept safe."