Chapter 360: Get Lost!
"Free food! Free food!"
A West Ham villager shouted excitedly. On his back was a sack full of rice he had just received.
More and more villagers started shouting too.
At the same time, cavalrymen rode through the city to announce that everyone could go to the granary to get food.
Though they didn’t fully trust the army that entered the city, they still trusted their neighbors. When they saw others coming back with rice, they couldn’t resist anymore. Pushing past their fear, they ran to the granary.
Soon, a large crowd gathered around the food distribution site.
"Slow down, one by one! Don’t push, there’s enough food for everyone!" Simon and Benjamin stood at the front of the granary, maintaining order.
The villagers were finally willing to approach. This was real progress. Once they got food, their minds would slowly begin to clear. As the news spread, more and more people arrived. Soldiers of the Squad Divincox kept order while others handed out rice.
Seeing the constant flow of people coming and going, everyone present felt joy. At last, the people of the city were willing to make contact with them.
While food was being distributed, Francis kept questioning the captured slave soldiers to get more information about the city.
Not long after, Francis returned and reported. "Your Highness, the slave soldiers said that the former Prince Elliot’s residence was where the reavers ruled West Ham City. Records and documents are stored there."
"Oh? Let’s go have a look then." Simon replied.
Simon only had a vague memory of Prince Elliot. He was very young at the time, and Prince Elliot rarely visited Eldora, so they’d never really met.
Following Francis, he arrived at a residence in the city center, Prince Elliot’s former castle. The gate sign was gone, but two stone lions and a red lacquered gate still marked its past.
It seemed a clean and orderly reaver had once lived there, as the castle still held its old beauty. With towers, pavilions, flowers, and artificial hills, it looked completely out of place in this ruined city.
"Your Highness, this Prince’s castle can serve as a command center," Benjamin said with satisfaction, already thinking about spending the night there.
But Francis quickly said, very seriously. "They say Prince Elliot took his own life right in this castle. It might bring bad luck for Your Highness to stay here."
Simon had been in a good mood, but those words made his skin crawl. He kicked Francis’s rear. "You brat! You trying to get a beating?"
Francis looked confused for a second, then realized what he said. "Your Highness, if Prince Elliot’s spirit is still here, he would surely be grateful to you."
"Get lost!" Simon raised his foot again to kick him.
Benjamin gave Francis a glare. ’This kid really doesn’t know how to talk.’ He thought.
Francis had brought a slave soldier to help guide the way. With the soldier’s help, they soon found the room where the reavers had kept city records.
Inside were piles of books and scrolls.
"Looks like the reaver official here was literate," Benjamin said as he opened a ledger.
Simon nodded and began flipping through the population records.
They showed the population decline over the years, from 700,000 at its peak, now down to 200,000. The most recent record was from a military draft.
Simon guessed that many of the slave soldiers taken in the recent war had come from West Ham City.
"200,000 people..." Simon handed the ledger to Benjamin.
Seeing the numbers, Benjamin’s face darkened. If things had gone on for a few more years, the people of West Ham might have been completely wiped out.
Besides population, there were also records of land and grain. Page after page of brutal evidence of the reavers’ cruelty.
Just then, a soldier came in and said. "Your Highness, many villagers have gathered outside."
Simon and Benjamin exchanged a look and walked outside together.
Outside the gates, they saw a crowd of villagers kneeling, bowing their heads in sorrow.
When Simon appeared, an elder lifted his head and tearfully said. "Great sir, you’ve saved our lives. We have nothing to repay you with; please accept our humble thanks!"
As he spoke, tears rolled down his cheeks.
Simon quickly helped him up. "Everyone, please rise. Losing West Ham was a shame for the Eldorian Empire. But now the reavers are gone, and you are free. You no longer need to live on your knees. The reavers will never bully you again."
Hearing this, the elder wept even harder. For ten years, they had lived in misery. Now, finally, they were free; it felt like waking from a nightmare.
"Thank you, great sir! Thank you!" He cried, wiping his tears.
Francis then proudly stepped forward. "Elder, I’m also from West Ham. I escaped with my family to Dunmere years ago. Now it’s Prince Simon who has driven out the reavers, and we serve under him. Please spread the word; no one needs to be afraid anymore. From now on, Prince Simon will rule West Ham."
Once Francis said he was a local, the people looked at him with great respect.
Simon smiled and nodded. He had brought Francis here exactly to use his identity to connect with the people.
"Prince Simon! Prince Simon is our savior! We’ll go tell everyone this good news. We’re no longer rootless; we finally have our own ruler again!" The elder said excitedly.
He and the others bowed deeply to Simon, then happily returned home.
"Your Highness, it’s done. You don’t need to worry about West Ham anymore." Benjamin said.
Simon nodded. Thanks to his kindness and effort, the people of West Ham were finally beginning to recover. It wouldn’t be long before this place came back to life.
He was relieved that West Ham hadn’t been completely destroyed by the reavers.
But he couldn’t stay here long; there was still so much to handle in his territory, especially with his upcoming trip to Eldora.
After resting one night in West Ham City, Simon left Francis in charge until Baldwin could arrive to take over.
He and Benjamin then returned to Brambleford.
Five days later, they arrived.
By then, Brambleford was filled with celebration. News that the Brambleford Army had taken Snake Pass had spread quickly through newspapers.
Benjamin returned to the Brambleford military camp; he had his own responsibilities.
Simon went straight to his castle.
As he approached the gates, he saw wagons and carriages lined up, completely blocking the entrance.
Seeing this, Simon suddenly felt a chill down his spine.
He instantly realized these were merchants coming to collect their debts.