Chapter 170: Ranger of Justice

Chapter 170: Chapter 170: Ranger of Justice

"Your family has done a fine job with your wheat."

Vili didn’t hold back his praise as he looked at the reserved family before him.

"Ah..."

Bank’s family clearly hadn’t expected the Lord Baron to take the initiative to praise them, and they were suddenly at a loss.

Seeing this, a look of exasperation and helplessness crossed the village chief’s eyes. He could only express gratitude on the family’s behalf. "Thank you for your praise, Lord Baron. Bank, his wife, and his children will surely work even harder at their farming."

"Thank you, Lord Baron! Thank you, Lord Baron..."

Bank’s family finally came to their senses, quickly adding their own fawning thanks after the village chief.

Vili paid it no mind and continued, "To reward your family’s diligence and hard work, the Agriculture Bureau will give you two Gold Rums as a prize. They will also create a special badge to honor you. Village chief, you are to assist the Agriculture Bureau in widely publicizing the Bank family’s efforts to the other villagers, so that everyone may learn from them."

"Yes, Lord Baron."

The village chief, as ever, was quick to respond.

In truth, when he heard Vili’s reward, he felt a pang of jealousy.

Two Gold Rums—that was more than an ordinary family’s entire income for a year, even if they didn’t eat or drink. And besides the monetary reward, there was also a badge of honor. This was a badge personally bestowed by the Lord Baron and specially made and issued by the Agriculture Bureau. It was something countless people couldn’t even dare to dream of. Yet now, Bank’s family had received it all.

"Thank you, Lord Baron! Thank you for your benevolence and generosity!"

When Bank heard the reward, he couldn’t process it at first. It wasn’t until the village chief responded that he finally understood.

Overcome with emotion, Bank dropped directly to his knees and thanked Vili profusely, his voice trembling the entire time.

Bank’s wife and children quickly realized the sudden, wonderful surprise and hurriedly knelt to give thanks alongside him.

A fortune of two Gold Rums, plus a badge of honor bestowed by the Baron. Bank felt he had never been so thrilled in his entire life.

Vili just smiled and said nothing more.

In fact, Bank was not an isolated case. Whenever Vili inspected a village or settlement, he would choose the villager or settler with the best-tended crops and reward them. He would also order the local village or settlement to spread the story of the award winner’s success. The goal was simple: to create role models and establish a positive feedback loop of incentives.

In this era, the material reward of two Gold Rums and the spiritual reward of a badge bestowed by the Baron were enough to drive any farmer into a frenzy.

Vili didn’t linger and instead headed for his next destination.

The territory of White Bear Town was vast, with a relatively large number of villages and settlements. Even though they moved quickly during this harvest inspection and their stops were brief, it still took nearly two full days.

On the return journey, Vili and Sandoor were still full of energy, but the Civil Servants from the Agriculture Bureau, who had never undergone any training, looked exhausted and listless. Their bodies clearly couldn’t handle it.

The group rode on horseback, finally returning to the main town of White Bear Town.

"What’s that commotion up ahead?"

As he rode through the streets of White Bear Town, Vili suddenly heard the sounds of a disturbance in the distance.

Logically, under Sopps’s administration, this sort of thing shouldn’t be happening in White Bear Town.

Vili flicked his horsewhip, and the fine steed beneath him quickened its pace.

Sandoor followed close behind.

"You villainous lapdogs of the nobility! You oppress the common folk and commit every kind of evil! Sooner or later, you will face the judgment and severe punishment of Justice!"

Just as Vili arrived, he saw a stout man nearly two meters tall, swinging an Iron Rod and bellowing furiously at the Guards who held their weapons, ready to subdue him.

His exposed arms were covered in knotted muscles, he had a thick beard on his cheeks, and his eyes were wide with fury.

The Guards looked at the stout man with a trace of fear. Just a moment ago, they had witnessed his terrifying combat prowess firsthand.

He had effortlessly swung his Iron Rod, easily knocking down any Guard who got close and beating them until they coughed up blood. He exuded a ferocious aura that was somewhat chilling.

"How audacious!"

Before Vili, who was behind the crowd, could say anything, Sandoor leaped straight off his horse, Cross Sword in hand, and strode toward the stout man.

"Who are you?"

Sandoor moved past the Guards, his gaze icy as he stared at the stout man.

Although he wasn’t in charge of public security, as the Town Mayor of White Bear Town, seeing this man so flagrantly defy the law and fight the Guards filled him with anger.

The Guards who had been surrounding the stout man all consciously made way for Sandoor when they saw him.

Although Sandoor wasn’t their direct superior, he was still a major figure of authority in White Bear Town.

"Are you the leader of these noble lapdogs?"

The stout man sneered. Seeing the attitude of the people around Sandoor and noting his attire, the man had a good guess.

"I am a Ranger who has traveled here! I am also a Justice Judge who walks the earth!"

The stout man announced his identity directly, a proud look on his face.

Hearing this from behind the crowd, Vili’s expression turned a little strange.

’The stout man’s words and actions don’t seem to match his mature appearance. If I had to use a word to describe it, it would probably be... juvenile? However, I shouldn’t underestimate him. His talk of "judgment of justice" and the like is somewhat similar to the slogans of the Hanged Man. What’s strange, though, is that I can’t sense any presence of the Power of Justice on him. Instead, I detect a faint fluctuation of Elemental Attribute Power.’

"A Ranger?"

Sandoor sneered.

In the eyes of an official from the Noble Group like him, so-called Rangers were nothing more than vagrants who had a bit of strength and no respect for the law.

For such destabilizing elements, there was only one solution: elimination.

"Don’t fall back! All of you, attack together and capture this bandit!"

Sandoor shouted.

Although he wasn’t the head of the Personal Guard Bureau, the Lord Baron was right behind him; he couldn’t just stand by and do nothing.

At Sandoor’s command, the Guards gritted their teeth and steeled themselves to face the stout man head-on.

Sandoor himself charged forward as well.

He was now a Middle Level Knight’s Squire and felt that with the help of the Guards, taking down this stout man wouldn’t be difficult.

But things went far beyond Sandoor’s expectations. The stout man showed no fear in the face of the advancing Guards.

He let out a great laugh, a righteous gleam in his eyes, and swung his Iron Rod, preventing any of the Guards from getting close.

On the contrary, his attacks were ferocious, sending Guards flying one after another.

"Damn it!"

Sandoor lunged forward with his sword, but against the man’s immense strength, the impact sent a tremor through his entire body.

’He’s at least as strong as a Senior Knight’s Squire!’

A look of horror appeared in Sandoor’s eyes.