Flogging and Compensation

The next morning, just as dawn was breaking.

The farmers and vendors who were the first to go out to work found a special notice on the notice boards at the entrance to Huopu Town Square and market.

The notice was placed in the most prominent position on the notice board, bearing the Xia Xing family's blue seal with three gold stars, as well as the town mayor's seal:

"By order of Lord Ye Weian Xia Xing: This town has thoroughly investigated and dealt with the illegal gains of the thugs Gray Raven. All citizens of Firefall Territory who have been harmed, extorted, or robbed by Gray Raven and his henchmen can go to the former 'Old Oak' Leather Shop to receive compensation."

Below the announcement was a densely packed list, from farmers whose cattle had been stolen to vendors who had been extorted for stall fees, every old debt clearly identifiable.

The announcement concluded with the statement: "If you are not on the list but believe you have been a victim, you can go to verify this information. Once verified, compensation will be issued."

"Really? I thought that was the end of it once they shut down the business and arrested the thugs."

"Would a noble lord really spit out the money he's taken in? I've never heard of such a thing in my memory."

When money is involved, news spreads like wildfire, from one person to ten, from ten to a hundred.

Soon the whole of Firefall Town knew about it.

Some people were cynical, thinking that this was just a newly arrived young nobleman trying to win people's hearts;

Some people were skeptical, thinking that at most they would just give out a few coins as a symbolic gesture.

Even if it's just for show, getting a few coins back is better than nothing.

However, the doubts ceased abruptly when the first group of victims received their compensation.

She was an old widow from the west of the town. Her son had his leg crippled by the henchmen of the Grey Crows last year, and their family's pharmacy, on which they depended for survival, had also been seized.

When the noble young master personally stuffed a heavy bag of gold coins into her arms, the crowd gasped in surprise.

"By Santia...those are gold coins! Real gold coins!"

"Judging by the weight, there must be at least sixty of them!"

So, starting in the morning, people gathered in front of the former "Old Oak" leather shop.

Ye Wei'an didn't hide in the cool study. Instead, he moved a chair and sat imposingly in the shade at the main entrance of the leather shop, personally overseeing the distribution of compensation funds.

On the long table beside him, bags of gold and silver coins were piled up like small mountains, reflecting a mesmerizing light in the sunlight.

Besides the victims on the list, there are also many unrecorded people who have indeed been harmed by the Gray Raven gang, who have mustered up the courage to apply.

Most of these people didn't have high hopes before they came.

But when they arrived at the scene, they discovered that the official not only didn't find it troublesome, but also welcomed everyone who came:

Once the perpetrator is brought in for a face-to-face verification, the compensation will be paid on the spot.

Moreover, for each confirmed crime, Ye Wei'an would order the thugs to be publicly flogged.

This ruthless approach of "on-site confrontation, immediate compensation, and immediate punishment" demonstrated to the people Ye Wei'an's determination to completely eradicate the remaining crows.

Every time money was handed out, or every time a lash was cast upon a villain, the crowd would erupt in cheers.

By noon, the long queue had stretched all the way to the center of town.

"Hello, sir, are you on the list?" Ye Wei'an asked gently to a farmer with a weathered face.

"No...no...Replying to your question, sir, it's not...it's not up there." The old farmer was so nervous that he didn't know where to put his hands, and he kept stammering.

With his noble status and 18 points of charm, Ye Wei'an was almost like a god in the old farmer's eyes, making him unable to harbor any thoughts of deception.

"That's alright. Please tell me your name and what you've experienced."

"Everyone calls me Old Tom. Three years ago, Hawthorne, 'Black Dog' of the Grey Ravens, broke my son's leg and stole our only two cows..."

"Raine, call 'Black Dog' Hawthorne over," Ye Wei'an ordered without turning his head.

"yes!"

Kneeling behind Ye Wei'an was a row of Gray Raven thugs chained together, all with bruises and swelling on their faces, clearly having received considerable treatment.

Ryan quickly pulled out a dark-skinned guy from among them.

Upon seeing that face, old Tom trembled with excitement: "Yes! That's him! Sir, I'll never forget that face for the rest of my life!"

"Old Tom said you broke his son's leg and stole his cow three years ago. Is that true?" Ye Weian asked coldly.

"Yes...yes! I remember!" The thug hurriedly kowtowed to confirm.

He dared not harbor any illusions. Just now, a self-righteous fellow tried to deny it, but the great mage merely glanced at him, and the man blankly confessed all his crimes.

As a result, the unfortunate man was punished twice as severely as before, and was beaten unconscious.

Having confirmed the crime, Ye Wei'an coldly delivered his sentence: "Since the evidence is conclusive, Raine, give him ten lashes in public."

Soon, the cracking sound of whips and a man's screams came from behind.

Ye Wei'an turned back to the pleased old farmer, his voice softening as he spoke:

"I regret that I only found out about this now. According to the compensation standard, your son's broken leg will be compensated with ten gold coins, and two cows will be worth thirty gold coins."

After saying that, he pushed forty gold coins in front of the old farmer.

When old Tom received this huge sum of money—enough to turn his family's life around and pay for his son's pastor to treat his leg—he could no longer control his emotions. He knelt down on the muddy ground with a thud, his forehead hitting the stone slab heavily.

"My lord! You must be the savior sent by Tyr, the Hand of Justice! You are the embodiment of justice!"

This scene has occurred more than once.

Several elderly people even refused compensation, instead pushing their children towards Ye Wei'an: "Sir, please have mercy and take my son in! He's strong; he'll be happy to be your groom or a soldier! As long as he can follow a kind lord like you, even dying on the battlefield would be his blessing!"

Those who have no sons in their families want to give their daughters to him to be his maids.

For many common people, relying on a powerful and just lord was the best way out they could think of.

"This is the will of the people." Kane stood beside Ye Wei'an, looking at the townspeople who were indignant, their eyes glistening with tears and fervor, and was filled with emotion.

As a knight who had been loyal to the Xia Xing family since childhood, he felt more and more regretful. If the young master in front of him was not Baron Xia Xing's illegitimate son, but his legitimate son, then how could the Xia Xing family not be glorious?

Even though the other townspeople didn't get any money from Ye Weian, they still respected him.

"Look at him! This is the true bloodline of Baron Xia Xing! I wish he were our lord!"

"Compared to the 'legitimate heir' in the castle who only knows how to ride his horse and ram people and take pleasure in abducting women, Lord Ye Wei'an is simply an envoy sent by the noble goddess Shinworth."

"The law stipulates that we must bow down and pay homage to nobles. I used to bow down because I was afraid of being whipped, but if all nobles are like Lord Ye Wei'an, then I would gladly kowtow."

"Shh! Keep your voice down... But you're right, if this lord is in charge of Firefall Valley from now on, then our good days will truly begin."