“Don’t worry! Just like she said herself, she definitely has no inheritance rights.”
“After all, her father is an outsider! No wonder her whole family ran off to our village…”
‘Ugh… I really can’t listen to this anymore.’
The ugly, clamorous voices coming one after another were so vile that Lian involuntarily covered her ears.
She walked behind Harold, stood slightly on her tiptoes, and patted his tall shoulder.
“What the…! Oh, it’s Miss Lian?” Harold’s face was originally full of impatience, but when he saw Lian’s dark expression, he hurriedly put on a smile.
This girl was on such familiar terms that she could call the Duchess by her first name… Harold had a few speculations about her identity… but a couple of them, he wouldn’t dare to voice even if given a hundred times the courage.
“Hey… Is the wood from this forest something you absolutely have to cut?”
“Huh…?” Her question made him pause for a moment. “I don’t understand what you mean…”
“What I mean is, is the quality of the wood from this village’s forest so exceptionally good that you simply must have it?”
“N-not exactly… The Forestry Development Branch has signed development contracts with many towns and villages in the Sea of Trees, and there are many that haven’t signed… Wood quality does fluctuate, but overall, the difference isn’t that significant.”
“I see.” Lian nodded thoughtfully. “So, even if you don’t work here, you can be assigned to other villages to continue forest land development, right?”
“In principle, that’s correct…”
“Then, all your contracts with this village, and all forest land development matters, end today.”
“Yes… Wh-what did you say?”
“Do I need to repeat myself?” In response to Harold’s question, Lian deliberately raised her voice so everyone present could hear. “I said, from today onward, all cooperation between you and this village is over.”
“Wh-what is this little girl saying?”
“She’s that human girl brought by Ilya… she said she’s family…”
Seeing the villagers turn their gaze towards her, Lian nodded with satisfaction, then said with a cold face and a lowered voice:
“That’s right, family. You don’t think you can do something like this to my sister… without paying any price, do you?”
“Si-sister? Are you perhaps Nairui…”
“Idiot! She’s human! But she does look a bit like the Hero… her name is I—”
“You should address her as Lady Iyue.” Lian let her voice drown out the clamoring villagers, then continued:
“My sister didn’t punish you… I originally wanted to go along with her wishes. But I thought about it carefully, and I decided it just won’t do.”
She lifted her head and glared at these ugly people with an unprecedented icy gaze.
“She trusted you so much… and yet you betrayed her. And for a mere pittance, you sold off her family’s forest.”
The villagers lowered their heads; no one dared to refute. Some had expressions of shame on their faces—but that didn’t stir the slightest bit of sympathy in Lian’s heart.
“Selling it is one thing… you didn’t even tell the workers that the tree there was Iyue’s mother.”
“We… we didn’t know that was Iruna…! We thought it was just a bigger tree—”
Finally, a villager jumped out to defend themselves. But Lian cut him off with a cold laugh:
“Don’t play dumb. Even I and the workers could tell that tree was unusual… you elves wouldn’t know? Are you still trying to deceive yourselves at this point?”
After silencing the villagers, she turned to face the Forestry Development Branch personnel from the company who were present.
“You listen up.”
Led by Harold, several supervisors and foremen immediately straightened up… they had all heard about this young lady from Harold.
Although her specific position wasn’t revealed… the mere fact of her closeness with the Duchess was enough for the company’s people to obey her every command.
“From now on, the forest land of Iyue Nairui’s family will be taken over by the company… wasn’t that the arrangement in the contract anyway?”
She smiled at the villagers, then continued giving orders:
“You will establish an outpost to continuously watch over it. Do not let anyone from this village approach it without permission again.”
“Yes, ma’am!”
The company people reflexively responded.
“Also, as I said, terminate all forest land development contracts with Jingye Village starting today… ah, the same goes for construction and technology-sharing contracts. And don’t purchase any products from this village anymore either.”
The moment these words fell, the villagers immediately erupted.
“Do-doing what…!”
“What are we supposed to do after this? The wood from these forests and our houses—”
“What happens after that… what does that have to do with me? You can receive compensation for breach of contract as per the already signed agreements, but the company will not establish any further cooperation with you from now on.”
She didn’t look at the villagers anymore and continued addressing the company people:
“Furthermore, during today’s operations, company equipment was damaged, and workers were injured… their medical expenses, lost wages, and the additional costs incurred from contract termination—”
“You will itemize them all. The village side will be responsible for compensation.”
This time, the villagers’ faces completely changed color. They shouted in disbelief:
“Th-this is impossible…!”
“You said you’re terminating the contract, right? Then why do we still have to pay—”
“Fine, don’t pay. Then the contract is simply voided, and you don’t get your compensation money either.”
The villagers were instantly left speechless, looking at each other.
“Is everything understood? Everyone from the company?”
Lian smiled as she sought confirmation from the company’s people.
“Yes, ma’am! Understood, Miss!”
Led by Harold, the company’s people all nodded and bowed to her in unison.
“Daddy… are we moving?”
Harold’s two daughters, holding the signed dolls from Iyue, looked up at him with wide eyes.
Harold gave a bitter smile and ruffled the girls’ heads.
“How can you do this!”
“The company… what’s going on with the company! How can you listen to such a little girl…”
The villagers started shouting ugly words again… but the company’s people remained silent.
On the instructions of several supervisors, the workers put down their tasks and began organizing and packing up various equipment and tools.
“Ah, this crossbeam is company property. We have to take it.”
“My house is only half built…!”
“You… you can’t do this… we have a contract!”
Lian ignored the rising and falling cries and complaints of these people, approached Harold, and asked him:
“Where is the company’s headquarters in Fenglin City? I’d like to go there next…”
Harold immediately gave the address and even explained the route to her.
“Very good. Thank you for your hard work.”
Lian clapped her hands together, smiled at him… then turned and walked towards the forest path, leading her horse.
No one dared to stop her… because company guards armed with firearms silently followed beside her.
It wasn’t until she left the village and stepped onto the forest path that they stopped.
“You can stop here. Thank you.”
“Take care on your journey, Miss!”
Lian waved at the guards, then finally approached the forest path. On the path, Iyue and the Ranger Corps were already prepared to depart.
“Sorry for the wait. Shall we go?”
She mounted her horse and gave Iyue a refreshed, cheerful smile.