The cold north wind swept across the walls of North City.
Crowds packed the area inside and outside the city gates. Nobles dressed in luxurious clothing stood at the front, their expressions respectful.
In the streets and alleys behind them, men and women, young and old, stood shoulder to shoulder, standing on tiptoe to catch a glimpse.
Princess Osha’s beauty had long been famous throughout the North. Some of these people had traveled from other territories just to see her face.
They had expected a cold, indifferent entry into the city. They never imagined the streets would empty out to welcome her.
Griet stepped forward and praised, “Princess, because of your beauty, these people have spontaneously formed a welcoming ceremony for your entry into the city.”
Osha nodded. Her eyes remained calm and undisturbed as she quietly rode her horse into the city.
“You must be Princess Osha. Your beauty is truly captivating.”
One of the nobles stepped forward and took hold of Osha’s horse.
Osha sized up the person before her and immediately dismounted.
“Are you Gareth Leon?”
The noble smiled and bowed. “Yes, Princess. I am the eldest son of the King of the North, and also the future King of the North.”
Leon wore a proud expression, his gaze never leaving Osha for even a moment.
Zhe Zilin turned his head slightly and frowned.
This was the eldest son of the King of the North whom the system wanted him to kill. Up until now, he still could not figure out the meaning of this task.
From his first impression of Leon, Zhe Zilin could not see anything particularly special about him.
However, from the way Leon looked at Osha, he could roughly guess some of the other party’s character. He was lecherous.
Among nobles this was considered normal. But to show it so openly toward the princess, he was one of the very few.
As the eldest son of the King of the North, Osha gave him some respect and curtsied while lifting the hem of her skirt.
“The King of the North has just passed away. What is your intention in bringing so many people to welcome me?”
Leon explained with a smile, “Since the princess has come from the Royal Capital, it is only proper for us in the North to hold a grand welcoming ceremony. We would not dare neglect you.”
Osha raised her head and surveyed her surroundings. White cloths fluttered everywhere, clearly indicating a funeral scene. Yet among the people around, there were many emotions, but none of them was grief.
Especially Leon. From the very beginning, those greedy eyes had never once moved away from her body.
Osha smiled faintly. “The journey from the Royal Capital to the North was arduous. My escort team and I are exhausted. Please arrange a place for us to rest.”
“There are still rooms available in the castle. Princess, you can stay in the castle.”
Leon ordered his subordinates to come forward and take the horses, then personally led the way for Osha and the others.
Along the way, countless men lost their composure. The moment they laid eyes on Osha, they were all left dumbfounded.
“I swear, this is the most beautiful woman I have ever seen.”
Many people voiced the same sentiment.
Leon rode his horse very close to her. Using conversation as a pretext, his gaze continuously swept over Osha’s figure.
Zhe Zilin shot him a disdainful glance. He felt even more puzzled. Did the system really have any meaning in wanting him to kill this lecher?
This guy was in heat. Killing him would be too easy. Find him in some woman’s bed tonight, and one sword would settle everything.
As they approached the castle, Airigo stood on both sides with his guards, bowing in salute.
When Zhe Zilin walked alongside the others and tried to enter, Airigo stopped him.
“Foreigner, you cannot enter.”
“Really?”
Zhe Zilin was pleasantly surprised. He had not expected Airigo to actually stop him. The other party seemed to lack judgment and did not understand the current situation at all.
Standing right next to the princess, he still dared to block the way without distinguishing right from wrong.
Osha turned back and said lightly, “Let him in.”
Airigo quickly bowed and explained, “But he…”
Before he could finish speaking, Leon, who was eager to show off, shouted loudly, “Knight! Remember your duty!”
Airigo bent his waist even lower and made way for Zhe Zilin.
Zhe Zilin smiled and patted his shoulder before entering the castle.
He had not been happy for long before Osha issued a command.
“Tie him up together with the half-orcs. Bind their hands and feet.”
“As you command.”
Zhe Zilin was confused. What was the point of Osha locking him up? Before Griet could tie him, he struggled and said, “I’m really just a woodcutter, Princess.”
Osha acted as if she could not hear his explanation and walked straight into the castle.
There was no chance to struggle. Zhe Zilin sighed. His hands and feet were bound with ropes, and he was locked up with five half-orcs in an open space behind the castle.
So far, he had not found anything particularly better about North City compared to the castle, except that the territory was much larger.
But when the forest is big, all kinds of birds exist. It was full of strange and bizarre characters.
Zhe Zilin leaned against the stone wall, somewhat nostalgically recalling the days when he rode horses in the castle.
Thinking about it now, living with Ailia in the castle for a lifetime was not so bad either. As the saying goes, without comparison, there is no harm. The contrast North City gave him was simply too great.
Just as he was sighing inwardly, Scar beside him spoke up and asked, “Hey, you’re the one who was with the witch, right?”
Zhe Zilin had no mood to answer him and turned his head away.
“My nose is pretty sharp. Even a dog’s nose might not be as good as mine. I was not sure outside the city, but now that I’ve smelled it, I’m one hundred percent certain it’s you.”
Scar chuckled and shuffled closer to Zhe Zilin’s side.
“Your name is Leibang Ed, right?”
Zhe Zilin was shocked. How did these half-orcs know his real name? He turned his head and sized up the five half-orcs in surprise.
Their short, sturdy bodies were wrapped in tattered animal skins. Deformed short horns pressed against their heads. Their skin was mottled and uneven, with blue-gray and dark green intermingling. Their epidermis was dry and rough, covered with small scars.
“How do you know about Leibang Ed?”
To be safe, unless it was confirmed beyond doubt in North City, he would not admit his true identity.
“Don’t pretend, little Leibang. Don’t you know what you’ve done?”
Zhe Zilin was even more puzzled. From what Scar said, these half-orcs seemed to be here to collect a debt.
But what could he possibly owe to half-orcs?
Don’t tell me I also have a romantic debt with a female half-orc!?
“That… was your mom my ex-girlfriend?”
As soon as these words came out, the air became terrifyingly silent.
Even Scar, who usually talked a lot, was stunned. It took a long while before he could digest the shock brought by this sentence.
“It’s rumored that Leibang Ed has never failed to get any woman he wanted. My mom always said my dad was a heartless man. Could it be that you’re really my dad?”
One-Eye turned his head in disbelief. “Are you serious, Scar? Are you fucking serious!?”
Zhe Zilin was shocked and unconsciously moved back a few steps, afraid of being influenced by Scar’s astonishing thought process.
“Bro, I was joking.”
Scar let out a breath, looking serious.
“So it was a joke. I almost believed it.”
One-Eye kicked Scar in the butt and cursed, “Stupid pig.”
Scar yelped and fell to the ground, complaining, “Why did you kick me? The queen wants the person who’s right here. Think of a way to bring him to the queen.”
“What queen? Why are they looking for Leibang Ed?”
One-Eye kicked Scar again to vent his anger before starting to answer Zhe Zilin’s question.
“One year ago, the orc queen issued a wanted order. Whoever can bring Leibang Ed to her can obtain territory in the Eastern Plains. Five pieces of territory if brought alive, two if dead.”
“The orc queen is in the Eastern Plains, tens of thousands of miles away from here. How could a wanted order spread all the way to the North?”
Zhe Zilin thought to himself, what kind of grudge was this? Wanted all over the world, and regardless of life or death.
Another woman hurt by him?
Now it was like a conditioned reflex. As long as there was a woman looking for him, it was probably for a romantic debt.
An orc? But I’m not into furries either!
Zhe Zilin could not recall any related memories. He had no choice but to sigh once again at the potency of Ailia’s magic potion.
To make sure he was not mistaken, he asked, “Why does the orc queen want to kill me?”
Scar flipped over and answered quickly, “I know.”
“Because of love!”