Chapter 101: City of Endless

"Is doing this... really alright?" Echo looked through the window of the command post, at the Sandpeople being whipped on the dock, a hint of unbearable feeling on her face.

"They have never known what discipline is, and their lives have always been based on the survival of the fittest. If we want to make this group useful as soon as possible, besides war, this is the only way." Iron Axe replied respectfully, "You haven't stayed in the Far South for a long time, and Chief also cares for you very much, so you may not know the nature of these small clans. This level of lesson is nothing, and it can even be said to be very necessary, otherwise they will only think that Aosha has no prestige and is easy to bully."

Speaking of this, he hesitated rarely, "I think you may feel uncomfortable because... His Majesty is sometimes too kind."

"Totally agree," Andrea shrugged by the window, "There is a saying among the nobles, carrots and sticks are the best way to rule the people. And the thicker the carrot, the more benevolent the lord."

"What is a carrot?" Hummingbird asked curiously.

"A kind of food, similar to His Majesty's corn, it is a specialty of the Kingdom of Dawn," Andrea explained, "But even the thickest carrot is much thinner than the stick, so the implication of this sentence is that punishment should outweigh reward, so that the people will know how to cherish. A lord like Roland would only be given the title of a spendthrift in Brightlight City."

"That's one of the few things you've said that I agree with," Ashes curled her lip.

"Maybe His Majesty is particularly good at talking?" Hummingbird thought, resting her chin, "What he taught Turam to say makes sense... the power of the collective is greater than the individual, right?"

"However, even Turam only memorized those words by rote," Iron Axe smiled and shook his head, "If you haven't been to Neverwinter City in person, you can't imagine what an incredible new order His Majesty has established. I believe that one day, the entire Graycastle will become like Neverwinter City, but it is obviously not possible now - the whip language can make them remember the rules of the Southern Territory better."

Echo sighed softly and said no more.

"Commander," a soldier suddenly walked into the command post, "The Boulder Tribe and the Clear Spring Tribe have caused a commotion, and some people are confronting the garrison."

"Because of the boarding matter?" Iron Axe's expression immediately became serious.

"Yes, those who were squeezed into the water called their families, hoping to get the same food and remuneration, because they were not unwilling to go to the Blackwater River Valley, but Aosha refused them."

"Very good, who is stationed in the camp now?"

"Second Battalion of Musketeers."

"Call two squads, and those Aosha lads who want to sign up for the First Army, let them gather at the scene of the riot immediately, and I'll be there right away."

"Yes, sir!"

Seeing Iron Axe about to leave, Echo couldn't help but stop him, "Please don't be too harsh on them..."

The latter stood at the door in silence for a moment before bowing to her with his hand on his chest, "I understand... Silvermoon, I will grasp the measure."

After Iron Axe left, Echo returned to the table somewhat depressed. The migration of the Sandpeople to the north was not as smooth as she had imagined. Clearly, as long as she did what His Majesty arranged, everyone could live a good life, but there were always people who regarded her words as lies. Even though they had been given a fertile land, they still could not completely believe in her, believe in Roland.

She missed life in Neverwinter City a little.

Compared to being the head of a clan, she preferred standing on the top of the castle, looking out at the mountains and cities, singing the songs composed by His Majesty. Only when the melodies she had never heard before sounded could she feel true freedom and joy.

Since coming here, she hadn't sung for a long time... She wondered if Roland had written any new songs...

When will she be able to sing out loud again?

...

"Ugh—" Xinbadi felt like his stomach was churning upside down. With the rise and fall of the stone boat, a surge of acid welled up again. Regardless of the vomit of others all over the sides of the boat, he directly lay down on the railing and vomited.

"Hey, are you okay?" Muli patted him on the back, her face also a little pale – the stone boat, which was like a flat ground in the river bay, became an uncertain floating leaf once it entered the sea. Under the impact of the waves, the boat almost hit the beach several times, and the transverse swing never stopped. For the Sandpeople who were experiencing the sea up close for the first time, this was a complete torment.

"Cough cough... barely okay," he collapsed weakly on the deck after vomiting, "Do you remember how many days we have been at sea?"

"Today is the fifth day."

"This is not right..." Xinbadi gasped and said in a low voice, "Remember what the people of the Clear Spring Tribe said? They... live in the oasis by the sea, they shouldn't be mistaken - we crossed the Iron Sand City area on the evening of the first day, which proves that the stone boat is not running slowly, but why haven't we arrived at the Blackwater River Valley yet?"

"You mean..."

"Aosha's destination is not the Blackwater River Valley, Turam lied, the place he is taking us to is much further south than the Throttleneck Swamp!"

"Further south?" Muli also showed a worried look, "But there's nothing there, they wouldn't have taken the wrong road, right?"

"The boat has been sailing along the coast, it's unlikely to take the wrong direction," Xinbadi pressed his throbbing forehead, "If the Throttleneck Swamp is closer to the south, then there is only—"

"Everyone cheer up!" Before he could finish speaking, Turam suddenly appeared in the center of the deck, interrupting him at the same time, "I have good news for you, we are about to arrive at our destination, pack your bags and prepare to line up to disembark. Remember, if anyone falls into the sea again this time, no one will go to get you!"

Xinbadi propped himself up and looked out of the boat. The shore was still bare, with no trace of an oasis, and the surging water vapor and erupting smoke plumes in the distance confirmed his guess.

Only one place has such an incredible scenery.

Endless Cape – the exile land of the Mojin.

More and more Sandpeople noticed the abnormality, and the crowd on the deck became restless.

"This is not the Blackwater River Valley at all! You lied to us!"

"Why are you taking us to Endless Cape? Do you want to abandon everyone here?"

"I want to go back, please, let us go back!"

"All of you shut up!" At this moment, Turam no longer intended to hide it, "Did I say that the place we are going to is the entire Blackwater River Valley? The tributaries of the river valley are all over the south, naturally including the Cape area – any underground Styx extends from the river valley, doesn't it?"

This is simply sophistry! Xinbadi thought angrily. If he had made it clear from the beginning that he was going to work in the land of exile, probably not many people would have applied.

"No one will be abandoned here, whether it is the Aosha clan or the Graycastle people, they will transform this place together with you!" Turam raised his arms and said loudly, "Listen well, from today onwards, Endless Cape is no longer a desperate situation for exiles, but a newborn town! This is the order of the Grand Chief!"