136: Chapter 134 What can I do for my people? Who you are, I don't care.

The Middle-aged Man didn't make any drastic movements or remarks; his tone was merely a narrative without emotional fluctuations, yet it gave off a sense of certainty.

Zhang Mu didn't have much doubt either, instantly understanding where he had slipped up.

He guessed that the City Lord usually didn't care about the lives of the city's residents at all, so his own concern for the fleeing refugees was naturally noticed as being out of place.

He didn't bother to argue or be stubborn; it was meaningless.

After all, he knew nothing about the City Lord, and the other party's casual questions had left him speechless.

Zhang Mu raised his hand, a ball of fiery red flame appearing, intending to silence the witness.

"This unknown gentleman with the courage to impersonate the City Lord."

Without any magical fluctuations emanating from him, just an ordinary person, he showed no fear of the fireball that could take his life and spoke calmly:

"Would you like to make a deal with me that satisfies both parties?"

After squinting and staring at him for a while, Zhang Mu held the fireball and asked, "Let's hear it."

"I am the City Lord's Administrative Officer. I am very familiar with everything about the City Lord. I can help you smoothly take over the City Lord's identity."

If what he said was true, he indeed had the power to help Zhang Mu successfully establish himself in the City Lord's Manor.

But there's no such thing as a free lunch in this world.

Zhang Mu couldn't be sure if the man was just trying to stall him before calling for backup, so he leaned forward, the fireball moving closer to him: "So, what do you want?"

As the distance closed, the high temperature of the fireball became more palpable; the man instinctively leaned his head back: "Just do what a City Lord should do.

As long as something can be done for the people, I don't care who you are or what your purpose is."

Leaning back against the chair, Zhang Mu scrutinized him. Outliers exist everywhere, and it seemed the Saul Continent was no exception.

Extinguishing the fireball: "Interesting."

His behavior was very much in line with the style he projected.

Seeing Zhang Mu tacitly agree to the deal without looking deeper into this person of unknown origin, the man immediately asked: "I will follow the City Lord's orders and prepare the temporary living quarters for the refugees.

However, Gur City does not have sufficient reserves of the living supplies the refugees need.

Additionally, I must remind the City Lord that while your intention to rescue the refugees is good, providing only food, shelter, and drinking water cannot solve the problem at its root.

In fact, over a long period, it will bring trouble."

Zhang Mu understood his meaning and said with interest: "You mean to say that in human settlements where the Church has not established a cathedral, there is no need to follow the rules prohibiting the use of force.

After a few days of lacking food and drink in the wild, the refugees will riot, killing each other to snatch supplies."

He then asked: "Are you willing to care for such humans?"

"City Lord." A strange smile appeared on his face, "They are the people.

Without this accident, they would spend their whole lives busy planting crops in their fields until the end of their lives. Therefore, they lack the conditions to learn about and understand 'governance,' but we do.

We have the opportunity to understand what 'governance' is and the ability to implement it.

Why not do it?"

An interesting person.

Giving him an evaluation in his heart, Zhang Mu smiled: "Work-for-relief."

Seemingly not understanding the somewhat unfamiliar term that came out of his mouth, the Middle-aged Man asked: "Can you explain in detail?"

"Instead of distributing supplies for free, we adopt a method where labor is exchanged for rewards."

"Gur City doesn't have enough..."

"I do." Zhang Mu waved his hand to interrupt him, "I will handle the labor projects and the food; you just act according to my orders."

"Solon will go right away, City Lord."

He backed out of the room: "For now, please do not have contact with anyone in the City Lord's Manor. Learn the City Lord's habits, and we will begin when I return."

After closing the door, he turned right, walked through the corridor, and entered a lady's bedroom.

Inside, the six women who were previously in the mourning hall were either sitting on the edge of the bed or standing in front of the dressing table.

"Mr. Solon, the City Lord..."

Solon bowed with a smile: "First Madam, Second Madam, Little Madam, and the Three Young Ladies, it is the City Lord."

The First Madam, sitting on the edge of the bed, had a look of doubt: "But just now in the hall, I felt his tone of voice..."

"First Madam," Solon said, "I spend more than twelve hours a day with the City Lord, longer than the time you and the other madams and young ladies spend with him.

If he were an impostor, it would be impossible for him to escape my eyes."

They trusted Solon enough.

Hearing him speak so certainly, they all felt at ease.

The seventeen- or eighteen-year-old Little Madam said with a giggle: "That's great.

Darling has returned safely; we don't have to flee for our lives.

And the son left behind by that idiot woman before she died actually did such a stupid thing as holding a funeral for Darling. Let's see if he dares to insult me again in the future."

She started the conversation, and except for the Second Madam, whose expression was slightly nostalgic—seemingly reminiscing about the "idiot woman"—the other women immediately chimed in happily.

Solon, who had just been respectfully called "Mister," was now ignored by everyone.

He wasn't angry either, bowing on his own: "The City Lord's mood is currently very bad; please do not disturb him for the time being, madams and young ladies."

After saying that, he backed out of the room, politely closed the door, and then strode toward the main entrance of the City Lord's Manor.

Just as his back disappeared around the corner at the end of the corridor, Zhang Mu's figure slowly emerged in the middle of the hallway.

He didn't lie to me.

With this personal secretary acting as an insider, the position of City Lord is basically secure.

After standing there for a few seconds, Zhang Mu activated the Shadow Technique again to return to the study invisibly.

It was already past ten in the morning.

He flipped through the documents on the desk, got up to wander around the room, tapped on the vases and books on the shelves, looking to see if there was a secret room for collecting treasures.

Time passed quite quickly.

At three in the afternoon, Solon returned to the study in a leisurely manner.

He gave the impression of being calm even in the face of major events, yet he was actually swift and decisive in his actions.

As soon as he entered the room, he stood before the desk and gave a detailed explanation of every aspect of the City Lord.

Zhang Mu was not quite used to this high-ranking status and asked him to bring a chair over to sit and talk.

But Solon was unwilling.

And he told Zhang Mu in a slightly stern tone that since he was to impersonate the City Lord, he had to mimic him perfectly in every way.

Otherwise, not to mention the family members who lived together day and night, even the Guards at the gate would be able to find flaws.

Zhang Mu nodded to show he understood.

Afterward, they talked and listened until the sun set and the bright moon hung high.

After talking for more than ten hours without a single complaint of thirst, Solon informed him that that was all for today and they would continue tomorrow.

When he was about to leave, Zhang Mu stopped him and asked if it would be convenient to plant one of his subordinates here.

After being told it was a small matter, he awkwardly said that it wouldn't make sense for him not to return to the bedroom now that it was dark, but returning...

Zhang Mu, who was still a virgin, didn't really want to lie in the same bed as someone else's wife with whom he had no emotional foundation.

Although he was certain he wouldn't do anything, what if the wife's hands started wandering while they were in bed as an old married couple?

Not reacting would easily arouse suspicion, but reacting... Zhang Mu couldn't get past the hurdle in his own heart.

Solon smiled slightly and said that the City Lord liked women; if you want to perfectly replace the City Lord, sleeping alone is impossible.

He also told him that he could go to the Second Madam's bedroom to rest at night.

The Second Madam had a gentle personality and was naturally silent and honest; as long as Zhang Mu lay down and slept, she wouldn't say much or do much.

After saying that, he turned and left.

Only Zhang Mu was left sitting alone in the study for a long time. Seeing that it was nearly midnight, he steeled himself and stood up, slowly walking toward the Second Madam's room.