Chapter 556 Chapter 561

Alex scanned the square. Citizens were already gathering, their voices rising, their faces tight with anger and hope.

Someone shouted for justice. Then another. The sound spread like fire.

He turned his gaze to Zhuge Liang.

The man was around forty, a familiar presence in the city—someone who seemed to know everyone, and in turn was known by everyone.

His eyes were sharp and alive, burning with expectation. Alex could see it clearly- this man wanted him to act, to shoulder responsibility, to change things for the people.

It would be troublesome. Very troublesome.

Alex raised his hand.

The City Lord’s seal caught the light.

“People of Qingshui City,” Alex said.

Silence crashed down instantly, as if the entire square had been frozen by an invisible hand.

“This is my first command as City Lord.”

Everyone recognized the authority in his voice, the weight of the seal.

Zhuge Liang dropped to one knee without hesitation.

A heartbeat later, the entire crowd followed, kneeling in unison.

“I, Bai Xiaochun, City Lord of Qingshui City, hereby declare-” Alex paused and looked directly at Zhuge Liang. “Zhuge Liang is appointed Vice City Lord.”

The square erupted-not in noise, but in shock.

Zhuge Liang froze, disbelief flashing across his face.

Alex watched the crowd instead. Faces broke into wide smiles.

Some people openly wiped tears from their eyes. It was obvious this man was deeply connected to the people.

Trusted. Loved.

“Zhuge Liang,” Alex said calmly. “What is your answer?”

Zhuge Liang snapped back to himself. He rose quickly and stepped forward, stopping before Alex. “I, Zhuge Liang, humbly accept the position.”

“Good,” Alex replied. His tone hardened slightly as he continued.

“As Bai Xiaochun, I am still recovering from serious injuries. Until I am fully healed, I cannot perform my duties as City Lord. Therefore, Vice City Lord Zhuge Liang will act on my behalf during my absence.”

This time, the shock was even greater.

Then the smiles grew wider.

Hope spread across the square like sunlight after a storm.

“Zhuge Liang,” Alex said, lifting the seal again. “I will entrust you with the City Lord’s authority. You will act in my place and do whatever is necessary for the good of the people. Can you do it?”

Zhuge Liang’s eyes sharpened. His spine straightened. He bowed deeply,

confidence and resolve blazing in his voice.

“I, Zhuge Liang, swear my loyalty to Qingshui City.”

Alex raised an eyebrow. “Only the city?”

Zhuge Liang paused. “You wish me to swear loyalty to you as well?”

Alex waved his hand dismissively. “No need.”

“No need?”

“If you’re loyal to me, you’ll betray the city someday.”

Zhuge Liang stiffened. “That is a grave accusation.”

Alex smiled thinly. “Exactly why I trust you. Please, take the City Lord’s seal.”

Zhuge Liang remained kneeling. He raised both hands respectfully and accepted it, his movements steady, his expression solemn.

Alex lifted his gaze and swept it across the crowd. “From this moment on, Zhuge Liang is the Acting City Lord. You will obey his orders as you would mine. Do you understand?”

“Yes!” the citizens shouted in unison, their voices shaking the courtyard.

“Good,” Alex said again, his tone firm. “Now leave. I need to rest.”

With those final words, he dismissed everyone.

The gates closed behind them.

Outside, cheers erupted. Laughter, sobs, and urgent voices blended together as

people swarmed toward Zhuge Liang.

“Vice City Lord, please help us!”

“Sir Zhuge Liang, give us justice!”

Alex could still hear the noise through the thick doors. He let out a slow breath.

“Good. Work hard,” he muttered quietly, a sense of relief washing over him, as if he had just escaped a mountain of responsibilities.

Now, at last, he had time to look around.

He was standing in a large front courtyard, but it was poorly maintained. Weeds pushed through cracked stone. Tools lay abandoned. The place clearly lacked servants or workers.

Beyond the yard stood a large wooden building.

Only one floor high, but sprawling—nearly ten rooms by the look of it. The structure was old, weathered, and silent, like a house that hadn’t been lived in for years.

His eyes drifted to the largest building at the center. It looked like the main residence.

A strange unease crept into his chest.

Before he could stop himself, Alex walked up to the double doors and pushed them open.

“Welcome, big brother.”

The voice rang out suddenly.

Alex jumped back on instinct.

What he saw made his blood run cold.

A young woman was kneeling inside. Beside her knelt an elderly woman. The young woman’s face was pale and hollow, her eyes sunken, her posture stiff—like a ghost forced into human shape.

“Who… who are you?” Alex asked, his voice tight.

The young woman lifted her head. Her eyes were red, burning with anger and resentment.

“I am your younger sister,” she said coldly. “First, let me congratulate you—for finally fulfilling Father’s will and becoming City Lord.”

“No—no need,” Alex said quickly, instinctively stepping back.

He wanted this over as soon as possible. Something about her gaze made his skin crawl, as if she were staring straight through him.

“Big Brother,” the young woman said. Her voice trembled, but her eyes burned. “I want to ask you two things. Please enlighten me.”

“Go ahead,” Alex replied quickly. He couldn’t look away from her face—the fury there was sharp enough to cut.

“First,” she said, her voice tightening,

“we don’t even have money to buy food anymore. We sold everything.

Thee. The valuables.

Anything that could be sold is

already gone.”

“What?” Alex blurted out. His face drained of color. “How is that possible?”

Her hands clenched into fists so hard they shook, as if her skin might split open.

“Because you wasted the money chasing women and visiting pleasure houses every single day. You spent it like trash. Meanwhile, many of our people haven’t even been paid their salaries.”

Alex froze.

The words hit him like a slap.

He couldn’t speak.

“Second,” she continued, her voice rising, sharp and bitter, “why did you appoint Zhuge Liang as Acting City Lord? Why didn’t you take the pösition yourself? If you had, we could have used the power. You

could reclaim your fiancée. We could rebuild our family and this house.”

Her composure shattered.

Tears streamed down her face as she cried out, “Now the money is gone! And Zhuge Liang will become the greatest City Lord-because everyone loves him! And you she pointed at Alex, her whole body trembling, you are useless big brother. You ruined everything this family had!”

She suddenly pulled out a short blade.

“I’m telling you,” she screamed through her sobs, “I’m going to meet Father and

Mother in the afterlife and tell them everything you’ve done!”

Before Alex could move, she drove the blade into her own neck.

Blood sprayed.

The world seemed to stop.