Chapter 446: The Broadcast

For the people of the Hosman region, the recent events they had lived through were far more complex than anything their ancestors had experienced over generations.

The once-mighty Hosman family that ruled this land had suddenly collapsed. The castle’s lordship was replaced by a “governor” sent from Cecil. The straightforward yet strict decrees of the new administration supplanted the old feudal laws. Major changes followed—population resettlements, land redistribution. The disciplined Cecil army took over from the lax and greedy noble mercenaries, enforcing the new lord’s orders with rigor. Alongside these changes came wave after wave of engineering teams, and construction sites sprang up everywhere.

The pace of transformation was staggering, bringing both benefits and hardships.

Many locals felt uneasy, bewildered by all the unfamiliar things. Some couldn’t grasp the meaning behind the strange “Cecil laws” and “Cecil order.” The Hosman people, long accustomed to a chaotic and lax way of life, often gathered to discuss the “bizarre” new rules—like bans on relieving oneself in the streets, or the requirement to centralize waste disposal. Yet others noticed the positive side brought by the Cecilians—

The officials from the administration were clearly more reasonable than the old lords and knights. Their laws were strictly enforced, not subject to the whims of individual enforcers. The Cecil soldiers were disciplined; since occupying the castle and outposts, they hadn’t stolen a single thing from the nearby civilians and even helped repair houses. The promised land redistribution wasn’t empty talk—at least the first wave of new settlers around the city had received their own plots. Though many worried the lord might reclaim the land at any time, at least for now, they held something of their own.

For most people, it didn’t matter who ruled over them or which banner flew above the castle. As long as their basic needs were met, rulers could earn unimaginable support in this era. The new administration at least guaranteed that. So despite the difficulties in implementing the new laws, the Hosman administration’s transformation and construction proceeded steadily according to schedule.

At the old Hosman Castle—now the seat of the administration—a group of mage technicians and soldiers busied themselves in the castle square.

These “engineering teams” from Cecil had become a common sight in the territory recently. As the region stabilized, more and more Cecil construction crews arrived, bringing incredible mage technology and all kinds of wondrous machines to build houses and facilities.

The Hosman locals called these mage technicians, dressed in simple cloth work clothes, “Cecil sorcerers,” because they always saw them using magical spells to build. Yet the technicians insisted they were ordinary people, so the locals gave them that nickname.

Whenever the “Cecil sorcerers” worked, crowds gathered to watch. The Hosman people were gradually getting used to the marvels the Cecilians brought, and under the administration’s propaganda, they were slowly exposed to the incredible mage technology. But the “mage era” was still a strange, novel concept to them. The once lofty “noble magic” that belonged only to aristocrats was now so close, and most ordinary people couldn’t resist their curiosity.

Many stood around the square, guessing what the mage technicians and soldiers were up to, wondering about the strange metal, crystals, and rune devices. Though some soldiers guarded the site, they made no effort to disperse the crowd.

The Hosman people had roughly figured out the temperament of these imposing soldiers: they were truly disciplined. Even ordinary soldiers were as self-controlled as the most honorable knights. As long as no laws were broken, these sword-bearing soldiers would never trouble or extort civilians.

“What do you think they’re making?” someone asked a companion nearby. “You got here early—do you know?”

The other shook his head. “No idea—they were already busy when I arrived. But I guess it’s probably street lamps… haven’t they been putting up street lamps all over town lately?”

“There are already street lamps in the square. Why build more?” a third person chimed in. “Anyway, the administration will announce it soon enough. Hey, does anyone know what today’s notice in the square said?”

The first speaker shook his head. “I can’t read. But it’s probably more of those new laws—no peeing or pooping in the streets, building toilets and garbage stations, that sort of thing…”

An old man standing a bit further back muttered, “No pooping in the streets? Honestly, that’s unreasonable.”

The crowd’s chatter wandered like this, drifting quickly to the strange “Cecil order.” Some shook their heads, grumbling, “They even make us boil water before drinking it—if you ask me, the administration folks are good people, but they’re just too strict with all these rules…”

“I think boiling water makes sense at least. Boiled water doesn’t taste weird—”

The conversation grew lively and veered off in all directions. Meanwhile, the construction in the square was nearing completion. After a flurry of activity, the mage technicians fixed a peculiar large device onto the stone platform in the center of the square.

It had a triangular base, its surface shimmering with glowing runes, and a crystal embedded at the top.

The technicians began testing the device, lighting up the runes one by one to check its status. The curious crowd gradually quieted, focusing their attention on this strange contraption. Just as their curiosity peaked, several mounted soldiers suddenly dashed out from the castle, rushing toward the square’s exits.

Voices rang out:

“Citizens of Hosman! The great Duke Gawain Cecil wishes to speak with you! Assemble in the square!”

Gawain Cecil? The lord?

The lord was coming to the square? When did he arrive?

People exchanged bewildered looks. Of course, they knew the name of their new lord, but they never expected him to appear here. There had been no prior notice, no sighting of his carriage entering the city—how could he be here now?

And… hadn’t the lord taken his army north to fight? Was he back already? So soon? Had he won? Or had the battle never even happened? Or… lost?

Surprised and confused, those who had been about to leave after watching the construction stopped in their tracks, joining the others in lively discussion about the lord’s sudden arrival. During the chatter, another group of soldiers emerged from the castle, forming ranks around the newly installed mage device in the square’s center.

The soldiers standing guard seemed to confirm the lord’s arrival—but why were they guarding a mage device? That puzzled everyone.

More and more people gathered in the square.

At this moment, Hosman was still an old-fashioned town, with only a limited urban area around the castle. The soldiers had only notified residents nearby who could quickly reach the square. Soon, curious and anxious townsfolk crowded the square, and those arriving late couldn’t even find space, climbing onto nearby rooftops instead. Those near the center felt lucky to have secured the best spots early.

The residents of Hosman gathered, watching with a mix of nervousness and awe. The name of Duke Gawain Cecil was known throughout Ansu, a legendary hero who had recently conquered Hosman and become their lord. Now he was going to speak to them—something extraordinary. Their ancestors had never had such an opportunity.

Even the heir of the Cecil family could only glimpse Gawain Cecil’s coffin during ancestral rites.

But the lord still hadn’t appeared. Only soldiers guarded the empty space in the square’s center, while a dozen or so mage technicians busied themselves nearby.

Those on the outskirts couldn’t see what was happening inside and kept shouting to those ahead, “Has the lord arrived? What does he look like?”

“Not yet—but I saw Governor Daedalus! The lord must be coming soon.”

After a while, the mage technicians finished their adjustments and successfully completed all tests.

Daedalus, the Hosman governor, arrived in the square with several colleagues. A mage technician approached him: “Governor, testing is complete. The signal is connected.”

The young governor took a mechanical watch from his pocket, glanced at the time, then took a deep breath to steady his slight nervousness. “Begin. Let us witness this together.”

The technician nodded and turned to his assistants. “Switch to broadcast mode. Amplify sound and image to level three. Connect!”

The device powered on.

As twilight deepened, countless eyes in the square fixed on the device. A faint hum suddenly filled the air, followed by a hazy, shifting glow that appeared above the stone platform.

The shimmering light floated high, like a flickering curtain of northern lights, drawing gasps from the crowd. Before the murmurs died down, the image within the light stabilized.

The figure of Gawain Cecil appeared, projected in a massive hologram.

Even those at the farthest edge of the square could see their lord clearly.

Enhanced by magic, a deep, authoritative voice echoed across the square:

“Glorious citizens of Cecil, good afternoon. I am your lord.”

(End of chapter)