Chapter 120: Balnazzar’s Strategy to Win the Hearts of the People

After walking for a while, Lin Xi noticed that Lin Ke showed no emotions beyond occasionally asking about official matters. She began to feel that her persistent daydreaming made her look foolish, and her enthusiasm waned. However, Lin Xi did not express any dissatisfaction. Lin Ke’s growing aura of authority and mystery commanded respect, so despite her mood, she kept it hidden and responsibly answered his questions one by one, helping him understand many things.

The two wandered together until the afternoon. When tired, they rested briefly before continuing. Both were physically strong, so they never felt exhausted and maintained high efficiency. By the time the sun was about to set, they had explored almost all of Starshine City, learning everything necessary except for a small portion they hadn’t yet visited.

Seeing that dusk was approaching, Lin Ke decided to stop exploring and immediately led Lin Xi back to the villa. On the way, he suddenly stopped outside a jewelry store and said, “Sister Xi, let’s take a look inside.”

Lin Xi glanced over and was momentarily stunned. A puzzled look crossed her face. Such places were usually frequented by women. What was a man like Lin Ke doing here? Did he wear jewelry? Or was he thinking of buying a gift? The latter possibility made her heart race wildly, and her imagination began to run wild again. But this time, Lin Ke didn’t let her wonder for long. Calmly and openly, he said, “You haven’t been home for eight years, and I haven’t had the chance to give you a gift. Since we’re out today, I’ll make up for it. Pick whatever you like—anything under ten thousand Sola is fine.”

Hearing this, Lin Xi’s face lit up with joy. Though Lin Ke’s tone was neutral, it was enough to excite her. She happily agreed and followed him into the jewelry store.

The shop clerks immediately greeted them with professional smiles. Though dressed plainly, the pair carried an extraordinary presence—handsome and elegant. Anyone but a fool could tell they were different. Nowadays, many wealthy people and nobles disguised themselves in humble attire. Since these clerks often dealt with the rich and noble, they never judged by appearance alone.

The clerks’ politeness prevented any awkward, cliché misunderstandings common in many romance novels, allowing them to smoothly promote their merchandise. After some deliberation, Lin Xi chose a bracelet worth a bit over two hundred Sola, rendering Lin Ke’s prepared gift of a few magic stones unnecessary. Even in the capital, luxury items rarely reached exorbitant prices; a few hundred Sola was considered fine. For better goods, one had to commission custom pieces or visit auction houses, where truly exquisite items were sold.

Exiting the store, Lin Xi smiled broadly, admiring the bracelet as if it were a treasured daughter. Anyone could see the affection in her demeanor, and Lin Ke certainly noticed.

In truth, Lin Ke had observed Lin Xi’s unusual behavior from the start. It’s said love often dulls a woman’s intellect, but as a transmigrator who had watched countless films and dated several girlfriends, Lin Ke could easily read her thoughts. Lin Xi was not one to hide her feelings, so how could he not tell?

Yet, due to their identities and inner reservations, Lin Ke had kept silent, feigning ignorance. After a day of wandering, seeing the loneliness in Lin Xi’s eyes had disturbed him, prompting this spontaneous gesture of compensation.

Still, that was all it was. Lin Ke did not respond to Lin Xi’s intentions and had no plans to marry anytime soon. With enough women around him and his status as the religious leader, promiscuity was out of the question. He estimated that in the future, he would only have three to five official partners, possibly fewer. Thus, he approached matters of the heart with caution.

According to Lin Ke’s plan, marrying after twenty would be better, also benefiting his cultivation. Maintaining chastity during his growth was a well-known principle among martial artists, and he fought to suppress his desires. Until then, he would focus on developing the church—though occasionally socializing with a group of girls and fostering goodwill was acceptable.

After leaving the jewelry store, they headed straight back to the villa. But halfway there, they suddenly stumbled upon a scene often seen in many melodramatic tales—arrogant scions bullying innocent commoners.

This was not mere cliché; such things happened in every country and era, more so in prosperous nations. The difference lay in whether such acts were brazenly committed in broad daylight. The spoiled heir apparent, evidently the son of a powerful noble, openly harassed a young couple. His men viciously beat the husband while the crowd watched helplessly, pitying the young wife, clearly accustomed to such injustice.

Lin Xi immediately wanted to intervene. Before joining the Church of the Father God, she had been a chivalrous wanderer, even though she was wanted in many places. Witnessing this injustice stirred her righteous spirit anew.

However, as she began to channel her energy, she suddenly recalled their current circumstances and cast a pleading glance at Lin Ke, hoping for his support. Without it, she would have to hold back to avoid causing trouble for him or the church.

Lin Ke was well aware of this and, in fact, shared her indignation. But since they were trying to keep a low profile, any rash action would shatter that.

Just as Lin Ke was pondering, new developments unfolded. A group of imposing soldiers in blue armor suddenly appeared, brutally thrashing the spoiled heir and his henchmen. They completely ignored the heir’s loud threats invoking his father’s name. After rescuing the young couple, the heir, like many detestable villains in novels, ranted about revenge and swore doom upon them.

However, when the soldiers revealed their identity without concern, the heir and his men immediately wilted and fled in disgrace. They were the personal guards of Duke Barnazar, part of the three hundred elite escorts he had brought to Quinke Town. Though the heir’s father was influential, compared to Barnazar, he was but a small fry. No one dared to pursue the soldiers, even if they had assaulted the heir’s father.

This episode greatly enhanced the soldiers’ reputation and, by extension, Duke Barnazar’s standing among the people, earning unanimous praise. Watching the crowd’s collective admiration, Lin Ke’s mind stirred, sensing deeper currents. He did not linger further and promptly took the still admiring Lin Xi back to the villa.

Once home, Lin Ke summoned Johnson and Ater and inquired whether Barnazar’s soldiers were known for their chivalrous acts in the capital. They confirmed that since Barnazar’s arrival, though he himself had not appeared publicly, his three hundred guards frequently intervened whenever injustice arose. This had antagonized many nobles, but no one objected because Barnazar’s troops were disciplined and righteous, earning the nickname “Army of Justice” in the southern provinces. Their conduct in the capital merely continued that tradition.

“Standing up for justice and offending many nobles, thereby boosting Barnazar’s popularity among the common folk—especially now, when a bunch of spoiled heirs exploit their elders’ succession struggles to run rampant, dragging down the royal court’s reputation while Barnazar quietly wins the people’s hearts,” Lin Ke mused coldly. “If this continues, the lower and middle classes in the capital might soon openly support him for the throne.”

He smiled cynically. “Although Barnazar has made many enemies among the nobility, he must also have allies. Otherwise, entering the capital would be a nightmare for him. This city is truly a deep pool. In just one day, I’ve uncovered many interesting things. But because of limited perspective, most have failed to grasp Barnazar’s true aim. After all, in this era, many believe the true loyalty lies with the upper class, seeing common folk as mere sheep incapable of stirring any waves.”

Lin Ke quickly pieced together the situation, feeling a surge of intellectual superiority. Few could see what he did. The difference in insight and values caused many to clash with Barnazar’s approach. Only those who genuinely valued the common people understood that Barnazar was building his own power base. If he played his cards well, when the first heir Silvanas eventually passed, calls would arise in the capital urging the king to transfer succession to Barnazar.

Yet, without strength, what good was popular support? Barnazar surely did not think that mere public favor could force his brother to abdicate. If he planned a rebellion, did he have enough troops? Even if the hidden masters protecting the Sui Xing family refrained from intervening due to fraternal disputes, the city’s army could crush Barnazar a hundred times over.

Considering this, Lin Ke still could not fathom Barnazar’s true intentions and strategy. Perhaps this was why those who saw Barnazar gathering popular support had taken no action: he simply lacked the power to claim the succession.

After some reflection, Lin Ke shook his head with a self-deprecating smile and set aside the matter. Even if Barnazar revolted, it was the royal family’s problem, not his. He only needed to focus on his own affairs.