Chapter 273 - 116: My Precious Granddaughter Is Yours, Use Her as You Please~

Chapter 273: Chapter 116: My Precious Granddaughter Is Yours, Use Her as You Please~

The crowd was stunned into sobriety. They managed to suppress their excitement, but their eyes remained fixed on Lynch, burning with fervor.

Lynch waited until they were completely silent before continuing in a flat tone, "The Chief stopped by the garrison, had some tea, and chatted with me for a while. And then, he left."

Left?!

The dungeon fell silent once more.

Expressions of confusion and bewildered disbelief appeared on everyone’s faces. Fritz’s eyes widened, a hint of despair even showing through.

’The Chief came in person, and then... just left?’

’Does that mean... he’s completely abandoned us?’

"Listen up." Lynch’s voice turned abruptly cold. "Don’t expect the Legion to come save you. And don’t even think the Holy Light Church will go to great lengths for a few misbehaving scoundrels like you. They’re not about to have a falling out with me—a battalion commander with real authority, who guards the border and has just won numerous battle honors."

"Right now, your only way out is to atone for your crimes with meritorious service. If you’re not willing, then you can spend the rest of your lives in this dungeon. Don’t worry, Lakefront Town may not be wealthy, but we can still afford a few bowls of gruel for you."

’Atone with meritorious service?’

The few Holy Knight Inquisitors and guard captains exchanged glances, a glimmer of hope instantly igniting in their eyes.

’As long as we have a chance to get out, we’ll do anything!’

They didn’t want to spend another second in this black dungeon.

"Lord Lynch, we’re willing!" the Holy Priest was the first to declare. "What do you need us to do?"

The others quickly chimed in their agreement.

"Very good." Lynch nodded to the officer. "Make the arrangements. Let them take a bath, get cleaned up, and change into some fresh clothes. Then, bring everyone to the main hall of the garrison to assemble."

"Yes, sir!" the officer accepted the order.

「A few hours later.」

Inside the garrison’s main hall, Fritz and the others had all washed up and changed into clean linen clothes.

Although they still looked haggard, they at least looked somewhat human again.

They stood uneasily in the center of the hall.

Lynch, meanwhile, sat in the main seat, flanked by his officers, including Aus and Catherine.

On the table lay a neat stack of parchment military pledges. Beside it, an activated Magic Crystal ball was emitting a faint glow, recording everything.

"Next, Lakefront Town will be dispatching troops to eliminate the Jackal Wolfman Tribe in the Mist Forest, clear the trade route, and remove the threat." Lynch got straight to the point. "If you wish to regain your freedom, you will sign these military pledges and swear an oath to the Magic Crystal ball. You will volunteer to join this military operation, obey my command, fight bravely, and accept your fate, be it life or death. If you show cowardice, retreat from battle, or betray us on the front lines..."

Lynch paused, sweeping his sinister gaze over the group before continuing in an icy voice.

"At that time, your oaths and your images will be magically transmitted to the military headquarters, the Tribunal, and the public notice boards in every major city. When that happens, the entire world will know what kind of character you truly possess."

The prisoners’ expressions changed.

Under these circumstances, if they dared to break their oath, they would not only face military justice but also be utterly disgraced.

But looking at the heavily armed, unfriendly Soldiers surrounding them, and then thinking of that sunless dungeon... did they have a choice?

After a moment of silence, the Tier Four guard captain was the first to step forward. Gritting his teeth, he signed his name on the military pledge, then turned to face the crystal ball and declared in a low voice, "I, Cam Leisuo, swear on my honor as a Warrior and in the name of my ancestors to voluntarily obey Lord Lynch’s command, participate in the battle to eliminate the Gnolls, fight bravely, and accept my fate, be it life or death! If I violate this oath, I am willing to suffer punishment under military law and be utterly disgraced!"

With someone taking the lead, the others no longer felt the psychological burden and quickly followed suit.

Holy Knights, Priests, law enforcement members... one by one, they took their turns stepping forward to sign and swear their oaths.

Finally, it was the mustached Fritz’s turn.

Just as he was about to go up and sign the oath like the others, Lynch held up a hand to stop him, then handed him a sheet of paper covered in writing.

"Read this until you know it by heart. You’ll be reciting it in a moment," Lynch said lightly.

Fritz took the paper in confusion. After a single glance, his face instantly flushed red. He angrily threw the paper back on the table and shouted, "No! Absolutely not! I-I’d rather go to the battlefield and fight the Gnolls to the death!"

Written on the paper was, of all things, a "Voluntary Labor Reformation Agreement" and an extremely humble oath.

"Heh." Lynch sneered, looking him up and down. "A coward like you whose fighting spirit has atrophied wants to go to the battlefield? I’m afraid you won’t be killing enemies—you’ll be an extra meal for the Gnolls. Don’t you dare drag down my Soldiers."

Hearing this, the surrounding officers couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

Even the few Holy Knights and guards who had just sworn their oaths couldn’t help but let out a muffled laugh, their gazes toward Fritz filled with a trace of contempt.

They were all too familiar with this young master’s level of strength and courage.

Lynch’s smile vanished. He said coldly, "Two paths. One, recite it, then sign and press your fingerprint. Two, go back to your solitary cell in the black dungeon. You’ll get two bowls of gruel a day, and we can talk again whenever you’ve figured things out. However, by the time we get back from fighting the Gnolls, we might just forget there’s still someone locked up in the dungeon."

Fritz’s expression wavered, and sweat beaded on his forehead.

He looked at the cold gazes all around him, then thought again of that hopeless dungeon...

In the end, his survival instinct and his desperate desire to escape the cage overwhelmed everything else.

He dejectedly lowered his head, picked up the paper, and read it over and over, as if trying to carve it into his memory.