The Shining Star Above The Heaven-Chapter 446: You Can Redeem Your Worthless Lives

"The Donovan family created a secret facility to breed gu, which could harm many people they considered a threat. The gu stored in that place is enough to infect an entire vast region with a deadly plague," Aldrian continued.

"I have come here to enact justice and serve judgment for the harm they have caused with their gu. They crossed the line by using these things against me."

"What I did is my response to the Donovan family, especially Grand Duke Donovan for the harm they inflicted upon my people. The same applies to all of you." Aldrian swept his gaze over the people below.

"You know that I already have animosity with the second prince’s faction, and this place is one of my target since this town is the source of the disaster. Even after destroying that underground facility, I am still considering whether to make this entire town experience what you all just witnessed."

Gasps filled the town as a wave of panic began to rise in the hearts of the people. Even now, they could not comprehend how Aldrian had lifted such a massive chunk of land into the air—yet now he claimed he could do the same to the entire town?!

"Have mercy, Your Excellency!"

"Please, Your Excellency, spare us! We had no knowledge of what the Donovan family was doing."

"Spare us, Your Excellency! We didn’t take part in the war! Not a single one of us was sent to fight in the civil war!"

"Your Excellency, we had no choice but to obey Grand Duke Donovan!"

Countless pleas filled Aldrian’s ears, but he merely scoffed at them. He knew these people were acting this way only because they feared his reputation and strength.

This town, just as Arson had described, was steeped in shady dealings, and its residents were no different. He had sensed it during his earlier stroll while assessing the situation.

Though he had not explored the entire town, what he had seen was astonishing. There was no peace here—only endless competition and conflict. Life in this place seemed cheap, shaped by the town’s very nature. Even some children had already been corrupted by a twisted mindset, a sight that made him pity them.

During the civil war, these people cheered for their grand duchy’s might and supported Grand Duke Donovan’s decision to join the second prince’s faction. They were driven by self-interest and greed, naturally siding with the victorious party.

Aldrian was certain that even if they had known the Grand Duke Donovan was responsible for using gu to spread the outbreak, they would have still supported him as long as it brought them victory and benefits.

But the moment they witnessed him wielding enough strength to crush their hopes and lives as easily as killing ants, they wavered, begged for mercy, and desperately tried to distance themselves from the Donovan family.

This was precisely why he had put on such a display when destroying the underground research facility. He had deliberately used an exaggerated method, using gravity laws and earth laws to lift an enormous chunk of land into the air. It was a warning—a deterrent to keep these people from doing anything foolish that might cross his line.

If any of them had believed the rumors about him were exaggerated, a mere stories meant to hype the reputation of the Mysterious Swordsman, then he would engrave the truth into their minds.

The truth that they now stood before a power so great it could crush them at any moment.

"Save your pitiful begging for yourselves. I don’t want to hear it from those who live in this place, if I hear your pleas again, I will literally flip this entire town, and I won’t let a single one of you escape. I am someone who keeps my word." Aldrian said, his voice carrying an undeniable threat.

The desperate cries for mercy fell silent in an instant. Fear gripped the townspeople, and none dared to make another sound, afraid that speaking further might provoke Aldrian into carrying out his threat. Beads of sweat rolled down their faces as the heavy silence was punctuated only by the sound of nervous gulps.

"However, you people can at least redeem your worthless lives by doing something useful for once," Aldrian continued.

"I have already rescued hundreds of prisoners who were held captive in that place and moved them outside of the eastern wall. I know some of you have already noticed their sudden appearance."

Aldrian then turned his gaze toward the town’s guards and several townspeople who had approached the ex-captives. They had been interrogating some of the ex-captives before he lifted the underground facility, an event that had forced them to stop.

"What I want from you all is simple—you must return them to where they belong. I don’t care how you do it, but I expect you to send these people back to their homes, to the places they were taken from before they were dragged into that underground facility," Aldrian said, his eyes sweeping over the crowd below.

Among them were several individuals at the Emperor and King stages who had been tailing him. As Aldrian’s sharp gaze landed on them, they understood that they, too, were included in his command.

He also glanced at a few figures who remained inconspicuous in the shadows and among the crowd—cultivators at the Emperor and King stages who had not followed him but were still present.

"Or, you could give them a better life. Show them a way to live. That way, your existence would be more meaningful than simply being bandits, scourges, or parasites to others," Aldrian said, not particularly concerned with his words. He merely spoke whatever came to mind.

The people below clenched their teeth, swallowing their dissatisfaction. Under normal circumstances, if someone dared to speak to them with such disrespect, that person would not live to see another day. But before Aldrian? They were nothing more than children being scolded by their elders.

"Oh, I know many of you are displeased by what I just said," Aldrian continued, his gaze sweeping over them. "And I know exactly who each of you is."

His eyes locked onto several individuals, and their faces instantly paled. They hurriedly lowered their heads, some even falling to their knees in a desperate kowtow. Yet, none dared to beg for mercy, still haunted by Aldrian’s earlier warning.

Aldrian then shifted his gaze to the rest of the crowd.

"After I’m done dealing with the second prince and his minions, I will return to this place to investigate what you’ve done to these prisoners. Don’t even think about taking advantage of those I’ve already saved from that place. If I find out that you’ve neglected your duty or, worse, exploited these people—"

Aldrian swept his gaze over them once more.

"You’d better do whatever you can to escape from me, because once I catch you, you’ll wish you were born a pig instead."

The people grew tense, fully aware that this meant they would live the rest of their lives under the constant fear of this man’s pursuit. They had no idea how the Mysterious Swordsman would find them if they disobeyed him. The Barisan continent was vast, and finding them here would be like searching for a needle in a haystack.

They also had no knowledge of his influence among the powers of the continent. However, if he wielded significant influence across the territories of the empire, they would be forced to live in hiding underground for the rest of their lives.

Their eyes then shifted to the ’dying’ Karl in Aldrian’s grasp, still hanging upside down by his feet. Seeing his condition, they couldn’t help but shudder once more.

The former prisoners who had heard Aldrian’s words felt deeply moved. They had never imagined that they would be saved by someone not only powerful but also driven by such a strong sense of responsibility.

They hadn’t expected much after their freedom—after all, they thought simply being freed was already more than they could have hoped for.

To think that their savior would go as far as ensuring they had a future to live on—this was truly a blessing after everything they had endured in the underground facility.

"Thank you, Savior! Thank you for your kindness!"

"Thank you, Your Excellency! Thank you."

"Thank you—"

Aldrian could feel the strong power of faith emanating from these people, and it made him smile inwardly. He could sense their deep gratitude and how they had already come to see him as someone they wanted to follow, someone they believed would always bring them salvation.

"You better remember what I said," Aldrian warned the people before disappearing, leaving them to sigh in relief. His presence had been suffocating, something they never wanted to experience again. Now, all they could do was follow his instructions.

Though they felt frustrated and wronged—having to take care of prisoners they hadn’t even known existed until just now—they knew they had no choice but to comply with the Mysterious Swordsman’s demands.

They didn’t want to risk offending him.

Not long after, the former prisoners began to be cared for by many people in the town. As Aldrian had instructed, they did everything in their power to assist the freed prisoners with whatever they needed after being released from their nightmare.

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Thirty seconds ago, in the imperial palace, Prince Wilmar stood before several leaders of noble families, discussing their war strategy. At this moment, he was confident that Aldrian truly had his hands full with the outbreak problem, allowing them to advance with greater ease in other areas. The time bought by the outbreak is precious, and they need to take advantage of it as effectively as possible.

While the discussions continued, a soldier suddenly ran toward the prince, kneeling before him. He was gasping for breath, as though he had sprinted with all his might just to deliver the message.

"Your Majesty, I bring an urgent report!"