(( The Next Day ))
Victor stood quietly at the edge of Lingyun Town's central plaza, calmly observing the massive estate that now housed the annexed Bai–Qin family.
This grand compound, which had evidently swallowed almost half the town, was nothing short of ostentatious, boasting intricate architecture and lavish gardens that starkly differed to the humble buildings surrounding it.
As he watched, numerous youths dressed in black-and-crimson robes moved arrogantly through the streets.
Their very presence instilled fear into every passerby. From the moment anyone with such robes were seen, the people in the surroundings turned wary.
Their attire matched those guards he had seen at the Lingyun Rest and the Trade Pavilion, marking them unmistakably as scions of this oppressive new regime.
Observing their unchecked dominance, Victor narrowed his eyes.
