Despite losing his position all of the sudden, the former city lord were full of smile.

The said man face Cole and said, "Congratulations master for acquiring the Towering Tree City. Although this doesn't have any significance, I now wholeheartedly gave my position to you." He then bow to show some courtesy.

"Now, master, please excuse me, I have to prepare and leave the city at once."

Cole nodded his head in understanding.

"But before you go, please ask all the personnel of the city to gather in this mansion."

"That's easy, I'll do it at once."

The former city lord then swirl and leave the room.

The man truly do what Cole ask but the moment he finish it, he immediately start to pack.

In fact, it wasn't just a simple packing, it was literally ransacking. Without putting Cole's face, the former city lord empty the whole lord's mansion resources.

It didn't escape Cole's eyes but he didn't bother to stop it. Eventhough he's confident that Pirro didn't ask him to do this but just do it on his own accord, Cole consider the pillaging of the former city lord as an act of cleaning the traces of the empire. It wasn't his in the first place so he didn't mind much the action of the city lord.

However, eventhough he didn't say and do anything, Cole's impression to the former city lord have one turn into negative. And not just simply negative but negative with four figures. After all, the resources of the whole city is not just the property of the city lord but it was also the citizen's property.

Fatty finish his pillaging when all the personnel of the Towering Tree City arrived at the city mansion. The latter didn't pay them any mind and literally show to the whole crowd that he's leaving the city along with his family.

This action further dampen the moods of confused humans who saw him.

Witnessing that, Cole can't help but sigh. But he immediately exit the city mansion and face the thousands of public employees of the city lord's office. 80% of them were compose of city guards.

Not only the employees appear in the city lord's mansion, there were also civilians that appear in hopes of learning about the situation. After all, the city didn't just simply change its ruler but have now become a independent territory.

That is to say, they won't receive any help from the empire should something happen in the city. In the end, despite not reciveing the care of the empire, that said all-powerful empire is everyone's spiritual support.

The moment he came out from the mansion, all the people in the area face him.

Everyone has worries inside their mind and heart, and that includes their new leader.

But the moment Cole come out and show his, it somehow ease the worries of everyone. At the end of the day, almost every human relies on face of the others to make their first impression and character judgement.

And Cole's face is apparently not owned by someone who is merciless and unkind. That alone greatly ease everyone.

Furthermore, the citizens don't know why but the new city lord seem to be emitting a subtle aura that makes him look approachable.

Actually, it was Cole's Innate Ability taking effect, [Friendly Aura].

"Citizens, I'm the new city lord of Towering Tree City, Cole." He introduce himself.

He continue, "What you just heard ia true; the Towering Tree City is now a independent territory from the Empire. That only means that whatever happens to this city, the empire won't send any help."

The moment he confirms the news, the scene immediately turn chaotic.

Murmur of worries, anxiety and fear dominates the area.

"So its true? The city truly detached from the empire?"

"Detach? Then that means that should a beast tide happen, we have to defend on our own and will not receive any help from the near kingdom?"

"Ahh?! What about us without cultivation?"

Cole sigh but didn't show any ounce of power. It was normal for the population to worry.

He gave them some time to think before saying several minutes after, "Quite please." In the end, he is now the new city lord and his position holds a great prestige in everyone. The noises immediately minimize the moment he open his mouth.

"I know this ia a big news and everyone is worried. However, I can assure you that as the new city lord of Towering Tree City, I'll do everything that I can do to protect all of you."

That announcement of his ease up a lot of worries of everyone. Although they didn't fully accept it, Cole's aura and face is credible at the least. He looks and he sound like he's not lying.

"Alright, it'll take everyone a long time to digest this news. So please, citizens, go home and ease your family."

He then face the lord's employees and said, "As for the everyone of you, release this news to the whole city that the new city lord will gave everyone a month to decide whether to leave or stay in the city. If the normal human without cultivation choose to leave the city, pass to the city lord's mansion and they'll be given 2 Gold Coins per head each."

Except for family of cultivators that take root in the city, most of cultivators usually go from place to place to look for resources or fated encounters. Cole won't bother to stop them.

On the other hand, if a family of cultivators leave the city, Cole won't stop them but he won't also give them any hand or compensation. In any case, they were considered rich if they were a family of cultivation that manage to establish themselves in the city. They certainly have the ability to reestablish their family somewhere ideal.

But for normal humans, it was different. All of their properties were inside the city and should they leave, majority of their property can't be taken with them. Not to say that according to the attitude of the former city lord, normal citizens were 'sucked dry' and don't have much of savings.

Should they leave, they'll literally gambling their selves and families life to reestablish their lives somewhere else.

If they want to leave, the least he could do is to give them small remuneration.

2 Gold Coins is certainly a big amount of money for commoners but it was actually isn't enough for migration. After all, this world have different rules and norms compare to earth.

The city workers started to disperse in order to scatter the news to the whole city when someone from the city guards approach him and ask, "Can we also leave?"

Cole didn't hesitate to nod his head and answered, "Of course, everyone is given the same right to choose. However, since it is expected that the city will enter chaotic state for several days or it might even take weeks, the city workers will only be allowed to leave after month."

Almost everyone stop on their track and listen to Cole's statement.

Cole take that chance to announce to everyone, "As I said, it is expected that the city will enter chaotic state for several days. And since this new lord just take this post, I don't have yet my own public employees that'll control and guide the public. But don't worry, I'll immediately hire my own city workers and I believe that by a month, the situation will be fully controlled. It was only then you'll be allowed to leave. But don't worry, I'll make sure that all of you will be rewarded."

Although what just Cole said don't give the mass much of their own choice, his soft tone immediately convince the crowd. After all, city lord is known to be the highest authority in the whole city and most of them were overbearing in nature. If you're weak, your opinion doesn't matter and since they were payed by the city lord office, it basically warrants them to listen to every of their employer's demand.

This mentality made them instantly accept the fact that they were told to work but Cole's graceful bearing and soft tone capture the heart of everyone. They subconsciously accept wholeheartedly the instruction.

Of course, the rich reward in the end of the statement convince them greatly too.

Cole gave the dispersing crowd a look before he enter the city lord's mansion. But not everyone leave. The butler of the city mansion and the head of the city guards remains. The two followed him inside.

Cole didn't lead them to the original office of the city lord's mansion but to the reception room he was leaded before.

The butler didn't follow them inside the room but remain outside to give Cole and the head of city guards some privacy.

Cole sat on the available chair in the room while also motion for the man to sit too.

"I assume that you're the head of city guard?" He ask.

The man answer with strict tone, "Yes, city lord, I'm the head of Towering Tree City's guards. And I'm here to further inquire about your instructions."

Cole nodded his head, "Oh, but before we go to that, I want to ask the head guard; do you have the intention of leaving the city?"

The strict head guard frown but didn't bother to lie, "Yes, I won't lie to the city lord, I do have the intention to leave the city." He answered before he fall into quick contemplation.

Roger, the name of the head guard, were now in dilemma if whether he'll drag his family to migrate or stay in the city.

If he stay, then he have to risk the lives of his own and his family in the independent territory. If he choose this, his life will basically remain the same but this means that he'll severe his connection to the empire, not that this said connection have significance for small fry like him.

If he leave, he'll have no choice but to abandon his roots and settle on foreign land where his future will be unknown. With his background as former head guard, he won't have any problem on getting a job on any city. But since the new place they'll settle into have its own internal structure, it'll be hard for him to acquire a significant position and might even have to settle on being normal city guard.

In his opinion, he want to leave the city and protect his citizenship of Heavenly Flame Empire. His connection to the empire might be nothing but his citizenship but from as long as he remember, the empire is his greatest spiritual pillar.

"Then, are you leaving?" Cole ask after.

Roger's frown deepen but answered in the end, "City Lord, I won't be able to give you my answer now. Please give me few days to further think."

Cole nodded his head in understanding. It was only normal that he can't decide immediately and have to think it through thoroughly.

However, because of this, the instruction he said to Roger were under the consideration that he'll leave a month after. It was important but not vital.

For instance, he instructed that the the city guard department will be given the task of erecting bulletin board in strategic part of the city where both cultivators and normal humans could easily access. In this way, he won't need to spend so much human resource when it comes on spreading news.

He also discuss the working schedule of the guards. This time, not only they need go guard the city, they also have to maintain public security in the expected chaotic situation in the next few days.

"But city lord, I'm afraid that the cultivator family might rebel and cause a scene. The overall might of city guard might not be able to surpress them." Roger speak out worriedly.

"Don't worry about that. I'll take care of them personally should they instigate a chaos." Cole reply with firm tone.

Should a known powerful family rebel inside the city, Cole won't hesitate to use the tactic 'kill a chicken to warn the monkeys'. He need to make an example in order to show and establish his might.

And this means that the first family will be dealt mercilessly.