Jiang Hao led the little skeleton to the side of the general's platform and saw that on the high platform behind the city wall, the archer formation was extremely busy, shooting arrows outward without stopping.

The men of the Dauntless Fortress were carrying boxes of arrows up to the high platform, and the archers didn't have to lift a finger. They pried open the boxes themselves and filled the quivers at the archers' waists with arrows, all of them beaming with joy.

The people at Beixiong Fortress weren't idle either. They carried the frozen dried fish and meat to the archers' platform themselves, not daring to trouble the archers, they opened the boxes, picked up the dried fish and meat, and stuffed it into the archers' arms. Whenever an archer felt tired, a bite would instantly replenish their strength.

Seeing the archers nod in satisfaction, the people from Fearless Fortress and Northern Might Fortress were overjoyed. Their smiles were like those of lackeys receiving recognition from the Imperial Army.

Zhen Nantian, standing atop the high platform, watched this scene with a broad smile, stroking his short beard and nodding repeatedly, clearly pleased with the outcome.

This comical scene left Jiang Hao speechless.

The archers' eagerness was a burden on the shield bearers and spearmen standing along the city walls. Each one stared longingly down the wall, hoping one or two skeleton monsters would be lucky enough to dodge the archers' fire and leap onto the wall to deliver merit to them. But the archers, relying on the immense attack power bestowed upon them by Jiang Hao, didn't leave a single one to escape. After a while, with nothing to do, the shield bearers and spearmen simply began to doze off along the city walls.

Commander Nok, the legion commander at Qiongfeng Pass, stood beside the general's platform with a bitter expression, followed by a dozen personal guards. Upon seeing Jiang Hao, the resentment in Nok's eyes deepened, like that of a young woman who hadn't seen her husband for ten years.

To prevent his escape, Jiang Hao gave his personal guards a strict order: wherever Commander Nok went, they were to follow him closely. He must have tried to escape many times, but without success.

Jiang Hao smiled slightly and walked towards him.

"What? Is the legion commander inspecting the area? Not busy with military affairs?"

"I've had some free time now, so I came to stroll around the city wall. It's nice, very nice."

"I did all this for you. Think about it, if you had held the pass today, what would the city lord of Jinling think of you? What would the other legion commanders think of you? What would all the people of the Eastern Kingdom think of you?"

"I don't want to know what they think of me, I just want to know how I died."

Nock looked miserable and extremely aggrieved.

"How could you die? You have rendered meritorious service in protecting the country. You will become a hero of the Eastern Kingdom. The other legion commanders will have to call you 'Big Brother' from now on. All the people of the Eastern Kingdom will respect you, love you, and regard you as their guardian deity."

Are you sure I'll become a hero, and not a martyr?

"Oh dear, how can I explain this to you? Look what this is!"

Jiang Hao simply pulled the little skeleton in front of Nok and let him see for himself. Nok's eyes lit up, and he stared at the little skeleton for a long time.

"Wow, that's amazing! Your summoned creature? Pretty strong, really strong."

If it weren't for Nok's long face, Jiang Hao would almost have believed his compliment based on his excited tone.

Jiang Hao was somewhat surprised. Logically speaking, if Nock could see the little skeleton's attribute panel, he definitely wouldn't have such a grief-stricken expression.

"Can't you see?"

"I see it! A necromancer's summoned creature! It's powerful! It's awesome!"

Seeing the doubt in Jiang Hao's eyes, Nock quickly changed his tune.

"Oh, right, right, it's the necromancer who's awesome—no, it's you who's amazing, you're awesome! You can take on ten men single-handedly, you can hold off an entire enemy pass..."

Seeing that he was flattering him, Jiang Hao asked directly.

"Can't you see this summon's talents and skills?"

Nock, who was gushing over Jiang Hao's goodwill, immediately shut his mouth and stared at Jiang Hao blankly.

"Your summoned creature also has... talents and skills?"

Jiang Hao nodded.

Nock suddenly laughed, but his laugh was strange. He patted Jiang Hao on the shoulder.

"Brother Jiang, I understand, I understand."

"What do you know?"

Nock looked around, put a hand on Jiang Hao's shoulder, and whispered in Jiang Hao's ear.

"Don't worry, I didn't take a single gold coin; they're all in the warehouse. And I've left you a full two hundred thousand!"

Nok gestured towards Zhen Nantian on the general's platform with his lip, and then gave Jiang Hao a sly look.

"I've already given instructions to Zhen Nantian. He can give them to you anytime you need them."

Jiang Hao quickly took a step back.

"No, how did you come to the conclusion that I was asking you for money?"

Nock was somewhat surprised and pointed to the little skeleton next to him, asking a question.

"Didn't you tell me to look at it? To see its skills and talents?"

Jiang Hao couldn't quite understand his thought process, so he could only nod.

"But it doesn't. On its attribute panel, all I see is that it's your summoned creature, level 17, Dark Gold grade, and four attributes: health, attack, defense, and speed."

Jiang Hao then realized that Nok really couldn't see any other information about the little skeleton.

"so what?"

"You showed me his skills and talents just to get money from me, didn't you?"

Jiang Hao realized that he couldn't keep up with Nok's train of thought again, so he quickly questioned him.

"How do you explain that? Tell me in detail."

Nock glanced at Jiang Hao with a hint of disdain, his meaning clear: How can this guy be so clueless?

However, seeing that Jiang Hao wouldn't give up until he figured it out, Nock finally gave in.

He waved to Zhen Nantian, who immediately jumped down from the general's platform.

Nock made a circle with his right hand and stretched it out in front of Zhen Nantian.

"Brother Zhen Nantian, look at my knife, isn't it beautiful? Isn't it awesome?"

As he spoke, he swayed from side to side, as if he were actually holding a precious sword.

Without saying a word, Zhen Nantian immediately took out 10 gold coins from his pocket, slapped them into Nok's left hand, and kept flattering him.

"Beautiful, beautiful, awesome! This sword of the legion commander's is clearly a treasured blade that can cut through iron like mud! Judging from its imposing aura, it seems capable of cleaving the heavens and splitting the earth..."

Jiang Hao was completely dumbfounded!

Are there not a single normal NPC among them? Whether they're talking or doing anything, they're all just running around in circles!

And the city lord of Jinling, he has one thing in public and another in private, can't he just be more straightforward?

They're all just putting on an act!

"Just issue a recruitment notice."

Jiang Hao interrupted the two people who were still acting and said decisively.

"Recruit adventurers and prepare to build the city walls!"

"I'm going to start pushing forward."