Chong!
Watching Hei Dou's despondent yet solemn back, Chen Yu couldn't help but clench his fists and cheer him on.
Brave warrior, go well.
Although Chen Yu had a rough estimate that Hei Dou wouldn't get any meaningful information even if he watched Fang Xiu, it was still good that he could give him something to do.
It's just, he wondered how long Hei Dou could last.
He stretched lazily.
Now, Chen Yu had pretty much dealt with most of his tasks. The resource competition had resource exploration teams already dispatched.
The city-state had gained a special profession.
Hei Dou had also found his calling.
Everything was so perfect.
Now, all that Chen Yu needed to do was—
Drip.
Drip.
Muddiness, dampness.
The pervasive humidity made one's stomach churn. This familiar dripping sound and the damp, muddy ground reminded Chen Yu of his arrival in the caves.
But—
This was no pipe dream. Chen Yu had not returned to the exploration's initial period; instead, he had arrived at the city-state's dungeon.
"Boss, they're held here."
Er Gou, his muscles bulging, waved his large hand. Chen Yu, somewhat unable to stand the smell, instinctively covered his nose and mouth.
The dungeon!
The environment was truly terrible.
It wasn't just the dampness and the heavy smell of earth, but also the lingering stench of sweat and a mingling of various other odors. The combination was truly potent.
"This environment is too bad."
Chen Yu, suppressing the churning in his stomach, whispered with difficulty.
"Uh, it is a bit bad." Er Gou also scratched his head and gave a wry smile. "But there's nothing to be done about it. Aren't prison cells for holding criminals supposed to be like this?"
"Feudal thinking."
Chen Yu raised an eyebrow and sighed, shaking his head.
"Even criminals are entitled to basic human rights. They aren't death row inmates. Keeping them in a place like this, who are they torturing? If people know, they'll think it's torture for the vicious criminals, but if they don't, they might think it's torture for our own people. This dungeon has to go. We need to build an above-ground prison."
"Huh?"
Confusion clouded Er Gou's eyes.
"Then these prisoners will be living in comfort. We'll provide food and lodging, and they won't suffer. Can there be such a good thing in this world?"
"I said you have feudal thinking, didn't I? Who said they'll live in comfort? They'll undergo labor reform."
"Uh..."
"Forget it, you probably wouldn't understand even if I explained it to you," Chen Yu shook his head. "You go out now and contact the urban planning department. Tell Fang Xiu to immediately plan out an area for a prison. He'll know what I mean. Then, start construction immediately. The prison needs to accommodate 500 people."
In the early stages of the city-state, the prison didn't need to be that large.
Just having one was enough!
Currently, Chen Yu's city-state was holding people under Crocodile, as well as those hyenas. Accommodating 500 people was more than sufficient.
Even if Chen Yu had to arrest more people later.
They could sleep on the floor.
He could grant prisoners human rights, but the caves didn't have a clear standard for human rights. The extent of human rights was ultimately up to Chen Yu to decide.
"Boss, I'm leaving. You..."
"You don't think they can hurt me, do you?" Chen Yu smiled slightly. Er Gou instinctively glanced sideways at the Meteorite Guards a few meters behind them.
The memory of that puppet sending a Black Obsidian realm cultivator flying with a single punch was still vivid.
"Alright, I'll go." With the Meteorite Guards protecting him, Er Gou felt reassured and agreed. "Boss, if these prisoners disrespect you, you don't have to do anything yourself. Just tell me. Then, my brothers and I will pay special attention to them and give them a good lesson in morality."
Hearing this, Chen Yu couldn't help but chuckle.
Winning people over with virtue.
This was already a fine tradition of their camp.
"Go on."
Chen Yu waved his hand with a smile, then, covering his nose, slowly ventured deeper into the dimly lit dungeon.
"City Lord!"
Although Er Gou didn't follow, there were still many Orc warriors on guard in the dungeon. Upon seeing Chen Yu, these Orc warriors surged towards him and greeted him in unison.
"Thank you for your hard work~"
Chen Yu nodded slightly.
His words were indeed from the heart. Working in such an environment was significantly more arduous than working outside.
Orcs were not eloquent.
Hearing Chen Yu's concern, they merely smiled憨ily and scratched their heads. Chen Yu patted their shoulders and got straight to the point.
"Where are the prisoners held?"
"Over there." The Orc pointed. Following the Orc's gesture, Chen Yu saw a large cave sealed with iron bars.
To Chen Yu's surprise, all the prisoners were held in one place.
"They're all locked up here?"
"Yes. This dungeon only has this one cell, so all the prisoners are held here," the Orc nodded slightly.
Hearing this, Chen Yu couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.
This?!
This was too poor.
Although he hadn't expected the dungeon environment to be luxurious, he thought there would at least be several prison sections. If not sections, then at least individual cells.
Who knew there was only one cell.
It was likely that this dungeon was previously used to imprison slaves. If they refused to work, they would be thrown in here indefinitely.
Exhaling lightly, Chen Yu walked forward with his hands behind his back.
At this moment—
The people sent by Crocodile and the members of the Hyena tribe were held together in the cell. However, judging by the situation inside the prison, the people sent by Crocodile seemed to be getting bullied.
The cell, not spacious, or rather, it appeared crowded to accommodate so many prisoners.
They only occupied about less than one-fifth of the space.
But this didn't surprise Chen Yu.
The Hyena tribe were natural warriors. It was reasonable that Crocodile's subordinates were no match for the Hyena tribe. What surprised Chen Yu was the supervisor of the Hyena tribe, Da Senmu.
He was a Golden realm expert.
Yet, he was not enjoying the best treatment in this cell. Furthermore, his position sitting against the wall was not near the Hyena tribe.
This truly surprised Chen Yu.
The members of the Hyena tribe did not recognize him as their leader.
Could it be—
These tribesmen already knew about Da Senmu and Tengcun's evil deeds?
"Tsk, tsk, tsk, so miserable?" Chen Yu clicked his tongue and walked over. The beasts in the cell instinctively looked over at the sound.
Almost instantly, Da Senmu, who was sitting against the wall, and the supervisor under Crocodile.
Their eyes widened in unison, and they rushed towards the cell door.
"Let us out~"
"Let us out!"
Their shouts were accompanied by a strong sense of urgency. However, the moment they extended their hands, the Orc warriors struck their outstretched hands back with clubs. Chen Yu remained silent, watching a hyena inside the cell.
The hyena Orc was also looking at Chen Yu, his gaze calm.
"Bring him out," Chen Yu pointed at the hyena Orc. "The rest of you, continue to be held!"