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Moreover, during the campaign against the Troll Empire, Count Angler emerged victorious, even forcing the Trolls to deliver a large number of strong, young slaves. With the help of these Troll slaves, tasks such as spring planting, autumn harvesting, water conservation projects, and city defense construction in Ice Rock City proceeded smoothly.

Furthermore, due to the tax benefits on foreign trade, a large number of merchants chose Ice Rock City as the transit hub for trade with the Troll Empire, keeping the city bustling and prosperous.

As a result, unlike the struggles in other areas of the North Territory, Angler’s land began to show signs of thriving prosperity this year.

The citizens, taking advantage of the Harvest Festival, flocked into Ice Rock City to express their gratitude to the lord who had brought about their good life.

Although Count Angler was not in his territory, that didn’t diminish the enthusiasm of the citizens.

The taverns in the city had prepared an abundance of affordable food and fine wine, and the butler, Emon, had specially invited more than a dozen song and dance troupes and circuses to stage free public performances in Ice Rock City.

The men lingered in the taverns, savoring the fine wine, the women flocked to the market for a shopping spree, and the children chased after the circus, watching a variety of novel and interesting performances, shouting and laughing relentlessly, clapping their little hands till they turned red without feeling the pain.

However, the most talked-about topic among the citizens of Ice Rock City this year turned out not to be the increasingly wonderful life, or the excellent performances by the troupes, or Count Angler in the Half-Elf Kingdom, but instead, a thing called the “lottery.”

“Have you heard? A lucky guy was announced today!”

“The lottery?”

“Of course! What else could it be?”

“Who is the lucky guy? How much did he win?”

“It’s a guy named Tom. He won five thousand copper coins!”

“Five thousand! Really?”

“Of course it’s true! I saw the kid go onstage to receive the award with my own eyes.”

“Are you guys talking about Tom? I know that kid; he’s my distant cousin. I was the one who told him about the lottery… When he was receiving the award, I shouted at him from the audience, but he couldn’t hear me. Probably because there were too many people there, noisier than a theater…”

“Hahaha, even if he heard you, he would pretend not to.”

“Why?”

“Because he’d be afraid you’d ask him for money!”

“I would ask him for money? If he can win a big prize, why can’t I! I bought five lottery tickets today, specifically choosing the lucky numbers. I’m sure I’ll win the next draw!”

…

As Count Evan and his fiancée, Sallya, walked into the tavern, they found that all the conversations in the tavern had something to do with the lottery.

During the Harvest Festival, business in the tavern was booming. The not-so-large space was split into two floors. The lower floor was crammed with over thirty tables, each surrounded by people, with a circle of patrons standing around, struggling to find a seat.

The crowded and noisy atmosphere caused Sallya to frown, but Count Evan quickly led her upstairs.

Compared to the downstairs, the upstairs was much more spacious, but that was because the entrance fee to the upstairs area was much more expensive.

The tavern attendant spotted that Count Evan and Sallya’s attire was unique and realized they must be nobility. He hurriedly led them to a table near the window on the second floor with great respect.

After sitting down, Count Evan skillfully flipped a few copper coins and said, “Two glasses of purple cane wine for us, please.”

“Of course, please wait a moment!”

After the attendant turned away, Sallya frowned and said, “Evan, why do you always like coming to places like this?”

Count Evan looked interestedly at the boisterous crowd downstairs and laughed, “Because it’s only in these places that I can get some really good wine!”

Sallya’s eyebrows furrowed even more, she grimaced and said, “Nonsense, what good wine could possibly be here?”

“Haha, that’s where you’re wrong. If we’re talking about brewing techniques, the wine here definitely cannot compare to the nobles’ vineyard, but the wine here has a certain taste that the nobles’ vineyard lacks.”

“What flavour?”

“The taste of the common world.”

“Common?”

Count Evan turned his head back, looked deeply into Sallya’s bright, large eyes, and explained, “The nobles’ vineyards are full of deliberate and hollow pretenses. Only here, you can taste the real flavor of the mundane world.”

As Sallya looked at Count Evan’s face, she suddenly felt that she understood him less and less as her fiancé.

Count Evan chuckled and said jokingly, “I was just kidding with you. Actually, it’s more likely to find the prince’s whereabouts in such a place.”

Sallya shook her head disbelievingly, “Even if my father came to Ice Rock City, he wouldn’t go to such a place. And, if a foreigner enters Ice Rock City, the Lord’s residence will undoubtedly know first.”

“No, no, no. If this foreigner wants to hide his identity, he would avoid the Lord’s residence, but not these commoners.”

Sallya tilted her head and thought about it, finding it somewhat reasonable, so she didn’t argue further.

At this time, the attendant had already brought two cups of purple cane wine.

Taking advantage of the moment, Count Evan asked, “Have you seen a middle-aged man? He’s about seven feet tall, with blonde hair, blue eyes, a stern face, and carries a knight’s sword with a purple scabbard around his waist…”

Upon hearing Count Evan’s description, the attendant reflected for a moment, then shook his head, “I’m sorry, sir, I have not seen the person you described.”

Count Evan nodded without too much disappointment. It’s not that easy to trace the whereabouts of Prince Lexie.

This time they came to Ice Rock City just to give it a shot.

Then he asked again, “What’s this lottery the people below are discussing? Can you tell us about it?”

“Of course!” The attendant’s face instantly lit up, he seemed very interested in the lottery, “That’s the welfare lottery, designed by our respected lord, the great guardian of the North Territory, Count Angler. It’s said to raise funds for the poor commoners who can’t make a living.

However, Count Angler claimed that anyone who is willing to buy lottery tickets is a benevolent person contributing to the cause of redemption! They should be rewarded!

So, every month the lottery will draw lots. If the number on the ticket you purchased is selected, you will win the prize!

Each lottery ticket only costs three copper coins, but if you win, you can get thousands of copper coins as a reward! Some even say that someone has won gold coins…”

Listening to the attendant’s explanation, Count Evan drank his purple cane wine, then suddenly asked, “Can a foreigner like me buy it?”

“Of course. Count Angler said, this is a benefit for all Northerners, any Northerner can buy it.”

“What if I’m not a Northerner?”

“That’s…” The attendant scratched the back of his head, pondering, “Shouldn’t be a problem, I think. When I went to buy a lottery ticket before, I saw a bard also bought a ticket, and it’s rumored that guy came all the way from the South Border.”

Count Evan pulled out a silver coin and threw it to the attendant, instructing, “Buy me a hundred welfare lottery tickets, and the rest is your tip.”

“Okay, please wait a moment!” The attendant immediately pocketed the silver coin and ran off.

A silver coin can be exchanged for a thousand copper coins. Buying a hundred lottery tickets just costs three hundred copper coins, so he got to keep the remaining seven hundred copper coins.

He certainly wouldn’t hesitate about such a profitable deal.

Sallya asked in confusion, “Are you interested in these lottery tickets?”

“Yes. It’s a very interesting thing.”

Count Evan drank his wine, his eyes shining with a strange light.