Reincarnated as both God and The Devil

Chapter 196: Donation

"Oh General Diao?", Viel tilted his head, "You're still alive?"

"..."

General Diao thought it would be a heartwarming reunion once he and the boy meets. But to think the first thing that would come out of his mouth was banter. Wait was it a banter?

"What are you even saying, you brat!?", General Diao slightly released a deep breath as he puffed his chest.

But alas, he was ignored by Viel who looked at the only remaining portal left. "It's still there", Viel furrowed his eyebrows, "Maybe we should have helped Miss Violet". It has been more than half an hour after Violet and her group entered the portal, shouldn't they be out by now, Viel thought.

"Oh, you've met them?", General Diao slightly raised his eyebrows, "They should be fine. Her party is quite strong. You're the abnormal one for clearing out a dungeon as soon as you enter it"

Viel could only shrug his shoulders in reply, "It's hard to stay too long in another world", Viel muttered, "People tend to die".

Sofia immediately let out a short sigh as she fixed her spectacles. She initially thought that Viel had already gotten over Zachary's death. He has not been having nightmares for quite a while now, but hearing Viel's words, it would seem that he was still somewhat carrying a burden in his heart.

"Hm", General Diao also did not fail to notice the hint of sorrow in Viel's words. It would seem that the boy has changed, he's just not showing it too much.

"Diao Mei is inside helping the wounded", he then added, "Let the soldiers clean up the mess that's left here. You should check on the people inside"

"Is there food?", Viel quickly replied.

"...Afraid not", General Diao could shake his head, "We have been stuck here for a month. I do not know the full situation inside but they will surely be starving by now"

"And you're not?", Viel huffed.

General Diao lightly chuckled in response, "I am used to not eating when in battle", he said as he stroked his beard, elegantly posing a manly pose as he slightly glanced towards Matriarch Yinji. Yinji, however, did not even see him as she was helping in retrieving the corpses of the dead.

"..."

"Anyway", General Diao cleared his throat, "...This city is truly done for. They asked for reinforcements to all of the neighboring cities, but not even one came to our aid. One would think they would know about helping each other since they just came from centuries of war", he could not help but click his tongue as his tone was filled with disapproval.

Hearing General Diao's words, Viel let out a playful chuckle. "Then let the city of Xingcai help you"

"Xingcai?", General Diao squinted his eyes in confusion. Isn't that the name of his sworn sister?

"It's the boy's city", Matriarch Yinji, who has been busy helping collect the dead, briefly joined the conversation, "It's a beautiful city, I might buy a house there soon"

"I I see", General Diao wasn't really expecting Yinji to suddenly speak, "Wait you have your own city? But you just got back!"

"Fufufu", Viel stroked the General's beard as if it was his own, "If one is destined to rule then he is destined to rule"

"... What?", General Diao squinted his eyes. It sounded wise, but what does that even mean?

Viel then looked at the nearest soldier that was near them and called for him, "You!"

The soldier, who saw Viel pointing at him, quickly rushed towards them. Seeing Viel's golden hair and how he talked so casually with General Diao, the boy is definitely not of normal status. Add to the fact that he came with the foreigner cultivators, then he was definitely someone that he should treat with the utmost respect.

"Yes, young master!", the soldier quickly saluted as he stood in front of Viel.

"Take me to your city lord!", Viel said in a commanding tone, his posture imitating General Diao's.

"I", hearing Viel's request, the soldier immediately stuttered, "The city lord is dead, young master. Only his daughter is alive".

"Then take me to her", Viel nodded his head, "I wish to donate gold to the city!"

"!!!"

Hearing Viel's words, the soldier once again saluted, his eyes almost instantly turning moist. "A... at once!", he stuttered, "Please, follow me!"

"..."

General Diao could not help but blink his eyes a couple of times as he watched Viel's back disappear deep into the city. He really doesn't know what to expect anymore whenever he is around the boy.

Even Sofia was slightly surprised by what Viel said, but even then, he followed him inside.

"...The boy truly is something else, isn't he?", General Diao whispered.

"He is", Matriarch Yinji dusted off her hand.

"Oh", General Diao was surprised with Yinji's sudden reply, "You approve of him?"

"Of course", Matriarch Yinji let out a breath, "He is worthy enough for me to bear his children once he comes of age"

"I see", General Diao nodded his head, but after a few seconds, his eyes widened as wide as it could be.

"Wait what!?"

***

Inside the city lord's mansion, moans and groans filled with pain echoed the halls. There were wounded sprawled all over the floor, and those that were not, seemed to no longer have any energy to even move, as the only thing they could do was swallow their saliva.

Diao Mei and her mother were doing their best to help the victims of the disaster, but their hands were tied as the only thing they could do was temporarily alleviate their pain by tending to their wounds.

If the people do not eat soon, then they would definitely die.

Deeper into the mansion were people gathered around a table. They too, looked emaciated, but their loud voices still reverberated loud enough for the others to hear.

"The city is done for, Lady Beatrice", a bearded man spoke, his words sedated.

"We can't even rebuild anymore, the city's budget won't be enough", another man chimed in, his white beard disheveled.

"Maybe we can raise the tax?", an old lady suggested, "I am sure we can find a way, your father would have done--"

"Are you stupid!?", before the old lady could finish her words, the green-haired woman, Beatrice, finally spoke, her words filled with hostility, "Tax? What tax?", Beatrice slammed her palm on the table.

"Have you seen how many of us are left!?", she shouted enough for the rest of the people to hear, "Mr. Line is right, this city is done for. We should just be grateful that we were saved by an unexpected reinforcement!"

Beatrice then looked at the person beside her, whose whole body was covered in robes. "Thank you again", she whispered, her tone filled with sincerity, "If it wasn't for you detecting the portal, more of us would have been dead"

"It was--"

"Lady Beatrice!"

Before the robed individual could even speak, an excited shout pierced all of the ears of everyone in the mansion. Even those that were previously listless could not help but widen their eyes as their spirits were awakened by the thundering shout.

"W what!?", Catherine could not help but stutter as she addressed the soldier that was running towards her.

"One of the General's friends wants to speak with you!", the soldier said as he tried to catch his breath, "He says he wants to donate to the city!"

"W what!?", the people gathered on the table could not help but all look towards the soldier. And then, their eyes turned towards the boy behind him, his long golden hair seemed like it was shining even through the dark and grim halls of the castle.

They also saw the clothes of the woman that was following him from behind. These two were definitely from a rich noble family! They all thought in unison.

And even though she was already weak from hunger, Beatrice quickly rushed towards Viel and held his hand. "Is is it true you wish to donate to our city!?", she said, her words pleading.

"We we don't know how we can repay you for this!", Beatrice said as her knees fell to the ground, "But please we do need the help"

Seeing the woman crying in front of him, Viel did not know what to do, he was supposed to say some flowery words, but not that he was inside, those words were gone.

He then looked to Sofia for advice, who only gestured for him to also kneel down. And so, he did.

Viel crouched and gently hugged Beatrice.

"!!!"

The people gathered at the table could not help but look at each other in shock. Even Sofia, who only meant for Viel to comfort her, could not help but want to place her palm on her face in frustration.

Of course, the one that was most perplexed about this unexpected situation was Beatrice herself. But instead of feeling awkward, the warmth from the boy's embrace truly comforted her.

Her father died during the attack and she was suddenly left to govern the people. She wasn't ready to lead, even more, to lead a population that was already destined to ruin. 

But everyone was quick to place her in the position, not even having a choice in the matter. And the only thing she has done so far was to order her soldiers to not give up. And she knew, if it wasn't for General Diao, then they wouldn't even be standing here right now.

And so, the tears that she has been holding back from all of the pressure that suddenly placed upon her gushed out like a waterfall.

"T thank you", she stuttered, "Truly thank you"