HLM – Chapter 69 A Newcomer Arrives

Back at the castle, Wang Bo bowed to the newly enshrined Lord Guan: “Lord Guan, your little brother here is short of capable hands. Could you please send me a reliable subordinate? I promise that in the future, I’ll gild your statue, offer you delicious food and drink, and worship you sincerely!”

After paying his respects, Wang Bo set up a reclining chair by the main castle gate to relax. The castle was built halfway up a mountain, and during summer, the frequent mountain breeze made it especially cool. Moreover, with trees and grass covering both the mountain top and base, the wind carried the fresh, earthy fragrance of nature—just like when he used to relax near the woods behind his old village home as a child.

He opened the sand table interface. The draw disk was unusable now, its color having turned a pale green. Still, it continued absorbing lord energy, as though brewing a super prize. So instead, he shifted his attention to the pasture.

Thanks to the energy from the Heart of the Pasture, the cows and sheep were growing rapidly.  The calves had grown several times larger; the biggest Angus calf now reached the height of an adult’s shoulder and had become the herd leader. The other cows followed its lead while grazing. Wang Bo gave it a name—Bull Demon King.

The Romney sheep were also growing fast. Since they were long-haired sheep, their wool grew quickly, making them appear extra plump. Unlike the sheep on other farms, the wool on these Romney sheep, while not pure snow-white, was uniformly white—unlike the yellowish or grayish wool from ordinary farms—thanks to the Pasture Heart’s regulation.

Wild rabbits, mice, and all sorts of birds were still abundant. In just under a square kilometer of browsing, Wang Bo found over a hundred rabbit burrows—this place was practically a paradise for wild hares.

As he looked toward the edge of the pasture, Wang Bo was suddenly startled. A wild boar with bristly brown-gray fur had appeared. The coarse, stiff hair on its back looked like steel needles. It was using its exposed tusks to dig at the ground and gnaw on grass roots.

This was Wang Bo’s first time seeing a wild boar, and he was hesitating about whether to hunt it. Just then, the guard dog lying next to him suddenly sprang up with renewed energy, barking wildly in the direction of the castle gate.

Wang Bo whistled, and the dog slowed down and stopped barking, though it still ran outside. That meant—a stranger had arrived.

The castle’s inner courtyard was vast, stretching five to six hundred meters north to south. Wang Bo thought he might as well buy a balance scooter to use at home—the luxury of owning a grand estate was awesome!

Of course, this comfort was built on the foundation of the Heart of the Castle, which kept everything clean. If it were a regular large property, just the cleaning alone would drive him crazy.

No need to go out—he zoomed in on the sand table’s castle gate view and saw the visitor. To his surprise, the person also had a green line connecting them to the green mist above the sand table—just like the cowboy. That meant they, too, could provide energy to the Heart of the Lord.

That sealed the deal—he had to find a way to keep this person on his land. Lord Guan was incredible—he’d just finished his prayer and already someone promising had been delivered to his doorstep. Was Lord Guan’s divine influence reaching all the way to New Zealand?

Hurrying to greet the visitor, Wang Bo saw a familiar face: brown-black curls, well-defined features, a slightly flattering smile—it was the Mexican pretty boy who had once helped him: Juan Taro Sanchez!

Juan greeted him cautiously, extending a hand: “Mr. Wang, hello. I hope it’s convenient for me to visit?”

Wang Bo had shared some mutual help and camaraderie with the Mexican lad before, so he nodded and said, “Of course, of course. Come with me. How have you been lately?”

Juan smiled: “Not bad. Those Maoris haven’t troubled me again. Maybe they think I’m your subordinate and don’t dare provoke me.”

Wang Bo laughed. “Those bullies—I really look down on them. Oh, it’s hot today. Why don’t you take a shower first, and I’ll get you something cold to drink.”

Juan had probably walked all the way there, since there were no roads to the area yet. He was drenched in sweat, his clothes soaked through, and even the bag he was carrying looked like it was dripping.

As they walked into the main hall, Juan looked stunned. Once inside the central building, he gasped repeatedly: “Mr. Wang… I didn’t know you were nobility… This castle is incredible!”

Wang Bo waved it off modestly: “It’s inherited, but I didn’t inherit the noble title. That part’s not important. Come on, come on, sit and rest. You can shower in a bit.”

After Juan showered, Wang Bo got down to business and asked why he’d come.

Juan looked at him, then lowered his head: “Mayor Wang, you probably know this—I once went to jail for falsifying accounts. It’s very hard for me to find a decent job now.”

Wang Bo nodded in understanding. In New Zealand, falsifying financial records was a serious offense—not just illegal, but also seen as a major moral failing. Now, Juan’s credit was ruined. For the next decade at least, he wouldn’t be able to get a credit card or be hired as an official accountant.

In other words, unless someone powerful gave him a hand, Juan’s only job options were janitor or waiter. Anything remotely tied to his profession was out of reach.

But Wang Bo had a good impression of Juan’s character. When he’d jumped into Eva’s yard that day, Juan had been the one watching him. And when Wang Bo was falsely accused, Juan had stood up for him.

As for the false accounting incident, Wang Bo understood the context. Robert had told him the details—Juan had been a scapegoat, likely targeted because he was a new Mexican immigrant.

After thinking it over, Wang Bo said, “I currently have two vacancies—one is for a secretary, the other for an auditor. Maybe you can give it a try?”

Juan’s eyes lit up in surprise. He rubbed his hands excitedly: “Really? Actually, I came here hoping to get permission to start a small business in the town—I didn’t expect you to offer me such an opportunity. I’m rambling, sorry, boss, I’m just really excited!”

But things weren’t going to be that simple.

After hearing Wang Bo’s arrangement, Charlie shook his head. “No, Wang. I’m afraid Juan can’t be part of your team.”

Wang Bo frowned. “Why not? I’m the mayor of Sunset Town—I should be able to appoint my own staff, right?”

“Yes, but what would you have him do?” Charlie replied. “An accountant is best suited for the auditor role, and yes, you need someone like that. But there are strict government regulations. Someone with a history of false accounting—a moral breach—can’t be allowed to work in that role!”

Charlie analyzed calmly: “If you assign him to your team, he’d have to be a clerk or something similar. Then who would you hire as the auditor? I remember you were thinking of recruiting a classmate, right? I doubt your classmate is qualified for auditing.”

Wang Bo understood. He could assign Juan to any position—but not as an auditor. And Juan wasn’t qualified for anything else that required moral integrity and professional discipline.

Juan, ever the upbeat one, grinned and said, “That’s okay, boss. I still really appreciate your trust. In that case, could I rent a plot of land in the town and open a small business? I actually make pretty decent Mexican food!”