At daybreak, the thin mist gradually dispersed.
Inside the Paper Making Building, figures moved to and fro, while waves of foul, fishy stench drifted out from the machine rooms.
A figure stared at the crowd before him and asked in a deep voice, "From this day onward, you are slaves of the Paper Making Building on Paper Figure Peak."
"No matter where you came from or what status you once held, once you arrive here, even a dragon must coil up, and even a tiger must lie flat before me."
"Does anyone have an objection?"
As his words fell, over a hundred newcomers glanced at one another.
Suddenly, a rugged-looking man spoke up. "I don't want to be a slave. If I really have to become one, could you send me to the Beast Taming Building?"
"The Beast Taming Building?"
The figure gave him a half-smile. "Your reason?"
"I'm skilled at taming spirit beasts," the man replied as though it were only natural.
The figure fell silent for a moment. Then he suddenly drew his blade, and a flash of cold light streaked past.
A shrill scream rang out as a head rolled across the ground.
The figure's expression was icy as he said, "This is Paper Figure Peak. You have no right to negotiate terms. Either stay obediently inside the Paper Making Building, or this man's fate will be yours."
The crowd was so frightened that they fell silent as cicadas in winter.
At that moment, an older woman walked out of the Paper Making Building. She saluted the figure, then looked toward the crowd and said, "Next, I'll assign you to work in the machine rooms. Whoever is called, step out."
"You, come to the front. You're sturdy enough for physical labor, so you'll be assigned to the