As for whether to form a slave-catching squad and join in the main quest "Hundred Days of Construction," it wasn't just Murphy and the NPCs who were waiting to see what happened. The players had been debating it too, and still hadn't reached a consensus.
Especially on the forums over the past few days: whenever someone brought up the topic, it set off another round of heated arguments between the various factions.
"Lawful" types like Lumina and Madam Shui felt the idea went too far and was dangerous, while "hawks" like Happy Stick and the student crowd thought it was perfectly normal.
As for the neutral faction—
also known as the popcorn crowd—they didn't have any strong opinions. All they cared about was whether the two sides were putting on a good enough show. Sometimes, if the arguing wasn't entertaining enough, they'd jump in themselves and add fuel to the fire.
For example, the two sides were currently locked in a "fierce battle" in a thread titled "Population Is Everything, Everything for Population!"
Duo Dao Le San Wu Dou: @Dai Xia Hu, when's your slave-catching squad setting out? Save a spot for us. Meow Brother can't log in for seven days, so we need something to keep us busy too. I heard you're planning to make a big move in East Prussia. How about we meet up near the Pioneer Fortress?
Brave Niu Niu Fears No Hardship: Damn! You're planning to provoke the shortling Marshal right to his face! Stealing his people wasn't enough, now you want to set up camp near his fortress? Listen, don't get carried away! If you really piss off the Pioneer Legion, with the few people we've got, they'll bury us with a single charge.
First Day of Abstinence: What's there to be afraid of?!