Accepting the Inheritance (3)

"We agree!" The moment Solam finished speaking, Jona immediately agreed without the slightest hesitation. The other Tieflings were equally excited, as if they would have rushed over to clutch Solam's legs if he had refused them.

"That fast?" Even Solam had not expected them to agree so quickly. After all, a subject's obligations were numerous: taxes, military service, corvée labor, poll taxes, right of the first night, forced conscription, and a whole host of conditions Solam considered exceedingly harsh.

"We're willing!" Afraid Solam might change his mind, Jona hurriedly added.

Why had these Tieflings gathered around Mandel in the first place? Was it not to escape discrimination? They hoped the major races of the continent would treat them as equals rather than crudely classifying them as evil creatures.

As for the responsibilities Solam believed subjects should bear, they considered them utterly insignificant compared to the words "equal treatment." If ordinary humans could accept such conditions, what reason did they have to refuse? Besides, Solam requiring them to fulfill a subject's obligations was itself proof that he did not discriminate against them, was it not?

Solam wondered whether these people simply did not understand what obligations a subject had to bear, so he asked uncertainly.

"Are you sure you know what obligations a subject must fulfill toward their lord?"

"Of course!" Jona truly did know. His father, Mandel, had once traveled all across the continent and naturally understood such matters well. Those travels had also become ready-made teaching material for Mandel to educate the other Tieflings, so not only Jona, but even the other Tieflings could list a thing or two.

"Since you know, you're still willing to accept such terms?" Solam had originally intended to offer them some preferential treatment. After all, his territory truly had nothing besides monsters and