Conscripting Labor

Little Jack was efficient enough, though the sharp glint in his single eye was quite unsettling.

In less than two hours, a piece of parchment was slapped onto the counter.

The edges of the paper were yellowed and carried a musty, aged odor, making it look authentic. A crooked red wax seal was stamped on it, bearing the double-headed eagle emblem of the Orenda Kingdom.

Su Li reached out to pick up the paper, bringing it close to his eyes for a careful inspection.

Name: Su Li.

Status: Freeman of Grey Gull Port.

Place of Origin: Blue Leaf Town in the north (destroyed by war, no longer exists in records).

"Is this what you call a fallen noble?"

Su Li held the thin piece of parchment between two fingers, looking at the sleazy old man behind the counter who was busy counting gold coins with a smirk.

"A freeman? How is this any different from a commoner? I asked for an identity that suggests my ancestors were once prominent—someone who is poor now but at least holds a title."

Little Jack stuffed the last gold coin into his teeth to bite it, and only after confirming it was real did he tuck it into his tunic with satisfaction.

"Heh, my young master, you're an amateur at this."

Little Jack grinned, revealing a row of jagged, yellow teeth. The expression was a carbon copy of his grandfather, who used to rob travelers on the roadside.

"These days, carrying the title of a fallen noble is the most dangerous thing you can do. The spies from Baris love to impersonate such people, and the city guards are so strict that they arrest eight of them a day. This 'freeman' status, on the other hand, may not sound prestigious, but in a place like Grey Gull Port, it's the best protective charm you can have."

"Besides, Blue Leaf Town was leveled by magic cannons three years ago, and the household registers were burned to ash. No one can prove this identity of yours is fake."

The old man spoke with great conviction, his spit flying everywhere.

Su Li curled his lip.

As if I'd believe you.

The old geezer clearly just found it too troublesome to forge a noble document, or perhaps he lacked the connections, so he used a common piece of junk to fob him off.

But it didn't matter.

An identity was just a pass for lodging and food.

As long as the patrols didn't mistake him for a vagrant and drag him off to work in the mines, it would suffice.

Su Li folded the parchment and tucked it into his tunic.

"Fine."

He turned to leave, casually pulling his conical hat back over his head to hide his face from the prying eyes of the street.

"If this thing doesn't work later, I'll come looking for you."

Su Li's voice drifted back lightly.

"And when I do, I'll seal your other eye shut as well."

Little Jack was happily patting his coin purse when he heard this, and a chill inexplicably ran down his neck.

He shrank his head, watching the tall, straight back disappear into the shadows of the alley, and muttered, "What a freak."

Stepping out of the Dark Alley, which reeked of urine, the air outside was slightly more pleasant.

Only slightly.

Grey Gull Port still had that same stench.

The salty, fishy sea breeze was mixed with the rot of dead fish and shrimp, along with that distinct, sour smell of sweat that only exists in crowded places.

Su Li led the thin black horse, walking aimlessly along the cobblestone road.

This place was different from the version in his memories of his first life.

The Grey Gull Port of the past, though chaotic, had been full of vitality.

The docks were packed with shirtless men hauling heavy loads; though they were tired as dogs, there was a light in their eyes—the hope for a better life.

And now?

Su Li looked around.

There were plenty of people on the street, but most were the elderly, the weak, women, and children.

The old men squatting at the base of the walls to soak in the sun had faces as numb and weathered as tree bark.

The fish vendors were mostly elderly women or children not even as tall as a cart wheel.

Able-bodied young men were pitifully scarce.

The few young men he did see were either cripples with missing limbs, begging in filthy old military uniforms, or wealthy young masters who clearly had connections, rampaging through the streets with a pack of vicious servants.

"This war has practically dug up the roots of this place."

Su Li sighed inwardly.

He passed a stall selling grilled squid. The vendor was a woman over sixty, her hands trembling so much she couldn't even brush the sauce on evenly.

"Two skewers."

Su Li tossed over a silver coin.

The old woman froze for a moment; that was a large sum. She hurriedly handed over the two skewers of slightly charred squid, her hands trembling. "M-my lord, I cannot provide change."

"Keep it."

Su Li took the squid and took a bite.

It was fishy, salty, and carried a bitter, burnt aftertaste. It was dreadfully unpalatable.

Yet, he chewed without changing his expression, savoring the way the low-quality spices exploded in his mouth. This was the feeling of being alive.

Just as he was preparing to find an inn to settle in, the crowd ahead suddenly grew restless.

"Move! Everyone, move!"

A burst of rough shouting rang out.

The crowd parted to both sides like water being cleaved.

Two soldiers clad in iron armor swaggered forward.

These two did not look like good company.

Their armor was a patchwork of mismatched pieces, with uncleaned, dark brown bloodstains still visible on the breastplates, though the tips of the spears in their hands were polished quite bright.

Their eyes, like those of starving wolves, scanned the crowd, specifically targeting those who looked somewhat sturdy.

Su Li had originally intended to step aside.

Although his [Sword Spirit Root] was formidable, he had just arrived in this place and did not want to invite trouble.

However, he had forgotten his current appearance.

Dressed in a clean, fine linen robe with a posture as upright as a pine, he stood out from the sallow, emaciated refugees like a bright light in the dark of night, despite wearing a bamboo hat.

"Stop!"

A violent shout rang out.

The two soldiers blocked Su Li's path directly.

The one on the left had a thick beard and a face full of flab. He looked Su Li up and down, then glanced at the black horse Su Li was leading, the greed in his eyes undisguised.

"Take off that hat!"

The bearded man tapped the ground with the shaft of his spear. "Routine inspection! What are you looking at? I'm talking to you!"

Su Li stopped in his tracks.

He slowly raised his hand and removed his bamboo hat.

In that instant, the surrounding air seemed to freeze for a beat.

His face was fully revealed. His sword-like eyebrows slanted toward his temples, his star-bright eyes held a glimmer, and his skin was so fair that even the finest porcelain could not compare.

The bearded man stared in a daze.

The tall, thin soldier beside him also stared in a daze.

Immediately after, a thick surge of jealousy welled up in both their eyes.

The other one froze, carefully nudging the tall, thin soldier with his elbow.

But the tall, thin soldier seemed not to notice.

"Identification!"

The bearded man snapped back to reality. "Where are you from? What is your business?"

Su Li did not speak; he reached into his robe, pulled out the sheepskin parchment that had just been warmed by his body, and handed it over.

The bearded man snatched it away, his rough hands crinkling the parchment with a loud rustle.

"Su Li... Freeman... Blue Leaf Town..."

The bearded man muttered, a malicious grin suddenly tugging at the corners of his mouth.

"A freeman, eh?"

He shoved the parchment into his own robe without a second thought, having no intention of returning it to Su Li.

"That makes you a commoner, then?"