New Hope
"My lord!"
It's unclear who started it, but one by one, the people knelt down.
The soldiers guarding the area also lowered their heads.
The soldiers' bowed heads showed their absolute obedience and respect for their lord, Chen Changhe, while their clenched fists demonstrated their loyalty and determination.
These soldiers were all originally residents of the territory.
They were all already emaciated and frail, struggling to breathe under the heavy burden of life.
It was Chen Changhe who gave them Mechanical Arm, it was Chen Changhe who gave them a wonderful life.
After several weeks, their physical condition has improved significantly, and they now possess formidable strength.
The once confused and helpless look in their eyes is now filled with determination and confidence.
They knew that it was Chen Changhe who gave them a new life.
They were willing to go through fire and water for their lord, Chen Changhe, without hesitation.
They were also more aware of just how powerful their High-Rank Alchemist lord was.
Although churches exist in this world, ordinary people do not have much faith in the God of the churches.
For the vast majority of people, the so-called gods are nothing more than ethereal legends.
They face daily hardships and difficulties, and the very real problem of survival.
God could not provide them with food or clothing, nor could He solve their diseases and disasters.
At this moment, their lord Chen Changhe is their True God.
An omnipotent and powerful being.
At this moment, the scene was completely silent.
The only sounds were people's heavy breathing and the rustling of clothes.
The new settlers' faces were filled with piety and awe; their bodies trembled slightly, as if they needed to be extra careful even when breathing in front of Chen Changhe.
Especially those Beastfolk slaves.
As a servant race among the Beastfolk, they were destined for a lowly fate from birth, suffering bullying and oppression.
Throughout their lives, they had never experienced respect or care; their lives were filled with hardship and despair.
Not only did they lack food and water, but they were also often sold into slavery.
They were filled with inferiority complex, and many of the Beastfolk shrank back, not even daring to look others in the eye.
Even the slightest sound could terrify them.
The prolonged torment had filled their eyes with fear and unease, as if they were constantly worried about the impending disaster.
They once thought that, having been sold into slavery, their lives would be spent in darkness, with no hope of ever rising above it.
But at this moment, things don't seem so bad.
And all of this was thanks to Chen Changhe.
It was precisely because of this awareness that they dared not look Chen Changhe in the eye.
He was terrified that the slightest offense might anger Chen Changhe and send him back to hell.
They lowered their heads, their eyes fixed on the ground, and their bodies involuntarily curled up tighter, as if trying to hide themselves.
Every breath became cautious, and the sound of my heartbeat was exceptionally clear in the silence—a rhythm intertwined with tension and fear.
"Raise your head!"
Chen Changhe spotted the Beastfolk at a glance. His voice wasn't loud, but it reached everyone's ears clearly.
The voice carried an undeniable authority, yet also a reassuring gentleness.
Upon hearing the command, the Beastfolk trembled slightly, but hesitated, not daring to raise their heads easily.
Chen Changhe said again:
"I'm telling you to hold your heads high! From this day forward, you are no longer slaves; you are citizens of Hope Town!"
His gaze was firm and powerful, fixed on the cowering Beastfolk, and also on the other new inhabitants.
"Among you are humans and Beastfolk. You may have been subjects of other lords or slaves from the Orc Royal Court."
You may be young, or old, strong, or weak...
All of that before is irrelevant here.
To me now, you all have only one identity.
I, Doug Forbes's people, the newest members of Hope Town. To me, you are all my people, and you can consider me your father.
I will provide you with shelter, respect, and the opportunity to live a good life.
"As long as you are willing to contribute to this land and work hard for the future of Hope Town, I assure you that this will be your eternal home. You will no longer suffer from bullying, hunger, or live in fear and despair."
Chen Changhe gazed firmly at the crowd below, his voice passionate and powerful.
His words relieved some people's concerns, and their tense nerves gradually relaxed.
Those bowed heads began to slowly rise, their eyes no longer filled only with fear and awe, but also with a hint of expectation and trust.
The originally heavy atmosphere gradually eased, and people's breathing became less heavy, as if the Rock weighing on their hearts had been gently removed.
"There are 560 rooms in total. Someone will assign you temporary accommodations in a little while."
"You will be staying here for the time being. I know that many of you have gone through a lot of suffering, but from now on, all of that will be in the past."
Hope Town is your new starting point, your new hope. As long as everyone unites and works hard, life will definitely get better and better in the future."
"Of course, these houses do not belong to you; they are the property of the territory, and they are the assets of me, Doug Forbes."
"You only have temporary residency rights; you do not have the right to buy, sell, or change these residences."
I hope you understand this point and avoid any unnecessary misunderstandings."
Chen Changhe spoke each word carefully.
He can extend his goodwill to these people, but he doesn't want to raise ungrateful wretches.
Unconditional gifts are often not appreciated; instead, they may breed greed and laziness.
Chen Changhe was well aware of the complexities of human nature. He wanted to demonstrate benevolence while establishing clear rules so that his people would understand that everything could only be truly possessed through hard work and dedication.
"Of course, I don't object to you buying your own homes."
You can inquire about the specific selling price of the house later; I won't waste time explaining it in detail here.
But I assure you, the price will be fair and reasonable. As long as you work hard and save money, owning your own warm home is not an unattainable dream."
Leaving aside the Beastfolk slaves, many of the immigrants actually owned some property.
However, their status as subjects restricted their freedom.
After being sold by the lord, he had no choice but to leave his original territory and start over in Hope Town.
However, compared to others, they possessed a certain amount of wealth.
They also have more job skills.
These are the talents that Chen Changhe most wants to acquire.
Sure enough, Chen Changhe noticed a strange look in the eyes of many people.
They seemed to be considering whether they had enough money to buy a place to live.
These houses in Hope Town are far better than their original homes.
They certainly hope to have such a comfortable home.