Chapter 10

Mike Andrew was a slave on a small estate within Comoey Fort. Fourteen years old, he had already grown strong and sturdy, far stronger than others his age. He usually helped his parents work for the estate owner.

Two days earlier.

A knight from the Visas territory had come to Comoey Fort to spread the word. The recruitment drive became known throughout the city and stirred up endless discussion.

Some people were tempted, while others dared not believe it.

Mike Andrew had heard the entire announcement while out buying supplies. After returning, his heart had remained unsettled, and he tossed and turned in bed at night.

He was tempted.

He wanted to go to Visas and see whether it was true.

Mike Andrew told his father what he was thinking, but his father dismissed it outright.

"Mike, my child, don't be foolish. How could a slave possibly become a soldier?"

"We aren't free citizens. We are subject to the estate's control and cannot leave without permission... Yes, I know you can go to Visas after paying a poll tax..."

"But that notice must be fake. You'll be deceived. You need to understand that the poll tax isn't cheap."

Old Andrew wanted to dispel Mike Andrew's unrealistic notion.

Deep down, he simply did not believe Visas could offer such an enormous benefit.

It was like the Creator God suddenly mercifully scattering fistfuls of gold coins across the world. There was no way it could be real.

Seeing his son's deeply disappointed expression, he dryly consoled him, "Perhaps commoners will go to Visas's territory and try it. Then they'll realize they've been deceived... that they came for nothing..."

The greatest difference between slaves and commoners was that slaves belonged to their masters.

Slaves could not leave without permission, much less run away. If they wanted to go out to handle their own affairs, they had to pay their master a poll tax. Otherwise, they had no freedom at all.

If they fled and were caught, their masters had the right to dispose of them as they pleased, including cutting off their hands or feet, or sentencing them to death.

Furthermore, slaves had no freedom in marriage. They had to pay their masters a marriage tax, and the children born after marriage would also be slaves.

After a slave died, all property without an heir would belong to the master.

Slaves had no right to redeem themselves. They could only be bought and sold, transferred from one master to another.

Unlike commoners, who were hired to work for estate owners in exchange for wages, it was considered only natural for slaves to work for estate owners. Not only were they often oppressed and humiliated, but they also worked long hours for the lowest pay.

Commoners had unrestricted personal freedom, so naturally, they could go to Visas whenever they wished.

But it was not easy for Mike Andrew to go.

The contents of Visas's notice had been very clear.

The lord had decreed that any slave within Visas who wished to enlist could not be restricted by their master and had to be allowed to leave.

If a slave passed the preliminary examination and became a reserve soldier, the lord would compensate the slave's master with silver coins.

But slaves outside Visas had to make the journey themselves.

If they passed the preliminary examination and were confirmed capable of becoming reserve soldiers, the lord would send knights to purchase the qualified slaves and their families from their masters.

In Xia Zuo's view, this was simply a disguised way of buying people.

They were still slaves, but slaves who would become reserve soldiers. After accumulating enough merit, they could become free citizens and cast off their slave status.

Not to mention that Visas had drastically reduced taxes, which was an excellent thing for both commoners and slaves.

Precisely because it was so good, most people dared not believe it or try it lightly.

Old Andrew's persuasion and consolation did not dispel Mike Andrew's thoughts.

He thought this might be his only chance in life. If he missed it, there would be no other.

A knight from Visas had personally come to Comoey Fort to announce the recruitment. It should not have been false news.

In the end, Mike Andrew made up his mind.

The next day.

While his parents were out working, he secretly took part of the money Old Andrew had saved. After quickly paying the poll tax to the estate steward, he set off and left Comoey Fort.

He apologized to his parents in his heart.

If the news proved false, he would work twice as hard after returning to repay his father.

Mike Andrew brought only a little water and dried provisions.

He walked along the mountain road of Mount Parr, the sun beating down on his head and sweat beading on his forehead. His heart grew increasingly uncertain.

But he had already come this far, so he could only press on.

After about the time it took for an hourglass to run, Mike Andrew finally entered Visas City.

He looked around in confusion, not knowing where to register for service.

Just then, a knight guarding the city gate suddenly shouted, "Commoners and slaves joining the recruitment, follow the arrows to the registration point to register and undergo the preliminary examination!"

Mike Andrew immediately looked toward the wooden signposts erected along both sides of the street.

A signpost stood in the ground just over ten meters away, its arrow pointing in one direction.

Someone suddenly said beside him, "Brother, are you here to join the recruitment?"

Mike Andrew turned around. "Y-yes. You too...?"

The man nodded. "That's right. My name is Rad. I'm a slave, and I live in Visas."

Mike Andrew immediately felt reassured.

He said, "I'm a slave too. I live in Comoey Fort. Why don't we go together?"

"Sure, no problem." Rad agreed.

Before leaving, Mike Andrew heard the knight guarding the gate shout the same words again.

When the two reached the registration point and drew closer, they found that two long lines had already formed there: one for commoners and one for slaves.

They voluntarily joined the back of the slave line.

At last, it was Mike Andrew's turn.

He stepped up to the table and heard the recorder ask skillfully, "What is your name? How old are you? How tall are you? Your weight... Where are you from?"

Someone beside him also had him casually move his arms and legs.

Then they told the recorder, "Healthy body, no disabilities, and no apparent mental problems."

The recorder nodded.

Mike Andrew answered each of the previous questions one by one.

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When he said he was from Comoey Fort, the recorder looked up and smiled warmly at him. "Mike, right? Fourteen years old. Not bad, not bad. You're built very solidly."

"Not many slaves from Comoey Fort have come here to register. When you return, help spread the word. Our Visas recruitment is genuine. If you're selected, not only can you... but also..."

He explained the benefits in the recruitment conditions once more to Mike Andrew and those behind him.

Mike Andrew could not help saying excitedly, "Y-you can rest assured, I will."

The recorder smiled. "Very good, very good. Your age meets the standard, and your physical condition is excellent. You've passed. Go wait over there."

After speaking, he wrote an "Excellent" on the parchment.

Mike Andrew did not quite understand, but he still walked in the direction the recorder pointed.

About a dozen people had gathered there, with knights standing nearby as well.

Mike Andrew was about to pull someone aside to ask when he heard a young man speak to him in a voice filled with obvious excitement and delight.

"You must be a slave from Comoey Fort too. So am I. Oh, gods, I can hardly believe all this is real!"

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"We'll wait here until today's registration ends, and then the knights will lead us back to Comoey Fort. Just like it says in the recruitment conditions, the lord of Visas will buy us and our families together..."

The young man clearly could not contain his elation and kept chattering.

Mike Andrew could not calm down either.

But he was rather dull and did not know how to express himself.

The young man said, "My parents are slaves too. My mother didn't believe there could be such a good thing and wouldn't let me come. My father secretly paid my poll tax, which was the only reason I could get out."

"What about you? How did you get here?"

Mike Andrew said, "...Like you, I came to Visas after paying the poll tax."

However, neither of his parents had agreed.

Before long.

He saw Rad enter the group of slaves from Visas and even wave at him.

Registration ended before the sun set.

Yet the people in the two lines did not disperse.

Seeing that they would not leave, the recorder had no choice but to shout, "Registration remains open for another fifteen days! Those who didn't register can come again tomorrow after sunrise. Hurry up and go home!"

Only then did the people in the lines slowly disperse.

Mike Andrew let out a sigh of relief. Fortunately, he had arrived early.

A total of four knights led them back to Comoey Fort.

Before entering the city, he heard a knight say, "You don't have much time. Go back and pack quickly. Tell me how many family members you have who need to be bought... Finally, we will travel through the night back to Visas. Understand?"

Mike Andrew and several other slaves were led away by one knight.

The knight went from house to house, paying to purchase them. Those unwilling to let them go were threatened and tempted in the name of the Lord of Desinia.

After arriving at the estate where Mike Andrew lived, the knight said as usual, "Your family is just you and your parents? Three people... Mm, not too many. Go back and pack quickly. Don't dawdle, or we won't wait for you..."

Mike Andrew did not dare hesitate and quickly ran off.

The moment he entered the house, Old Andrew wanted to grab a stick and beat him.

Mike swiftly explained everything.

"The knight is paying to buy us. Father, Mother, hurry and pack. We can leave for Visas. I'll become a reserve soldier in the future, and I'll work hard to earn merit and cast off my slave status..."

Seeing Old Andrew still standing there in a daze.

Mike Andrew anxiously called again, "Fath..."

Old Andrew came back to his senses. "Quick! Pack up! Hurry, don't keep the knight waiting!"

Slaves did not have much private property.

After all, the house, farming tools, and everything else belonged to the estate owner. They only needed to carry away a few scattered belongings.

Before leaving, Mike Andrew remembered the recorder's words and said a few things to the other slaves peeking out to watch: it was real. Those who met the requirements could register, so go as early as possible!

The four knights finally gathered outside the city gates. After counting their numbers, they led them back once more.

When the moon hung high and stars dotted the night sky, they were brought to a crudely built temporary lodging in Visas City. The knights told them they would stay there for the time being until registration had completely ended.

During this period, the lord would provide each of them with one silver coin for living expenses free of charge.

The knight said, "If you aren't used to the accommodations, you can build a house yourselves."

"Other than the slaves about to become reserve soldiers, who cannot leave freely, everyone else will work at the coastal salt-drying grounds. Someone will come tomorrow. Rest tonight first."

After the knight left, the slaves did not move for a while.

They did enormous amounts of work every day and had excellent stamina. Even after holding out until now, they did not look particularly tired. Yet everyone's expression was somewhat dazed as they stood there, not knowing what to do.

After a long while.

Someone muttered, "It feels like a dream..."

As if a floodgate had opened, people began speaking one after another.

"We're going to live in Visas from now on?"

"This is actually real?! Thank the Creator God! Thank the lord!"

"My son has done well! He has a future..."

Mike Andrew pinched himself. It was not a dream.

He wanted to find somewhere to rest when Old Andrew came over and patted him on the back, his expression full of pride.

"You brat... You did well this time!"

Similar scenes played out every day.

More and more commoners and slaves from Comoey Fort began arriving. Their family members were sent to work at the salt-drying grounds or organized to build temporary lodgings.

Thank the Creator God, thank the lord.

Every day, Xia Zuo could see the prestige value in the upper-right corner of the system interface rising rapidly.

He was utterly delighted.

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