Chapter 28

After lifting the curtain by the carriage window and curiously looking outside for a few moments, Cyrus climbed out of the carriage and stepped directly onto the high chair Judas had placed beside it.

Judas and Conrad stood to his left, while Ferdinand and Walker stood to his right. The soldiers were scattered along the outermost edge of the grounds.

The people of the Trak Kingdom stood in the middle of the grounds.

Reinog looked at Cyrus, who clearly held the leading position at the front, and lowered his voice as he asked Yadai and Sara, "Could he be the master of this territory?"

"I remember the Nagabi Merchant Guild's steward mentioning that his name was... Desinia? He holds the title of count."

But the steward had not said that Desinia was such a delicate, adorable "little" count...

Reinog found it hard to believe.

But that was the truth.

Yadai asked in confusion, "Why would this little count trade with the Nagabi Merchant Guild... and bring all of us Trak people to his territory?"

Reinog shook his head. He did not understand either.

Sara tugged at their clothes just then, signaling that someone at the front had begun speaking and telling them to listen.

At Cyrus's instruction,

Judas explained the arrangements for the Trak people—registering their basic personal information, counting their numbers, settling them in Komoy Fort, assigning work, and so on.

Among them, the men of the Trak Kingdom had two mandatory options to choose from.

The first was to participate in the upcoming summer recruitment.

The second was to join the Temporary Artisan Construction Team organized by the Artisans' Guild.

Ferdinand and Conrad each gave the Trak people a detailed explanation of these two mandatory options, clarifying the requirements and benefits of participation.

There was hardly any need to explain joining the Temporary Artisan Construction Team. Its requirements were broad, with almost no restrictions.

However, those who did not meet the recruitment requirements had to be excluded from the summer enlistment.

For example, men could not have physical disabilities and had to be between fourteen and twenty years old.

However, the age restriction could be relaxed somewhat for the Trak people, with the upper limit extended to twenty-six...

Later, they would conduct an initial screening for soldiers while registering their information.

The women of the Trak Kingdom would be assigned other work.

For example, women who needed work to earn money could choose to handle batch canning on the salt-drying field production line or package refined salt.

They could also help cook, wash clothes, and care for elderly people without family and orphans at the still-operating relief station.

After Ferdinand and Conrad finished speaking, the area where the Trak people stood became noisy and chaotic.

Cyrus watched their rapidly shifting expressions—surprise, disbelief... and finally, after they had barely digested the information, the discussions gradually died down.

He pressed his palm downward to draw their attention, then raised his voice and spoke in a small voice that every Trak person could hear clearly. "My territory is not a place that will torment or ruin you."

"It is a place that can give you hope of living well, a place where you can live with something to look forward to."

"You do not need to doubt it. Everything that was just said is true and valid."

"Moreover, whether you enlist or join the temporary artisan team, you can accumulate merit and shed your status as slaves."

"But remember, although enlisting lets you accumulate merit quickly, you must remain in the army. After leaving the Soldiers' Training Camp, you will join either the Black Cavalry or the White Cavalry."

"Joining the Temporary Artisan Construction Team accumulates merit more slowly, but the term is relatively short and you have freedom of movement. Once the five-year construction plan ends, you can choose for yourselves whether to remain with the construction team."

Cyrus paused before saying, "Although these two options are mandatory, there are exceptions to everything."

The Trak people listened with focused attention.

Cyrus said, "If some of you possess a particular skill, such as being good at mathematics, proficient in calculations, having a fine craft, or possessing outstanding abilities..."

"When you register your information later, you may tell the record keepers to write it on the parchment. Once it has been confirmed and verified, work related to it will naturally be arranged for you."

"All Trak people will be settled in Komoy Fort."

"There are not many temporary residences prepared in the city, so you will have to make do for now. Later, you may build your own houses."

"When you come to register your information in a moment, Ferdinand will also unlock your shackles. Each of you will receive a subsidy of fifty copper coins, including the children."

The Trak people were struck by another wave of unbelievable news.

Cyrus pressed his lips together and secretly shifted his feet against the high chair without anyone noticing. He was thirsty after saying so much at once, and standing was tiring too.

Then he glanced at Judas beside him.

Judas immediately stepped forward and added the points that had not yet been mentioned.

Yadai could hardly believe his ears.

He grabbed Reinog, who was also standing there in a daze, and said, "Quick, pinch me. See if I'm dreaming..."

Reinog came back to his senses, reached out to pinch Yadai's arm, then twisted the flesh on the back of his own hand. He bared his teeth. "Hiss, that hurts."

Yadai rubbed his arm in pain as well.

He muttered, "We... We actually have a chance to shed our status as slaves?!"

Reinog nodded. "Yes."

Yadai could not help analyzing the situation. "If we enlist, we'll receive subsidies and leave..."

"And the first year's expenses are completely waived. We can live in the Soldiers' Training Camp and have enough to eat... As long as we train hard and become stronger, we'll be very likely to get opportunities for promotion quickly..."

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He could not help looking toward the soldier standing behind Sir Fernandi Edward, the captain of the knights.

Yadai remembered that his name was Mike Andrew, and he was a platoon leader.

When Sir Fernandi Edward had just explained the requirements and benefits of enlistment, he had casually given several examples—Mike Andrew had risen from a reserve soldier to platoon leader in just over half a year.

Some of the other soldiers had also been mentioned.

Reinog said, "But joining the Temporary Artisan Construction Team gives us greater freedom, and after five years, we can choose whether to stay or leave."

"Yadai, you are not strong enough. Even if you enlist, your chances of promotion would be very small..."

"Besides, you know that I never received knight training when I was young. My interests are all in making tools, so I do not qualify at all. There is not much hope for me."

"If both of us go to the Soldiers' Training Camp, what will happen to Sara?"

Yadai said, "I won't go. I just think these two mandatory options are far too kind to slaves... It's astonishing."

"Does Gadayat treat slaves this generously?"

Reinog shook his head. "How could that be?"

Yadai looked at the little count standing on the high chair with his hands behind his back. After a long while, he said, "Then all three of us will join the temporary artisans..."

"No, Yadai."

Reinog suddenly interrupted him. "You can identify medicinal herbs, and you were once an alchemist's apprentice. When you register your information later, have the record keeper write that down."

He said, "Do you remember the ointment those two knight captains threw to us in the mountain forest?"

Yadai nodded. "I remember."

Reinog said, "There must be an extremely skilled alchemist in Visas or Komoy Fort."

"If you can be assigned to study and assist under him, your treatment will definitely be much better than becoming a temporary artisan."

Yadai said, "But that alchemy master might not think highly of me..."

"Besides, Sara's shoulder injury has not completely healed. Her status... and she is not very strong. If I become a temporary artisan with you, I can still help..."

Sara shook her head and interrupted him. "I'll be fine. You should seize this opportunity, Yadai."

Reinog said, "How will you know whether you can do it without trying? Even if that alchemy master does not take a liking to you, Yadai, you can still come back and join the temporary artisans. There would be no problem at all."

Yadai finally nodded in agreement.

When it was their turn to register their information, he had the record keeper write down that he could identify medicinal herbs and other such details.

That parchment was specially pulled out and placed atop another stack.

It would later be handed directly to the count.

After Reinog, Yadai, and Sara finished registering their information, they joined a line of people waiting to the side. Before long, knights and several soldiers led them toward the city.

Yadai could not help looking at the person leading the way at the front and discovered that it was Platoon Leader Andrew, who had been standing behind Captain Edward earlier.

The Trak people walking alongside them wore rather complicated expressions.

There was excitement and joy, but also worry and hesitation...

At last, one man could not help asking the soldier beside him, "Does the Gadayat Kingdom treat slaves this well?!"

The soldier was a young man. Hearing that, he laughed, his expression proud. "Only in our count's territory do slaves receive such good treatment!"

"It is not only slaves. Commoners are treated the same way."

"Our count is Gadayat's finest lord! Being able to come to Komoy Fort is a stroke of luck bestowed upon you by the Creator God."

Hearing this, Reinog could not help asking, "Has anyone here... truly shed their status as a slave?"

The soldier said, "That is not considered anything unusual in the count's territory."

"Just stay in the city for a few days, and you will naturally hear about it. Or you can simply ask someone."

"I can tell you now that Sir Fernandi Edward was once a slave sold from Gaina to Gadayat..."

"What?!"

Reinog and the others could not help revealing shocked, astonished expressions.

They had never expected to hear such news.

The soldier calmly continued, "Sir Edward was bought back from the royal capital by the count for one gold coin. Later, on Par Mountain... Sir Edward became a knight captain again, and also..."

The soldier secretly glanced at Mike Andrew, who was walking at the front, then said softly with envy, "Platoon Leader Andrew was once a slave in Komoy Fort."

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"Later, he joined the army in Visas, seized the opportunity, and accumulated enough merit. He successfully shed his status as a slave and became a free citizen of Visas."

"Our platoon leader's current goal is to accumulate enough merit again so that his parents can shed their slave status as well..."

Reinog and the others no longer knew what expression they should wear. They could only stand there with their mouths open, blankly listening to the soldier speak.

The soldier said, "So you truly do not need to worry that there will be lies or deception in the count's territory. Once you settle down and enough time passes, you will naturally understand that our count is the kindest!"

Of course, he was also the cutest.

The soldier muttered that in his heart, not daring to say the final sentence aloud.

He said, "The count has said that as long as you work hard enough, anything is possible."

"I used to be a commoner with no real abilities, but now my family lives happily and comfortably."

"Praise the lord! Being able to live in Visas must be a blessing granted by the Creator God."