Francois began the first task for the Blade of Freedom, a name he had come up with only three seconds earlier: recruiting.
Disappointingly, few people responded.
They still lacked the courage to change the way things were.
Annan wanted to treat the Rikaner Kingdom like a frog in slowly heating water, but these people were another group of frogs in the same pot.
"Can we... leave now?" a resident asked cautiously.
"No."
At that moment, Francois found himself wondering what Annan would do if he were here.
Well... this would never happen to him. Annan only had to stand there, and people naturally wanted to listen.
Francois was no Annan. He could use the Faceless Baron's methods instead. A threat of death, for example.
"Sorry, but I can't let you leave." Francois chose a somewhat gentler approach after all. "Dahl, your Saltfish Gang has a Cellar—"
"Mr. Olmedo Just Right..." Lame Bob suddenly interrupted him and looked him in the eye. "If you trust me, leave them to me."
After a moment's thought, Francois said, "All right, but you don't have much time."
"This won't take long."
Lame Bob stepped before the uneasy crowd and spoke in a kindly voice that gradually calmed them. "You don't need to be afraid. After all, I'm standing here too."
"Uncle Babu, did they capture you too?" a resident asked.
"'Capture' is a strange word for people who just gave you a filling meal." Lame Bob chuckled. "I know what you're afraid of... To be honest, I feel the same way."
As everyone watched, he spoke slowly. "When I heard the news, I was lost and frightened. I worried it wouldn't be what I hoped... Then I saw Mr. Olmedo Just Right, and I finally breathed a sigh of relief."
"How much longer do