The designated slaves hesitated, stepping forward with unease in their hearts.
Louis slowly began to speak only after they had taken their positions.
“In the days gone by, you have put forth trendous effort for the construction of the Red Tide Territory. Therefore, today I will give you the reward you deserve.”
Without any superfluous words, Louis directly reached out and took the slave contracts from Silco’s hand, tossing them into the bonfire.
The raging flas consud the characters that symbolized their enslaved status.
“From today onwards, you are no longer slaves, but freen!”
Everyone was stunned, their breathing even stopping for a mont.
“Freedom...?!”
The slaves looked at each other in disbelief, their eyes filled with shock, as if they couldn’t trust their own eyes and ears.
The next second, the crowd completely erupted!
“Freen?! We are freen?!”
“Great Lord!”
“Oh my god... freen... I... I am a freeman?!”
A middle-aged slave with a weathered face suddenly collapsed to the ground, repeatedly banging his forehead against the hard frozen earth, not stopping even as blood seeped out.
His voice was hoarse and broken from excessive excitent: “Great Lord! Benefactor!”
“Great Lord! You are the savior sent by the heavens!” A young female slave covered her face and wept, her shoulders shaking uncontrollably.
And an elderly slave tremblingly raised his hands, muttering softly.
It was as if he was praying to the Dragon Ancestor, and also as if he was offering his most devout gratitude to Louis.
...
anwhile, the other slaves around them widened their eyes, looking in shock at those kneeling on the ground.
They were filled with regret, thinking why they hadn’t worked harder; perhaps they would have beco freen at that very mont.
Once the scene quieted down a bit, Louis proceeded to drop an even heavier bombshell:
“From today onwards, more than ten slaves who have contributed to the Red Tide Territory will beco freen every month.
As long as you are willing to work hard and contribute to the Red Tide Territory, each of you will have the opportunity to beco a freeman, and even own your own land!”
All the slaves collectively looked at Louis in disbelief.
If the group of people who were just freed gave them a glimr of hope,
Then now Louis had given them a true future!
As slaves, they were rely Louis’s property; he could arbitrarily decide their life and death.
And their ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ children and grandchildren would still be slaves, unable to ever rise up for generations!
But now Louis was telling them that as long as they worked hard, they would have the chance to escape their slave status and beco truly free people!
For them, this ant stepping from hell into the human world.
Several quick-witted slaves knelt down, shouting: “Great Master!”
Soon, more people followed, their voices rising and falling, sweeping across the entire square like a tide.
Their voices were hoarse and trembling, filled with uncontrollable fervor.
“Great Master!”
“Great Master!!”
Their voices grew louder and more unified, finally converging into a deafening chorus.
It was a cry that burst forth from the depths of their souls, echoing under the night sky, lingering for a long ti.
“Great Master!!!”
The knights on the side looked at this scene, exchanging glances.
Although they had already witnessed many miracles from the Lord, this scene before them still left them deeply shaken.
One man, a few words, had turned a group of numb, walking dead slaves into fervent believers?
So younger knights were even a bit at a loss.
Why did these lowly slaves now look at Louis as if they were worshiping a deity?
And Louis, standing on the high rock, was filled with emotion in his eyes.
Just a verbal promise could have such imnse power.
As a successor, he naturally did not approve of the slave system.
The slave system certainly had to be abolished, but it had to be done little by little.
If he were to completely open up freedom all at once, he feared it would cause chaos.
But by gradually liberating them using a reward chanism, it could also energize the slaves and allow the entire Red Tide Territory to develop rapidly.
In fact, in the Red Tide Territory, the difference in status between slaves and freen was not that great.
All the harvests of the freen would still have to be handed over to Louis for unified distribution.
It was rely a way to differentiate two classes; having upward mobility made it easier to stimulate their enthusiasm.
“Of course, you all are also indispensable.” Louis shifted his gaze, looking at the soldiers and knights standing in the outer circle.
He waved his hand, and the attendants behind him imdiately and deftly opened several heavy wooden crates.
The bonfire’s light reflected off the neatly arranged thick leather armor and warm boots inside the boxes.
At this mont, almost all the soldiers’ gazes were firmly attracted by the supplies in the boxes.
“All soldiers, one set of beast hide armor and one pair of northern leather boots each.
mbers of the Knight Order will receive an additional reward of a complete wolf pelt each, which can be used as armor padding.”
As soon as his words fell, the soldiers imdiately rushed towards the boxes!
This was the Northland, where cold and poverty made resources exceptionally scarce.
Many soldiers still wore worn-out boots, and it was common for their feet to go numb while patrolling in the ice and snow.
Having a new pair of boots and new leather armor was sothing they had dread of.
The attendants distributed the thick leather armor pieces to the soldiers one by one.
“Oh my god! It’s real leather armor!”
“These boots... these are the best leather boots in the Northland!”
“Lord, are you serious?”
They excitedly accepted the equipnt, their eyes filled with emotion and their hearts with gratitude.
Louis, standing on the high rock, watched the soldiers below, who were so excited they were losing control, a slight smile playing on his lips.
These armors and boots were things he had purchased in Frost Halberd City in advance, originally intended to equip the soldiers.
In the Northland, all resources were scarce.
Any seemingly insignificant gift was enough to win people’s unwavering loyalty.
Moreover, these rewards were all things Louis had learned about through the intelligence system, things they needed most right now.
It was truly hitting the nail on the head; how could they not be overwheld with gratitude?
After the items were distributed, the feast had to continue, and several golden-brown, glistening roasted ga animals were brought up.
Hot at juice dripped into the flas, making a soft “sizzle” sound.
The rich aroma of at perated the air, tantalizing everyone’s taste buds.
Everyone received a piece; even the lowest-ranking slaves were fairly given a share.
When the first bite of delicious roasted at entered their mouths, the long-lost warmth and satisfaction brought many to tears.
“It’s so delicious...”
“I haven’t eaten real at in years...”
Laughter and joy echoed across the open ground, and people danced around the bonfire.
A Northland wanderer excitedly played a bone flute, and several indigenous won joined hands, spinning and leaping.
The soldiers were not to be outdone, humming along and even starting to laughingly compete in dance moves around the bonfire.
Children ran in groups across the open ground, their faces showing the purest joy.
And on the highest boulder, Louis quietly overlooked the scene.
As the Lord, these people had placed their hopes on him.
He had to lead them to survive, and even prosper, in this cold land.
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