It had been exactly one month since Louis arrived at the Red Tide Territory.
He was currently standing on a temporarily erected wooden platform, looking down at the crowd gathered below.
Twelve knights in iron armor stood in two rows, maintaining a uniform posture, making the lord's figure appear even more majestic in the firelight.
“Whoosh!”
As the horn's sound pierced the night sky, the Red Tide Territory's comndation ceremony officially began.
Over thirty Red Tide Knights knelt on one knee.
With their left fists against their chests and their right hands gripping their knight's swords, they recited in unison the oath Louis had prepared in advance:
“We believe in the Dragon Ancestor, and follow the Lord of Red Tide!
Loyal to Louis Calvin, we swear with blood and sweat to defend the glory of Red Tide!”
The powerful oath echoed through the square.
Then, the entire square erupted in deafening cheers; soldiers banged on their shields, farrs raised their hoes and wooden staffs, and even the children excitedly shouted along.
Louis slightly raised his hand, signaling for everyone to quiet down.
The clamor gradually subsided, and everyone's gaze was fixed on the young lord.
Louis then slowly began to speak: “It has been one month since we arrived at the Red Tide Territory. A month ago, this was still a barren and desolate land.
We also faced trials such as poverty, hunger, blizzards, and wild beast attacks.”
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the assembled people.
“But now we have overco the first stage of the crisis, and this is all thanks to you.
It was you who built the first houses to shelter from the cold, ensuring that children and the elderly no longer slept out in the wind and snow.
It was you who caught the first river fish, filling the stomachs of your brothers and sisters.
It was you who cultivated the first farmland and sowed the first seeds, giving hope to this barren land.”
“All of this is because of you!” Louis declared passionately, “It is your sweat that has brought life to this frozen land!”
In the crowd, most people clenched their fists upon hearing this, their eyes reddened with emotion.
When had they ever heard a lord attribute Credit to commoners? In the past, it was already a blessing not to be whipped.
Louis's gaze swept over the people in the square: “Of course, with rit cos reward. In the Red Tide Territory, no matter who you are, if you are diligent enough and loyal enough, you will receive your due reward.
Next, I will comnd the heroes who have made outstanding contributions to the Red Tide Territory.”
As his words fell, the entire square instantly fell silent. Everyone held their breath, their eyes fixed on the figure on the high platform.
“Agricultural Affairs Officer Mick.”
The middle-aged man, always with a stoop, stumbled forward, his old, mud-stained leather boots slipping on the wooden steps.
But when he looked up at the lord, his spine, which had not been straight for decades, beca perfectly erect.
“Mick, you optimized the land cultivation thods, bringing life to this barren land.”
Louis pointed to the distant farmland, which was already taking shape.
“Therefore, I officially promote you to Agricultural Superintendent, granting you greater authority over farmland managent, and bestowing upon you an additional plot of land for experintal planting.”
Tears stread down Mick's face: “Thank you, my lord.”
A round of warm applause erupted in the crowd, and many farrs cheered excitedly.
“Craftsman Representative Mac.”
An old man with sun-darkened skin strode onto the stage, his face full of pride.
“You have shown extraordinary talent in architectural design, making the houses of the Red Tide Territory stronger and warr, laying the foundation for the developnt of the territory.”
Louis pointed to the rows of semi-underground collective dwellings around the square.
“Therefore, I have decided to grant you the authority to lead the artisan team, and at the sa ti, provide more financial support.”
Mac trembled with excitent: “This subordinate will not fail your expectations!”
“Fisheries Officer Luke.”
...
Next, over a dozen people were called to the stage. Their identities varied: there were knights, artisans, hunters, farrs...
Most of these people were of humble birth, so even slaves.
Louis stepped forward and personally presented each recipient with a specially made labor dal.
Due to limited conditions, it was rely a wooden dal that Louis had a carpenter ticulously carve.
However, the recipients held it carefully, as if afraid of dropping it.
After the awards were presented, Louis called out to the people below: “These people have given their sweat and blood for the prosperity of the Red Tide Territory and have made imnse contributions. Let us thank them with applause!”
“Clap, clap, clap!”
Thunderous applause suddenly erupted, echoing throughout the square.
These awardees stood tall, their eyes filled with tears of excitent, and the dals on their chests reflected dazzling light under the glow of the bonfire.
They were just ordinary fishern, hunters, artisans, or even low-status slaves.
But at this mont, they stood under everyone's gaze, receiving the highest comndation of the Red Tide Territory.
This was a feeling they had never experienced in their lives.
If Louis had asked them to go through fire and water at this mont, they would not have hesitated.
“Of course, there are others who have also put in effort, and we also give them applause.”
As soon as his words fell, applause erupted again, this ti not just for those on the high platform, but for everyone present.
Because everyone was, in their own way, making the Red Tide Territory stronger.
Then Louis's gaze slowly swept over the people in the square who wore tattered clothes and still bore slave brands.
They lowered their heads, their eyes flickering with faint light, their hearts filled with unease and anticipation.
“Today, I will also fulfill another one of my promises.”
The slaves' heartbeats suddenly quickened, and the air seed to solidify for a mont.
“The following individuals...”
Louis began to read a series of nas, all of whom were slaves who had perford exceptionally well in labor, construction, and developnt over the past month.
Those whose nas were called had expressions of disbelief on their faces.
It wasn't until soone next to them nudged them that they reacted, trembling as they walked onto the stage.
“You are officially granted freedom today.”
Louis waved his hand, and the knights stepped forward and burned their slave certificates.
They imdiately burst into tears, kneeling and kowtowing, thanking Louis for his kindness in this manner.
But at the sa ti, the eyes of the slaves who had not yet been liberated flickered with complex emotions.
There was envy, regret, but more than anything, there was hope.
If they perford a little better, it would definitely be their turn next ti.
“Loyalty and ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) talent are more important than bloodline,” Louis's voice echoed through the square.
“From today onwards, the Red Tide Territory will establish a regular reward system. Anyone who contributes to the territory will receive a corresponding reward!”
These words caused the square to erupt, and everyone's faces glowed with hope.
Changing one's social class was no longer an unattainable dream, but a reality that could be achieved through effort!
“To the prosperity of the Red Tide Territory, cheers!” Louis raised his glass.
The liquor reflected the bonfire, tinged with a fiery glow.
“Cheers!”
Everyone raised their cups and let out a deafening cheer.
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