"Where do you think we found the original keys to the gates?" Vyaghra said with a faint smile before exiting the tunnel.
Beyond the tunnel, in the village of the Grade 3 mines, thousands of people were gathered, and before them, where Roland the watchman used to give us tasks, Jambavan and U stood on a raised platform.
"Greetings, Sir Morning Star," Jambavan announced the mont I erged from the tunnel.
A formal greeting from Jambavan, the most unruly among us, was the last thing I expected when I stepped out of the cave.
"Hey, what's wrong with him?" I whispered to Vyaghra.
"When you fell unconscious, Jambavan and Her Majesty took care of the mortals here. They made sure that people wouldn't grow unstable, rebellious, or disorderly in the absence of the leader. So of the people already assud that Jambavan and Her Majesty are the real leaders of Forlorn City, so Jambavan is clarifying the hierarchy by formally greeting you."
"Oh, so that's what it was," I figured as I climbed the stage.
"Gr-greetings, Sir Morning Star," U said in a low, embarrassed tone, looking away.
"Gr… greetings, Lady Kitsune," I replied, equally shy as the events of the room replayed in my mind.
"Why are these two behaving like newlyweds?" Jambavan whispered in Vyaghra's ear.
"I don't know, and don't talk disrespectfully about Her Majesty," Vyaghra growled, but decided not to bicker since it wasn't the right place or ti.
"Raj, hold this paper when ya speak," Jambavan said, handing a small paper on which a magic circle was drawn. "Her Majesty told to give this to ya. It contains the spell to lace yer voice with Soulforce so everyone can hear ya clearly."
"Oh, th-thanks, Her Majesty—Lady Kitsu—I-I an U. Thanks, U," I blurted, unable to pick the right word.
U, not even replying, turned her face to the other side.
"Shit, this is embarrassing!" I scread inwardly.
"Don't get nervous," Jambavan laughed. "It's just a speech."
Jambavan, my dear friend, you completely misunderstood the reason behind my nervousness.
Taking a deep breath, I stepped forward, shifting my expression from flustered to commanding as I began,
"Six days ago, in the Rite of the Red Harvest, I beheaded Victor Kale and took over his position. I already said this before, but since this is our first official eting, I will say this again. My na is Lucifer Morning Star, and like it or not, I'm your new leader."
The crowd began murmuring, their voices laced with dissatisfaction.
"One leader gone, now another arrived. What change does it make for us?" one of them scoffed.
"Hey, don't talk too loudly. He might hear you," the one beside him murmured.
"Yeah, you should watch your tongue," another added. "Didn't you see how he killed Victor and his strongest people so easily?"
Before the crowd's murmur could intensify, I spoke again in a louder voice, letting my words reach every ear in the Grade 3 mines.
"Today I gathered you all here to declare so new rules and change the previous ones. As for my first order, I permanently abolish the slave system."
The slaves exclaid in shock and joy the mont they heard my announcent.
"Di-did I just hear that correctly? We are no longer slaves?"
"But what difference does that make?"
"Shh… let him speak further."
"From now on, you are my employees, and I will pay you based on the number of soul stones you mine.
You have to mine at least fifty kilograms a day to be eligible for the minimum paynt of one silver coin per day. For every extra fifty kilograms you mine, one silver coin will be added to your salary.
You can also take a day off after working for six consecutive days, for which one silver coin will be credited to your salary whether you work or not."
This ti, strangely, no murmurs or exclamations echoed from the crowd.
"What happened? Is the money not enough?" I thought inwardly. "Do I have to increase their salary to two silver coins?"
While I was having these thoughts, Daniel's voice ca from the gathering.
"Sir Morning Star, may I ask if you are jesting with us?"
"Why would I jest? Everything I said is true," I replied plainly before asking, "Why do you ask? Is the salary not enough?"
Daniel's eyes widened in shock at my statent, but he imdiately pulled himself together and said with a relieved smile, "It's quite the contrary, sir. Your words seed too good to be true, so none of us could believe it."
"D-does that an Sir Morning Star was serious about what he just said?"
The crowd rippled with startled gasps.
"One silver coin for only fifty kilograms of mining?"
"We can also take a day off after working six days!!!"
"Forget that, didn't you hear he said we can return to the surface as well? It's been more than fifty years since I saw sunlight."
…
"You all are being too disrespectful," Vyaghra's low voice, laced with Soulforce, echoed, turning the entire crowd silent.
As they readied themselves to hear , I spoke again,
"The salary and benefits I just ntioned are only for the non-awakeners who will be working in the Grade 3 mines.
As for the employees of the Grade 2 and Grade 1 mines, they will each receive two and three tis those earnings respectively. Besides, there are many other benefits like paid leave, retirent pension, and workman's compensation ntioned in this contract that you will soon receive."
I took out a bundle of papers from my space ring and handed it to Vyaghra. "Make a copy of these so everyone can receive one."
"What is this?" Vyaghra asked.
"It's a contract for the employees to sign."
"Rather than a simple contract like this, which can be broken without consequences, why don't you use a soul oath?"
"What the heck is that?"
"Continue your speech. I will handle it myself," Vyaghra sighed, giving up.
"Hehe, thanks," I said before turning back to the eager audience as I declared the final words of my speech,
"Anyone who isn't interested in working here, or who is too old or physically unable for hard labor, may leave this place.
Those who want to leave will instantly receive ten gold coins as compensation and will be provided with basic accommodation in the city."
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