The slaves who had been called forward hesitated as they stepped out, their hearts filled with unease.
Louis waited patiently until they stood still, then slowly spoke, "In the past, you all gave tremendous effort for the construction of Red Tide Territory. So today, I will give you the reward you deserve."
Without any further explanation, Louis directly took the slave contracts from Silco's hand and tossed them into the bonfire.
The flames quickly devoured the papers that symbolized their status as slaves.
"From today onward, you are no longer slaves—but freemen!"
Everyone was stunned. Even their breathing halted for a moment.
"Freedom...?"
The slaves glanced at one another in disbelief, their eyes wide with shock as if they couldn't believe what they had just seen and heard.
Then, in the next instant, the entire crowd erupted!
"Freemen?! We are freemen?!"
"Great Lord!"
"Oh my god… freemen… I… I am a freeman?!"
A middle-aged slave with a weathered face suddenly dropped to his knees and prostrated himself on the frozen ground. He began to slam his forehead into the hard earth, not stopping even as blood seeped from the wounds.
His voice was hoarse and broken with excitement. "Great Lord! Our benefactor!"
"Great Lord! You are a savior sent by the heavens!" A young female slave covered her face and wept bitterly, her shoulders trembling uncontrollably.
An elderly slave raised his hands toward the sky, trembling as he murmured softly. It was as if he were praying to the Dragon Ancestor—or perhaps offering his most devout gratitude to Louis.
...
Meanwhile, the rest of the slaves stared in shock at those kneeling on the ground.
Regret filled many hearts. Why hadn't I worked harder? they thought. Maybe I could have become a freeman too...
Once the scene calmed down a bit, Louis dropped an even greater bombshell:
"From today onward, at least ten slaves who contribute to Red Tide Territory will be freed every month.
"As long as you are willing to work hard and contribute, each of you will have the chance to become a freeman—and even own your own land!"
The slaves turned to look at Louis again, this time with eyes filled with disbelief and awe.
If witnessing their comrades be freed gave them a flicker of hope...
Then Louis's words now gave them a future.
As slaves, they had merely been Louis's property. He could decide their fate at any moment. Their children would inherit their slave status—endless generations locked in chains.
But now, Louis had told them that as long as they worked hard, they had a real chance of being freed—of becoming truly independent people.
This wasn't just a new rule.
For them, this was stepping out of hell and into the human world.
Some quick-witted slaves immediately fell to their knees, shouting, "Great Master!"
More people quickly followed, and soon, a tide of voices rose and fell across the entire plaza.
"Great Master!"
"Great Master!!"
The sound grew louder, more synchronized, and then erupted into a deafening chant that echoed under the cold Northland night sky.
"Great Master!!!"
The knights standing on the edges of the gathering exchanged glances.
Although they had witnessed many of Louis's accomplishments, the scene before them still left them shaken.
Could just a few words from their lord really transform these once-numb slaves—these walking corpses—into passionate believers?
Some of the younger knights looked confused.
Why did these lowly slaves now look upon Louis as if he were a god?
Louis, standing atop a high stone platform, was also moved.
To think a single promise could hold such powerful influence.
As a successor, Louis never approved of slavery.
Of course, slavery had to be abolished—but it needed to be done gradually.
If he granted full freedom to everyone at once, it could plunge the entire region into chaos.
But by introducing a reward mechanism, he could inspire the slaves to work harder and also ensure a smoother transition, enabling Red Tide Territory to grow more quickly.
In fact, in this territory, the difference between slaves and freemen wasn't that stark.
Even as freemen, their harvests would still be submitted to Louis for centralized distribution.
But by creating two distinct social classes—with the possibility of upward movement—Louis could better motivate the people.
"Of course, all of you are indispensable too," Louis said, turning his gaze to the outer circle where the soldiers and knights stood.
He waved his hand, and the attendants behind him immediately opened several heavy wooden crates.
The bonfire's warm glow reflected off the contents: rows of thick leather armor and warm boots neatly arranged inside.
At that moment, nearly every soldier's eyes were glued to the open crates.
"All soldiers will each receive a set of beast-hide armor and a pair of Northland leather boots.
"Members of the Knight Order will receive an additional reward: a complete wolf pelt that can be used as armor padding."
As soon as he finished speaking, the soldiers surged forward!
This was the Northland, where poverty and cold weather made every resource precious.
Many soldiers still wore ragged boots, and their feet often went numb while patrolling in the snow.
To receive warm new boots and armor was like a dream come true.
The attendants distributed the thick leather armor and boots piece by piece.
"Oh my god! It's real leather armor!"
"These boots… they're the best boots in the entire Northland!"
"Lord, are you truly giving us these?"
They accepted the items with gratitude, their eyes glowing and hearts full.
Standing atop the stone platform, Louis looked down at the excited soldiers, a faint smile on his lips.
These boots and armor were things he had carefully prepared ahead of time, purchased in advance from Frost Halberd City, originally intended to equip the troops.
In this barren land, even the smallest gesture could earn people's loyalty.
And these rewards? They were exactly what the soldiers needed most—something Louis had identified through his intelligence system.
It was like striking the snake at its vital point.
How could the people not be moved?
Once the items were handed out, the feast resumed. Several roasted game animals, golden and glistening, were brought to the bonfire.
Hot juices from the meat dripped onto the flames, creating a sizzling sound.
The rich aroma spread through the air, stirring the appetite of everyone present.
Everyone got a portion—even the lowest-ranked slaves were served fairly.
As the first bite of freshly roasted meat entered their mouths, many couldn't hold back their tears.
"It's so delicious..."
"I haven't had real meat in years..."
Laughter and joy echoed in the clearing as people began dancing around the bonfire.
A Northland refugee joyfully played a bone flute, while several local women joined hands, spinning and leaping.
Not to be outdone, the soldiers laughed and competed in dance steps, circling the fire with cheerful chants.
Children ran across the clearing in small groups, their faces filled with innocent joy.
And atop the tallest stone, Louis watched them all in silence.
As the lord of this land, these people had entrusted their hopes to him.
He had to lead them—not only to survive, but to thrive—in this harsh northern land.
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