Kruger's face twisted with open disgust.
"Are you lying to yourself, Carlos? Do you truly believe slaves would fight for their masters—for the privilege of remaining slaves? You think such loyalty is born from gratitude?"
He rose from his chair and pointed a rigid finger at him.
"In Prussia we have a word: Kadavergehorsam—the obedience of a corpse. That is what a slave gives you. He will stand where you place him and die where you command, but he will never truly fight. To fight requires ego… the belief that one's own life holds value worth defending. The slaves you claim would resist freedom would do so only because their master ordered it—not because they believe in chains."
Kruger seized a heavy iron wrench from the table and raised it in his hand.
