8:00 AM, Udon Mining Field.
Over four thousand imprisoned samurai gathered at Mining Plaza No.1.
Alongside them were more than a thousand Wano Country craftsmen from the Weapon Factory.
Every samurai and craftsman wore expressions of unease, deeply worried about their future.
"Boss Hyogoro, do you know what 'Co., Ltd.' means?" Former Kuri underworld leader Yatappe sidled up to the small blue-haired old man.
"I don't know either!" replied the former Wano underworld boss Hyogoro, now the frail old man Ahin, shaking his head.
"Damn those Beasts! What new torture are they planning to force our submission this time?" gritted former Ringo underworld leader Cho.
"A new broom sweeps clean. That man Luo Xia replaced Queen as overseer of Udon—he probably wants to make some changes," speculated Tsunagoro.
"Who knows what he's planning, but that food looks so tempting! I can't remember the last time I tasted meat!" Blood-Writing Omasa stared at the mountain of Large Bone Meat, eyes gleaming, drool dripping.
"Idiot Omasa! That's the enemy's trap—don't fall for it so easily!" Yatappe scolded.
"Says the one who should wipe his own drool first! You've got zero credibility!"
The aroma of the piled Large Bone Meat filled the air. Huge iron barrels overflowed with the sweet scent of Red Bean Mochi Soup, alongside white rice balls and colorful Dumplings... Just the sight made the prisoners salivate.
Since arriving at Udon, they'd worked themselves to the bone only to receive a few meager dumplings—barely enough to stave off hunger, let alone feel full. Meat had been beyond their reach for years.
Chronic malnutrition had deteriorated their health, weakening their ability to work. Less mining meant less food, which meant even less strength to mine—a vicious cycle.
"Hahaha! I know what Lord Luo Xia is planning!" declared one Beast pirate with an air of revelation. "This feast must be to reward us! We'll gorge ourselves in front of the samurai, wasting food to torment them!"
"Eh? But isn't that what we always do?" questioned another guard.
"True... but what other explanation is there? Surely this isn't for the prisoners!"
"Quiet! Lord Luo Xia is coming!" The pirates snapped to attention, saluting.
Under countless gazes, Luo Xia ascended the prepared platform step by step, his commanding eyes sweeping the crowd.
"Samurai. My name is Luo Xia—you all know this by now. From today onward, Udon belongs to me. I'm in charge here. Any objections?"
Silence. With Queen's example fresh in memory, no one dared protest.
Luo Xia nodded. "Since I'm here, Udon under my management must change. If everything stays the same, what would be the point of my coming?"
"The Udon Weapon Factory, rich in various ores, is now the primary economic source for the Beasts. However, after a brief observation yesterday, I noticed that both ore extraction and weapon production are far too slow... Lax discipline and inefficiency—how can this create maximum value for the Beasts?"
Hearing this, the Beasts' guards, led by Babanuki, tensed up, their unease growing as they silently resolved to exploit the Samurai even more, forcing them to work themselves to the bone.
The imprisoned Samurai clearly thought the same, assuming Luo Xia's methods would be even harsher than Queen's, making their already dire situation worse. Their faces were filled with despair.
"For a factory to maximize profits, every employee must pour their heart into their work, laboring with passion..." Luo Xia continued.
Samurai: "???"
Passion?
Passion your damn ass!
...
"Muahahaha, what an idiot! That fool actually thinks he can tame those unruly Samurai with just a few words? How naive!"
Queen the Plague, observing from the shadows, sneered with contempt.
"There's an irreconcilable blood feud between us Beasts and those Samurai—only violence is the right way to suppress them! That arrogant brat, I can't wait to see him trip over his own feet!"
...
Unfazed by the skeptical gazes around him, Luo Xia stood on the platform and continued, "Starting today, the Mining Field and the Weapon Factory will merge into Udon Co., Ltd. You are all employees of the company and will enjoy its basic benefits..."
"More work, more rewards; less work, less rewards; no work, no rewards—this remains the fundamental rule. But from now on, your rations will no longer be withheld. As long as you complete the daily quota, you'll receive a full day's worth of food."
Samurai: "!" We won't go hungry anymore?
"A day's worth of food is your basic wage. Exceeding the daily quota will earn you additional performance rewards, which you can exchange for extra food—like meat, or even alcohol!"
Samurai: "!!" Meat! Can we really eat meat?
"Of course." Luo Xia noted their reactions with a faint smile before dropping another bombshell. "Besides food and drink, your performance rewards can also be used for..."
Clap clap!
Luo Xia signaled with a gesture.
Page One pressed a button on the Snail Den Den Mushi, and a live broadcast of Bargain Town appeared on the screen.
Seeing the townsfolk struggling on the brink of starvation, many Samurai clenched their fists, their eyes reddening with emotion.
Because those were their parents, their wives and children, their families...
"You all know the state of Wano Country right now. Countless people at the bottom are suffering the same fate—including your loved ones, who can't even secure a single meal a day. So, I'm giving you a chance. You can use your extra rewards to support your families—in other words, earn food for them!"
Samurai: "!!!"
At these words, the Samurai could no longer contain their emotions, their excitement overflowing.
They had arrested Udon on trumped-up charges, turning him into a prisoner who endured inhuman torture and labor daily, struggling merely to survive.
Year after year, day after day, their lives remained shrouded in darkness, devoid of any hope.
But now, their dawn had arrived. Luo Xia's coming was like a beam of light, illuminating their despairing lives.
And it wasn't just them—even their families outside now had a reason to keep living.
At this moment, many Samurai with loved ones yearned to throw themselves into work immediately, to earn rations that would keep their families alive. It didn't matter if they ate less themselves—at least their families could be free from hunger.
Luo Xia observed the Samurai's reactions, his smile deepening. This was only the beginning, yet the proficiency of the Demon Spell Command had already improved.
"Finally, there's one more thing you must know. Our company will implement an Outstanding Employee system. At the end of each year, we will evaluate the performance of every worker. The top 1% in performance will be recognized as Work Activists and rewarded with freedom—reuniting with their families!"
Luo Xia dropped his final bombshell. While hope and family could motivate the workers, to maximize the factory's profits, he needed to dangle an irresistible reward—one that would fully unleash their competitive drive.
The Samurai: "!!!!"
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