Industrial Revolution of the Mage Lords

Chapter 494 The Price of Freedom

"Hick, where are we going?"

"Are those soldiers carrying strange iron rods planning to round us up and execute us?"

"Could it be that they're selling us to mines in other cities? I heard that many mine owners in the Principality of Pharos are also secretly buying slaves to replace miners."

Schick squatted down and fastened his worn-out leather boots, which were so worn that their toes were exposed. He stood up and shook his head. "This is the wrong direction. We're heading north... Towards the border between Barclay and Saint Valen, definitely not to Pharos."

Although he was only in his early thirties, compared to the people who subconsciously gathered around him, Shike was one of the slaves who had stayed in the Valley Mine the longest... because he was born in the Valley Mine.

The children of slaves are still slaves.

He subconsciously raised his hand and rubbed the uneven scars on his face. Although the scars caused by the branding iron had long since healed, whenever he touched them with his hands, he would always remember the unbearable burning pain.

I had thought that my life would be like that of my parents, who had passed away early from overwork, born in a mine and died in a mine, and finally thrown into those bottomless crevices of the mountain...

Unexpectedly, a group of strange soldiers suddenly appeared outside the mine a few days ago. They didn't even wear armor, but used the metal rods in their hands that could release terrifying magic to defeat more than a hundred guards and knights stationed in the mine. They left dozens of bloody corpses and fled.

To the nobles, slaves were nothing more than breathing private property, no different in essence from cattle and horses. In his short life of more than twenty years, Shike had witnessed several internal conflicts among the nobles... The lords of the neighboring fiefdoms had also sent troops to invade the mines, and after stealing many silver ingots that had just been mined and smelted, they were still not satisfied and also abducted many young and strong slaves and sold them to other places in the principality.

These soldiers who defeated the mine guards and directly controlled the entire valley mining area should have come here with the same purpose. Shik just didn't expect that the other party's appetite was so big that they not only transported away all the molten silver ingots, but also took away all the slaves in the entire mining area.

Could it be that the famous Duke Carlo has completely fallen?
They were the first group of slaves who followed these soldiers to Lanjing City, but they were not tied up with ropes and shackles and sent into the city to wait for sale. Instead, they were taken directly to a temporary garrison camp outside the city. A soldier whose identity and rank could not be seen from his clothes and appearance began to preach something loudly to them.

"We are the Northern Army from Saint Valen, serving under the Northern Lord, Lord of Spark City... and also under the command of Lord Harvey, the current ruler of the Principality of Saint Valen." The soldier held up a brass trumpet and pointed at the golden emblem hanging high on the flagpole. "We were dispatched to Bluethorn City to suppress Duke Carlo's recent invasion of our border. We have now completed our mission and will soon be returning to Saint Valen..."

The soldiers held the loudspeakers and tried their best to explain, but the slaves below were all confused. They had no idea about the Northern Lords, the crime of crusade and the like. Among this group of the lowest class of untouchables who couldn't even read and write, only local slaves like Shike who were born and raised there would occasionally have the opportunity to learn to count... but that was basically to assist the mine owners and foremen in counting the minerals and controlling the number of slaves.

Rather than the intrigues among the upper class, they are more concerned about where they will be sold next and whether they will suffer the tragic fate of being mistaken for soldiers from a neighboring country and executed as a form of military merit.

But the soldier's next words made Shike suddenly look up and widen his eyes.

"Don't worry too much. You will have two choices... The first is to release you and send you back to the mines. Duke Carlo will return to Bluethorn City shortly after we leave. Nobles will then naturally send troops to re-enter the mining area, and you can resume your previous life of labor." The soldier paused, then raised his voice and continued, "The second choice is to return to Saint Valen with us. The slave trade is strictly prohibited in our country. The moment you set foot on Saint Valen's soil, you will regain your freedom, no longer subject to cruel enslavement and arbitrary trafficking... The price is that you need to help us transport the camp's supplies back home. We will ensure your personal safety and all the necessary food and rations along the way."

After saying this, he raised his hand and waved. A group of soldiers who had been waiting nearby hurriedly brought over several huge stew pots. Many slaves had already noticed that dozens of fires had been set up beside the camp, and fresh food with a fragrant wheat aroma was bubbling in the stew pots.

"Those who are willing to join us can step forward and receive a portion of oatmeal from the soldiers."

"We won't stop you if you want to stay where you are... You can leave the camp immediately and go wherever you want..."

Shik grinned, thinking, as a slave, where else could he go? Once the mark of slavery was branded on his face, there was no escape from his tragic fate, unless he hid in the mountains and wilderness, fighting wild animals for food.

A low buzz of discussion arose from the crowd, and many people turned their eyes to Hick, as if waiting for him to make the first choice, which was also out of their subconscious trust and reliance on him.

This conspicuous action also attracted the attention of the group of soldiers. A tall and strong soldier with an ugly and beast-like face suddenly walked into the crowd, stood in front of Xike, and said calmly, "Are you the leader of this group?"

Shik felt the other man's imposing presence was more intimidating than those foremen and guards who were just pretending to be powerful. Cold sweat instantly soaked his back. He gritted his teeth and said in a trembling voice, "I've only helped a lot of people in the past, and they're willing to listen to my advice."

The beast-headed soldier nodded and asked bluntly, "So what's your choice?"

After a long silence, Shik summoned up the courage to ask, "After we help you transport the supplies to Saint Valen... how will you accommodate us? These people have no other skills to make a living except mining. Plus... plus they have the slave mark. Even if we go to a neighboring country... there's no place for us to stay."

The beast-headed soldier chuckled, shook his head, and explained, "Do you think we'll just turn against you and abandon you after we've used you? I can promise you right now. If you're willing to follow us all the way back to Saint Valen's northern border, to Spark City nestled in the wasteland, I guarantee that everyone will not only have a free identity but also a job that's enough to sustain themselves. The elderly will receive medical care, and the children will receive an education... You won't have to live in a hut in a mine anymore. Simply work and you'll earn a comfortable, warm home and food."

Xike felt his head buzzing. After a moment's pause, he spoke dryly, "This... this can't be true. Even the local nobles wouldn't bother to use such a crude lie to trick us into working for them..."

Vaughn chuckled and said softly, "Yes, they only needed swords and whips to make you obey... Logically, we could use the same method. There's no need to fabricate a lie in exchange for your labor."

He looked at Hick with a sharp gaze and said quietly, "Are you willing to believe it? Are you willing to believe what you think is a crude lie? Why not take a gamble?"

Just consider it the price you must pay for freedom.

(End of this chapter)