Lafeier was caught off guard.
Having support was a good thing, but it went beyond the predetermined plan…
If it were him, he could definitely use this wave of support to further expand his advantage.
But now, it was Tina who had to face this unexpected situation.
The script had never accounted for this kind of accident.
Could Tina, who had been following Lafeier’s plan completely, overcome this hurdle?
Just in case, Lafeier tensed his nerves.
If Tina failed to handle this, today’s plan would probably go to hell.
Just as he was thinking of a countermeasure, Tina slowly approached those half-orcs.
“Really? You have to tell the truth, okay?”
Tina mimicked the tone Lafeier used with her in private, asking warmly, her right hand gently resting on the half-orc girl’s shoulder.
Her voice was gentle, her eyes tender—nothing like the demon who had sliced people into pieces.
The half-orc girl was stunned for a moment, then replied firmly, “Re… really!”
After saying that, she tugged at her collar. “There’s still the smell of meat on it!”
Tina leaned in and sniffed. “Indeed there is.”
Returning to the center of the crowd, Tina said loudly:
“Everyone, I’ve just verified it. Those girls spoke the truth!”
“The Warden has indeed given them sufficient preferential treatment.”
“Therefore, we have reason to believe that the Warden’s proposals are possible.”
“But,” Tina shifted her tone, “to defend the rights of us hybrids and to ensure the prison fulfills today’s promises, we need a guarantee.”
Hearing this, Lafeier breathed a sigh of relief.
Good. Tina had brought the issue back on track.
Arguments about whether Lafeier was a good person or whether his promises were valid would only complicate the situation and do nothing to achieve the goal.
Tina quickly glossed over that topic, steering the discussion back to the intended path. It seemed easy, but only in hindsight could one say that.
When actually in the moment, who could think that far ahead?
What a natural talent, Lafeier marveled.
“A guarantee? What kind of guarantee do you want?”
Lafeier frowned deeply and demanded.
“Heh,” Tina let out a cold laugh, taking over the conversation. “We want to take over the prison’s defensive forces.”
The moment she finished, the entire hall fell silent.
The guards were all stunned—how dare you bring up such a condition!?
The hybrids stared at each other in confusion. Take over the defensive forces? What does that even mean?
Shouldn’t it be more meat every meal and rest every day?
Safitiya laughed. “Idiots, what’s the use of more meat every meal!”
“Don’t you think they’ll just not keep their promises once they’ve said all those flowery words?”
“Do you really think a riot like this can happen anytime? Naive.”
“Only by holding the weapon in your own hand can you defend your right to eat meat.”
Hearing Safitiya’s explanation, the hybrids seemed to ponder.
But soon they shook their heads. “Meat still smells better.”
“Hopeless.” Safitiya sighed, her gaze falling on Tina.
“What an extraordinary person.”
“But… to actually dare bring up such a condition.”
Lafeier was also stunned, though of course, he was faking it.
Human nature is about compromise.
If you want to remove a window, they might not allow it. But if you say you’ll tear off the roof, they’ll agree to let you remove the window.
This situation was the same.
If he proposed forming a hybrid unit, the guards would absolutely refuse.
But if he proposed taking over the entire prison’s defense force, then forming a hybrid unit became acceptable.
And Lafeier would have to haggle with Tina a bit more, to make the guards believe he was really trying to negotiate.
“You say,” Lafeier said in disbelief after a moment of silence, “you want to take over the prison’s defensive forces?”
“No, absolutely not.”
“Where has there ever been a rule allowing hybrids to guard the walls? That goes against the heavens!”
“Besides, if anyone found out, we’d definitely get a major investigation from the Imperial Judicial Bureau!”
“When they uncover the tax evasion, we’re all doomed!”
Upon hearing Lafeier’s words, Tina seemed to ponder.
“Indeed, if someone reports us, it would be very troublesome.”
“But we must have a way to defend our rights at critical moments.”
“In that case,” Lafeier gritted his teeth, extremely unwilling, “I can allow you to establish a special forces unit.”
Then Lafeier added:
“Letting you control all defensive forces is obviously unrealistic.”
“But if the numbers are small, it’s negotiable.”
“I can hire a small number of you under the guise of assisting the guards to form a unit.”
“That way, we don’t have to worry about being reported by malicious people, and it ensures you have the strength to protect your rights when necessary.”
After speaking, Tina fell into thought.
Behind her, the guards were all moved to tears:
“Good heavens, Lord Warden has sacrificed so much for us!”
“If it weren’t for our poor management, Lord Lafeier wouldn’t have been forced into such a humiliating position!”
“Lord Lafeier’s kindness is beyond repayment!”
…
Watching the loyalty points skyrocketing, Lafeier had to hold back a huge laugh.
‘What a delight! If I were transmigrated into a gal game, I’d definitely unlock a harem ending!’
After a long while, Tina finally nodded. “I agree to your proposal.”
“But I need to consult the will of my compatriots.”
“Is anyone opposed to this proposal?” Tina asked loudly.
It would have been unnecessary to invite trouble—just let everyone tacitly approve the proposal. If Lafeier weren’t a transmigrator, he would have chosen that safe route.
But recalling his experience reading books in his previous life, Lafeier ultimately added this step to the script.
The Silent Vote Method.
Few people are willing to be the one to stick their neck out, especially on matters involving “denial” or “opposition”—things that offend others.
Even if there were indeed some who disagreed, seeing no one else oppose, they would mistakenly think everyone agreed and choose silence.
Afraid of being seen as “different,” they chose silence.
The bandwagon effect gave rise to this Spiral of Silence.
The more the opposition dared not speak, the smaller their voice became, making the supporters appear even more overwhelming.
Even if it was just an illusion, it resulted in a “unanimous agreement.”
Tina, as the strong one entrusted with proxy authority, had already approved the proposal.
Those hybrids who had never received an education couldn’t see through the true nature of this false “democratic vote.”
The result was inevitable: not a single voice of opposition in the room.
“No one speaks, so that means everyone agrees.”
Tina looked at Lafeier and extended her hand.
“Pleasure cooperating.”
Lafeier also reached out and shook her hand, as a symbol of the successful conclusion of the negotiation.
“Pleasure cooperating.”
This scene, of course, was also carefully arranged.
A noble aristocrat shaking hands in cooperation with a lowly hybrid was absolutely explosive in this era.
A half-orc girl, seeing this, couldn’t help but shout, “Go… good!”
Following that came the hybrids’ prolonged cheers.
They didn’t understand the intricacies, but they could tell one thing:
Starting tomorrow, their lives would change dramatically!
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