After scanning the surrounding hybrids, Lafeier knew his words had taken effect.
This world placed immense value on noble honor, and the name of the House of Lancaster thundered in everyone’s ears.
Just by invoking those few words, anyone would look up to you.
Lafeier exchanged a glance with Tina, who immediately followed the plan and asked, “Justice? How do you plan to give us justice?”
Lafeier didn’t answer right away. Instead, he calmly walked among the guards and declared loudly, “I know that all of you have suffered many injustices in this prison, endured countless unprovoked oppression and bullying.”
“I deeply apologize for all the misfortunes that have happened in the past.”
“But it wasn’t the prison that wronged you—it was this world that wronged you!”
“Think about it. If it weren’t for the Empire’s system and laws, would you have been so cruelly oppressed? The entire environment is crushing you. How is this prison any different from other prisons, or the countless factories in the Imperial Capital?”
“Let these equally pitiful low-level guards go. They are fundamentally oppressed people too. All the suffering you’ve endured should be borne by the Empire’s nobles.”
“Let them go. I swear by the honor of the House of Lancaster that I will give you a satisfactory answer.”
As he finished speaking, Lafeier felt countless starry-eyed gazes rising behind him.
“Lord Lafeier…”
“Sniffle, Lord Lafeier!”
“So cool!”
[Ding——!]
[Detected a collective sharp rise in the guards’ loyalty!]
…
“Another wave came in. Made bank, heeheehee!”
Lafeier twitched the corner of his mouth and quickly observed the hybrids’ situation.
They looked at each other, then all hesitantly turned to Tina.
“Just as expected.”
In a prison riot, the first to be purged are definitely the cell leaders.
The most obvious trait of cell leaders and their cronies was that they were usually much older than the other hybrids.
After all, seniority was essential to assist the guards in managing the prison.
Thus, they also had more mature minds and decision-making abilities, and greater say.
Now those people were all dead.
What remained were either young hybrids lacking opinions, or older but weaker hybrids who had no room to speak here. Of course, the former made up the vast majority.
These hybrids often dared not step forward to vote, entrusting the decision to the strongest among them.
That entrusted person was undoubtedly Tina. After being trained by Lafeier, she could easily play the part of a strong leader.
But Lafeier still had to admire Tina’s talent—one point and she got it, one lesson and she learned. No wonder she could become the Demon King later.
Tina was equally full of admiration.
As expected of Lord Lafeier, he foresees everything!
It was simply incredible that he could predict the current development hours earlier!
A faint blush flashed across the young girl’s face for just a moment before being replaced by that same solemnity. “If your proposal is attractive enough, I’ll consider it carefully.”
Tina displayed the caution expected of a hybrid representative and leader. This retreat-to-advance tactic completely dispelled some hybrids’ doubts about her.
Then it was Lafeier’s turn to shine.
“Of course, my plan will satisfy everyone.”
With that, Lafeier gave a slight bow, then swept his hand in a grand gesture, drawing everyone’s gaze to him.
“Before I lay out the formal plan, allow me to clarify the stakes for you.”
“Right now, you only have two paths.”
“First, leave the prison.”
“You’ll be hunted to the ends of the earth by the Imperial army. If by some miracle you escape, without human protection, the Blood Race will rip you open and devour you clean.”
These words carried a hint of threat, but everyone knew he was right.
This act was tantamount to rebellion.
Either be killed by the Empire, or be eaten by the Blood Race.
The vast world had no place for them to take shelter. Everything seemed to reject them, simply because of their impure bloodlines.
Such notions had long been deeply rooted in their souls, not easily shaken in a short time.
Lafeier left them enough time to imagine that miserable future, then continued, “There is a second path, which is the plan I will propose to you.”
“Stay in the prison, and coexist with it.”
“Your meals will be raised to the same standard as the guards’.”
“Your working hours will be strictly limited to 12 hours or less.”
“The prison will pay you wages, improve your living conditions, and raise your quality of life.”
“At the same time, the prison will establish a new guard system. Every person in every cell will have a dedicated guard responsible for protecting your safety.”
“Your physical health and safety will be closely tied to the guards’ duties. Under this mechanism, acts of bullying like those carried out by cell leaders such as Alpha will be completely eliminated.”
“The prison infirmary will also be expanded, providing free medical services to all hybrids.”
“Additionally, supporting entertainment facilities, educational resources, sanitation, and more will be added or improved in the future.”
“I know it’s hard for you to believe these words, and these measures may not make up for the suffering you’ve endured.”
“But we’re all in the Empire, in this same corrupt, chaotic world. What good options do we really have?”
The conditions Lafeier offered were tempting, but as he himself admitted, these words were hard to believe. Noble honor didn’t carry much weight among the hybrids.
“But this is within expectations.”
Now it was time to hand the baton to Tina.
Let Tina propose conditions, while he would cede a bit of prison authority.
This seemingly left-hand-to-right-hand maneuver was actually full of subtlety.
What if the power ceded was security authority?
Then legitimately assembling hybrids for military drills within the prison wouldn’t cause resentment among the guards.
At least it wouldn’t cause resentment toward Lafeier.
Lafeier could avoid bearing the guards’ complaints while openly training an army. After all, the power would ultimately be in his hands—why not?
However, just as Tina was about to speak, something unexpected happened.
From among the hybrids, a few half-orc girls stepped forward.
They looked about Tina’s age, seemingly gathering immense courage to walk to the center of everyone’s gaze.
“L-Lord Lafeier… hasn’t deceived us!”
“Really, we ate… ate meat for lunch, it was Lord Lafeier’s… ‘special care’?”
“Any-anyway, Lord Lafeier is a good person, a trustworthy good person!”
Half-orcs grew quickly, so even though these girls looked the same age as Tina, they were actually only a few years old.
Still young, they retained pure hearts. The simplest sense of right and wrong told them: whoever lets you eat your fill is a good person, someone you can trust.
They were the same half-orc girls who had gone with Xiugu and the others to move the machinery not long ago.