Chapter 589.3: I'm Not Going To Be A Human Anymore!

What unsettled him most was not their subversive words, but the brazen way they spoke them out loud.

It seemed like the settlement was about to change hands...

Unable to join their circle, Hammer moved among the farmers.

Perhaps emboldened by the audacity of the person in charge of them, these normally meek folk began whispering too.

"The master’s gone... what will we do?"

"If he hadn’t planted those fruit trees, if he hadn’t brought in those priests of the south, none of this would’ve happened!"

"Exactly! Why not just grow Camu Trees?"

"He had no choice. Camu Trees' price collapsed this year, factory owners up north wouldn’t buy."

"Bah!"

They sighed heavily, worried not only for the future but unsure who to blame.

The factory owners who stopped buying? The farms in the Sunset Province that stole their trade? The flatterers whispering to the master? Or perhaps the master himself had grown foolish?

The New Alliance wasn’t blameless either.

If they hadn’t slipped in and provoked those priests, the disaster might not have come.

Pinecone Ranch was the largest settlement in Brocade Lake Municipality. What good did destroying it do the Torch Church?

They had already joined the Torch Church, giving everything to the Archbishop... Why would the church harm them?

It made no sense.

A shepherd might slaughter one sheep now and then, but never the whole flock.

There was no profit in doing it!

Shaking his head, Hammer muttered, "What are you saying... isn’t the master’s daughter still alive?"

The others exchanged looks.

An old, wrinkled man reminded him, "She’s only eight."

"So what? Even at eight, she carries the master’s blood. She’s the heir. After such a disaster, she should take charge."

Privately, Hammer thought it would be easier to fool a child, easier to tug her heart with tears and sobs. If she became their mistress, perhaps life would be gentler. After all, he was just a farmer. Whoever he served, farming was farming.

A nearby farmer agreed. "Someone must take charge."

Though he doubted an eight year old could rule, he admitted that someone had to.

Others nodded too.

Just then, a loud voice rang out. "Exactly! We can’t go on like this. Someone must take charge!"

It was the person in charge!

The crowd recoiled in fear. But instead of his usual menace, he wore a warm smile.

Hammer was shocked.

Minutes ago, that same man had glared at him like a snarling hound.

Ignoring their fear, the man continued cheerfully. "Be it the young lady, a captain, or one of the butler’s men, someone must lead."

Watching the whispers and nods spread, his smile grew broader. Yet behind it lurked mockery.

These people were born slaves, sheep in a pen. Even if set free, they wouldn’t stray far.

The world was collapsing, yet they fretted only over daily labor and grain dues.

Slaves would always be slaves, but he was different.

Where others saw ruin, he saw opportunity.

Hammer shivered.

Not from recognizing the malice behind the smile, but from the very fact that after the horror the night before, this man could still smile.

The man in charge of them didn’t look at him. Raising his voice, he said, "Now is when the future master needs us most. Let’s go petition at the manor gate. Whoever takes charge, we will support!"

"If we stand by the new master in their hour of need, perhaps some of us might rise, become butlers even!"

He left himself a way out, carefully saying future master so he could shift sides later if needed.

What if the officers backed the little girl? It was possible.

The crowd looked at one another, afraid of what was to come.

An unwritten rule forbade them from approaching the manor unless ordered. Their duty was farming. Leaving their work could mean more than a flogging, perhaps a bullet.

Seeing their doubt, the man reassured them, "Don’t worry. Today is an exception! I promise you won’t be punished for not working."

At last, they were convinced, voices rising as they rallied behind him.

So, with farm tools in hand, they marched toward the manor. Hammer didn’t want to be involved, but followed when he saw the others go.

The streets were emptier than usual. The nightmare of the night before still hung heavy. No patrols stopped them.

But at the manor gates, the person who led them over froze.

The square was already packed. There was a sea of people of every kind.

Clearly, he wasn’t the only one with such schemes. Everyone had come to the same thought.

However, no one had stepped forth to claim the mantle.

There were no officers, no young heiress, no loyal butler.

Only New Alliance soldiers stood at the gate.

As the crowd swelled, Quit Smoking grew anxious as he guarded the gate.

The Guard Corps had already detained the officers. Those men had cooperated after seeing the power of the Torch Church’s device. But who would’ve thought the slaves who were the least likely to revolt, would rise?

Peepo glanced nervously at Quit Smoking. "What do they even want...?"

"They’re just standing there, not saying a word."

"I don’t know..." Quit Smoking gulped.

Central Command had warned them. Mutant Human forces were approaching. No one knew from which direction.

The administrator had ordered them to guard the interference device at all costs.

They had no time to play with the crowd.

However, just waiting wouldn’t do. Clearing his throat, Quit Smoking shouted in rough Federation language, "Friends of Pinecone Ranch! Why are you here?"

The crowd murmured.

After a pause, one man called out, "We want to know who the new master is! And where the butler is! Someone must assign today’s work!"

Others quickly chimed in, nodding.

"Yes!"

"Please... call the master out!"

So that was it.

Quit Smoking laughed, answering without hesitation.

"Don’t worry. There is no more master here!"

"You are free! The food you grow is your own. Go home!"

He had expected cheers. Instead, the moment the words left his lips, the crowd exploded into panic.

Hearing there would be no master, Hammer felt a wave of dread. He opened his mouth to speak, but the face of the man who led them changed first, and he cried out in horror. "That won’t do!"