“ Young Master, we spread the message around town about the new job opportunities, and we’ve gotten sixty-five applicants. Forty men and twenty-five women, but they are weak. Their circumstances have bled them dry. There's no way they can work with those withered bodies.”
John watched the applicants carefully. Some looked like they would keel over and die at the slightest exertion. The young master’s plans would have to wait until they secured a food source.
The pair made their way to the main hall where the applicants stood, barely standing, but not faltering. John commended them. These were strong people deserving of the new young master.
"Butty, don't worry," Ethan said, his hand partially concealing his face as he suppressed a smug grin. "Provide the others with whatever provisions the mansion has to offer. I'll pay the guards handsomely to bring back supplies from the empire, and in their absence, I'll personally undertake the task of restoring this land."
"But how, young master?" John's voice quivered with concern. "This land is cursed. Anything that is cultivated here withers away, and even beasts avoid venturing into its depths." John was well aware of the haunting tales surrounding Yellowstone town. Despite its advantageous location near other settlements and the empire, boasting vast forests and mountains, the land remained uncharted and treacherous, deterring anyone from taking on its perils.
“It's a problem very few can correct, but I can. The only issue is it'll take time. I want this town to start running before then.”
Ethan strode purposefully to the front of the spacious room, with John following a few steps behind. As he took his place at the head, a hush fell over the gathering, silencing the voices and whispers. Observing the young master's commanding presence, his tall posture, and his
resolute expression, John couldn't help but be reminded of the duke in his prime.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Ethan's outstretched arms encompassed the entire gathering. "By now, you are well aware of the purpose that has brought us together. And for those who remain unfamiliar, I stand before you as Ethan Agnus, the venerated heir of Duke Agnus, chosen to reign over this town.
As your sovereign, I pledge to revitalize this community, transforming it into a bastion of dignity and unwavering strength. I will usher in an era of tranquility and fulfill your every aspiration, but I cannot achieve this monumental task without you. You, the lifeblood of Yellowstone town, hold the key to its prosperity. I, devoid of your unwavering support, would be naught but an ordinary mortal bereft of purpose.
Hence, I implore you to grant me a clean slate—a fresh beginning that transcends the unfounded tales that have circulated about me. I stand before you, reborn and renewed, a man transformed by the fires of death, ready to lead us into an illustrious future."
John studied the crowd. While the speech he felt was powerful, it didn't do much to rile the crowd. These people needed action.
“ I bring you the opportunity to better your future through hard work. Please separate yourselves into groups of farmers, fighters, and builders. That is all for now.”
Ethan walked back to John with an expectant gaze.
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
“ How was that Butty? I tried to add some spice in there, but they didn't budge an inch.”
"The speech was truly remarkable, young master," John praised, his hand offering a reassuring pat on Ethan's shoulder, accompanied by a warm smile.
"It encapsulated the essence of your father's words, yet you delivered it with a captivating humility that will endear you to the hearts of our people. I have no doubt that they will come to love and embrace their new sovereign. Your reign shall be marked by a profound connection with your subjects. Well done, indeed."
“ Just what I was going for!” The boy fist-pumped the air. “ Now we need to purchase food, but first I need to show you something.”
Ethan led them back to his room before excusing himself from his subjects. As he entered, he swiftly moved to a drawer, retrieving a pouch filled with coins. From within, he plucked a single glistening gold piece and extended it before John, who watched on, puzzled by Ethan's unexpected actions.
“ I trust you, John. You’ve raised me since I was only a mere boy, so I know what I’m about to show you stay here correct?”
What did the young master do for his loyalty to be in question? The young master closed his eyes and the air around them grew humid and hot. Suddenly, the gold coin in Ethan's hand ignited, its surface radiating a deep crimson glow.
John's eyes widened in disbelief as he witnessed the inexplicable transformation taking place before him. In a stunning display of mystical power, the coin split and multiplied, forming an identical coin in Ethan's palm. The scene left John awestruck.
“ Y-Young master! This is-” John couldn’t complete his thoughts. This ability is world-breaking. He’d seen something similar. Some developed magic that can duplicate other things, but they remained magic. The other coin was real gold with no magic signature on it.
John's weathered fingers gently caressed the coin, gliding across its smooth surface.
His inquisitive eyes peered through the lenses of his glasses, examining the intricate details carved into the precious metal. There, unmistakably, was the face of the king, etched with precision. The weight of the coin in his hand affirmed its authenticity.
The implications of Ethan's newfound ability unfolded before John's eyes. With this extraordinary power, the young master would never find himself without wealth. A sense of awe mingled with perplexity filled John's thoughts. Why had a divine entity bestowed such a blessing upon him? The answer eluded John's grasp, shrouded in the mysteries of the gods.
Memories flooded John's mind, memories of a kind-hearted boy he had known since infancy. He recalled the days when Ethan and his mother would frolic among vibrant flowers, their laughter dancing on the wind. John remembered how Ethan would eagerly lend a hand in the kitchen, sharing precious moments with his mother. At times, the mischievous boy even allowed her to apply playful makeup to his face. Perhaps, in those moments of pure love and joy, a deity had taken notice.
But everything changed with his mother's tragic demise, a brutal murder that shattered their world. John pondered, his thoughts drifting to the divine forces at play. Could the gods truly be so benevolent? Was the goddess Iris responsible for this extraordinary gift? Though he would never find definitive answers, a silent expression of gratitude emanated from John's heart, a secret acknowledgment offered to the divine entity whose intervention had forever altered the course of Ethan's life.
“I can see the thoughts swirling in your mind," Ethan acknowledged, his voice steady and determined. "Indeed, this town has the potential to amass immense wealth in due time, but flooding it with excessive money would raise suspicions and cripple the very economy I seek to establish. It would disrupt the delicate balance, causing inflation and skyrocketing prices. Such an outcome is not what we need."
Ethan paused briefly, his gaze fixed on John, before continuing. "Money should not be our immediate concern. I created a list of things this town needs. Give it a look and tell me what you think.”
John took the paper with shaking hands. After reading it, the young master would have to use that ability to its fullest.