"Do you know what’s happening?" A homeless man asks one amongst the large crowd assembled in the slums.
"They’re offering money to join the construction of a pioneer village in the North Forest." A short blonde girl answers the man with a expectant grin.
At the words ‘pioneer village’ and ‘North Forest’ the homeless man nearly stumbled backwards. He understood what was happening. Or he thought as much. First they would offer a small payment, it was mere crumbs to those rich and powerful. But then they would stop offering payments at all and would force the slum dwellers to this ‘pioneer village’.
The homeless man shook his head in disappointment. He thought King Philip was better than these tactics. His father was a good man, but the young king was now following his grandfathers footsteps. Would the wars and formation of an empire come next?
The old man was somewhat paranoid. But he wasn’t the only one who had thoughts like these.
"It’s a scam! It’s all a scam! You’re sheep! There is no pioneer village! North Forest will become our death camp. Open your eyes sheeple!"
"The king wouldn’t do that! Quit your slander!"
"He’s right!"
Shouts went back and forth between believers and non-believers. No group outweighted the other. But in all the time not a single person left the designated assembly place for the village group. They all were curious about the offer and the new village.
Finally a man arrived at the makeshift stage. Only a few of the residents immediately recognized him. They felt glad they hadn’t been the ones speaking slander.
"Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen. I am King Philip Aelwynn. A close friend of mine will be inheriting the North Forest territory extending to the Wolfbourne border and the northern-most mountains. To start he will build a village bordering the capital. All of you, if you choose to, will become citizens of the new city. It is close enough in distance to commute between the two cities if work is preventing you. There will also be a plethora of new jobs. Industries will have to be created to support the city. Those of you with experience farming will be granted land, those of you who can cook will open restaurants. This is an opportunity for you to make your dreams reality. Will you choose to take it or will you cower back in fear."
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The words caused many of the residents to mumble amongst themselves.
"Listen closely. This opportunity will come only once. In a year’s time the deal won’t be as sweet as now. One thousand coins and a home. Will you take this offer?"
"One… one thousand?" A man stammered in amazement. That was half of what he made in a year. And if the new village was really as close as the king says then he wouldn’t even need to leave his current job.
"I’ll go!" An orphan boy shouts raising his hand.
A few older men laugh at the boys naivety.
"Good." The king says smiling at the orphan. "We will begin the line behind this young lad."
Instantly the group, and even some of the less hopeful begin to join the line.
The number was just over three hundred when finally totaled. It was around what Philip was expecting. He had assembled the group from the most overpopulated area of the slums so the loss would be beneficial to the city.
Philip had several plans resting on this.
This new city between Wolfbourne and Aelwick could finally open up the trade between the two. It would also probably create many new industries to increase the wealth of the country.
The North Forest had long been known as a place impossible to pioneer, but if anyone could do it it’s Silva.
It had been hard to convince him at first but when described as an investment he finally relented. He barely blinked when he handed over the three hundred thousand coins.
Philip almost added his own name to the list as he gazed at it. He was definitely jealous of these people. They would likely live a life better than his own within a few years. For some reason he had that feeling.