The two skeletons disguised as humans felt somewhat unaccustomed to the man and woman kneeling before them. Exchanging a glance, one helped the couple to their feet while the other cleared his throat and asked, “What is your occupation?”

The man looked at his wife hesitantly before replying, “Just ordinary workers, we do all sorts of jobs.”

“How much do you earn? How are you paid?”

“From sunrise to sunset each day, fifty copper coins, settled daily.”

The idle skeleton reached into his money pouch at his waist, counting out six silver coins and handing them to his companion.

The other skeleton weighed the coins in his hand, the crisp sound ringing pleasantly. “The lockdown of the City of Gath caused you to miss five days of work. Listen and recite the new policies I'm about to announce, and these six silver will be yours.”

The man's eyes lit up upon hearing this as he nodded eagerly.

“There are two policies. Firstly, the entire duchy will now implement an eight-hour workday effective immediately. Any overtime will be considered additional work for which employers must provide extra compensation. Secondly, to celebrate Lord Seth Reed's succession, taxes shall be waived for the entire year. Recite that back if you understood.”

The man seemed scarcely able to believe his own ears, having completely forgotten about repeating anything back. Clutching the skeleton's smooth hand, he asked incredulously, “Is that true, sir?”

Still unaccustomed to such contact, the skeleton reflexively recoiled a step back and reiterated the policies.

Finally remembering his task, the man softly repeated, “Only work eight hours a day now. More gets extra pay. No taxes this year.”

“Very good,” the skeleton was eager to part from this overly familiar human. “You've passed. Next!”

He tossed the six silver coins into the man's hands and the two skeletons promptly turned to leave.

*Thud!*

The departing skeleton bumped hard into the doorframe and a round object shot out from his face.

*Plop!* The round object bounced onto the stone floor outside. The skeleton quickly bent down, frantically groping the ground until finding it, then stuffed it relievedly back into his face.

Mouth covered by her husband, the woman's muffled shrieks could still be heard. The rattled skeletons glanced back and only saw the man hugging his wife as they headed for the kitchen.

“Sirs, anything else?” The man forced an awkward smile, one more distressing than weeping.

Eyeing that pitiful grin, the standing skeleton patted the back of his head, “That will be all. Wish you fine folks well.”

And so the trivial interlude ended.

Over an entire day, thousands of skeletons in pairs spread word of the new policies to every civilian's ears, compensating their lost wages from the lockdown.

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Murphy had his reasons behind this idea. Firstly, having civilians repeat back and receive compensation would strengthen impressions while reinforcing moral high ground for himself or Seth. And, well...the money came from his staff anyway, so why not spend it?

The next morning, the City of Gath's blockade was lifted with all four gates reopened. The streets and merchants bustled back to life. The generously compensated townsfolk poured into the city for provisions, and peace returned to City of Gath.

Just then, a galloping horse carrying its skeletal rider approached from the northern gate down the empty streets towards Reed Castle. “Your Majesty, boss, there is a man's carriage approaching outside the east city gate. He said his name is Seth Reed. ”

\---

Inside his coach sat Viscount Seth Reed, exchanging the occasional word with the western spy conveying him, imagining the future where his cousin and grandnephew’s portraits went up in flames.

Two days prior, they had entered the northeast region of the former Earl's domain. But as that land now fell under royal jurisdiction, it was only in the past few hours they had officially crossed into the Viscount's territory, and the city walls now loomed ahead.

Seth recalled the squad that had stopped his coach earlier, puzzled. Why were there still border checkpoints? Surely Murphy and company had things under control?

Seth kept these doubts to himself, unwilling to lose face to the westerner before him.

“Detour to the east gate,” he ordered.

After the brief detour, Seth finally neared the east gate where a queue of travelers and a unit of cavalry awaited. Drawing near, Seth pulled back the curtain and was relieved to spot Murphy and Byron up front.

After cursory pleasantries, Seth directly inquired, “Has everything been well?”

Murphy smiled reassuringly, “All is normal, please be at ease.”

Byron brought over a white stallion for Seth. “My lord, please ride this steed into the city. The common folk can hardly wait to greet their new liege.”

Half an hour ago, upon receiving word of Seth's impending arrival, Murphy had immediately dispatched every idle skeleton soldier to spread the news far and wide. Driven by innate curiosity and Murphy’s goodwill campaigning under Seth’s name, traffic near the east gate had now been paralyzed.

Thousands had gathered along the boulevard before the eastern gate, eager to witness the long-awaited virtuous lord.

Sensing something odd, Seth instructed the western spy to trail behind with the coach before effortlessly mounting the white horse. Murphy and Byron flanked Seth with faint smiles as they dropped back.

Taking the lead through the city gates, Seth's vision adjusted to the sunlight and endless grinning faces waved at him. “Lord Reid! Lord Reid!”

Hearing those sincere chants, Seth fought back the surge of emotions and tears. He had forgotten when he last saw such exuberance and vitality. Dabbing the impending flood, he pulled the reins and halted.

Under the crowd’s gaze, Seth dismounted and headed straight for the ramparts, Byron guarding the entrance below while Murphy accompanied Seth up the stairs.

In proximity, Seth collected himself and whispered, “What... What have you done? What do you truly want?”

Head lowered, eyes upon the stairs yet faintly smiling, Murphy replied. “All we desire, my lord, is peace.”

“Have you now gained control over the entirety of City of Gath, even the duchy itself?” Seth asked, incredulous.

“No, no, sir. To be precise, it is you who hold control over all this. Trust me, you shall become the greatest Reid lord ever known, nothing can change that.” Murphy stated calmly. “Every commoner thinks of you before their meals; every farmer sings your praises before gripping their hoes; every peddler gives thanks for your protection when they profit even a little. Is this not what you wished for?”

“Then...what is the cost?”

“That which you drive, you experience, you reap - that is the cost in its entirety.”

Side by side they walked atop the ramparts before Murphy slowed his pace, falling back behind Seth once more.

Below, the ecstatic crowd grew ever more frenzied at the sight of their lord. Eight-hour workdays, tax exemption for the year - even one alone was beyond imaginable in the past. This was plenty for them to chant in earnest, “Long live Lord Reid!”

Seth arrived directly above the city gate, basking in the people’s adulation, streams of praise flowing invisibly into his ears. As thoughts of his departed parents emerged, two murky teardrops rolled down the old man's cheeks. He tilted his head slightly and whispered, “Will this world become better and better?”

Murphy beamed gently, “Of course! I came here to ensure that!”

(End of Volume One)