Chapter Thirty

Two days passed since the refugees entered the town. After meeting with Gaston, it had been decided that their group would stay at the Eastern Border, near the construction site. Since the Young Master specifically stated that they should provide homes to the wounded and emaciated, several complete houses were given to the newcomers. This eventually led to several local residents of Blackstone Town looking at them with contempt. Soon, friction started forming between the two groups.

Anthony hummed as he pulled the empty wooden wheelbarrow. His gait was filled with purpose. Ever since the Mine in the Endless Forest was discovered, he started helping out with various mundane tasks like cleaning the mining equipment and delivering food.

Today, his task was to deliver food to the miners. He stopped by the Mansion and filled the cart with rations. It mostly consisted of commoner's wheat, several dried jerkies, and fish. Even now, Anthony was still amazed that the Lord of the town kept opening the granaries for the citizens. Sometimes, Anthony worried that food would run out soon, but he was proven wrong everyday whenever he came to restock for rations.

I heard that the Young Master's developing the northern farm lands. I heard one of the villagers say that we'll be able to sustain ourselves this year after the harvest.

"Big Brother's right. The Young Master's changed," hummed Anthony. "He's really a wise and benevolent Lord to this town."

Several months ago, majority of the citizens of Blackstone Town despised the Young Master. He did many atrocious misdeeds and assaulted several villagers. But now, those that hated him numbered only in the few. Though still a child, Anthony was sure of this. He saved the starving and freezing locals, after all.

After getting the rations, Anthony went towards the Eastern Border, a path he needed to take to arrive at the Mine. Just like before, numerous constructions were being done left and right. Workers poured cement on the ground, while some erected posts, pulled logs and stones.

This had been the usual scenario these past several weeks. Although the sound of hammer striking metal and stone was deafening, it was music to Anthony's ears.

As Anthony passed through the construction site, he was greeted by some of the workers.

"Anthony! Working your ass so early in the morning again, eh kid?"

"Hey kid, could we have some of those jerkies? I'm sure those guys in the Mine wouldn't mind."

"No, this is for the miners!" Anthony stood his ground. "Uncle, if you keep slacking off like that, I'll tell Sir Silver Claw!"

Upon hearing the name of the Mason, the workers tensed up and nervously looked around.

Anthony heard before from his brother that the Mason was really strict with work, but he had not expected it to this extent. A grin formed upon the lips of Anthony. He could use this to threaten these guys if he sees them slacking on the job.

"H-Hey don't joke around! We're doing our job, alright?"

"Then stop lazing around and get to work." Anthony sighed. He really wished to help the Lord in developing the town. But for now, this was all he could do. He was still a child, after all.

"Ah, also what's that over there?" Anthony pointed at a shabby tent near the constructed houses. He could see numerous unfamiliar guys come in and out of it.

The workers frowned upon looking at the place Anthony pointed at.

"The mutts," mumbled one of the workers. "The guys that came here two days ago. We've finally convinced them to stay out of the finished houses."

"Those damn bastards have the guts to occupy the houses meant for us locals. If not for Sir Gaston stopping us, we would have chased them out of this town already. Damn freeloaders."

"Wait, isn't the Young Master the one who ordered the allotment of those houses for the refugees?" said Anthony. "We're going against the order of the Young Master by driving them out!"

Anthony could still remember the time when he first received the soup filled with wheat and meat during winter. If not for the Young Master, several locals would have starved to death during that time. Letting the refugees have several houses as their own seemed unfair for the locals, Anthony believed it too, but he knew that the Young Master must have his reasons for doing so. The Young Master was wise and benevolent, after all.

"You're still a child, so you wouldn't understand," said one of the workers. "If we allow them to have the houses, they'll think the locals are pushovers, that we'll give up the homes meant for us just because the Lord told us to."

"That's right. We've been living here for several years! Why should we give them the finished houses first? Just because they have wounded people on their side? Then go blame the damn giant snake that attacked their village!"

"The Young Master must have been fooled by those bastards! Those guys should be grateful enough that we're even allowing them to stay in this town!"

The tension within the air escalated quickly. Anthony was sure that the refugees could hear the curses even from this distance. He nervously glanced towards the large tent. Sure enough, one of the refugees finally had enough of the insults.

"Aren't you bastards going to shut up?!" snarled the man. His brown beard was bushy, and after coming right in front of the workers that fired insults, his towering height became apparent.

The workers did not get intimated by the man's glare. They stood up, grabbed some hammers and wooden poles and threateningly surrounded him.

"If you got problems, then stay the fuck out of this town," said one of the workers. "You mutts should just be grateful that we're allowing you to stay in this place!"

"That's right! Go back to your village!"

The workers jeered. A vein popped out of the refugee's forehead. He turned livid as his entire body trembled in rage. As he was about to punch the nearest worker, a raspy voice echoed.

"Valak!" shouted an elderly man.

Valak stopped his fist and turned around. "Ah, Elder."

The Elder briskly walked towards him. "What are you doing?! We've all agreed to bear with it until Anandra wakes up! Do you think we can afford to camp out in the wilderness when Anandra's in such a state?! And there's still the debt we have to pay! We can't just go without repaying the young Lord for his kindness!"

Valak lowered his head in shame. He was still livid from rage, but his trembling stopped entirely. He snorted, then turned around. "Let's go, Elder."

The Elder sighed. "This child…"

The two stopped in their tracks when a familiar voice spoke.

"So, you've been waiting for me to wake up?"

Upon looking at the source of the voice, their eyes widened in disbelief.

"A-Anandra!"

"What are you… You're awake! It's really you, Anandra!"

Valak and the Elder almost hugged the man before them. Unlike before, the strongest warrior's face was no longer corroded. The skin that were missing before had grown back, fresh and new. His chest was still bandaged, but his handsome face radiated an air of strength and pride. His golden hair and eyes seemed to glimmer beneath the morning sun.

Several kids came running from the tent and surrounded Anandra.

"Anandra! You're finally up!"

"We were so worried!"

"I saw how you fought the basilisk! You were so cool back then!"

"Thank you for protecting us!"

Despite the wounds on his body, Anandra bent down and hugged the kids. The sound of laughter filled the air as the refugees celebrated the recovery of their strongest warrior.

Anandra went towards the workers. "I understand where the anger's coming from. On behalf of the villagers, I'm sorry for taking away the homes you've painstakingly built. We'll be leaving this town soon."

"Wait Anandra…"

"Elder, I've heard the conversations during the time I was recuperating. I have a general idea of what's happening here during our stay," said Anandra. "The village is the people. We can still build a new village in the nearby forest. I'm sure the Lord of this town wouldn't mind—"

"—Rejected." Silver Claw's voice made all the workers tense up in reflex. Behind him was Gaston, the Chief Butler of the Young Master.

"I've heard that the friction between the two group's been escalating recently," said Gaston. The Butler was obviously displeased by what he saw. "The Young Master specifically told me to quell all discontent while he's away. I can't believe that you guys would quarrel over this petty stuff."

"But the houses—"

"—Were all built using the Young Master's money!" snarled Gaston. It was the first time they saw the butler so enraged. His fierce glare made them shiver. "You all worked hard in building it, but at the end of the day, the entire town is still under the domain of the Young Master! It is his property! An asset of the Marcus Family!"

Silver Claw nodded at this. "I can understand the source of resentment, but I'm sure you all know this – those houses are not yours. It's the Young Master's. Once this part of the town finished its construction, those houses will be given to the locals with a corresponding rent. It'll not be given for free."

"We've given the houses to the refugees in hopes that their wounded will be able to recover quickly! But what did you do?!" Gaston shook in anger. "You went against the orders of the Lord!"

"But—"

"—A punishment is in order," said Silver Claw. "I can't believe these blockheads dare go against the orders of the Young Master."

Silver Claw have never seen such massive changes in a town within a short span of time. He had been long convinced that the Young Master was a wise ruler despite his age. The Mason was even sure that a few years from now, this town would prosper and become a splendid city.

"No free food for two days." Silver Claw raised two fingers.

"Three days," corrected Gaston. His piercing glare made the workers cower. "We can't let guys like these – those that disobey the rules – be punished lightly. Remember, the food you're eating for free every day came from the Young Master. The least you could do is obey his orders and help this town prosper!"

Gaston turned to one of the refugees. "Anandra, right? I'm really sorry for the behavior of these men. It'll take time, but hopefully, you'll be able to get along with them."

Anandra slowly said, "Does that mean…"

"Yes." Gaston nodded. "You are free to stay in this town. We'll provide you with houses. That's the order of the Young Master."

The Elder was momentarily at loss for words. "W-We are grateful, Sir."

"Ah, but it's not for free," said Gaston. "Just like the locals, you'll have to pay for the rent. But the Young Master's in need of several workers – men or women. You'll be able to find a job in no time. And the Young Master specifically wants to hire Anandra for a certain job."

Anandra and the Elder looked at each other. "A job."

"Yes," said Gaston. "Once you're fully healed, the Young Master wishes to see your skill."

The eyes of Gaston glimmered for a moment. "If you're qualified enough, he wishes you to train the soldiers of this town."