Lide had never met Recker before.
When Ivy left Dawn City before dawn, he told Lide everything about Recker.
Lide was also very curious as to why a Level 7 Intermediate Warrior would go to live in a border town and even attack the nobles who ruled them during the escape.
Especially since Ivy seemed to appreciate Recker, which piqued his interest.
The Bloodline's numbers were currently not many. While managing the current few hundred humans was not difficult, he would continue to expand the number of humans in the future. It was unrealistic to have only the Bloodline manage all of them in the later stages.
Therefore, it was necessary to promote a group of capable humans to help with management, to find collaborators.
As for whether the humans would turn against him, Lide was not worried at all.
This was a world of magic; a Level 5 Intermediate Mage could easily kill fifty to sixty civilians. The power held by the Bloodline was not something these homeless civilians could resist.
Moreover, it was not just about force. The interests of humans would later align with those of the Bloodline. When these people's land and property were protected by the Bloodline, would they still want to rebel? Their peers would be the first enemies of those rebels.
Furthermore, the Bloodline's numbers would continue to expand, and the outstanding among humans would become part of the Bloodline.
Lide had plenty of ways to make these people willingly join the Bloodline. Becoming part of the Bloodline would even be something humans would compete for.
Recker was the first target Lide examined. Besides him, there were five other literate individuals with high prestige among the group.
Recker cautiously sat opposite Lide, while Oli stood awkwardly beside him, unsure whether to sit or stand.
"There's no need to be so nervous," Lide said with a kind smile. "As I said, within Dawn City, your safety is protected by the Holy Light Bloodline."
"We Holy Light Bloodline are different from the evil bloodlines you perceive."
Lide took every opportunity to showcase his nature as a repeater.
"Clan Leader Kachar, is there something you need from us?"
Even a well-experienced mercenary like Recker felt immense pressure when facing a vampire clan chief who ruled a city.
This vampire was a legendary bloodthirsty being. Even though the other party repeatedly said they were different, the fear was deeply rooted in his mind, something even a deity couldn't erase.
"Recker, I heard from my kin that you are highly esteemed among humans. I have a favor to ask of you..."
Lide spoke very politely, but Recker's back was instantly soaked in cold sweat upon hearing the request.
A favor to ask of me? Thinking of the various evil legends about vampires, fear continued to spread in his heart.
"Your Excellency, I, I..."
Looking at the other's expression, Lide knew this guy was overthinking it. He coughed lightly and said calmly, "Recker, I said that you are protected by the Holy Light Bloodline within Dawn City."
"As long as you don't break Dawn City's laws, no one will harm you."
"Your Excellency, as long as it does not involve betraying the town's residents, I will do it."
Recker grit his teeth as if he were about to duel a demon, his expression resolute.
Lide raised an eyebrow and said calmly,
"Until the coming spring, Dawn City will provide you with free food.
The Holy Light Bloodline is strong, but we are not skilled in cooking.
I need you to organize about twenty people into a logistics department to cook food for the humans in Dawn City every day."
Hearing this, Recker's expression immediately turned stiff.
Originally, he thought that this vampire clan chief would ask him to do something like choosing a few humans to be given to them each day... but unexpectedly, it was this kind of task.
Free food?
The huge psychological contrast left Recker dazed for a moment.
Could it be that the promise made by the Holy Light Bloodline chief in the square was true?
The town's residents had escaped in such a hurry that many had not even had time to bring food or copper pucks.
If not for this, they would not have risked attacking Baron Marcos's convoy of the country. Attacking nobles was a serious crime that would result in the Nolan Empire's army hunting them down and hanging them.
After being captured by the Bloodline, Recker had mentally prepared for the fact that most of the group wouldn't survive the winter.
But now this vampire clan chief said they would provide free food, which elevated his low expectations to the extreme.
"You, you mean it?!"
Harrison and Augustine, standing behind Lide, were furious at Recker's lack of manners.
"Humans, do not let your shallow knowledge question the power of the Holy Light Bloodline and the Lord of Dawn City. In the past, you would have been hanged for this."
Hearing these cold words, Recker immediately regained his composure and quickly apologized, "I'm sorry, Lord City Lord, I..."
Lide waved his hand and said nothing. His status among the Bloodline was supreme and highly esteemed.
For a human to dare to be so rude and question him without being killed outright was already due to Lide's good education.
In the human kingdom, peasants who offended nobles were killed without anyone caring. This world was that ignorant and cruel.
Life was the cheapest thing, less valuable than a noble's toy.
"Don't worry as long as you don't make mistakes, you will not be harmed.
If there is no issue with this task, I'll leave it to you.
Recker, I believe you still have many questions, but time will always reveal the true nature of things. Whether the Holy Light Bloodline is good or bad, time will tell."
Recker felt inexplicably moved at Lide's smile. That such an important figure would comfort him made him somewhat start to believe Lide's sincerity.
Maybe, this really was an opportunity for the town's residents.
"Your Excellency, I will do my best to complete the task you have given me."
Lide nodded in satisfaction. "This is a good start,
the salary for this job is ten silver pucks per person per month. As the team leader, you will receive fifteen silver pucks."
Ten silver pucks? Oli, who was standing nearby, almost bit his tongue upon hearing this. Not only were they being given work, but it was also paid like the town guards?
In Eric Town, Marcos's guards only received eight silver pucks a month.
Recker took a deep breath, suppressing his excitement.
He never expected that what he thought was free work would come with such a generous salary.
Ten silver pucks, if saved, was enough for a family of three to live for a month and a half.
The City Lord is really unlike the legendary vampires.
Lide took the bag handed over by Harrison and casually threw it on the table.
The clinking sound of metal rang out.
"There are one hundred silver pucks here. Those who accept this job can be paid half upfront, with the other half paid at the end of the month."
Offering a high price for a prized possession, this was the start of cooperation between humans and the Bloodline.
Lide believed that as long as people got involved in Dawn City's affairs, they would quickly let go of their fear and truly integrate into Dawn City.
And this was only the first plan, with more to follow including land distribution, job allocation, and even housing redistribution.
However, each plan had certain prerequisites. Only when humans met these conditions would they truly receive land and houses.
It was impossible for these simple civilians to escape his strategies.
Lide, the king of schemes, Kachar, had already dug the pit for them.