Ransom

White Stone City

News from the Snow Fort's fall reached to the capital and the King was alarmed. He had greatly spend a lot of resources and effort to develop the Fort after the death of Rygorn but who would have thought that the people which he ignored and underestimate would occupy the fort now.

Alteinmer El Vonder the old king of Luxlor Kingdom around 80 plus years old, frustrated of his throne as he dreamt of becoming Emperor of the three kingdoms. Luxlor Kingdom, Protectorate of Aroseimia and Grand Duchy of Meungnia.

"Klement, Deploy your men and retrieve Melroy and his men. Ill will give you all the responsibility of this mission. Do not fail me again. Do you understand?" The king commanded angrily as if to reprimand.

"As you wish Father King." Klement kneeled receiving the command and turning around without question. Klement is the heir to the throne and the oldest of the princes, but 2nd out of the siblings.

The last time he was on a mission, he prioritized the commoners that caused the death of some of the soldiers and the failure of them defending a crucial fort. Which angered his father. Though what he did was honorable and the soldiers even understood and did not hate him, his father was very strict on standards.

Outside the palace Klement's officer waited.

"Sire, news from Snow Fort. Urza Kingdom demanded a thousand gold for every individual."

"Absurd, a thousand is impossible. Then what about the officers and nobles value?" Klement misheard the information and thought the thousand gold is only for the normal soldiers and the other ranking officials and nobles are much higher.

"Sire, it is the same with everyone. They demanded a thousand for each individual."

Klement paused and thought of the information. because a normal soldier ransom would be around 100 gold to 200 and ranking officials 500 - 2000 gold coins.

It means that they would cough out 14 million gold coins just to get everyone of their soldiers and officers.

"It is very obvious that they would not want us to get the normal soldiers. Forget the others and pay for all the officers and nobles. Then report this to my father immediately."

Snow Fort

It was about two weeks since the Luxlor royal army was captured. The captured soldiers were busy in working in the walls, repairs and even helped the citizens in other menial tasks. The ambiance surrounding the Snow Fort was not expected. It was normal and even more ambiance as merchants and other travelers already returned with their businesses. Meanwhile the soldiers are slowly getting comfortable as the rules implemented to them was not harsh at all, they have sufficient food, lodging, sleep and rest and they are even allowed to go roam around the fort even without the suit.

Their shackles are merely steel braces on both hand and feet without chain able for them to move freely but that prevented them from using mana. With their orange outfits, they roam around like normal citizens. There is only one minor incident involving a prisoner. Someone tried to escape but was electrocuted by the shackles after that, the others knew it was working and thoughts of escaping vanished entirely in their minds.

They were gathered again outside of the warehouse because news of the ransom has been finalized.

"Soldiers of Luxlor, I have good news and bad news. The good news is the ransom has arrived and finalized, but the bad news is not everyone was paid. Only the officers and nobles are paid by the Kingdom and will be released this day." Clamor erupted in the crowd as they heard the announcement. Murmurs and conversation echoed in the field.

"Commander please save us, I have a family to return, I will pay for the ransom somehow even for how many years." One soldier shouted as they have thought that Urza Kingdom increased the amount of ransom that is why they were not paid. The normal pay for an officer is around 70 - 150 gold a year and they normally ransomed for around 500-2000 gold coins depending on their ranks but for normal soldiers ransom is around 100-200.

"General, how much was agreed ransom for the normal soldiers?" Klement ask as he wanted to bargain and somehow save his men.

"A thousand gold" The reply was swift and it made all of them gasp in disbelief. Even an officer would barely able to save 1000 gold in a decade how much more a normal soldier.

"You scum.. How could you demand something so unfair? From these poor soldiers?" Klement was so vexed as he asked the general.

"Scum?..You think lives is worth a thousand gold less? If your kingdom does not think of you or your lives worth a thousand gold then your kingdom is the SCUM. A single soldiers life is priceless, how many have you save lives by defending your kingdom? Does that alone not equate of what's your worth? do they not factor of what you will contribute in the future? Do you feel worth less than a thousand gold? Then you are also a SCUM. I would have to apologize to those who have families and friends waiting but rest assured that we will send them a message of your current status and what would happen to the once who are not paid, you will be under Urza Jurisdiction. But what would be your future I could not predict."

They were speechless after the Generals reprimand, but still they are worried of their families. And after the officers and nobles were released and escorted out of the Fort the remaining ones were despondent and low on spirit. worried of their family and somehow could not believe the situation.

"Everyone, listen..." The general shouted. They were still low on spirits as even after the general shouted.

"I have good news everyone." They suddenly awaken from their mood.

"For everyone's information. your work here gains merit points. in Urza Kingdom, we have points system for citizens and outsiders. Contribution points for citizens and residents, and merit points for outsiders like you." They listened but could not understand what the general was talking about.

"The merit points you gain can be exchanged to your freedom, it can even exchange into monetary value. While you work here, we will send monetary funds to your family aside from the merit points you will gain in working here and in time you can buy your own freedom by working here temporarily."

"Per day, the maximum work you can get is 10 hours, 1 merit points per hour. and 1 merit points is equivalent to 10 silver. In less than two years only, you can pay for your freedom. Hahahahaha" Brigadier General Dawson was amused of their reaction as the prisoners eyes lit.

A normal soldiers wage per day was 10 silver that means, their wage as a royal soldier is 10 times less than being a prisoner of Urza Kingdom. Not only they gained hope but they were thinking of working here until they will be rich and can escape poverty.

"General, will we have the chance to work here permanently?" One soldier asked as all of them also have the same questions.

"Yes you can but, the merit system is different than those normal outsiders. The merit they gain is only around 2 merit point per 5 hours which is significantly lower to prisoners but significantly higher compared to other kingdoms. It is because soldiers like you only follow commands that your crime is of lower value and also our King ordered to increase your merit gain.

A normal outsider who wish to work in Urza kingdom could only gain around 40 silver working 10 hours, but compared to a 10 silver or less wage in other kingdom, it is much higher. Also the 5 hour work include an hour of rest that is why you only work around 8 hours.