Jason Morgan, with a lump swollen on his forehead, felt he was out of luck.
He was a clerk at a small factory inside Revival City, doing some statistical work. With no special skills or power, he diligently performed his duties, earning his due salary. Life was much better than it was for starving refugees outside the city but was by no means wealthy. He could barely afford a room within the inner city and, with his wife's income, just managed to support their three children.
After the war, his wife, taken in by some superstition, believed that the newly established government by the incoming governor was reliable. She not only joined it herself but also persuaded him at home for two days.
"We're literate, we can do math, we have work experience—we can make it big."
"It's said that Lady Ossina got promoted to such a high position just because she could read!"
"The sooner we get in, the better. If we ingratiate ourselves early, we might also become important people someday."