The cotton cloth bag was torn open, and clink, clank,
silver pukes splattered.
The scene fell into a brief silence.
Lide was speechless. So, it's just a few dozen silver pukes??
Augustine awkwardly scratched his nose.
Porcupine's face turned ashen.
He knew the ways of these nobles. No matter how much money was involved, if it was discovered by them, it would be seized.
This was his lifetime savings. He thought it would be safe hidden in the wheat, but he didn't expect it to be exposed.
Burdened with unspeakable pain, this money was meant to purchase seeds and farm tools next year after the beastmen left. Without it, he couldn't survive.
He turned to look at his wife and child's hopeful eyes, then resolutely turned away.
"Sir, this is my savings. If, if you want it, I am willing to offer it to you."
Lide shook his head as he looked at Porcupine's pained expression.
"Take it back. In Dawn City, personal property is protected. Even the Holy Light Bloodline cannot seize your property without cause."
"Huh?"
Porcupine looked at Lide as if granted a new life, incredulously.
"You, you said what?"
Lide didn't know what to say when seeing this. The ways of the nobles in this world were evident.
"In Dawn City, no one can seize personal property. Your personal property is protected by the Holy Light Bloodline.
Whether it's the Holy Light Bloodline or humans, whoever loots your property in Dawn City will be punished by the Holy Light Bloodline.
You are safe here."
"Thank you, sir, thank you, sir."
After tucking the cotton cloth bag into his clothes, Porcupine no longer looked at Lide with fear but with gratitude, and a sense of slowly rising trust.
Yes, he started to trust vampires.
Maybe here, he really could find a new life as they said.
For civilians living in war, an environment of stability was a desire unimaginable to outsiders.
"Wait, I haven't finished."
Porcupine's expression stiffened, stammering.
"S-sir, what do you mean?"
Lide, annoyed, said, "Don't look at me like that. No one would eye your little money.
According to the regulations of Dawn City, as soon as you join Dawn City, as adults, you will be allocated land.
Although your family has three members, only two are adults, so you are allocated twenty acres of land.
Take this note. When land is allocated in a few days, this will be the only proof. Don't lose it, or there will be no land."
Porcupine blankly took the note, his mind buzzing.
Twenty acres? Not only did the other party not take his silver pukes, but they were going to allocate him land??
Most of the land in Eric Town belonged to the mayor, Marcos. He didn't own an inch of it and relied on farming for Marcos to earn a meager fee.
But now, what did he hear? He could be allocated twenty acres of land in this city.
Goddess above, I must be dreaming.
When the family of three received their IDs, their original panic and unease had been thrown aside, and their eyes were filled with anticipation.
A family of three, allocated twenty acres of land.
Twenty acres, he swore, if that revered mage was really willing to grant him so much land, he was willing to give all he had.
After finishing the ID process for Porcupine, Lide waved his hand for the adjacent Bloodline to handle it.
"Augustine, Harrison, understand?"
They had stood by Lide's side, watching him process Porcupine's documents, witnessing his significant attitude change.
"Clan Leader, I think I know why you plan to do this.
Humans don't always have to see us as enemies."
A slight feminine tone filled Harrison's voice with infinite sentiment. Originally, he thought it would take a long time for humans to truly accept the Bloodline, even if they weren't afraid of them.
But he didn't expect such a huge change in this human, filled with hostility and fear, in just a dozen minutes.
Night Goddess above, the clan leader's wisdom must be a gift from the Creator God.
"Indeed, human hatred toward the Bloodline isn't irreversible. More humans will join Dawn City in the future.
This group of weak individual beings will unleash unimaginable power when gathered in sufficient numbers.
The future of the Bloodline cannot do without humans. Thus, I hope you know how to manage humans, how to interact with them.
The Holy Light Bloodline is a new Bloodline; don't view this with outdated and decaying perspectives."
Taking every opportunity to indoctrinate the nearby Bloodline with his concepts, Lide found it somewhat effective.
The second-generation Bloodline were changing.
The third-generation Bloodline needed the second-generation to preach, though they hadn't yet.
But Lide believed, in the near future, this would become spontaneous.
Especially when the Bloodline discovered the hidden power of humans.
To occupy most of the fertile land on the Main Plane, humans' potential was undeniable.
With more Magic Language Bats arriving, the square filled with people.
400-plus Magic Language Bats, carrying around 700 humans, could finish the job in one trip.
The rest was just some belongings and food.
After experiencing the previous scene, Lide had no interest in those, so he ignored what these people had in their backpacks.
Though ten registration points were operating simultaneously, the process wasn't fast.
By the time everyone was registered, the sky had begun to lighten.
The Night Goddess shed her skirt, dawn arrived.
With the last human registered, the first batch of plundered humans had officially joined Dawn City.
Though it would take a long time for them to truly integrate, a good start was at least in the making.
Under everyone's watchful eyes, Lide ascended the central platform of the square.
This was the highest point of the square, designed by the humans who built the ancient castle, as some nobles enjoyed standing high above to gaze upon commoners and make nauseating speeches.
But today's scene would be different from the past, even becoming an unforgettable memory for everyone present.
"My people, welcome to your new home, Dawn City."
Lide stood atop, overlooking below. Today, he wore a blue, silver-patterned mage robe, appearing exceptionally heroic with his tall stature.
An ancient noble temperament, like aged red wine, incited admiration.
His features seemed like masterful sculptures by the craftsman god, possessing all the attractiveness expected of the opposite sex.
His dazzling and heroic appearance instantly drew everyone's attention.
Watching the hostile, suspicious, fearful, and uneasy looks below, Lide slightly smiled.
At that moment, they had only fear and suspicion in their eyes. But half a Sunshine Hour later, they would completely become my subordinates because I decided to tell a lie.
Though I've lied countless times in my life, I believe this one is the most perfect...