With six hundred slaves joining, the speed of construction has visibly improved a lot.

Lynn thought about it and felt it was normal.

Now, the townspeople building the entire track have reached 1,400!

If it were any slower, someone would surely be slacking off.

According to this construction speed, perhaps it can be completed in six or seven days!

Rolling up his sleeves slightly, Lynn stepped into the crowd working on the track.

He took an iron hammer and nails from a townsman, and began nailing sections of track timber onto the laid sleepers.

[Construction Experience +1]

[Construction Experience +1]

[Construction Experience +1]

…

Experience was accumulating bit by bit.

Until the sky gradually darkened, and the temperature noticeably dropped, enveloping them in a cold sensation.

Lynn instructed the guard to tell the townspeople that they could return to the town to rest.

In the astonished eyes of the six hundred newly arrived slaves, they followed the crowd back to the town.

It was just a little dim, so why was work ending already?

They asked the surrounding townspeople in confusion, "Is this all the work we do in one day?"

"Yes, the sky gets dark earlier in winter. It's probably only around five or six in the evening now, right?"

"Is it really the end of the workday?"

"…"

A few townspeople who had been in the town for several months smiled with pride and explained.

"The questions you ask are the same ones I asked when I was first brought here…"

"Rest assured, it really is the end of the workday, you can now go to the town's canteen and wait for the cooks to serve the meal."

"Although Master Lynn is the lord, don't worry—he's a good man."

"Yes, even though we work every day, since coming here, my whole family has never gone hungry."

"Soon my child should be getting out of school, just in time for us to have dinner together…"

Looking at the faces with contours similar to theirs, filled with smiles of contentment.

The newly arrived slaves realized they all came from the Portlands Empire.

The smiles on their faces were genuinely full of satisfaction, hence such expressions.

This territory and the lord of this territory were not quite as they imagined!

If it really was like what they said, becoming a townsman of this territory was indeed a fortunate thing.

At least they wouldn't have to live in constant fear of being slain by Chronos' soldiers like they did in the Portlands Empire!

As time went by.

The sky became darker and darker.

The townspeople returning from work also formed long lines back to the town.

At this moment, Lynn was standing in front of thousands of townspeople.

Then.

Two burly men in nothing but plate armor followed Kuisi to Lynn's front.

The arrival of the two plate armor soldiers immediately captured all the townspeople's attention.

In their eyes, there was admiration, longing, tension, or fear…

Each person's experiences were different, so their expressions when looking at the soldiers varied distinctly.

The three of them arrived at Lynn's side, and Kuisi was the first to speak, "Master, Instructor Ross has brought Earl along."

Lynn's gaze shifted to Ross and Earl.

Just as he had seen in the full-body photos on the Resident Information Column.

Earl was not tall but extremely robust.

Ross said, "Master."

Earl bent his waist, standing in the back, showing respect.

Kuisi was the steward, Ross was the instructor, but Earl, an ordinary soldier, naturally did not dare to speak at the same time as them.

Lynn responded with a nod, "Hmm."

His gaze shifted, Lynn looked to the front, where the canteen was already filled with numerous figures.

Despite the presence of thousands, not a single person whispered or made any sound.

They were all wide-eyed, looking at Lynn, their lord.

Lynn scanned the crowd, speaking deeply, "Gentlemen, I am your lord, Lynn."

The familiar opening, the familiar words.

The voice wasn't very loud, but due to the silence in the canteen, Lynn's words reached everyone's ears.

"There is something I need to announce to you all!"

A wave of curiosity swept through the eyes of the townspeople as they waited for Lynn to continue.

Standing next to Lynn, Earl's breathing gradually became tense.

On the way back to town from the city wall barracks, Ross had already informed him of the reason for returning.

The master of this territory, their Master Lynn, was going to hold an award ceremony for him.

Furthermore, he was going to fulfill the promise made during the day of the defense battle!

"Several days ago during the defense battle, I promised that whoever could become the top enemy slayer would be awarded a hundred pounds of fine salt, a hundred pounds of wheat, and promoted as Instructor Ross's assistant."

"And this hero, during the defense battle, single-handedly slayed fifteen invading bandits!"

Upon hearing this, the townspeople turned their gazes, looking at Earl with astonishment.

Feeling the gazes concentrated on him like a river streaming toward him.

Earl's breathing became accelerated and rapid.

But his body stood firmly, unwavering.

"Therefore, I will keep my promise to reward him with what he deserves and appoint him as Instructor Ross's assistant!"

"Even though Earl is only sixteen, a hero is not judged by origin, nor by age!"

Lynn called out loudly, "Earl Mendes, step forward!"

His words entered Earl's ears, reverberating like thunder.

Earl's heart and face were firm, striding forward to stand before Lynn, answering loudly, "Lord!"

Lynn looked directly at Earl, "From this moment, you will serve as Instructor Ross's assistant."

"When needed, you will lead soldiers to carry out tasks, even if facing death, you must not abandon your duty for a moment."

"Can you do it?"

Listening to such resolute words, the hair on Earl's body stood on end instantly.

He answered loudly, "I can do it!"

Lynn continued to look at Earl: "Lift your head, look at me!"

Earl did not hesitate, quickly lifted his head and opened his eyes widely, looking straight at Lynn.

"Louder, can you do it?"

This time, Earl almost used all the strength in his body, shouting loudly, "I can! I can! I can!"

The final "I can" even broke with emotion!

This shout filled with determination echoed through the canteen.

Both the newly joined townspeople and those who had been there for a long time had eyes full of excitement.

Under the repeated shouts of "I can," they became eager to try, even clenching their fists tightly.

Earl took deep breaths.

Lynn nodded with satisfaction, "Very good!"

His gaze moved, Lynn looked at the standing townspeople.

"I need two hundred soldiers! Two hundred strong and robust soldiers!"

"Who can withstand the bitter cold wind, who can endure the wind and rain, who can endure high-intensity training!"

"Who can protect the walls, who can defend the territory behind the walls, who can safeguard the townspeople working on the land."

"Who can go to battle and charge bravely..."

"Who is willing?"

As Lynn's words fell, a unified shout reverberated in the canteen as if it would blow off the roof.

"I am willing! I am willing! I am willing!"

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