Veil of Destiny

Chapter 16 A Night of Interrogation and Betrayal

The sun had just leaped over the treetops when Dorian, already finished with breakfast, leisurely strolled into the labor camp. This was his first visit to such a place since taking over Fort Cyrus a few days ago. Along with inheriting the Snow Fox's territory, he had also taken in over a hundred laborers working the mines.

On the continent, slavery existed to varying degrees, overtly or covertly, in many nations. The highest class of slaves included exquisite elven maidens and renowned warriors, while lower classes consisted of various skilled artisans. Laborers were the lowest of all slaves, often without any skills, relegated to the most dangerous, exhausting, and filthy jobs. The hierarchy among slaves was straightforward and direct: based on their ability to create value for their masters.

Corresponding to their status, labor camps were typically the dirtiest and most rundown areas. Laborers were marked for life with a brand on their faces. Escaping was not a viable option, as captured runaways would belong to their captors, with the original owner having the right to buy them back for a reasonable price. Those reclaimed were typically executed in front of other laborers to serve as a deterrent. Despite this, large-scale escapes occurred from time to time, with numerous smaller attempts.

In the year 650 of the Holy Calendar, the laborers staged the largest rebellion in continental history, numbering 700,000 and even overthrowing a minor Duchy of kingdom's king. However, the uncontrollable laborers not only killed all the nobles but also the clergy of the Holy Church in that kingdom. Pope Paul VII then convened a coalition of 12 nations, totaling 100,000 troops, and dispatched 5,000 Templar Knights, led by the youngest Holy Knight of the church, Augustus, to suppress these abandoned by the gods.

When sheep face lions armed to the teeth, neither numbers nor resolve matter, especially when facing a pride of lions. In July of that year, Augustus led the Templars to six victorious battles, granting no quarter. By the end of the month, they had slaughtered all 700,000 rebellious laborers, in an event known as the Red July. Augustus earned the moniker "Blood Angel."

Just as Dorian stepped into the labor camp, he was nearly knocked over by a stench that assaulted his senses, preventing him from finishing his contemplation of the laborers' history from the "Continental Chronicle." He glanced around angrily. The camp was filled with low, dilapidated shacks that seemed worse than animal dens, with streams of multicolored sewage flowing everywhere, emitting the foul odor.

The laborers, already up, were standing in line for breakfast. In the center of the camp, a giant iron pot was simmering with a grayish-green porridge-like substance. A large, burly overseer was ladling the "porridge" into bowls for the laborers. Dorian, frowning, approached the pot and almost gagged at the smell emanating from it. He took the ladle from the overseer, inspected a scoop of the mixture, and saw it was a sticky, gray-green soup with uncut leaves floating in it. A bubble rose to the surface, bringing with it a cooked insect. Dorian's stomach churned, and he quickly averted his gaze, only to see the laborers staring at the "meat" with shining eyes, their Adam's apples moving up and down.

Dorian's face darkened as he glared at the overseer. "Who is responsible for preparing the food for these laborers?"

Sensing trouble, the overseer replied, "I am, sir."

"You handle everything from buying the supplies to cooking?"

"Yes, sir."

"Damn it! I spend ten gold coins every month, and this is what you feed them? Tell me, how much have you embezzled?" Dorian kicked the overseer to the ground and continued to kick him in a rage until a few other overseers pulled him away.

The overseer, wiping blood off his face with a defiant look, said, "Sir, your manager Nila only gives me four gold coins a month. If you want to blame someone, blame him. Besides," he glanced around menacingly, causing the laborers to shrink back, "these pigs! I'm already generous enough to feed them on half a gold coin a month!"