Iron Harvest: When Farming Becomes Conquest
Chapter 125 - 28: Nathan

Chapter 125: Chapter 28: Nathan

Roman didn’t know how effective the Blue Gemstone was at enhancing one’s abilities, or whether Ruto could fully comprehend and integrate its power.

But for now, his demonstrated abilities were very reassuring.

With Ruto here, he could leave matters in his hands.

There were many things he needed to do.

At this time, the second batch of slaves brought by Scar Head had also recovered their health.

Upon returning to Origin Manor, Roman began his fourth recruitment.

As the population of Sige Town grew, he would select promising individuals from the Recruitment Pool.

This time, he increased the number of recruitment draws to 50.

However, the results were not very satisfactory.

Out of 50 draws, there was only one Three Star Level Angel Envoy, the rest were either Two Stars or One Star.

...

[Three Star Nathan (Angel Envoy alias assignable)

Attack: D-, Defense: E+, Speed: E-, Constitution: D-, Energy: E+

Talent: Brute Strength – As strong as an ox

First Skill: Weightlifting – Increase in strength

Second Skill: Bellow – Deep and loud voice]

...

This recruitment made Roman realize the rarity of High Star Level Angel Envoys.

One Star Level Angel Envoys were the norm.

Two Star Level Angel Envoys were occasional.

Three Star Level Angel Envoys were quite rare.

Now, he only had two Four Star Angel Envoys, seven Three Star Angel Envoys, twenty to thirty Two Star Angel Envoys, and the rest were all One Star Angel Envoys.

Not to mention Kao and Aaron.

Those Three Star Angel Envoys were all extraordinary in some way.

But among the several thousand people in Sige Town, they couldn’t be considered the absolute best.

If these people had lived lives like theirs since childhood, although the majority would not have fared as well, there would still be a minority who outperformed them.

They just lacked the platform.

Take Jimmy, for example. His greatest strength since childhood was his memory, but who would care about a skinny boy from a widow’s home?

Would he be able to demonstrate his talents and abilities in the future?

It seemed impossible.

He would simply fade into the crowd.

Roman dared not assume that Star Level equated to an Angel Envoy’s potential.

But he also couldn’t claim with certainty that Jimmy, who grew up in poverty, always had the potential of a Three Star Level.

Surviving was a luxury, many struggled on the brink of starvation, and any disturbance could lead to their family’s ruin.

Originally high-potential Angel Envoys could also lose their potential due to various life difficulties.

There was nothing Roman could do about this.

Thus, he desperately hoped to shatter this era soon to uncover more talent.

But such a result from 50 draws left Roman somewhat disheartened and with a bad premonition.

...

Roman summoned Nathan.

He was a giant of a man, standing at two meters tall.

Muscle bulged from his neck thick and strong as if glued to his chin, his slightly hunched back was like a range of hills, calling him broad-shouldered and stout was an understatement, his physique radiated formidable strength.

Upon first laying eyes on Nathan, Roman understood where that D- Constitution attribute came from; indeed, he could be considered unusually gifted.

It was unceremonious to say, but if Tyson were to exchange blows with him, the former would be highly likely to lose.

If it had been a younger Nathan, his malleability would have been higher.

However, he was now just an old farmer, his body bearing the marks of tilling the land.

He had been to battlefields, but he was not a qualified warrior; he lacked the fierce and savage demeanor needed. Instead, he had silence and restraint — otherwise, he could not have ended up in Sige Town — those pirates were brutal and vicious, ready to snuff out any sign of resistance.

"Where are you from?" Roman always asked questions about the background of the Angel Envoys he was interested in.

Without knowing their entire history, he couldn’t entrust his trust in them.

"Macao Village in Taler County, my lord," Nathan bowed his head.

His disheveled brown hair naturally curled, covering most of his face, giving him a rough and savage demeanor.

Roman hadn’t heard of this place; it was likely obscure.

"Where is it?"

"Two or three hundred miles from the North Ice Sea."

He immediately frowned. "The pirates have reached your area?"

"Not for the time being. They landed on a large scale and Gang City’s calls for aid reached Taler County, so we went to support Gang City. Then we were ambushed on the way, and our team was scattered..."

Nathan’s tone was somber, his aura heavy, and the long hair that hung loose gave a deeply desolate impression.

After the team was scattered, he straightaway fled, subsequently encountering five or six pirates emerging from the forest.

He had intended to kill them all and then flee back to Taler County.

But the pirates kept coming out of the Secret Forest in greater numbers, quickly increasing to more than ten, and he alone couldn’t kill them all, so he had to lay down his weapons.

Seeing his compliance, the pirates didn’t make things difficult for him.

They came ashore to rob, not to slaughter the innocents indiscriminately.

Of course, there were always some pirates who’d go blood-crazy, but such pirates usually didn’t live long—kill a captive you could ransom? They’re worth money, or you could sell them, they’re not your slave alone, why kill?

Nathan’s hands were tied, and he became a slave, and thus he was brought to Sige Town.

His hair hung wild as he suddenly became agitated and hurried towards Roman, "My lord, I beg you to set me free. I have a wife and children at home. I implore you, please show mercy, they really can’t do without me..."

His footsteps thudded emphatically, the sense of oppression he conveyed was profound.

This stemmed from his unusual physique.

When others had to tilt their heads up just to see his chin and the neck flesh that seemed to cling to it, everyone felt intimidated—it was an instinct engraved in their genes.

Roman quietly watched this slave who had rushed up to him, neither outraged nor angry.

"Even if I let you go, you will just repeat the same mistakes. You know full well that the pirates are landing in large numbers, which means they’ll soon be attacking the mainland. What will you use to protect them then? Do you want to become slaves along with them?"

Seeing that Nathan was speechless, Roman sighed and said, "Kneel down and talk."

Nathan dutifully knelt down, his eyes level with Roman who was seated.

"How old is your child?"

"Three years old, my lord."

"Is he cute?"

"He is my treasure."

"What if someone wanted to harm him? In front of you—to kill him with an axe. You don’t want to see such things, but what if it really happens?"

Nathan, not adept with words and already stretched to his limits by pleading for freedom, shuddered at the thought of that scene, stammering, "I would kill them first..."

"You can’t do that. You’re just lambs, and no matter how strong a lamb’s body may be, it’s still just a lamb. You yearn for a peaceful life, but often the outcomes are contrary to our wishes," Roman hummed lightly.

"Do you have any special skills?"

"I’m good at farming. I can pull the plow myself."

Truly the strength of an ox.

Roman noticed that Nathan didn’t have the potential to fully dedicate himself and die on the battlefield.

He had a family.

Such circumstances wouldn’t allow Nathan to fight without thought for his own life.

Roman wasn’t disappointed by this; it wasn’t normal to expect everyone to be utterly devoted. It was good for his subordinates to have fulfilling family lives.

"I’ll grant you freedom, but on one condition!"

Nathan listened intently.

"I won’t have you tilling the soil; you’ll need to charge across battlefields. You’ll have to join my army; just kill 50, no, make it 30 men, and I’ll set you free. If you’re willing to return and you bring your family here, I’ll make you one of my Guards."

After hearing this, Nathan was silent for a moment, and his voice was slightly hoarse. "How long will it take?"

"If you perform well, you can leave by next year."

Nathan felt he could accept these terms, to exchange a year for his freedom.

Even if it meant dozens more lives on his hands, it was worth it.

"But I need to remind you, the training is tough and brutal. Don’t consider it just another Militia."

"I understand, my lord. I’ll endure to the end," Nathan silently vowed to himself. For my family...

Roman nodded slightly.

Those of simple character and strong physique like this old farmer often turned into the finest sources of soldiers.