Work Prophet
Chapter 82 - 43: Everyone Has Their Own Opinion

Chapter 82: Chapter 43: Everyone Has Their Own Opinion

Upon hearing the need to enter the swamp, everyone fell silent.

After all, that place is dangerous even without dragons, not to mention the presence of the "guides" from the enthusiastic lizard people—it’s anyone’s guess whether those guides might lead them astray and suddenly turn on them with a knife, before running out to claim they were eaten by dragons.

To lose one’s life is one thing, but to die without purpose is another.

Finally, it was Alfred who spoke up, "This matter concerns the safety of everyone, and it must indeed be thoroughly investigated. However, as for how many people to send and who specifically, that requires further discussion before a decision can be made."

Ireya nodded, "Yes, if that dragon is really as terrifying as those lizard people say, then those who enter the swamp should be well-prepared."

With the young girl’s words, the discussion about the dragon came to a temporary halt.

Although the lizard people painted the Black Dragon as incredibly ferocious and fearsome, its range of activity was, after all, still confined within Gai Gu Great Swamp, which was far less pressing than the threat of the over a thousand lizard people currently outside the city.

This time, Li Yu came to the city planning to discuss with Miss Rabbit not how to deal with the dragon, but something else.

Seeing no one else speaking, Li Yu continued, "The reason those lizard people have been raiding around is mainly to sustain their tribe’s survival; in the swamp, they can’t procure enough food and tools, and the environment for childbirth is quite harsh, leading to high mortality rates for both mothers and infants. They have to constantly replenish with new blood.

"But if someone could give them a piece of land to settle down on, they could likewise cultivate and produce on it, living through the work of their own hands," he said.

Before Ireya could respond, others around her had already started voicing their objections.

"Impossible! Bandits will always be bandits. Even if they take up the hoe, they are still bandits. They may behave during times of peace, but the moment they face any hardship, the first thing they will think of is to steal and rob!"

Someone else said, "Those lizard people almost come out of the swamp every year to harass and attack nearby villages, their hands are filled with the blood of innocents. If we were to really accept them, what would other residents of the territory think?

"Not to mention that in the bloodline of the Arias family, there were ancestors who perished at their hands. Over these nine hundred or so years, a blood feud has long been established between our two sides."

The old knight added, "Not to mention recent events, I have received word that those lizard people have slaughtered at least six villages, and in addition, sixteen of the Arias family’s elite warriors died on the spot while protecting Miss Ireya during their retreat, not to say how many more militiamen perished."

"The Trinidad Knights were the first to discover those lizard people. They convened people for resistance in the earliest time possible and even lit the beacon fires. As a result, the lizard people killed their entire family. Now, to talk about peace, isn’t it a bit late?"

Miss Rabbit was the last to speak up, and her stance was very clear, "This land was left to me by my ancestors, and I will not cede it to anyone, especially not to my enemies.

"Those lizard people are indeed in a dominant position now. They can wantonly slaughter my residents, my knights and warriors. But do not expect me to submit. Even if they take Teacup Castle and kill each and every one of us including me, and break the Rabbit banner hanging above the castle, as long as there is a single descendant of the Arias family left, he will eventually retake this land and rebuild our clan."

"I understand your position and have no intention of persuading you to cede land," Li Yu said. "I have communicated with those lizard people, and they do not deny the atrocities they have committed. Especially regarding the massacre of the local civilians, they are very willing to compensate for your losses."

"How do they wish to compensate?" the young girl frowned.

"A life for a life, well, to be more precise, three lives for one. This time they stormed out of the swamp and killed nearly three hundred people. Now, with over a thousand of them remaining, all are willing to become your subjects and work for you, continuously paying taxes.

"You can also select warriors from among them to supplement your forces. Although they might not match the seasoned Half-Beast veterans, they are certainly more capable than the average militia, and their numbers are sufficient. Almost the entire populace of these lizard people is combat-ready – men, women, the elderly, and children can all take to the battlefield."

"But why do I need so many warriors?" Miss Ireya’s frown deepened.

Human lives couldn’t possibly be so simply calculated.

To say that one life could substitute for three, yet those who were killed by the lizard people were truly dead, never to be revived. Among them, some Ireya could still name, some even had served the Arias family since the moment she was born.

But now they were all gone, and Ireya found it difficult to accept that the murderers who killed them could become her subjects, working and resting under her watch, starting families.

Even if those people all dutifully paid their taxes, providing her with more income.

Miss Rabbit did indeed love wealth, but she did not want to pocket just any kind of money.

However, no sooner had she finished speaking than another voice rang out.

"Agree to it."

"Great-grandmother..." The girl was astonished, "What did you just say?"

"I said agree to it. Merlin is right; this surprise attack by the lizard people has caused the family great losses. It will be hard to recover in less than a decade, but now that these lizard people are willing to pledge loyalty to us, we can not only make up for the losses but also make the family stronger," Ona suddenly said after having kept silent.

"This is too dangerous!" Alfred immediately objected, "Even without considering emotional factors, the number of lizard people is too great, already exceeding the limit we can assimilate. Should they bear ill will, the consequences would be unimaginable."

Fosto did not want to openly contradict the eldest member of the Arias family, but having to consider his role as an advisor, he still spoke diplomatically.

"Indeed, a thousand is a bit too many, and moreover, Merlin had mentioned that these lizard people, regardless of age or gender, are all capable of fighting, and our family has just lost many elite warriors... given this increase on one side and decrease on the other..."

Yet, the old woman would not budge. "No matter how dangerous, it must be done. We can keep all but the murderers of the Trinidad Knight."

Yago also could barely restrain himself, "Doing this will surely cause discontent among the knights within our lands, as well as other civilians."

"In critical times, one must take extraordinary measures," Ona said decisively.

"The storm is approaching, now is not the time to worry about whether we’re comfortable at home."

"The storm, are you referring to the Dragon in the swamp?" Ireya asked, "But whether that Dragon truly exists has not yet been verified."

"I’m not just talking about that Dragon," the old knight shook her head and did not elaborate further, but her tone did soften a bit, "In any case, my opinion is to keep these lizard people," she said.

The girl remained silent.

At that moment, Li Yu added another weight onto the scales, "If you’re willing to accept these lizard people, I also promise to catch the mole hidden inside the castle within three days."