Endless Horde: Through the Eyes of a Godking

Chapter 796: Tempting Nomads

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The progress of the Rising Sun Domain’s development continued smoothly…

With enough people working hard enough, the projects were coming along smoothly. Each day passed, the closer the domain got to its desirable state.

The guests that came seeking temporary shelters have all left, all completing their breakthrough in relative peace. They didn’t stay for long, just enough to express their gratitude to Cedric.

Some people asked if they could do something for Cedric in exchange for his hospitality. Cedric didn’t dare to ask much from them, only to endorse his domain if they knew or encountered some nomadic tribes with nowhere to go.

Cedric explained that he needed some citizens; even temporary ones are okay. Because while there were certainly many people in his domain already, it’s nowhere near enough to actually populate his domain.

Everybody who heard him out agreed. His request isn’t much anyway. In fact, they were already thinking of doing that even before he asked.

Cedric didn’t ask for more, just that. And that left a good impression on the guests.

Soon, groups of nomads in their run-down ships started arriving. They came after hearing rumors about Cedric looking for citizens. They came here looking for work so that they can feed themselves and have a place to settle down to, even if only temporarily.

Cedric welcomed them warmly. He didn’t go overboard. He just allowed them to stay, provided them with some supplies, and gave them grunt work.

Yes, it does sound very transactional because that’s the point. Cedric didn’t promise them anything too outrageous because he knows that these people wouldn’t believe him. If anything, doing that would just drive them away.

These people have experienced enough hardship in their lives and have developed a strong sense of right or wrong. They know that nothing was for free. The more Cedric gave to them, the more he’d expect things from them. That’s how it works.

Even if Cedric were to explain himself to them, they won’t buy it. If anything, the more he tries to prove his innocence, the more they’d be suspicious of him. And that would just drive them away. That’s not what Cedric wanted to see, so of course, he’d avoid doing something like that.

That’s why a transaction was the right first move when dealing with nomads. He gives them food, shelter, and clothes in exchange for their service. That’s it, plain and simple.

If they do their jobs and behave properly, they can then experience how generous he could be.

His generosity was the bait, and he wouldn’t hide that from them. Want to have more? Then stay and become proper citizens of his land. Swear loyalty and be reliable subjects of the Sector Lord, and your future will be limitless.

These nomads aren’t stupid. They came here knowing that this will eventually happen. The fact that they came despite knowing that they’d be tempted was a sign that they are open-minded enough to think about the offer.

They’re nomads, for crying out loud. They’re quite literally searching for new homes. Who would want to stay as nomads when there is a place for them to stay? Who would endure a difficult life when the option for them to live comfortably and peacefully was available?

Who would want to stay as nomads in the cruel and merciless world of the Primitive Universe?

Of course, even nomads like them have pride. Most of these people would rather live and die nomads rather than becoming slaves of others. It sure doesn’t help that the majority of slaves that go around the markets were once nomads too, making it seem like being a nomad and a slave weren’t really that different when, in truth, there was a massive difference, the biggest one being freedom.

So, these nomads already knew that the sector lord was trying to make them submit to him, yet they still arrived anyway.

In truth, it’s not that they’re allergic to servitude. Sure, some of them would rather die than become slaves, but they wouldn’t mind becoming servants in some form or way.

Swearing loyalty to a lord? That’s not off the table. They have their considerations, of course, and they weren’t hard to meet. It’s just that these nomads had been through so much that they became skeptical of everything.

Coming here was their way of testing the waters. If the lord here was kind and generous enough, then they wouldn’t mind staying here and serving that lord. Whether this lord was just putting up appearances for now or not, that remains to be seen and is a gamble that they, the nomads, have to play.

In the end, it’s up to them to decide whether they stayed or not. And Cedric knows this.

But really, the moment they become curious enough to come here, it’s already too late. And in the moment they experienced how generous Cedric could be to his citizens and how much potential this sector domain holds, the outcome was already set in stone.

The moment they were taken to their temporary homes? One that had solid foundations, had enough space, had a complete and sturdy roof, and was warm, inviting, and complete with furniture? They were in disbelief. Even more so when they’re told that they can stay and use these houses as they please under the assumption that they’d do decent work for the lord.

And when they got their ’rations’—which’, in truth, was a feast that could last them for months or even years—for their ’recovery’ so that they could replenish their energy and health before they started working? They wept tears of joy and relief.

When they started working, they met their fellow workers and superiors and experienced the hectic yet very progressive workplace with a healthy work schedule. They were in disbelief.

Before long, they got used to this lifestyle. And once they realized that they’ve unknowingly fallen into a routine and gotten used to their comfortable lives here?

Yep, it’s already a foregone conclusion. It’s over for them. They can’t go anywhere now. They’re stuck here and wouldn’t have it any other way.

This was how Cedric, although slowly but surely, expanded the population of his people.

He didn’t rely on recruitment posts or resort to extortion, threats, or abduction. He relied on the endorsement of people who felt indebted to him and word of mouth.

Of course, this wouldn’t last forever, and this method attracts all sorts of people, including the bad ones. But for now, this suits his purposes, so why stop it?

He had ways to filter out the bad sort of people anyway.

**

In a place far away from the Rising Sun Domain…

So far that it takes us outside of the Heavenly Star Chaos Realm entirely and into the dreadful home of The Horde, diving straight into the center of this place where the Crimson Womb Mother could be seen, a grim and skin-prickling scene was currently underway.

The Bug Empress was in her chambers, hissing and letting out inhumane shrieks filled with endless promise of pain, anger, and hostility.

Her blood sprayed everywhere as her screeches bounced off the walls. She writhed on her nest, her entire body twitching in pain and agony.

On her back, a large vertical wound starting from her nape, tracing her entire spine, could be seen. The wound was large, and everything inside her body threatened to spill out of it. The wound looked cauterized, and it’s also releasing a sanguine glow.

This was the lingering killing intent of the Supreme Will; it’s also the reason why this wound refuses to heal even though it’s been so long since it has been inflicted on her.

“That damned pest!!! How dare he!! Argghh!!!” The Bug Empress shrieked in pain and agony.

The memory of that man humiliating her, stealing her opportunity, and tossing her straight into the glare of the Supreme Will triggered the Bug Empress’ wrath, which in turn made the wound flare up again.

It’s been more than 60 years since that incident happened, yet with this gaping wound on her body, it sure felt like yesterday.

This is what happens when the Supreme Will is provoked; it’s the reason why even lifeforms like her had to respect it.

Even after so long, she still hasn’t healed up. The Supreme Will’s killing intent prevents the wound from healing. It ignores her healing factor and cannot be removed through normal means. Moreover, it’s extremely painful, so much so that even an indomitable will might not be enough to prevent one from collapsing because of it.

The Bug Empress herself can attest to that.

And it’s exactly for this reason that the Bug Empress swore that one day, she will personally kill that brat. For all intents and purposes, he was now her mortal enemy.

Nobody, not even the Human Sovereigns, had been able to cause so much suffering to her. And the really infuriating part is that brat was someone she could’ve squeezed between her fingers.

Alas, she can’t do anything right now. She can’t even last a minute without bleeding profusely because of the wound.

And her anxiety was only being made worse with the idea that her rivals were now on their way to surpassing her.