55: Slavery and a New Journey

Two days later, at the dilapidated city gate of the Goblin King City, dust flew as a large contingent slowly drove in.

The one leading them was Li Yi, looking travel-worn. Behind him were three thousand well-equipped and spirited Infinite City guards.

"Lord!" Li Yi dismounted, walked quickly to Su Jin, his face showing some fatigue from the journey, but more so, excitement.

"Old Li, you've worked hard." Su Jin patted his shoulder, feeling much more at ease seeing his reliable Chief of Internal Affairs.

...

Inside the Goblin King's palace, in the assembly hall that once belonged to Bashaka, lights were now brightly lit.

The hall had been simply cleaned, and the crude Goblin-style decorations were removed as much as possible, replaced with some Infinite City banners and lighting equipment.

A temporary long table was set in the center, with Su Jin in the main seat, and below him were Li Yi, Mu Yang, Stone Rock, Zhui Yun, Huo Jun, and Bai Xiao.

This was the first formal meeting of the Infinite City's high-ranking officials in the Goblin King City.

"Everyone is here." Su Jin looked around, "Today, I've called you all for two main topics. First, how to deal with the large number of Goblin prisoners; second, our next military objective."

He looked at Li Yi: "Old Li, you go first and talk about the prisoners."

Li Yi stood up, taking out several documents: "Lord, commanders."

"After initial statistics, we captured approximately seventy thousand Goblins in this battle, most of whom are elderly, weak, and common Goblins, with less than five thousand being combat-capable."

"These Goblins are currently concentrated and held in the west district of the city, under strict guard by troops dispatched by Commander Mu Yang. How to deal with them is indeed a thorny issue."

"Thorny?" Zhui Yun snorted coldly, his eyes filled with a murderous aura.

"How many humans have these green-skinned bastards killed over the years? How many villages have they plundered? In my opinion, bury them all alive, once and for all! Keeping them is just a disaster!"

Stone Rock rumbled in agreement: "I also think, kill them all! Save food, and we don't need to send people to watch them."

Huo Jun frowned slightly and said, "Burying them alive goes against heavenly principles and would make our Infinite City seem too brutal."

"Moreover, killing all seventy thousand prisoners would likely have a negative impact. However, the blood debt of the Goblins to our human race is indeed too numerous to count, and they absolutely cannot be let off lightly."

Mu Yang pondered for a moment and said, "If all seventy thousand prisoners are executed, the workload would be immense, and it could easily provoke extreme resistance from the remaining Goblins."

"If all are incorporated, the management cost would be too high, and it would also be inappropriate given the blood feud with our human race."

For a moment, the hall fell into a brief silence.

Killing them would violate humanity and lead to future troubles; not killing them posed difficulties in management and how to eliminate hatred.

Su Jin's fingers tapped lightly on the table, listening to everyone's opinions. He looked at Li Yi, who had been silent: "Old Li, what's your view?"

Li Yi pondered for a moment, then slowly spoke.

"Lord, everyone. From a management and development perspective, these seventy thousand Goblins represent a significant labor force."

"We have just taken the Goblin King City, and everything is waiting to be rebuilt. Whether it's repairing city defenses, mining, or the future development of the Adran World, a large number of hands are needed."

"Killing them directly would certainly be satisfying, but it would also waste resources."

"But their threat..." Zhui Yun was still somewhat unwilling.

"The threat must naturally be eliminated, and the blood debt must be repaid."

Li Yi's tone was calm, yet carried a hint of ruthlessness, "My suggestion is to demote the entire Goblin race to 'slave race'!"

"Slave race?" Everyone was startled.

"That's right, slave race." Li Yi explained, "Deprive them of their equal rights as a sentient race, and have them serve the Infinite City as slaves for generations."

"They will undertake the hardest and most dangerous labor, using their sweat and lives to repay the sins they committed against our human race. All their output will belong to the Infinite City."

"This not only solves the labor problem but also fundamentally eliminates the possibility of them threatening us again, and it is a continuous form of punishment."

He paused, then added: "Of course, the law cannot be completely rigid."

"We can stipulate that if any Goblin makes special and significant contributions to the Infinite City during their service, after review and verification, they and their direct descendants can have their slave status removed and become ordinary citizens."

"This maintains high-pressure rule, while also dividing and disintegrating them, and provides a glimmer of hope, however difficult to achieve, preventing complete despair that could lead to a desperate struggle."

"And most importantly,"

A cold glint flashed in Li Yi's eyes, "We need to identify the masterminds and villains who committed bloody crimes against our human race in the past."

"These individuals must be publicly executed, their blood used to mourn our fallen compatriots, and to deter all Goblins."

"As for how to find them... establish a reporting mechanism, letting them expose each other."

"Those who provide verified clues will be rewarded, and those with outstanding performance may even gain the power to manage a small team of Goblin slaves."

Once this proposal was made, the hall fell silent again.

Zhui Yun frowned in thought, seemingly finding this method more torturous for these green-skins than simply killing them.

Stone Rock seemed to understand, though not fully, but felt it sounded quite formidable.

Mu Yang and Huo Jun nodded slightly, believing this method balanced punishment, management, and practical benefits, making it a sound plan.

As for Bai Xiao, he merely raised his eyes slightly.

After listening, Su Jin had already made his decision.

Li Yi's plan was ruthless and practical, both avenging blood debts and solving practical problems, while also leaving room for division and incentive, truly a seasoned approach.

"So be it." Su Jin made the final decision.

"Effective immediately, the entire Goblin race shall be demoted to a slave race! Li Yi is responsible for formulating detailed slave management laws and for establishing slave camps as soon as possible to begin production and construction."

"Yes, Lord!" Li Yi bowed and accepted the order.

"Second matter," Su Jin looked at the map.

"Although the Goblin King City has been captured, the main army, led by the Goblin King Bashaka, is still in a stalemate with the Elves in the Twilight Forest."

"We must take the initiative, find an opportunity, and completely annihilate them to eliminate future troubles."

His finger pointed to the edge of the Twilight Forest on the map: "Mu Yang, you will continue to guard the Goblin King City, be responsible for city defense and military affairs, and cooperate with Li Yi in managing the slave race."

"Your subordinate obeys!" Mu Yang replied.

"The rest of you, come with me on this expedition." Su Jin's gaze swept over the three.

"After leaving the necessary defensive troops, assemble the main force. Five days from now, we set off, our target — the Twilight Forest!"

"Yes, sir!" Everyone responded in unison, their voices filled with soaring fighting spirit.

The meeting concluded, and orders were quickly relayed.

The Infinite City army, having just experienced a major battle, showed no slack and immediately began new preparations for war.

And the Goblin King City, this city that had just changed hands, would also begin to operate in a completely different way under its new rulers.