System: Build My Own Territory Chapter 970 - 288: Swearing Allegiance (10,000 Words)

The declaration from Tyrone Ramirez hung in the air.

Beyond the crackling logs of the campfire, an intense silence enveloped the shed.

He observed the faces of his former comrades, each one etched with uncertainty and doubt.

"It is high time we altered our way of life!" Tyrone proclaimed to the group.

"Consider the desolate circumstances we endure daily..."

"Straw serves as our bedding and our blankets, and the bonfire is our sole source of warmth."

"While the weather is agreeable at this moment, should a storm descend, how shall this crude structure of raw logs possibly shield us from the elements?"

The gazes of the captive soldiers drifted, scanning their immediate surroundings.

This hastily constructed shed had already degenerated into a state of disarray after mere days of their habitation.

Despite the presence of a communal latrine situated at a distance,

a pervasive stench still tainted the air within the shed's confines.

"We may have suffered an initial defeat, but on the battlefield, there invariably exists a victor and vanquished."

"As long as we retain the resolve to don our Armor, grasp our Weapons, and charge forth into the fray—"

"—we might very well emerge triumphant in the ensuing conflict!"

Perceiving a nascent spark of hope kindle in their eyes,

Tyrone’s voice swelled with renewed vigor.

"My comrades!"

"The battlefield is our ultimate destiny!"

Upon hearing this, the captured soldiers, who had moments before been steeped in confusion and hesitation, now displayed a discernible glimmer of excitement.

Tyrone pressed on, his words flowing without pause.

"I am aware of your curiosity regarding the removal of the shackles from my wrists and ankles."

"I also comprehend your wonderment as to how I, having been escorted by the Lord’s Guard, managed to return to this enclosure unaccompanied."

"And I understand even more profoundly your inquisitiveness concerning my sudden and impassioned speech just now."

The captured soldiers could not help but murmur their assent.

These were, indeed, the very questions occupying their minds at that precise moment.

Tyrone proceeded with his explanation, addressing the matter directly.

"It transpired because the Lord of this domain engaged in a candid conversation with me."

"He imparted to me the wisdom that true respect is not attained through mere discourse or by soliciting it from others."

"It must be forged through one's own dedicated efforts!"

"Should commoners aspire to sustenance, shelter, and respect, they must offer their physical labor in exchange."

"We, as prisoners of war, if we desire food, shelter, and honor, must rally our spirits and once again embrace our roles as soldiers..."

"...To stand as protectors of this territory, to safeguard its inhabitants!"

"This, and only this, is the path to earning true respect."

A burly man fixed his gaze upon Tyrone and queried,

"Commander Tyrone, at present, we are nothing more than captives of war."

"We possess neither Armor nor Weapon, and our days are consumed by arduous labor... How, then, are we to reclaim our identity as soldiers?"

The assembled captives nodded in agreement.

The question posed by the robust soldier mirrored the latent query in all their hearts.

Tyrone’s eyes settled upon the burly man as he responded with unwavering conviction,

"The answer to that very question was also shared with me during my conversation with the Lord of this territory!"

"Lord Lynn assured me that should I succeed in reorganizing you and restoring your martial discipline, "

"he would furnish us all with Armor and Weapons, and provide sustenance of excellent quality along with proper barracks for our accommodation!"

A visible wave of emotion washed over the captured soldiers, their eyes alight with burgeoning aspiration.

Observing their palpable eagerness, Tyrone continued,

"Furthermore, we would be afforded a lifestyle akin to that of the Townsmen residing in the modest settlement."

"We could seek companions, establish families, raise children, and regard this place as the cherished homeland upon which our lives depend!"

Unmistakable anticipation flared in the eyes of the captured soldiers.

Tyrone’s voice boomed once more, "Who amongst you is prepared to march with me?"

"To fight for our own future, for this territory, for our nascent homeland, and for our Lord...?"

His final word had barely escaped his lips,

when a resounding shout immediately erupted.

"I am prepared to march!"

The captured soldiers instinctively began searching the faces around them,

eager to identify the first voice that had pledged allegiance to Tyrone.

However.

Before the source of that initial declaration could be pinpointed,

two more powerful voices joined the chorus.

"I am prepared to march!"

"I am prepared to march!"

These two affirmations acted as a spark igniting dry tinder.

Successive waves of fervent responses rapidly propagated, their echoes reverberating throughout the entire enclosure.

"I am willing!"

"I am willing!"

"..."

The clamor intensified to such a degree that it seemed capable of tearing the roof from the shed.

They even—

caused the Townsmen, who were engaged in quiet conversation and rest within the Lord’s Square, to simultaneously turn their attention towards the temporary quarters of the prisoners upon hearing the thunderous acclaim.

Amidst the pervasive quietude of this small town under the cloak of night, the commotion was all the more striking.

A patrol squad of soldiers went by in the distance and, after a quick look, departed immediately. This was because their Lord had issued prior instructions: as long as the prisoners refrained from causing trouble, they were permitted to congregate freely.

...

The following morning, Lynn, who habitually got up early, donned a comfortable yet neat long robe and stepped out of his sleeping quarters. After consuming the breakfast Kuisi had prepared, he departed the castle accompanied by Red.

Under the respectful gazes of the townsfolk, Lynn strolled past rows of Red Brick Houses, making his way towards the Lord's Square. However, before Lynn could reach the square, a Guard stationed ahead hurried to meet him. Upon spotting Lynn, the Guard's eyes brightened instantly, and he promptly increased his pace. Reaching Lynn's side, the Guard spoke with utmost respect,