Chapter 531.5: Rebirth
Seeing that everyone had "accepted" the situation, the old lady continued:
"From ages six to fifteen, children will enter the Professional Training Academy for education."
"They'll receive the best education available."
"Every one of them will be trained as a future professional!"
"Their teachers are the best among hundreds of candidates."
"These teachers are not only skilled but also excel in theoretical knowledge and teaching abilities."
"In short, the Professional Training Academy's faculty represents the finest talent in the territory."
"All costs of their education are borne by the territory; families won't pay a single coin."
The first reaction from everyone was disbelief!
Every child trained as a professional?
How was that even possible?
And no tuition costs?
That was even less believable!
They had never seen a territory willing to provide free education to every child, ensuring all were trained as professionals…
Even the major religious orders only selected individuals deemed "fated" for such opportunities.
The Bay Territory's promise sounded utterly fantastical!
Yet, as everyone looked at the old lady's smiling face, a faint glimmer of hope crept into their hearts.
They couldn't help but start discussing amongst themselves:
"Could this actually be true?"
"Maybe it is. After all, it's too easy to expose a lie like this. The territory wouldn't need to lie to people like us…"
"True, we aren't worth deceiving."
"Not just us—other than children with magical potential, most other kids have already been abandoned by their own territories, haven't they?"
"Yes… that's true. We're not really worth coveting…"
"If this is real, then if our kids can become professionals, their futures would be completely different…"
"We're already here in the Bay Territory. We have food, we have clothes, so it's much better than waiting to starve. We might as well believe what they say!"
"Makes sense…"
"…"
Listening to their discussions, Gater couldn't help but think of the many children still in the Catachan dimension. A flicker of hope stirred within him.
Indeed, if the Bay Territory truly nurtured children this way…
Then nearly all Catachans would be eager to join.
Except for those individuals, of course!
Before the crowd's discussion was over, the old lady resumed speaking with a clear voice:
"In addition to professional training, they'll also learn other practical skills."
"This ensures that even if they don't become professionals, they'll have trades to support themselves."
"Additionally, during their studies, they'll participate in internships aligned with the territory's development, ensuring their practical abilities…"
"For example, among the first graduating class of 3,673 students, 3,208 became professionals. The others found jobs."
"Their average starting salary is 52 gold coins per year, with only a 200-gold difference between the top ten and bottom ten earners!"
Over 3,000 professionals trained?
An annual income of 52 gold coins?
Everyone perked up, their eyes widening.
They might overlook most of what was said, but those "sensitive" details caught their attention immediately.
If their children could join the Professional Training Academy…
It would certainly out-earn them, by several times more than they'd ever managed in their best years.
Unknowingly, their wariness began to fade.
The majority of people were, after all, easily "swayed" and "trusting."
The old lady, as if seeing through their thoughts, beamed even more brightly, her wrinkles smoothing out as she continued:
"In addition to nurturing the children, the territory hasn't 'abandoned' the adults who join the Bay Territory."
"In the coming days, besides learning the territory's rules and laws, you'll undergo assessments to determine your strengths."
"The goal of these assessments is to maximize everyone's talents."
"To help you earn the highest possible returns in the shortest amount of time."
"For instance, those skilled in farming can be assigned to work the territory's public fields."
"You'll keep 65% of the harvest, and after five years, you'll gain permanent planting rights, keeping 90% of the yield."
"Once the food needs are met, the territory will buy the surplus at 10% above market value."
"Those with experience raising pigs, horses, cattle, or sheep can work at the livestock farms…"
"Outside of work hours, everyone can participate in free skill and knowledge training, as well as necessary combat training."
"Even if you've missed the prime age for strength development, there's still a reasonable chance of becoming a professional."
"Though that requires regularly eating magical foods, which are affordable and cost-effective."
"Of course, everyone will have purchase limits…"
"If you become professionals, you can take the reservist exams and earn at least one gold coin per month!"
"…"
Under the old lady's lively description, many people in the plaza began to envision a brighter future.
Gater, who had listened to everything, couldn't help but feel a jolt of excitement when he heard the Bay Territory would ensure a secure livelihood for seniors over 60.
Old age security—it sounds so wonderful!
After the "announcement" ended, Gater returned to the temporary living quarters.
Unlike yesterday's quiet, everyone was much more talkative today, chatting nonstop.
"Hey, if the Bay Territory is really as they say, that'd be amazing. It's not like we had any choice before…"
"Hah, those knight lords don't care whether we live or die. When things get tough, we end up selling our children, selling our daughters."
"Is it the same where you're from? Wasn't it caused by the conflict between those two grand arcanists?"
"How many people can a grand arcanist actually harm…? Merchants, nobles, knights—they're all just waiting to get rich off times like these."
"Sounds like it's the same everywhere…"
"What happened out west? Weren't there so many nobles? Couldn't they hold off the orcs?"
"Hah, they're great at bullying us, sure. But facing the orcs? They'd just be sending themselves to their deaths."
"They're not going to their deaths. They'll just wait until the empire sends troops to drive the orcs out, and then they can return to their lands."
"Exactly. By then, all the farmland will be theirs again."
"Ah… it's the same everywhere…"
"The other stuff aside, how long can the Bay Territory really keep this up?"
"Hard to say. But the lord's still young. At least we can have a few good generations. After that, who knows…"
"Don't think too much about it. As long as we've got something to eat. Hey, what kind of job do you think is best?"
"Farming, of course! Sure, we don't own the land, but I asked specifically—an old farmer can get at least 20 acres to work on, and with 65% of the harvest, that's plenty to feed a family!"
"Makes a lot of sense…"
From not caring much at the start to gradually taking it seriously.
Gater's mindset began to shift.
The Bay Territory wasn't as dangerous as the Catachan dimension. Instead of just worrying about life and death, there seemed to be many other things worth considering.
It didn't seem like the lord only planned to turn the Catachans into nothing more than a mindless blade…
This clearly defied military conventions, yet the Bay Territory's soldiers were still formidable…
Gater was puzzled…
This must have been why Matthew brought them here.
In the following days,
over ten thousand refugees, including the Catachans, weren't asked to do any work. Instead, they were simply allowed to eat well and rest.
That particularly commanding old lady would talk with them every day for a while.
Sometimes she'd bring people along to share their stories about how they went from being refugees to becoming citizens of the Bay Territory.
Former farmers who were now factory workers.
Craftsmen who had become shop clerks.
Pioneers who, just last year, were granted 35 acres of farmland.
A 16-year-old accountant who had just graduated from the Professional Training Academy three months ago.
A once-destitute slum dweller, now an elite soldier earning three gold coins a month.
They shared tales of past hardships and hopes for the future.
Unknowingly, everyone began to develop a greater sense of trust in the Bay Territory.
At least, the real scenes before their eyes looked like this.
Unlike the other refugees, the mature and steady hundreds of Catachans were enrolled in a special training class at the Professional Training Academy.
There were two instructors teaching adult Catachans—one warrior, one ranger—and one more figure Gater recognized.
"Xiao Lin Ren? What's he doing here?"
Compared to the shy, book-clutching Lin Ren from a few days ago, he now appeared quite confident.
Even though his language skills weren't perfect, he patiently taught the Catachan children.
What intrigued Gater the most was
that those particularly "wild" boys, in Lin Ren's presence, behaved remarkably "obediently."
You had to understand: due to resource shortages, most of the Catachan tribe's food went to the soldiers facing the greatest dangers.
For children to grow up healthy without going hungry, they had to start "learning to use their fists" from a young age.
Whoever had the strongest fists got to eat their fill!
The boys whose bodies started to weaken couldn't even wait for the dangerous jungle to claim them; they would succumb to the various deadly viruses and bacteria of Catachan first.
Those were terms Gater had picked up from the Professional Training Academy instructors.
Their teaching methods were quite unique. Aside from guiding them along the professional path, the instructors mostly talked with them about the situation in Catachan.
During their breaks,
Gater noticed something "off" about Lin Ren.
Lin Ren was teaching the Catachan boys something special.
Strange movements, paired drills.
It looked similar to the training the Catachan boys normally did.
But those seemingly simple exercises appeared to hide some subtle secrets.
As they trained, the Catachan boys quickly picked up some impressive combat techniques.
Their progress was astonishingly fast!
In just a few days, they learned multiple combat techniques right under Gater's nose.
This rapid improvement made Gater certain it wasn't just because the boys suddenly got smarter.
After all, any truly talented children would never have been brought to the Bay Territory by Gater.
But even so, the Catachan boys, in just a few days, advanced two professional levels and mastered several combat techniques (feats), which still left Gater stunned.
It had to be thanks to Lin Ren.
But it couldn't be just him…
"Could the Professional Training Academy really be that good?"
Reflecting on the warrior profession's basic knowledge, Gater suddenly understood.
The Bay Territory had no need for underhanded tactics.
The sheer range of benefits and conditions they provided was enough to attract anyone who arrived…
"So this is what they call an 'open conspiracy'?"
Frank and direct Gater, while keeping pace with Arnold, asked bluntly.
Arnold, in turn, was eager to see Gater's enthusiasm for learning.
As he stepped through the camp gates toward the indoor training hall, he patiently explained:
"It's not a plot; it's a straightforward plan."
He picked up a slightly gleaming straight blade, handed it to Gater, then hefted a two-handed greatsword himself. Activating the indoor gravity adjuster, he said to Gater, who wore a surprised expression:
"The Bay Territory welcomes everyone to join. If you align with our values, you can stay forever."
"If not, the Bay Territory won't force you. My favorite saying of our lord is this:"
"'True talent requires not just a supportive environment, but also the territory's independent cultivation.'"
"Everyone who comes to the Bay Territory is worth cultivating."
Before Gater could properly examine the sword he'd just caught, Arnold swung his greatsword directly at him.
Clang!
The immense impact made Gater involuntarily take a step back.
After his surgery, Gater felt his body had fully recovered.
His strength and constitution had even improved.
But as soon as he clashed with Arnold, he found himself at a disadvantage.
Arnold pressed his advantage, each swing faster than the last, keeping Gater under constant pressure.
Attempting to use nimble footwork, Gater tried to escape Arnold's attack range.
But it seemed like Arnold could anticipate his every move, cutting off his attempts to retreat.
After several exchanges, Gater's wrists began to ache. He stared at the now-paused Arnold, speechless for a moment.
Stroking his graying beard, Arnold patted Gater on the shoulder and, with a refreshing tone, said:
"With your foundation, the effects of the lord's surgical enhancement will surpass mine. So it's all the more reason to master more combat techniques."
"This is a chance for a new beginning, and an opportunity to return to the battlefield. Don't waste it."
Feeling his legs fully restored and suddenly overcome with emotion, Gater, showing the stubbornness and confidence of the Catachans, resolutely declared:
"Again!"
With a hearty laugh, Arnold raised his greatsword once more and swung down without hesitation.
This strike was called an assault!
With lightning reflexes, Gater dodged nimbly, but before he could counter, the thrusting greatsword turned into a swift sweep.
Gater had to retreat; he simply couldn't withstand a head-on strength contest right now.
It wasn't just Gater who had been reborn!