"This cup is a gift to celebrate the harvest and cleanse impurities! Little Kayal, accept it with joy!" The tavern owner, the burly Uncle Alede, burst out laughing, then suddenly flung a cup of wine. The purple liquid sparkled under the sunlight like treasure.
As precise as a Tomahawk missile, this cup of wine was accurately splashed onto Kayal's head, immediately drenching him. The purple liquid, combined with his silver-white long hair, instantly turned his entire white robe purple.
The people, stunned by Alede's astonishing action, stood motionless. The entire scene froze, as if even the air had solidified. Looking at the drenched Kayal, no one dared to speak again.
Alede regretted it so much that his intestines turned green. He had been so carried away just now; the whole scene was so joyful that he forgot who he was, and who the young man riding the tall horse was!
Kayal simply burst out laughing, bent down, and effortlessly picked up a wine barrel lying by the roadside. The enormous barrel was easily held in his seemingly frail hands. This scene made many people's eyes light up and narrow.
"How dare you splash me! Take this!!" He suddenly ripped open the barrel lid, grabbed the edge of the barrel with one hand and the bottom with the other, and swung it. Everyone within a fifteen-meter radius to his left was instantly hit... including his Claymore guards.
He weighed it and found there was still a lot of wine in the barrel. Kayal, no longer polite, swung it to the right. Not only were Artoria and others hit, but countless commoners were also caught in the crossfire of his area-of-effect attack.
Kayal immediately incurred public wrath. Pouting, everyone, no longer polite, acted like it was a water-splashing festival. Those who could move a barrel directly carried it and poured it out. Those who couldn't move a barrel flung a wine jug. Even children dared to retaliate with a cup of ale against their parents, who had disciplined them for a year and whom they usually wouldn't dare to speak loudly to.
The whole scene immediately became chaotic. Amidst this chaos, Kayal and his party moved forward. They were splashed with an unknown amount of wine. By the time they reached the grand plaza, they reeked of alcohol and had been soaked countless times. Even the Unicorn's pristine white mane was stained light purple.
It seemed to quite like it, as wine occasionally flowed from its horn into its mouth, and it drank happily.
Kayal watched as the entire Red Leaf Ridge had completely transformed into an ocean of joy. He shook his head and chuckled. The common people dared to challenge those in power, even if it seemed like a joke. But this also proved that his efforts to enlighten the people's minds were beginning to bear fruit. A fair, just society with self-aware citizens, and a relaxed, legal, and strict rule of law environment had been formed!
Taking the towel Teresa handed him, Kayal smiled slightly at Teresa. Although he had watched Teresa grow up since she was a child, she still looked as beautiful and captivating as she did ten years ago.
Half-breeds are indeed favored by the heavens! Thinking of all the cute and beautiful East-West half-breeds, and then Teresa's demon bloodline, Kayal couldn't help but shake his head and sigh.
On the other side, taking the tin megaphone Artoria handed him, Kayal also sighed. The knight fanatic who used to only diligently practice had now grown into a graceful young woman with a shapely figure.
"Uh, everyone, please calm down! Everyone, please calm down." Kayal uncharacteristically raised his voice, calling out. The whole scene was chaotic, and even though it was joyful, he still needed to start things off.
Kayal called for five minutes, and only then did a ripple of calm slowly spread out from this ocean of revelry. Fifteen minutes later, everyone finally quieted down and began walking towards the plaza. The plaza could accommodate a maximum of 150,000 people, and this was after several expansions. Those who truly had nowhere to stand could only retreat to the streets. Those with good relationships with their neighbors directly climbed onto the rooftops. For a time, the rooftops were covered with people, and the second-floor windows of every house were also teeming with heads.
Everyone quietly watched the group of people in the center of the plaza. Their white clothes, now tinged with purple, were entirely due to the wine they had just been splashed with. Laughter occasionally erupted from the crowd, presumably someone boasting about which cup of wine on Kayal's body was theirs.
"You little ones on the rooftops, be careful! If you fall, you might hit someone." Kayal's first words made the crowd burst into laughter. Many people turned to look at the groups of extremely embarrassed children on the rooftops, letting out good-natured laughter.
Once the laughter subsided, Kayal cleared his throat and began, "I know everyone has been looking forward to the Harvest Festival for a year, but before that, we still have some things to do."
Everyone looked at him with puzzled eyes. Was there anything more important than the Harvest Festival? Could it be that the old Duke had passed away?
"Please come up! The five of you," Kayal said.
Five men, dressed in simple linen clothes, walked up. Their hair was messy like bird's nests, their skin was dark, their build was tall, their pupils were dark brown, and their noses were flat. They were clearly Gauls!
For these invaders, Red Leaf Fortress had no kind expressions. The scene fell silent again.
The five of them knelt before Kayal, as devout as fanatics.
Kayal said in a clear voice, "I want to announce their contributions on this festive day."
"Lang Lan! He risked his life working in the quarry for five years. During these five years, he not only faced rolling rocks and danger to his life but still worked diligently. In these five years, he earned 70,000 contribution points for himself. Then, in the remaining five years, he continued to endure hardship and work tirelessly, building countless roads for Camelot. Peace Road, Central Road, Construction Road, all bear his mark. In ten years, he earned 200,000 contribution points for himself, and through his spirit of enduring hardship, he passed the assessment of the Slaves Committee. After testing him, I have decided to grant him the title of Citizen. Lang Lan! Are you willing to become a member of Red Leaf Ridge, continue to display your spirit of enduring hardship, and continue to contribute to Red Leaf Ridge?"
"I am willing." Lang Lan's voice was nasal. In fact, Gauls did not speak English very well.
"Then I bestow upon you the right of a citizen, to walk with fairness, justice, and your chest held high in Red Leaf Ridge!" Kayal took a ceremonial knight's sword, its hilt inlaid with gems and made of gold, its blade of silver, and tapped it on his left shoulder, then moved to his right shoulder and tapped it again, speaking.
"Thank you, Master," he said gruffly, but then his arm was suddenly lifted by someone: "From now on, you have no master. You are a free man." He looked up at the gentle smile, and having always suffered discrimination and disdain, he suddenly felt an uncontrollable urge to cry.
Helping Lang Lan up, Kayal proceeded to slowly recount the achievements of the other four. Kayal's words echoed throughout the plaza. Most of them were slaves who worked on the front lines, often in life-threatening situations. They earned their freedom through their hard work.
"Now, everyone, please applaud and welcome five more people into the big family of Red Leaf Ridge. Five more family members!" Kayal raised both hands and shouted. The people of Red Leaf Ridge paused, then began to applaud fiercely.
Don't think that slaves are discriminated against or even unable to survive. They are the most sought-after workers. Ten years of skills, whether as a carpenter or a stonemason, means people are scrambling to hire them. After assessment by the Slaves Committee, Kayal affirmed that if they truly ran away or committed crimes, they could still sue the Slaves Committee and Kayal for compensation for losses. Therefore, hiring such workers carried absolutely no pressure.
"Now everyone... let the revelry begin! The Harvest Festival has started!!" Kayal's loud shout plunged the entire Red Leaf Ridge back into a fervent atmosphere.