Golden Dragon: Six Thousand Years of Empire

A large number of immigrants will not only cause security issues, but will also compete with local residents for jobs and share social welfare. It would be truly strange if the local inhabitants had no opinion in the face of such situations.

Although most of the current population in the Holy Dragon Land have ancestors who came from elsewhere, they have lived here and taken root.

Their ancestors have contributed to the economic prosperity of the Holy Dragon Land for generations, allowing this generation to enjoy various superior welfare benefits and job opportunities.

But why should these newcomers be entitled to the same welfare benefits as they themselves receive? What have they done? What have they contributed?

Concerned not with scarcity but with inequality, the same principle applies here. One person works while another doesn't, yet in the end, they both receive the same food. The person who works will inevitably feel resentment and unfairness.

Thus, the citizen honor system came into being, as there was no alternative. If no policies were introduced to quell the dissatisfaction of the local populace, it would be hard to predict the outcome.

As the actual rulers, Iliad and Terramus cannot reject legitimate immigrants from the Alviss Continent, nor can they ignore the feelings of their father's subjects.

Therefore, under the premise of granting citizenship to everyone, they bestow special honor titles on those Dragon citizens of the Holy Dragon Land who have arduously struggled and even sacrificed their lives for this land over generations, providing them with greater benefits.

At the same time, they inform the newcomers that the laws of the Holy Dragon Land do not discriminate against or mistreat them, but if they wish to receive special treatment, they need to earn it through their own efforts and contributions to the land.

Nothing comes without effort, and nothing can be obtained without labor; only through labor can one earn, and the more labor, the more earning.

Originally, following this mindset, the honor system was limited to three tiers, not five. However, upon the proposal of the Dark Lord Terramus and the Ice Princess, this honor system was further extended, but the downward extension was not honor; it became bondage.

The fourth-tier bonded people and fifth-tier protectees are allocated to Dark Race from the Dark Territory, major criminals who were not sentenced to death, and slaves redeemed by the Holy Dragon Land.

Noah has already abolished the slave system within his domain, yet slavery still exists extensively between countries, with slave traders rampant and the slave trade thriving.

The Holy Dragon Land has relevant policies addressing this, including but not limited to redemption, fair trade, and armed liberation.

These slaves, sheltered by the Holy Dragon Land, will not immediately gain freedom. According to the slave self-redemption decree suggested by Noah in his youth and issued by the Augustus family, these slaves must create value through labor to redeem their freedom.

Nothing can be obtained for free, especially on the land governed by the Dragon Clan, where nothing is free but can be exchanged through the fair value created by labor, including freedom.

The Holy Dragon Land liberates slaves, not by granting them freedom but by giving them the opportunity to earn freedom, which represents the fourth-tier bonded people. However, they can gain their freedom in one to two years through labor and directly gain citizenship.

However, the fourth-tier bonded people include not only slaves but also criminals who broke the law, faced legal punishment, and were stripped of certain rights and identities. They too must labor to repay their debts, regaining citizenship upon the completion of their sentence.

The fifth-tier protectees are primarily for those who committed serious crimes but did not warrant the death penalty, as well as certain special groups.

For example, although the Dark Race from the Dark Territory is highly competitive and raised in adverse environments, making it challenging to produce purely good people, there are no absolutes in life.

There are no purely good people, but there are good-seeking beings, those who live in darkness with hearts inclined toward the light. Such wise creatures may be extremely rare in the Dark Territory, yet they are not non-existent.

This is also what Terramus demanded. Upon entering the Underground, the savage Dark Great Lord restrained his temperament to recruit a group of barely acceptable Dark Clans due to the need to establish a force.

However, as he continued, he found that not all of these races were beyond redemption; some could be reformed due to environmental pressure.

Those who are loyal to Terramus and wish to ascend to the surface can gain the status of fifth-tier protectees. Although they lack legitimate citizenship and corresponding basic rights, the Golden Dragon Code still protects the personal safety and property of protectees.

If a first-tier Holy Dragon citizen commits unlawful harm against a fifth-tier protectee, the punishment will not be lessened due to the honor title or contribution gap between the two.

Honor and contribution are not grounds for breaking the law or bullying others; war honors can earn respect and benefits, but no legal privileges.

Of course, the status of fifth-tier protectees is temporary. The key to being a protectee is the word 'protect.' Dark Territory beings who gain this status need only adhere to the Golden Dragon Code for ten years without breaking the law—meaning no criminal record. Their status will automatically elevate by one level. If they uphold the code for twenty years, they become lawful citizens.

Similarly, as lawful citizens, Dark Territory beings can pass on their citizenship to their descendants.

However, the higher-tier Gold and Holy Dragon citizens hold two honorable statuses for life. Their offspring can enjoy some benefits but cannot inherit them; if they want it, they must strive for it themselves.

Yet, if someone is demoted to a bonded person or protectee due to breaking the law, their children retain citizenship. However, due to their parents' implications, they are barred from entering administrative institutions—but this punishment only applies to three direct generations and beyond that, is not affected.

"Although compelled by circumstances, you have done quite well!"

Noah knows that his offspring lacks the courage to establish new rules atop the order he founded.

Because the foundation of the Holy Dragon Land is so immense, as long as Noah exists, the three sons of the Holy Dragon who temporarily govern, even if they nominally wield supreme administrative power, using this power is another matter.

On this land, only Noah can truly implement his will, with countless people to execute it for him. If it were anyone else, even his own children, they might not manage.

The mere appearance of immigration waves brought substantial skepticism and opposition to the governance of Iliad and Terramus. Were they to implement any deep reforms, the outcome would certainly be ugly.

This honor system has already taken into account the emotions and interests of all parties as much as possible, and even upon awakening, Noah merely finds this system quite good. If he were to nitpick, it would just be a bit coarse and could be further refined.

"What kind of reward do you want?"

Though at first glance, the region currently appears fine, Noah knows that his domain surely cannot withstand close scrutiny now. Yet, despite this, Noah must express his stance. These three offspring have done their due for so long, bearing effort if not merit.

"Father, this is what we should do, we don't need a reward."

"I hope that you, father, will grant me the title of Dark Great Lord in the name of the Holy Dragon!"

Unlike his modestly refusing brothers, Terramus stepped forward, seeking his father's recognition and to obtain a legitimate identity.