Chapter 14: Slave soldiers
Jorlan's eyes widened as he reached for the pouch of gold coins, but before his fingers could make contact, Alex's hand shot up. The air around them seemed to shift, thick with tension. In the blink of an eye, a black object materialized in Alex's hand—sleek, cold, and deadly. The unmistakable shape of a 9mm pistol.
Jorlan didn't even have time to react before Alex pulled the trigger. The sharp, muffled sound of the gunshot echoed in the warehouse, followed by the sickening thud of Jorlan's body hitting the ground.
The merchant crumpled, his life snuffed out in an instant, his blood spilling across the cold floor.
Alex stood still, the gun still in his hand, eyes cold and unwavering. His decision was made. People like Jorlan had no place in his world. Slaver people who trafficked human lives were the lowest scum, and Alex couldn't stand to let them live another day.
Raven stepped forward, unfazed by the brutality of it all. "What now?" he asked, his voice neutral.
"Free the slaves," Alex ordered, his gaze still fixed on the body of Jorlan. "Make sure they're given food, clothes—let them know there's another option. We'll show them that there's more to life than just being sold like cattle."
Raven nodded and moved swiftly, unlocking the chains that bound the slaves and setting them free. There were twenty in total, all men and women who looked gaunt and weary. They had been through enough, forced to live under the harshest of conditions, exploited for their strength, their skills, their bodies.
Once freed, Alex bought food from the system large quantities of bread, vegetables, meat, and water and gave it to the group. He also purchased fresh clothes for them, making sure they could wash away the filth and stains of their previous lives. The slaves were shocked, unsure of what to make of this sudden kindness. They expected cruelty, not kindness, from their new master.
They ate in silence at first, their eyes glancing warily at Alex and Raven. It was clear they had all been conditioned to distrust those with power. After they had eaten their fill, Alex stood and cleared his throat.
"I want to talk to all of you," he began, his voice calm but firm. "You've been through a lot. You've been treated as property, your lives taken away from you and sold for profit. But now, I'm giving you a choice. You can stay with me, under my banner, and I will treat you with respect. You will have food, shelter, and a place in my growing force. You will have a purpose. Or, you can leave now, free to go wherever you want, but I warn you—the world outside is no better than the cage you've just been freed from. Someone else will just buy you, chain you, and exploit you again."
The slaves exchanged nervous glances, their faces conflicted. For so long, they had been told they were nothing but tools, commodities to be sold and used. The very idea of having a choice was foreign to them. But Alex's words hung in the air like a lifeline.
"I'm offering you a future," Alex continued. "Not as slaves, not as tools, but as people. You will fight for something greater than just survival. You will fight for freedom, for a better life for yourselves and for others who suffer like you did."
One of the slaves, a man with a deep scar across his face, stood up and looked Alex in the eye. "What happens to us if we choose to follow you?" he asked, his voice raspy but firm.
Alex's gaze softened. "You will be trained, respected, and given a real purpose. You won't be forced to fight unless you choose to. But I promise you this you will never be treated like an animal again. You will be free to make your own choices."
Another slave, a woman who had been too afraid to speak up until now, hesitated before asking, "And what do you expect from us? We're just slaves… we don't know how to fight or serve."
Alex gave a small, reassuring smile. "No one is born knowing how to fight or lead. But that's why I'm here. I'll train you, teach you what you need to know. I will not make you fight unless you choose to, but if you do, you will have everything you need to defend yourselves and the people you care about."
The room was silent for a long moment. The slaves exchanged uncertain glances, still unsure of whether to trust him. Alex could see the doubt in their eyes, but he also saw the spark of hope.
Finally, the scarred man spoke again, this time with a determined look in his eyes. "We'll follow you. We've got nothing left, but at least with you, we have a chance."
Others nodded, their expressions changing from fear to resolve. One by one, they began to stand, offering their allegiance.
"I swear my loyalty to you," the woman said, her voice shaky but strong. "You've given us a chance. We'll fight for you."
Alex nodded, pleased with their decision. He had made the right choice. These were people who had been broken, used, and discarded, but now they would have a purpose. And he would be the one to give it to them.
"Good," Alex said, his voice steady. "Welcome to my army. I'll train you, and together, we'll take this city and then the world back from the people who think they own it."
As Alex looked around at the group of former slaves, now his soldiers, he felt a sense of pride swell in his chest. They were no longer just victims. They were his people, and he would make sure they would never be enslaved again.
But this was just the beginning. The real work, the true battle for power and freedom, was yet to come.