Very few vigers in Ashford Vale could read before Natalie arrived. Literacy was almost nonexistent back then.


    However, after Natalie and her team set up the school, they not only taught the children but also ran adult education sses for a while. So, most of the vigers could at least read basic documents now.


    That was why the agreements Marcus had Elijah pass around were mostly understood. The terms were simple-every child in the vige, regardless of gender, needed to attend school.


    Parents were required to pay for tuition and living expenses. If they did not have money, they would have to sign abor agreement. That meant they were expected to do whatever work Natalie''s team assigned them to withoutint.


    If you gave them an inch, they would take a mile. People like them would not appreciate help, so they could not be pampered. The more you gave them, the more entitled and unreasonable they became.


    So, if kindness did not work, it was better to instil fear until it became a habit. That way, the next generation would be exposed to education and new ideas, growing uppletely different from the vigers today. Daniel and Denzel were proof of that.


    "Anyone who doesn''t want to sign the papers should speak up now," Marcus said, his voice cold and emotionless as his gaze swept across the crowd.


    "If you don''t want to listen, take a good look at what happened to Maverick and that guy."


    Marcus turned his eyes to the bruised and bloodied man still kneeling on the ground. "If anyone wants to join them, step right up."


    No one moved, and the field wentpletely silent.


    Elijah raised his voice. "If there are no objections, start signing."


    "We have no problems. We''ll sign! We''ll sign!" someone finally said, breaking the silence.


    The rest quickly echoed in agreement. Elijah handed out pens and copies of the agreement, and the vigers signed their names. Once thest signature was collected, Marcus gave Elijah a subtle nod and turned to leave without another word.


    "Please, sir! Take the chip out of me!" the beaten man cried, clutching Elijah''s leg as he wept miserably.


    "I''m begging you. I was wrong! I won''t act out again, I promise! I''ll stay in line. I''ll dig up herbs and earn money. I''ll let my daughter go to school, and I''ll keep quiet. I swear! I won''t stir up trouble again. Please, the fear is going to keep me up at night."


    Elijah raised a brow and let out a half-smile. "You''re really that scared?"


    "Yes, sir! I''m scared to death!"


    "Alright, then. I''ll take it out." Elijah crouched beside him. He did not bother with anesthetics and casually sliced open the man''s thigh. With a flick of his de, he dug out the tiny chip and held it up.


    The man was drenched in cold sweat from the pain, but he exhaled with deep relief. "Thank you, sir. Thank you!"


    Elijah stood and pointed toward the infirmary. "Go get it bandaged. And consider this a friendly reminder Maverick still has a chip inside him. If you don''t want him dragging you down with him, you''d better keep an eye on him."


    Everyone nodded frantically. "Yes, yes! We''ll watch Maverick! We''ll definitely watch him!"


    Elijah finally gave a satisfied nod. "Let this be burned into your heads-boys and girls are both your children. There will be no more prejudice. You will not sacrifice your daughters so your sons can benefit. Any so-called ''man'' who relies on his sister''s suffering to get ahead is nothing but trash.


    "The mindset in this ce has to change—and I meanpletely. I''ll be back to check in from time to time. And if I catch anyone slipping back into old habits, I won''t go easy on you."


    Then, Elijah suddenly raised his voice. "Did you hear me?"


    "Yes!" the vigers answered quickly.


    "Louder! Did I ask for whispers?" he barked impatiently.


    "Yes! We heard you!" the crowd shouted louder in unison.


    Elijah finally nodded again. "Next time I show up, anyone acting out will be the


    next one I deal with. Now, dismiss."


    The crowd finally dispersed, shuffling off in all directions to return home.


    ...


    Marcus had already returned to the office. He walked over to Natalie and sat across from her, shing her a soft smile. "Nat, it''s done."


    Natalie smiled back with a slight curve of her lips. "When did you even bring explosive chips?"


    With a tired sigh, Marcus said, "They''re all fake—a bluff. There''s no way I''d actually put something like that in someone''s body. But these people? They''re so sheltered that a little scare goes a long way. They''re used to backward thinking.


    "It''s not just the men who disrespect their wives, mothers, and daughters. Plenty of the women here believe the same garbage. They don''t even know how to love themselves, so there''s no reason to be overly kind. Either fix it once and for all, or be prepared to keep ying this exhausting game forever.


    "Nat, we don''t have the luxury of staying here for years, so I figured we''d go with


    the ''once and for all'' option."


    Natalie thanked him sincerely. "Marcus, thank you. We came here for our honeymoon, yet you ended up cleaning up this mess with me."


    "This isn''t a mess. Even if I wasn''t here, you would''ve handled it on your own," Marcus said, meeting her eyes. "Nat, I''m just really happy you let me into this part of your life your work, your world."


    "Keep talking," Natalie teased, her eyes crinkling with a smile. "I like hearing things like that."


    Marcus chuckled under his breath. "Nat, I''d never actually hurt anyone here. But I couldn''t stand watching you keep struggling on your own. So yeah, maybe I went


    a little hard, but I made sure not to cross the line."


    "I know. You don''t need to exin yourself," she replied.


    P


    Natalie understood him well, which was why she had not gone out just now. "This time, I''m nning to bring Lte, Sue, and Ann with me-along with Daniel and Denzel. They asked me if I could give them new names. This ce is so isted that no one even has a legal ID.


    "Basically, they''re undocumented. When we leave, we''ll need to work with the right offices and get them official identification. I''ll have Elijah handlethat. Elijah may be our security guy, but when ites to getting things done, he''s one of the


    best."


    Marcus nodded. "I know. I''ve always known Elijah''s amazing. Alright, Nat. Why


    don''t you show me around?"


    He stood up. "I want to see how you guys teach the vigers to forage for medicinal herbs."


    "Sounds good!" Natalie got up as well and turned to the others in the room. "Sophia, Zachary, do you two want toe with us?"


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!