Chapter 29: First Signs of Success - A Few Hard Works Are Nothing to Mention

The market's exhibition area is spacious and bright, with a wide trapezoidal shape visible from the entrance.

During the day, everything is on full display, and in the evening, slaves light torches, determined to let every customer see the charm of the goods.

The merchants' private tents were quite different.

They lack the squalor of typical urban neighborhoods, and their colorful fabrics, woven into layers of dazzling flags and drapes, give the illusion of strolling through a wealthy family's courtyard.

Doni personally lifted the white and gold curtain for the princess, leading her into the tall tent at the very center.

Rustle, rustle.

Eleanor's boots crunched on the fluffy carpet, and a quick glance at the surrounding furnishings told her that this place didn't usually host many guests.

Because many of these items are similar in style to those used by the Norlana royal family.

Even if the concept of "for royal use only" doesn't exist in this country, the petty-minded Eva doesn't like others imitating her family's lifestyle.

Eleanor turned to Thorn and winked. “Go ahead, you guys wander around the area and see if there’s anything interesting to buy. Oh, and I also need a pot of hot tea, so the people here don’t get too tired.”

"Yes." Thorn, dressed as a servant, nodded and led his three companions out of the tent in small steps.

The clever Donnie didn't say anything; she automatically understood the princess's thoughts: Her Highness must have brought special tea or was afraid of being poisoned when she had her servants make the tea.

She was happy to stay out of the royal family's private affairs, and only after Eleanor finished giving her instructions did she eagerly ask, "How many slaves do you need? The price is negotiable."

Eleanor looked around, and perhaps to ensure the privacy of the conversation, Donnie had all her men withdraw outside.

That's not good. If they are defeated one by one or turn the tables on others, things will get out of control.

She thought for a moment, then suddenly clapped her hands, "By the way, do you have any children here around my age?"

"Hmm, you mean the boy slaves..."

“No, not slaves.” The little princess smiled innocently. “I think my guard is missing one or two children. It would be nice to have a round number. You are knowledgeable and experienced; do you have any recommendations?”

Doni's superficial smile suddenly became genuine.

......

While Eleanor was coaxing Donnie into calling Elsa out so that she could join a large group on a tour of the treasury, the people outside weren't idle either.

With the sisters Manju and Thorn gone, even though Andra had only just joined, everyone had a vague feeling that "it's time for her to give orders."

A girl with long, golden-red hair rode on a horse, her feet on a gentle slope, perfect for observing the market not far away.

The last group of customers had already taken their money and left obediently, while a dozen slaves and attendants went in and out of the gate.

Some were delivering goods, while others stood at the door politely turning away new customers.

As per the princess's orders, they only needed to stay here and wait for the signal to be given from inside.

Their primary objective was naturally to protect the princess, and secondly, to suppress and kill the enemy to the greatest extent possible.

The princess's strategy was simple and clear, but... Andra was thinking.

According to the princess, she was certain that someone was planning a rebellion today.

Who will be the rebels?

At first glance, there seem to be many options: a princess, a high-ranking nobleman, an ambitious merchant...

Andra slowly smiled confidently.

No, that's impossible.

The aforementioned candidates would never be so irrational.

To stir up trouble in the royal city right under King Norlana's nose? Throughout history, few nobles have dared to challenge a king whose rule still exists.

Only those who have nothing would make such a risky choice, because they have no other options.

Therefore, there are essentially only two possibilities regarding what happened today.

First, Her Highness the Princess was misled.

Second, the slaves wanted to rebel against their masters.

"Ha." Her smile grew increasingly sarcastic.

How pitiful.

If she were to escape alone, someone as strong as her would still have a sliver of hope.

Even without any weapons, without any assistance, and regardless of the timing, Andra is at least 50% confident that he can complete the difficult task of "opening the cage - leaving the royal city - gaining complete freedom".

However, when the mission objective was changed to "lead a large group of people out of the royal city, while ensuring the survival of herself and at least 30% of them," even she could only shake her head.

Foolish, undoubtedly a foolish act.

She originally had no interest in such foolish behavior.

Since it happened in Norlanda, why bother stopping it? Just treat it as a joke over tea.

but--

Andra opened his eyes, a hint of interest flashing in his golden pupils.

To better protect Her Highness the Princess, a little hardship is nothing to worry about.

"Follow me." Andra suddenly rode his horse toward the city gate, through which lay the outskirts of the city.

"Hey, wait a minute, what are you doing? His Highness told us to stay here and observe properly!" Caroline called out loudly, spurring her horse to catch up.

She tried to block Andra with her horse, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't catch up.

"It's very simple."

Andra didn't get caught up in the question of whether or not to obey orders. She explained casually, "His Highness said that a rebellion would happen next. The slaves in the cages would have to rely on the slave army outside if they wanted to rebel."

It took everyone a moment to understand what Andra meant.

It wasn't just them who wanted to coordinate from the inside; the slaves wanted to too.

The royal city of Norlanna certainly wouldn't allow large numbers of foreign warriors to enter, and even the slave market was divided into two: the outer market would use cages to restrict the movement of the battle slaves.

The slave legions, which are often conscripted or sold in small groups, are stationed outside the city, just like the foreign legions. They are well-trained slaves under the control of instructors, and most people would overlook their threat.

—Unless they want the entire organization to rebel together!

"Wait, are those slaves really going to mutini?!" Caroline panicked. They were noble bloodlines, that was true, but the slave army outside had at least a thousand people!

If so many people rebelled together, the city guards and palace guards certainly wouldn't be afraid. But by the time the city guards arrived, these dozens of women might all be trapped!

"Heh." A soft laugh came from ahead.

"What are you laughing at!" Caroline was sweating profusely with anxiety.

Andra didn't turn his head; his voice came through the turbulent wind. "Think carefully, what is a slave?"

Huh? What kind of question is this?

Caroline asked again, unwilling to give up, but this time she received no answer.

The two women acted like a wolf alpha and its henchman, indirectly encouraging all the stranded people to catch up.

Ta-da, ta-da-da.

The orderly sound of horses' hooves thundered past the city gates, steadily approaching the slave legion's encampment.

As they approached, many members of the princess's guard realized what Andra meant.

The slave rebellion hadn't even started yet, so Andra's trip to the encampment was definitely to stop it beforehand. Preventing a legion mutiny would minimize the damage.

Her Highness is protected by merchants and the other half of the guards. As long as the legion does not make any moves, Her Highness is safe.

But a second problem soon emerged.

"Hey, how exactly do you plan to stop the legion's mutiny? Let me make this clear, we don't even have enough people to block the door," Caroline asked under immense pressure, feeling her stomach starting to ache and burn.

"Haha, it seems you still haven't thought carefully about what I just said."

"you!"

Andra did not answer. She simply raised her whip and pointed it at the instructor who was training the slaves, then released it and increased the speed of her horse.

"?" Instructor...is there a problem?

"So that's how it is." The guard beside him muttered to himself, "The one controlling those slaves... is the instructor."

Caroline instinctively retorted, "So what? If the slaves are going to rebel, they'll definitely wipe out all the instructors."

At this point, she understood.

Let alone slave legions, any legion in any country is structured with officers leading soldiers.

Because very few people can receive professional military education, the vast majority of soldiers need to obey the orders of officers.

This approach has one significant advantage.

Officers would immerse themselves in the soldiers' lives and training, becoming absolute leaders among them. In this way, even in the face of extremely difficult circumstances, morale could be maintained as long as officers were there to hold the line.

Of course, the downsides are also obvious. An army trained in this way will fall into complete chaos if it loses most of its officers, and become meat buns to be slaughtered by the enemy.

The Norlan people—or rather, any commander in the world with a brain—love to use the tactic of killing the king and general, because it is effective and has never failed.

The fighting power of slave legions mainly stemmed from their unconditional obedience to their commanders.

Most of their officers were family members and attendants of slave owners, while a small number were freed slaves and exceptionally talented slaves.

If these slaves decide to mutiny, they will certainly kill the officers on the slave owners' side before they rebel.

Conversely, if the small number of officers on the slave side are eliminated before they change their tune, the entire legion will lose all its confidence.

No matter how much pain they endured or how much struggle they went through before choosing to rebel.

If, just when they finally mustered the courage, their superiors suddenly turned around and slapped them twice, then kicked away their "swords" and "shields"... the servility ingrained in their bones since childhood would wrap them up again, turning them back into obedient and numb slaves.

Glug.

Even though they were all of noble birth, they still swallowed hard at Andra's decisive and ruthless thinking.

How ruthless!

......

swish swish —

Sometimes a gust of wind can bring a shiver down your spine.

As Andra dismounted and walked gracefully toward the crowd, slaves, instructors, and even the overseers left behind by the slave owners involuntarily lowered their weapons, as if a pack of dogs were watching the approaching wolf king.

She wore a smile that was anything but friendly, and it was frighteningly cool.

"You...sir, what brings you here?" The instructor was unaware that in the original timeline, she would be killed from behind by her trusted slave in two hours. She was now focusing all her attention on the person in front of her.

Andra leisurely surveyed his surroundings, secretly observing the expressions of each slave, judging from their positions, postures, and attire who were the "potential leaders."

This, this, this, um, and this too.

She muttered something to herself and pointed out about twenty people with her finger.

"What exactly are you—"

“I am the guardian of a certain adult, and she needs some very—powerful soldiers.” Andra pulled out her wallet and threw it on the ground.

Thump! Pure gold nuggets rolled out.

The girl tilted her head and moved her shoulders, her long, golden-red hair shimmering like scattered waves.

—Clang!

The gleaming longsword was drawn instantly.

“She doesn’t need waste; this money is a deposit for qualified people.”

Andra nimbly wielded the heavy sword, which ordinary people would need to hold with both hands, with his right hand, and chuckled as the wind cut through it.

"...It's also the money the dead and wounded can use to buy their lives."

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Author's Note: In her first life, Andra was a lover who could not remain faithful, but to the people she was a holy queen who overthrew slavery, expanded the territory, and focused on education and the well-being of the people—but what kind of being would Andra be without Eleanor? Eleanor is not willing to think about it now.

"Andra has never changed," Eleanor thought desperately in her past life, and she would correct this erroneous idea in the future.