“But,” a voice rang out, “if slavery is abolished, the sea creatures will no longer be under our control; they might leave or refuse to work. Where will our labor force come from?”
“We can establish a new relationship model,” Gu Xi proposed. “For example, a contract system. The sea creatures would no longer be slaves, but free individuals who would sign labor contracts with the deep-sea race.”
"The contract can stipulate the job content, remuneration, rest time, etc., and protect their legal rights. This is similar to the employment relationship between members within the Deep Sea Clan."
Contract system!
This proposal caused the representatives of the deep-sea tribe to fall into deep thought. It was indeed a compromise.
Sea creatures were no longer slaves, but through contracts, their subordination and labor obligations were still maintained, only the forced enslavement was replaced by contractual constraints.
Although they lost the power to dispose of resources at will, they at least had a basic supply of labor and were nominally more "civilized".
For the sea creatures, this was not the complete freedom they craved, but compared to their status as slaves, the contract system was undoubtedly a huge step forward.
They will have bargaining power, the right to refuse unreasonable demands, and the opportunity to protect themselves through contracts.
This is a difficult compromise, but given the sheer size and deeply ingrained beliefs of the Deepsea Clan, it seems to be the most realistic and feasible path at present.
The debate resumed, but the focus shifted from whether to abolish slavery to the specific details of the contract system.
The contract's term, remuneration standards, breach of contract penalties, and the right to relocate marine mammals were among the terms on which the two parties engaged in heated negotiations.
With the support of Gu Xi and Ai Si, and under the silent intimidation of the SSS-class Abyssal Algae Beast, the sea creatures have gained more say than ever before.
Gu Xi calmly guided the discussion, and her understanding and mastery of the contract system surprised the representatives of the Deep Sea Clan.
They had no idea where the chief of the deep-sea human race had learned these complex social management models.
Time passed amidst heated debate, and the atmosphere in the meeting room shifted from initial tension and confrontation to pragmatic negotiation.
Ais remained silent most of the time, only releasing a trace of mental pressure or throwing out a few threatening words at crucial moments when the deep-sea race tried to forcefully suppress the sea beasts, immediately silencing them.
Ultimately, under Gu Xi's persistence and Ai Si's deterrence, and with the guidance of the SSS-class deep-sea race, including the octopus clan chief, who favored order, a preliminary agreement framework gradually took shape.
The slave system for sea creatures will be abolished, and all sea creatures will gain the status of free individuals, but a labor contract relationship based on the principles of voluntariness and fairness will be established between them and the deep-sea race.
The specific contract template and implementation details will be formulated and supervised by a committee composed of representatives from various ethnic groups after the meeting.
This is a landmark decision. Although we are still a long way from true equality, it breaks the shackles of enslavement that have lasted for tens of thousands of years and opens a door to the future for the sea creatures.
The hall echoed with the excited growls of the sea creatures and the sighs of relief from the representatives of the deep-sea race.
Just as this complex emotion filled the venue, Ai Si, who had been standing beside Gu Xi, suddenly took a step forward.
"Ladies and gentlemen," his voice was not loud, but it clearly reached the ears of every living being, with a calm and unquestionable declaration, "I have a decision to make regarding myself that I would like to announce to you all here."
All eyes were once again on him. This SSS-class sea monster, who had single-handedly turned the tide of the meeting, had anything else to announce.
"I, Ais, have decided that from this day forward, I will sever all ties with the Deep Sea Human Race." (This chapter has been completed. Please click to continue reading the next chapter!)
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