CHAPTER 770: OBEDIENCE COLLARS

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The Horde group had been eliminated with extreme prejudice.

General Skylark and his men did not hold back at all. Not even a single bug was spared from their ruthlessly efficient ambush. It didn’t even take them more than two hours to completely eliminate the enemy.

Of course, this was mainly because they were informed ahead of time. Had the Horde group gotten to them first, things wouldn’t have been this easy.

The general and his men also didn’t have to be worried about reinforcements. Sure, the Horde has a hive mind, but its range isn’t universal.

So long as there wasn’t a second horde group nearby, which they’re confident there wasn’t, then it’s all good. They would just assume that the horde slain earlier were still alive and doing their jobs properly.

With this in mind, they won’t send another group for a while, in fear of allowing the humans to figure out their operations.

After leaving his men to clean up the battlefield, the general took a smaller and faster ship, boarding it with his prisoners and driving it towards the sector lord’s office.

His prisoners were the demons who wisely surrendered early on and refused to help the horde.

Don’t get him wrong; even with the help of demons, nothing would’ve changed. The Horde group still wouldn’t survive the ambush. The demons would, at most, just add themselves as casualties, nothing more.

That’s why their surrendering and refusing to aid the Horde was a wiser decision. Because at the very least, they’d be taken to the sector lord for their punishment.

Using the smaller ship, the general returned quickly to the Rising Sun Domain and headed straight to the sector lord’s office.

The general was granted entry as soon as he arrived. He need not report his actions because Cedric already knew what happened.

General Skylark was informed that the Sector Lord was already waiting for him and his prisoners at his office. He was led by Wilfred’s clone, but the general doesn’t know that.

Upon entering the office, the general saw his lord sitting in front of his table looking at piles of documents. Sensing his presence, Cedric’s clone smiled and said,

"You’ve worked hard, General." The clone placed down the documents on his hand, but the documents themselves didn’t stop moving.

"It’s what I ought to do, Sir." He replied, fighting the urge to ask about the documents beint sorted out on their own like there’s an invisible hand guiding them.

"I see you brought guests with you."

Cedric looked plainly at the restrained demons standing behind them.

Though he looked rather harmless, it felt way different for the demons. They shivered when his eyes landed on them. They feel like they’re being stared at by calamity, tempted to strike them down where they stand.

Their instincts screamed at them to play nice and act very carefully in this man’s presence, or else they would suffer a fate worse than death. And wasn’t that just frightening?

To think that they’ve been scooped up and brought to a place governed by a man like this. The Horde group was truly begging to die by doing this.

Then again, nobody knew that this domain had been claimed.

"These are demons, my lord. We found them boarding the same ship as the enemy. However, once we launched our attack, all of them surrendered and refused to fight with the Horde. I brought them here to receive judgement from you, my lord."

In truth, Cedric didn’t need the general to tell him this because he already knew. He watched the entire operation through his clone, after all. But of course, to keep up the appearance, he pretended he didn’t know.

"I see," Cedric hummed, then he asked the demons, "Who among you can speak on behalf of your group?"

"I-It is I, Sir." One of the older demons spoke. Hesitantly taking a step forward.

Then, after a brief second of a mental war against himself, the older demon groveled in front of Cedric, knocking his forehead on the ground so loud that the sound echoed across the room.

"Please, sir, I beg of you, have mercy on us. We truly didn’t want to be part of this."

"We are nomads. We never meant to cause harm to you and your people. All we wanted was to survive. We never entertained any ideas of revenge or retribution."

"It’s that horde group that forced us to this. We never wanted any part of this. We just wanted to live and survive."

"Please have mercy on us, Lord. Please!"

Thump! Thump! Thump!

The old demon repeatedly knocked his head on the floor. The rest of his people also groveled and did the same.

Silence stretched out uncomfortably as Cedric just stared at them. To those who knew him personally, this was deliberately done by him to make his targets nervous.

"Consider yourself wise for telling the truth," he said. "Had you uttered even a single lie in my presence, I would’ve eradicated you all where you stand."

His words chilled the demons to their bones. Fortunately, really fortunately, the old demon didn’t lie. Otherwise, they would’ve been gone by now.

"Raise your heads." He commanded, and the demons obeyed.

When they did, they saw several metal collars floating around Cedric. Then he said:

"You probably know what this is, but just in case you don’t know, I’ll tell you. These are ’obedience collars,’ ones that punish disobedience."

"From this day forward, you will wear this," Cedric declared, "and you will work for the development of this Sector Domain."

"You will work for General Skylark and Enzo of the Makers Guild. All of you will help them with the menial work. Your schedule will be the same as theirs. When they’re working, you will also be working. When they’re resting, you will also be eating. The same goes for eating, bathing, etc."

"You will be sheltered, clothed, and fed, and you will be treated with a little bit of respect in my domain so long as you dedicate yourself to the work I impose upon you."

"You are not allowed to cultivate, bear children, hurt my people without any valid reason, be tardy in your jobs, or leave the area you’d be put in without any permission from your superiors. Disobey, and these collars will punish you, the lightest punishment being agonizing pain and the worst punishment being direct implosion of your body, mind, and soul."

"If you’re honest with your work and live through the day when my domain no longer needs your service, I will either decide to turn you into humans and accept you as one of my people or send you back to where you came from."

"In short, obey me and live, or refuse and die with dignity. What will it be?"

"We are grateful to serve you, my lord!!" The old demon didn’t even think.

Well, he did. It’s just that there wasn’t much to think of in the first place. Choosing between life and death, of course he’d choose to live. Wasn’t that what they wanted in the first place?

Besides, the old demon wouldn’t have lived and led this group for this long to survive if he were blind to opportunities presented before him.

Yes, they just moved on from one slaver to the next, but so what? Weak creatures like them should be grateful that they’re even given a choice.

If the old demon was being honest, this was the best possible outcome they could ever wish for.

Yes, they can’t cultivate or have children, but that’s fine; they never had plans like that to begin with. They’re quarantined and expected to act like slaves? No big deal; that’s what they’ve been for a while now. It’s hardly any different from before.

What truly made the old demon’s heart throb was the idea that they will be sheltered, clothed, and fed. Of course, that’s under the assumption that they will work honestly, but that’s already a given.

Again, this was the best outcome for him and his people that they could ever wish for. Not only did they survive, but they would even have a place to settle down to, one that is peaceful and far from any possible conflict.

It truly couldn’t get any better than this. So what’s there to think about? When an opportunity like this was presented to them, of course they’d bite without any hesitation.

"Wise choice," Cedric hummed in approval.

Then, with a wave of his hand, the collars around him flew to the necks of the demons, who didn’t hesitate to wear them. Some even craned their necks to make sure they’re attached properly.

With the sounds of the collars clicking in place and the red lights flashing on their surface indicating that they’re active, the fate of the demons was sealed.

None of them complained; some even looked comforted.

Shifting his gaze to the general, Cedric said, "I’ve already marked a location for them and sent it to you. Help them for now to settle down; as early as next week, they can start working with you. Keep an eye on them."

"Yes, my Lord."

"Thank you for your mercy, my lord." The demons collectively knocked their heads on the ground again to express their gratitude.