Golden Dragon: Six Thousand Years of Empire-Chapter 53 Noah’s People, 11 Tax

"Praise Noah!"

Just newly freed and having shed his identity as a slave, Pompey devoutly bowed to the Holy Mountain in his heart. From the crowd by the roadside, a few echoed his words, but most people remained indifferent, as it was a common sight. Only the foreign merchants cast curious glances.

After earnestly completing the ritual of bowing to the Holy Dragon, Pompey, who had become a freeman, stood up again, with a look of slight bewilderment in his eyes.

As a slave, he only needed to do three things every day—eat, sleep, and farm. But having become a freeman without any land to farm, he suddenly didn’t know what to do with himself.

Pompey actually knew that there were many job opportunities in Elisium City specifically provided for people like him, who were without a home or occupation.

However, he didn’t want to apply for a job just yet. He wanted to take a few days to breathe the air of freedom, but without realizing it, he wandered back to the place where he had previously worked as a slave.

It was a field where the wheat waves rippled. There were still many people working there as slaves, just like he once had, but they were indistinguishable from the free farmers not far away.

It had to be said that this was a peculiar sight unseen in other cities, entirely different from the harsh life he had imagined before being brought here as a slave.

Apart from the legendary Divine Realm, where there were no worries of sickness, hunger, or disturbance from the wind and rain, Pompey couldn’t think of any place more beautiful than here, where even slaves were treated as people.

"Pompey, didn’t you go to cancel your slave contract? Why are you back?"

A familiar slave saw Pompey, who was confused and lost, and called out to him loudly.

"I have canceled the contract; I am now a freeman."

Pompey couldn’t help but shout with all his might.

"Well done, Pompey, you are the first among us to break free from slavery."

"I envy you, but soon, I will be just like you."

Pompey’s voice attracted many gazes, some filled with envy, some voiced praise, some loudly cheered, while others silently rolled up their sleeves to continue working with vigor, greatly inspired by the living example before them.

"So have you gone to look for a job?"

"Not yet. I plan to look for work after a few days."

Pompey subconsciously replied.

But honestly, he wanted more to be a happy farmer like he was before he escaped slavery, because he farmed on land owned by the Holy Dragon.

Although no one had ever seen it, everyone said that the wise lord, having listened to the Holy Dragon’s counsel, parceled out two hundred hectares of land to award the Holy Dragon.

"Are you going to the city to find work? But other than farming, what else can you do?"

"I..."

Pompey was stumped. He really didn’t know what else he could do if he left the land.

"I don’t know. If I had land, I’d probably keep farming. Unfortunately, I don’t."

"If you don’t mind, you can continue to farm the land for me."

At this moment, Pompey heard a slightly youthful voice from behind. The change in expressions among the slaves still working around him clearly revealed that a person of great importance must have appeared behind him.

Pompey quickly turned around and was stunned, as he had guessed, a very distinguished figure indeed stood behind him.

It was a tall young man dressed in such a splendid manner that Pompey couldn’t even think of how to praise him. His imposing figure was like a small mountain, oppressive even from a distance.

The thick, glossy black hair sparkling in the sunlight further attested that this young man bore the most noble surname of this land.

Yet this noble young man had a cat with fur shining like gold in the sunlight on top of his head?

This peculiar and bizarre appearance and combination left Pompey, who had little experience, in a daze for a while, then he hurriedly knelt down, deeply bowing his head, not daring to utter a word.

For his recent action could be deemed offensive to the nobles, and according to his understanding, some nobles would flog or even kill peasants for not kneeling promptly.

"Stand up and speak."

As fear began to cause his body to tremble uncontrollably, Pompey saw a pair of boots suddenly appear before him, followed by a calm and powerful voice.

Why are there two different voices?

A question naturally arose in Pompey’s mind, but when he anxiously stood up, he saw that it was the golden cat perched on the young man’s head that spoke.

"You haven’t answered me yet. Are you willing to continue farming the land for me? As a freeman, you will receive a portion of the harvest as your compensation."

"I am willing, I am willing!"

Indescribable joy surged in Pompey’s heart. His brain didn’t need to think any further. Stimulated by the overwhelming emotions, the answer escaped his lips.

"Aren’t you going to ask how much of the harvest you’ll get from the work?"

Noah, perched on Tidel’s head, gazed at the thin young man with a strange light in his eyes.

Not long ago, he had successfully mastered a form of transformation. Just as Tidel came looking for him, Noah Knight descended the mountain and came first to inspect his lands.

The land and slaves allotted by the Augustus family were originally for experimental purposes, but once divided, the land naturally would not be taken back.

"I..."

Pompey had vaguely guessed the identity of the golden cat but couldn’t believe it, for the legend was speaking directly to him, offering promises, rendering his mind almost in a state of crash.

"Let’s agree on a one-in-ten tax; you will need to give me one-tenth of the yield from the land as the field rent, while the rest of the grain will be yours."

Seeing the emaciated young man who seemed to have guessed his identity and was thus at a loss for words, Noah found it amusing and proposed what he had thoughtfully considered to be a fair division.

For a moment, the field fell silent. Pompey’s body trembled violently, his lips quivered, and his eyes brimmed with tears, which flowed down his cheeks.

An indescribably intense emotion exploded within his soul, shattering all his senses and thoughts.

At this moment, Pompey could only express his emotions in the way he deemed most appropriate. He lay prostrate on the ground, bowing his head with all his might until his forehead touched the soil.

"Holy Dragon Noah, I am willing to devote my entire life to you!"