Chapter 553: Persuasion
Chapter 553: Persuasion
As soon as Lindsey stepped out, he saw Vivian bustling around the Village Square.
As the former Lord's daughter of Ara Camp and now one of the core figures in the camp, this young woman had gained quite a reputation among the villagers.
When ordinary people had problems, they would often seek out Hammer or Vivian out of awe, perhaps too intimidated to approach Lindsey directly.
So, their targets often became Hammer or Vivian.
"Mr. Lindsey?"
As soon as Lindsey stepped out, many eyes turned towards him.
Noticing this, Vivian quickly finished her task and hurriedly followed him.
"You're up so early, are you planning to build a new structure that needs explanation?" she asked.
Lindsey shook his head slightly and pointed towards the prison, "I'm going over there to see if I can convince them to surrender."
"For the camp to develop smoothly and for this world to restore order, people are one of the most important factors." Lindsey replied as he made his way towards the prison.
Vivian, curious, followed him.
Soon, Lindsey arrived at the prison gate.
The five members of Dune sat cross-legged inside, using twigs they had picked up from the ground to draw something on the floor.
"Hmm?"
Lindsey observed them quietly for a while.
It seemed like they were playing a small game similar to Go or Poker to pass the time, as being locked up in prison was quite boring.
As for the situation in the village, after observing for several days, no matter how shocked they were, they had become accustomed to it.
These five wilderness hunters, who had no worries about food and shelter, almost seemed to be slacking off, as if they were content to spend the rest of their lives in prison.
Lindsey waited quietly for a few seconds.
As the five finished a game, they noticed Lindsey's presence and curiously looked up at him.
The next moment, one of them recognized Lindsey, "You! You! Weren't you the one from that day...?"
Lindsey nodded and introduced himself, "Yes, it's me."
"You can call me Lindsey, I'm currently the manager of this camp."
As Lindsey spoke, the prison door automatically unlocked.
Using his authority as the Lord, he manipulated the building to open, appearing to use telekinetic powers to the others as the gate swung open, and he calmly walked in.
Lindsey then took a chair out of his bag and sat down directly in front of the five members of Dune.
On the ground in front of them, the memory of Lindsey instantly knocking them down a few days ago resurfaced in their minds.
The ones at the back even cowered, and it was Dune, their leader, who finally spoke up, "Lord Lindsey, if you're trying to convince us to surrender, there must be a reason."
Lindsey noticed their hesitation and interrupted with a shake of his head, "My time is not that abundant, and I'm sure you don't want to remain imprisoned here either."
"So, I'll get straight to the point."
"Are you willing to work for me?"
Lindsey's straightforward question immediately stirred up the hearts of the wilderness hunters.
Seeing the construction progress in the Banyan Grove over the past few days, it was impossible for them not to have some thoughts, especially now that they were prisoners. The last few, in particular, had eyes that flickered noticeably.
Among them, Dune had the most stable mindset. He cautiously tested Lindsey, "Lord Lindsey, if you're trying to convince us, there must be a purpose."
"We were operating in the wastelands merely to survive."
"As long as you don't ask us to do something utterly foolish, we'll gladly serve you!"
Lindsey silently opened the map, even equipping the reconnaissance and empathy-enhancing blue sapphire glasses in his inventory.
The calm and serene surface of the sand dune belies the turbulent emotions within, a turmoil shared by his companions.
Lindsey offered a genuinely kind smile, "Of course, I'm well aware of that."
"You've managed to survive in this desolate land until now, and I won't deceive you with false or useless things."
"What I can offer is simple—as long as you follow the rules, food won't be an issue, and you'll be safe within the camp."
Food and safety—the two essential elements of life, laid out before them, were conditions that many in the desolate land couldn't refuse.
The sand dune took a deep breath and then asked Lindsey, "What do you need us to do?"
Lindsey replied candidly, "For now, I want you to act as surrendered recruits within the camp, showing the others imprisoned here that I'm willing to accept outsiders."
A simple principle of buying a horse with a thousand gold coins.
Lindsey wasn't in a rush to turn the five of them into mere laborers.
Instead, by having them actively participate in the camp, they would serve as accepted role models, making it easier for others to join later.
During this response, the sand dune noticed Lindsey's earlier description:
"You said this is a task 'for now'?"
Lindsey nodded in acknowledgment, "In the future, I hope to form a team of Awakened with some combat capabilities to help explore the desolate world. This world, though in decline, was once prosperous and not completely devoid of resources."
"Mineral deposits, animals, and plants all have development potential, and I need people to explore the outside world."
Lindsey's gaze fell on the sand dune's companions, "If I'm not mistaken, you're skilled hunters, and such a task should be easy for you."
The sand dune nodded in agreement and then asked about the work details, "What if we encounter danger or enemies we've clashed with before while exploring the outside world?"
Lindsey immediately responded, "Your safety is the top priority."
"Safety first."
Hearing this, the sand dune turned to look behind him.
Without needing any emotion-sensing abilities, he could see the eagerness in the eyes of his four subordinates.
Unless he planned to go solo, there was no way to refuse.
The sand dune sighed inwardly, turned, and bowed his head to Lindsey, symbolizing his submission, "I understand, Lindsey."
"Your terms are very tempting, and we can't possibly refuse."
Lindsey smiled with satisfaction and stood up.
He folded the chair and walked out of the cell, leaving the prison door open this time.
The sand dune and his companions exchanged glances, feeling a mix of relief and apprehension.
At that moment, Vivian, who had been observing the recruitment process, spoke up, "You can follow us and take a look at how the village operates first."
The sand dune and his group followed Lindsey.
They arrived at the northeast area of the camp.
Due to Lindsey's past city planning concepts, this area was designated for dense housing.
He opened his attribute panel and dragged a housing structure onto the ground.
Lindsey turned to the sand dune and his companions, gesturing with an open hand, "You've been in the cage for a few days, and you should have seen the construction progress of the camp."
"Now that you're out..."
"Why not try building a home for yourselves?"
(End of Chapter)
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