Roma called the four of them inside and let his gaze settle on each of their faces before speaking. "Tell me your names."
The two boys glanced at each other, then the elder one stepped forward and said, "My name is Kima, and he is Akima." Roma nodded. The woman followed, her tone steady despite everything she had gone through. "I am Miya." The old man straightened slightly and said, "Lalmin… you can call me old man."
Roma acknowledged them and got straight to the point. "To tell you the truth I don't want mindless slaves and I will not keep you all as slaves here. You'll work, and you'll be paid."
All four froze.
Roma continued calmly, "Monthly salary will be around forty to fifty Relpies. Because as you said U all joined our associated and our association makes sure that people get at least the fundamental rights"
Shock spread across their faces, though they don't understand what fundamental rights are they 6l9.u7i8sounded like noble words, Kima and Akima looked at each other as if they had misheard, Miya's eyes widened slightly, and even Lalmin couldn't hide his surprise. That amount was slightly higher than what most low-class workers earned.
Roma didn't stop there. "You'll also be allowed to cultivate."
This time, the silence was deeper.
Kima spoke first, his voice almost trembling. "We… can cultivate?"
Roma nodded. "Yes."
The two brothers' expressions lit up instantly, but Lalmin's didn't. He exhaled slowly and said, "That's good for them, but not for me. During my youth, I was injured. My cultivation path is broken; I can't cultivate anymore."
Roma simply nodded.
Miya spoke next, calm but honest. "I was at Stage 2 long ago, but my cultivation was suppressed by the slave merchant for years. It won't increase much now, but still… thank you."
Roma acknowledged her and moved on. "Work assignments."
He pointed at Miya. "Cooking and cleaning."
She nodded immediately. "Understood."
He turned to the two boys. "You'll assist in the shop."
They nodded quickly.
Finally, he looked at Lalmin. "You'll take care of the garden. Grow vegetables for the kitchen."
Lalmin gave a faint smile. "That I can do."
That day, Roma handled the cooking. The food was simple but enough for everyone. When it was ready, he called all of them—everyone together.
The four newcomers hesitated. Kima asked carefully, "We… eat here with you?"
Roma looked at him and said, "Yes."
There was no separation, no difference.
They sat together and ate.
At first, they were stiff, unsure how to act, but slowly the tension faded. The realization settled in that there was no discrimination here, no hidden line dividing them.
The house was small, so everyone had to adjust for the night. It was crowded, but no one complained. Roma simply said that a hut would be built the next day.
The following day, they worked from morning, and by afternoon a small wooden hut stood beside the training area. It was simple, but it was enough. It was decided that Kima, Akima, and Lalmin would stay in the hut, while Miya would take the remaining room inside the house.
With that settled, the store opened again.
This time, the crowd was even larger. Word had spread further, and more customers came. With Kima and Akima helping, things moved more smoothly. They assisted in handling customers, organizing fruits, and learning quickly. Miya took over the cooking and housework efficiently, while Lalmin quietly worked in the back, preparing soil and planting vegetables.
Everything felt stable.
Everyone looked content.
Except Lalmin.
That night, he called Kima and Akima outside near the hut. His expression was serious.
"Kima, Akima, listen carefully," he said.
The boys nodded.
Lalmin lowered his voice. "Something is not right."
They frowned.
"What do you mean, Grandpa?" Akima asked.
Lalmin raised his hand slightly. "Think about it. They sell large amounts of spiritual fruits, they allow cultivation freely, and they pay salaries. Do you know what kind of people can do that?"
Kima hesitated. "…Nobles?"
Lalmin nodded. "Exactly."
He leaned closer. "This is not simple. This is a plan."
The boys looked confused.
"They are investing in you," Lalmin continued. "To make you stronger, to turn you into fighters."
"Fighters?" Kima repeated.
Lalmin nodded seriously.
Akima frowned. "But they're nice."
Lalmin looked at him. "That's how it starts."
Then his imagination began to run wild. He spoke in a low, dramatic tone, saying that in the 3 (roma, arun and riz) are sitting in a dark room, laughing like villains, controlling everything from behind, telling them to grow stronger and become their weapons. He even imitated a deep, exaggerated evil laugh.
The boys stared at him.
Kima finally said slowly, "Grandpa… you're thinking too much."
Akima nodded. "Way too much."
Lalmin paused, then muttered that they should still be careful.
The boys agreed half-heartedly.
Inside the house, Roma suddenly sneezed.
"Someone was probably talking nonsense about me", making Riz almost laughed.
Roma sat alone for a moment, staring at the system panel.
Members: +4
Loyalty: 0, 0, 0, 0
He blinked once, then again, then leaned back slightly as if the numbers might change if he changed angle.
They didn't.
"…Still zero?"
He counted on his fingers slowly. "Salary… food… no slavery… cultivation allowed…" then paused.
"…Still zero?"
His face didn't change much, but inside something cracked slightly.
A few minutes later, Arun walked in happily, talking about how sales were increasing again, but Roma cut him off with a calm voice and asked him a question. "If someone feeds you, gives you money, gives you freedom… would your loyalty still be zero?"
Arun thought for a second and replied honestly that it would depend.
Roma froze and asked what it depended on.
Arun shrugged and said it depended on mood.
Roma slowly turned his head toward Riz.
Riz thought more seriously and said that trust takes time.
Roma nodded slowly and leaned back.
"I see."
Then after a pause, he looked at both of them and said, "You two are idiots."
Arun blinked and asked what that meant, while Riz tilted his head slightly in confusion.
Roma pointed at them and said that both of them were naive because they had given everything on the first day without making anyone earn it.
Arun nodded proudly, agreeing without realizing the problem, and Roma closed his eyes for a moment before calling them naive again.
Arun complained that it sounded like an insult, and Roma replied plainly that it was.
Riz crossed his arms slightly and said that being kind wasn't wrong, but Roma responded that kindness without control was just stupidity.
Arun scratched his head and said it sounded smart but also rude, while Roma ignored him completely.
Inside, Roma adjusted his thinking. Loyalty wasn't something that could be bought instantly, it had to be built.
"…Fine," he muttered. "…We'll build it properly."
Then he stood up.
"…Slowly."
Meanwhile, across the city, inside a much larger and more refined store, a man stood near the window looking down at the busy street below. This was Vardhan Alchem Hall, one of the two major pill businesses dominating the city.
Behind him, a subordinate bowed slightly and began reporting about a new store selling spiritual fruits.
At first, the man didn't react much, but when he heard that the fruits were being sold at half the market price, he turned slowly and asked him to repeat it.
The subordinate confirmed it and added that the products were real.
A silence followed as the man asked about quantity and was told that around one hundred units were being sold daily.
That made his eyes narrow slightly.
It didn't make sense.
There was no known supply chain, no background, no visible source, yet the production was consistent.
When he asked for the store name and heard "Food and Health Store," he grew more thoughtful.
When he asked about the owner and background and heard that everything was unknown, his expression became more serious.
He tapped the table lightly and said that this was not normal.
The subordinate asked if further investigation was needed, and the man replied calmly to send someone to observe first.
The subordinate nodded in understanding.
The man then looked out the window again and simply said that this was interesting.
Back at the small store, Roma suddenly sneezed again.
"…Something is definitely wrong today."
Arun looked at him and said maybe his brain was overheating, while Riz almost laughed.