Hilda's gaze became incredibly sharp as she stared directly at Fulong, her muscles relaxing slightly—an unmistakable sign of an imminent explosion of power.
Luo Li was certain that if Fulong dared to make a move, he would be met with the full force of a Guardian Knight's strike in the next second!
Fulong snapped back to reality. Seeing Hilda's rising aura, the expression on his face shifted several times before suddenly returning to that kind, grandfatherly smile. The ruthlessness in his eyes vanished in an instant.
He truly was a master actor!
"This... this old man has no better solution. Why don't... Your Highness Saintess, what kind of method do you think would be best?"
"What do I think?"
The corners of her mouth curled upward involuntarily. This old fox still refused to back down even now?
"I still think a thorough investigation is best. It would be cleaner that way."
"This... Your Highness, if you do not have a better idea, I... I actually have a suggestion."
"What suggestion? Let's hear it."
With a smile playing on her lips, Luo Li reclined on her side upon the bed, her legs slightly bent and her right hand supporting her head. The white Saintess's robe she wore accentuated her curvaceous figure, while her bare feet, as smooth and pale as jade, peeked out playfully.
Her translucent toes wiggled slightly, revealing just how pleasant her mood was at that moment.
"Actually, I still believe a thorough investigation is the better choice."
"No, no, no... Your Highness is making a mountain out of a molehill. Such a small matter can be avoided with just a little effort. There is absolutely no need for a thorough investigation."
Fulong's expression showed a hint of panic.
As expected, a family standing at the top of a grey industry was bound to have many criminals within its ranks!
A thought flickered in the young girl's mind.
The Cavendish family should no longer exist in the Kingdom of the Moon.
"Fine. Since Lord Cavendish says so, I will listen to your thoughts. However, I still maintain my original opinion."
Fulong's expression was too complex to describe in a single sentence; it was a mix of hesitation and helplessness.
"How about... how about..."
Fulong trailed off, his eyes appearing dazed.
Luo Li suddenly remembered something.
'I never actually mentioned the details of what should be done. This old man probably only knows that much. He can't exactly crack open my skull to peek at my thoughts, can he?'
"It seems Lord Cavendish does not have a good solution. However... I would like to ask, what was the reason for Cyrus's betrayal?"
Since he couldn't think of anything, she would lead him to the answer.
"This old man has a rough understanding."
Fulong did not elaborate, as the primary reason ultimately lay with him.
"Well, since that is the case, I will not beat around the bush. Lord Cavendish, your family makes its living by selling slaves. You know better than I do what the treatment of those slaves is like."
Perhaps realizing that nothing he did now could change the Saintess's mind, Fulong simply nodded.
"Whatever thoughts Your Highness has, please speak them. This old man will do his best to manage the situation."
As expected of an old fox capable of leading a family, even now, he was unwilling to commit fully.
The word 'manage' held a lot of wiggle room.
However, it was just a word.
"The slave system cannot be abolished. If it were, the nobility would cease to exist. So, Lord Cavendish need not worry about that. But..."
"But what?"
Fulong became tense.
"But the treatment of these slaves could perhaps be improved to prevent another incident like the one with Cyrus."
"Your Highness, if I may speak frankly, I fear the other families would not agree to such a thing."
Luo Li gazed at Fulong with a smile. After a long moment, Fulong slowly lowered his head.
"Please speak plainly, Your Highness."
"From this day forward, all slaves must be officially registered in a government registry. Slave collars are to be sold only by the state; private manufacturing is prohibited. The control switches for these collars will be held in duplicate—one by the state and one by the slave owner. All slave trades must go through official authorization. Slaves are to be granted certain human rights; abuse, slaughter, and the like are strictly prohibited."
The Temple fell into a sudden silence.
Fulong lowered his head in deep thought.
Luo Li maintained a confident smile.
Beside her, Hilda watched Fulong warily.
After a long while, Fulong looked up at Luo Li.
"Your Highness, is that... all?"
"Yes, that is all."
Indeed, it was 'just' that.
However, this was merely the first step in the game she was playing!
In reality, even if this law were enacted, very few nobles would follow it.
The reason was that even if they committed abuse or slaughter, there were no direct punishments for the nobles.
In other words, the original laws hadn't really changed.
The only difference was that the state now had a means of restraining the slaves.
As for the most crucial 'official authorization,' it wasn't actually a major issue. Given the Cavendish family's control over the slave trade market, they could easily manipulate things to obtain such authorization.
Regarding the collars, although they were said to be sold by the state, who would know if they were manufactured privately?
Furthermore, those who would order private collars definitely had their own hidden agendas, and they were certainly not ordinary people.
So, overall, there wasn't much of a change, was there?
Fulong pondered for a long time, carefully scrutinizing these rules, but even after all that thought, he could not detect any hidden traps.
Finally, he glanced at the Saintess reclining on the bed above him.
He could only nod helplessly.
"That is manageable. I... can make that decision."
"Very well."
Seeing the look of relief on Fulong's face, Luo Li was secretly overjoyed.
The first step toward slave liberation had begun.
Limited by the perspective of his era, Fulong, the lord of the Cavendish family, did not realize her true intentions!
Since he had agreed to everything, there was naturally nothing more to say, but Fulong still asked one more question.
"Your Highness, since the slaves need to be officially registered, who... who will be in charge of this department?"
The young girl smiled faintly.
"Naturally, it will be you, Lord Cavendish. I imagine no one in my Kingdom of the Moon knows the slave trade better than you. I would feel most at ease leaving it in your hands."
"This..."
The Saintess's every move was unexpected, yet seemingly useless.
Handing such an official position to him—didn't that mean the entire slave trade of the Kingdom of the Moon would be delivered directly into his palms?
Who could possibly refuse such a massive piece of the pie!?
By then, even if he no longer bought or sold slaves himself, the mere power of 'authorization' would be enough to control the entire slave trade market!
Rate on N.U.
