"Everyone, come and get your paper and pens!"
"Don't miss anyone, or we can't guarantee your safety!"
"For the sake of your own lives, just obey quietly for now..."
The already cramped hall was now packed with people.
Uniformed staff hurried back and forth, distributing paper and pens, occasionally shouting out instructions, creating a busy scene.
Numerous figures sat in the center of the hall, with no chairs, forced to sit on the floor. They were of different genders and ages, and their attire varied greatly—some wore summer clothes, while others were dressed for winter. Counting them, there were roughly several dozen.
It was late January, the heart of winter.
Those in summer clothes shivered from the cold but dared not complain, obediently accepting the paper and pens from the staff to fill out their identification information.
Around the hall, several fully armed soldiers stood in the corners, holding automatic rifles. Their menacing aura suggested they were seasoned veterans, the kind who had seen real combat and were not afraid to kill. Their intimidating presence made it impossible to look directly at them.
In fact, just moments ago, someone had caused trouble here and was shot dead on the spot by one of the soldiers. The body had just been dragged away, leaving behind a pool of glaring blood.
Realizing that these people were truly capable of killing, those sitting on the floor quickly abandoned any thoughts of resistance.
They gradually understood that their lives meant nothing to these people. Human life, here, held no value.
Only by obeying quietly could they hope to survive.
"Damn it, what kind of world have we been thrown into..."
Among the crowd, someone gritted their teeth and cursed under their breath, venting their anger and fear.
Most of them shared the same reaction, cursing their fickle fate or some unknown god of transmigration. A few remained silent, but their faces were filled with panic, their hearts clouded with uncertainty about the future.
"Mr. Zenjou, the identification information has been collected."
After a flurry of activity, the staff finally handed a thick stack of documents to the person in charge of the hall, a middle-aged man named Zenjou.
Zenjou took the documents, skimmed through them briefly, and then stepped forward to address the crowd.
"Let me welcome you all, refugees. No matter where you came from before, no matter how much wealth or power you had, that's all in the past now. Today, you are all refugees. Without the protection of Fuyuki City, you would be devoured by the monsters, demons, and cursed spirits roaming the wilderness!"
"I'm sure you've already witnessed such scenes on your way to Fuyuki City."
The expressions of some in the crowd immediately turned grim.
When they had first gathered in the wilderness, there had been over a hundred of them.
But on their way to Fuyuki City, they had encountered an attack that shattered their worldview.
The attackers were large beasts, unlike anything they had ever seen before, seemingly born solely for slaughter. Even firearms were barely effective against them, and a dozen refugees had been devoured on the spot.
They had endured the terror for what felt like an eternity, until the sound of gunfire faded and the guards finally drove the beasts away, leaving behind a scene of carnage and lingering fear.
Many in the crowd had witnessed the bloodshed firsthand, and the memory alone made their stomachs churn.
That attack had completely shattered the worldview they had built over decades.
Seeing the crowd's obedient demeanour, Zenjou nodded in satisfaction.
"But you don't need to worry. At least within Fuyuki City, you are safe. You can live as you did before. However, never forget your status as refugees. It is we who have provided you with a place to survive. Without us, you wouldn't even have the guarantee of life. You've already been given enough. Don't be ungrateful and do anything impulsive, reckless, or irrational. Otherwise, you'll face the consequences!"
After this mix of threats and reassurances, no one dared to argue.
Even if some felt resentment, the pressure from the soldiers around them kept them silent.
With the routine speech over, Zenjou pursed his lips and began reviewing the documents in his hands.
The documents contained not only the refugees' basic information like names and genders but also sections about their skills and previous occupations.
Zenjou's attention was clearly focused on the latter, as he was particularly interested in the refugees' past jobs.
Students, convenience store clerks, novelists... The deeper Zenjou read, the more his brows furrowed.
One person even listed their skill as playing games, especially galgames, which made Zenjou's eyebrow twitch.
In a world like this, what they needed were highly skilled professionals or essential workers like doctors. What use was being good at games?
Especially galgames.
What nonsense!
After going through the entire stack of documents, Zenjou couldn't find a single useful talent.
He rubbed his temples and clicked his tongue in disdain.
"Whatever, I shouldn't have expected much from you refugees. In any case, you now have two options. One is to become miners or farmers. You'll be provided with three meals a day, but no pay. After a certain number of years, you can change your status from refugee to civilian. The other option is to become a servant..."
"Oh, yes, yes."
Just as he was speaking, a voice suddenly interjected from the doorway.
A figure walked into the hall. He appeared to be in his mid-twenties, with dark skin, blond hair, and a medium build. His features suggested Middle Eastern heritage, and overall, he was a handsome young man.
"Where's the person in charge here? I need to take two servants back with me."
The young man walked into the hall, his tone calm and unhurried, exuding an air of unquestionable authority.
His eyes scanned the dozens of refugees in the hall, devoid of any emotion. It was as if he wasn't looking at people but rather assessing the value of commodities.
Zenjou's gaze fell on the young man's chest, where a small black vest bore a badge with the words "Cause."
The moment he saw the badge, Zenjou's expression turned serious. He bowed respectfully to the young man, like a soldier saluting a superior officer.
"Sir, you have the right to choose two servants this month. This batch of refugees has just been registered, so please feel free to make your selection!"
"Hmm."
The young man responded casually, his eyes wandering among the refugees.
After a moment, his gaze settled on a particular figure.
"I didn't expect to find some decent ones in this batch of refugees. That woman, and that man over there. I'll take these two!"
He chuckled happily, snapping his fingers and pointing at the two.
Zenjou followed his gaze.
The man he pointed to was burly and had a gloomy expression, clearly not someone to be trifled with.
The woman, on the other hand, was only about sixteen or seventeen years old. She wore a high school uniform, with long, ink-black hair cascading down her back and a white headband across her forehead. She sat there, holding her skirt, her face smudged with dirt, her eyes downcast as if trying to make herself inconspicuous. While her face didn't stand out, her curvaceous figure was striking. Her tights were torn in several places, revealing smooth, pale thighs that drew the attention of several men around her.
"Understood. I'll process the paperwork for you right away!"
Zenjou nodded slightly and opened the documents in his hands.
"Excuse me, could you let me have that girl instead?"
At that moment, another figure walked into the hall, smiling as he inserted himself between the two.
***
Hey readers!
Want to read ahead? 📖 Join my Patreon for early access to 30+ advance chapters! Your support helps me write more and bring the story to you faster.
🔹patreon.com/aarvan🔹