Ashen Dragon

Chapter 247: 172 George's Encounter (1)

Chapter 247: Chapter 172 George’s Encounter (1)
 

“George! Don’t daydream at your station, lunchtime is approaching!”

The young man called “George” felt a heavy pat on his shoulder, snapping him out of his reverie. He turned to see his colleague, Howard, holding a stack of this morning’s **The Kingdom Morning News**.

Howard smiled and said, “Come on, see what’s new today.”

George nodded hastily and followed behind him, while many other workers also stood up from their stations, their faces lit with expectant smiles.

For poor workers like them, buying a newspaper was a luxury they couldn’t afford. **The Kingdom Morning News** was the most expensive newspaper in the country, accessible only to affluent citizens, costing several copper coins; nearly half a day’s wage for George.

This, of course, was Howard running an errand to buy newspapers for the factory supervisor.

And as a reward, the workers got to listen with pleasure as the clerk read the news aloud.

“Hurry up!”

“Do you want me to come down and get it myself?”

A rough, thick voice bellowed from upstairs.

The workers’ supervisor, the manager of this food factory, was a rather unique figure—a three-meter-tall ogre named Bighead, said to be a confidant of Prime Minister Ramp. The whole factory revered him, although “fear” played a much larger part.

When George first arrived, this ogre supervisor had terrified him so much he nearly wet himself, petrified that he might be eaten in a fit of rage.

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But as time went on, he got used to it, even finding nothing strange about a three-meter ogre in the factory. Instead, it seemed like a matter of course.

Lord Bighead enjoyed a life of indulgence, devouring large quantities of meat and fish all day long. Why would he want to eat George’s scrawny body?

George often thought this way.

“Sir, your newspaper for today.”

“Get lost!”

Howard nodded and bowed, delivering the newspaper to the supervisor’s office, only to be booted out.

But there wasn’t a hint of anger on his face; instead, he stood there eagerly, ear cocked, mimicking his colleagues who gathered in a cluster nearby.

“Stop crowding.”

“I was here first, and he’s saving a spot for me.”

George quickly squeezed in, securing a good position with Howard’s help.

Soon, the clerk’s clear voice began reading from the office, and the workers perked up their ears.

The **Kingdom Daily** was rich in content, from changes in domestic policies to strange news from various places. But their favorite was the humorous sections, often making them laugh so hard they’d slap the ground with joy. This was one of the few entertainments in their stagnant lives, and listening to the newspaper was the highlight of their day.

“Captain Dolores conducted joint exercises in the suburbs…”

“The kingdom’s economic growth has reached a new high…”

“Lord Ramp issued important instructions to further integrate Magic with industry…”

Howard complained, “Why is today’s news so long? I wish those newspaper writers would cut down on boring stuff.”

George whispered in caution, “It’s good enough to have something to listen to. Don’t disturb the supervisor.”

As expected, before he finished speaking, the ogre’s impatient roar came from the office, “Do you still want to listen? Make another noise and I’ll throw you all out!”

George shrank his neck in defiance and continued listening carefully.

“Yesterday, two citizens acted bravely, reporting spies from the Boske Duchy to the kingdom, earning personal commendation from Lord Ramp.”

“As a reward for their loyalty, they received fifty gold coins, a luxury home in the city center of Northwind Castle, and the chance to receive the valuable Dragon Vein Blessing. Fellow citizens, this newspaper solemnly reminds you that safeguarding the kingdom is everyone’s responsibility!”

Howard exclaimed, “Look at these lucky ones. I’ve heard those who get the Dragon Vein blessing can live over a hundred years; compared to that, gold coins and a house are nothing.”

The workers chatted animatedly, their words filled with undisguised envy.

“Yeah, if only I could catch a spy.”

“If that was me, I wouldn’t be working here. I’d buy a shop with the gold coins and go into business!”

“Heh, stop daydreaming.”

George didn’t participate in this fanciful discussion; instead, he quietly noted the news to himself.

Soon, the workers’ favorite segment came, and they quickly tossed aside the previous topic, listening to the jokes with enormous excitement.

“A boy possessed by a devil went to the Rackman Family Church for exorcism.”

“The priest said, ‘Accursed devil, get out of this child’s body!'”

“The devil replied, ‘It’s you who should get out!'”

“Hahaha!”

The workers burst into laughter, and even the ogre’s coarse laugh echoed from the office. This was one of the rare moments when the workers could let loose.

Howard was rolling with laughter, slapping the floor repeatedly.

“Those people in the Church sure are something! No wonder they were driven out!”

But George was still savoring the earlier story and hadn’t caught what the clerk had said, so he followed his colleagues’ lead, laughing along to blend into the lively atmosphere.

…

The workers toiled late into the night until the sky turned pitch black before they could clock out.

George bade farewell to a few familiar colleagues and dragged his weary body alone down the street, where passersby had become sparse.

“Another day is over,” George licked his lips, as though tasting the remnants of the “paste” he had eaten for dinner.

He lived in the most unassuming basement in the city, a cramped space of only a few square meters, housing over ten people—this was all he could afford.

George was among the tens of thousands of freed serfs who came to Northwind Castle three years ago, and he was still all alone.

His mother had frozen to death in a bitter winter ten years ago, and his father had starved to death in a famine six years ago—he felt little sadness about it because such occurrences were common in the manor. He was merely an insignificant “Gray Beast,” living a numbing life, constantly fearing for his survival.

Now, having come to Northwind Castle, he witnessed many new things, filled his stomach, and harbored new hopes.

Lord Bighead once said something profound, “When you’re full, you start thinking about women.”

George agreed and took it to heart.

He secretly peered at the houses along the road, the bright windows showing silhouettes of people sitting together and the tiny figures of children—families enjoying a delightful candle-lit dinner.

George longed to have a home in Northwind Castle.

But this remained nothing more than a thought.

He knew full well that for someone earning meager wages like him, it was an impossible dream.