The group of three hundred people stood in the large reception room. This room was made to host large-scale festivities, so it didn't feel cramped, and everybody was seated.
In the host position, Yasenia stood in her blue [Empyrean Cosmos Dress], looking beautiful and seductive.
Her golden eyes scanned the girls, and after counting that everybody was here, she took a step forward and activated [Empyrean Dragon Authority].
Her aura changed and became solemn. However, Yasenia didn't use this to pressure them but to increase her charisma.
[Monarch Intent] could work similarly, but Yasenia's control over it was insufficient to use it before some of the weak harpies.
Although most were in the Spirit King Body Realm and above, there were a few in the Mortal Transformation Body Realm, a level similar to a Body Modification Cultivator. If Yasenia were to pressure those people with her uncontrolled aura's weight, she might crush their wills and spirit.
All the harpies straightened their backs and puffed their chests. Yasenia was satisfied with the reaction and began speaking with a solemn expression.
"You've already seen the general layout of the place we'll be living. The place is not small. Therefore, we'll need workers to manage, clean, and generally keep the place working and neat."
The entertainment worker leaders, Gala and Leila, stepped forward and simultaneously spoke. "Lady Yasenia, let us do it!"
Yasenia looked at them and got thoughtful. "I'll allow it for the moment. However, we'll make sure to hire workers in the future to do this and take this responsibility away from your group."
Yasenia saw their questioning expressions and explained. "Soon, you'll be working on something that can greatly tire you mentally. I don't want accidents to happen."
They understood what Yasenia was talking about. Yasenia smiled and spoke. "In the meantime, you can work on that. You have to remember this condition, though. Only those that haven't worked the previous night can work the day after."
Gala and Leila smiled widely and felt touched. Then, they nodded and exclaimed. "Yes, Matriarch! We thank you for your care!"
Yasenia nodded and turned toward each of her girls. "We've spotted three workshops for each main profession and a few others for more niche ones. The biggest and more developed one will be taken by the leaders of the groups: Kali, Angel, Andrea, and Evelyn. The rest will share the other rooms."
Yasenia looked around and pointed out an important thing. "Remember that you can rework some halls if we need more space for Spirit Profession. They'll be our main strength and negotiation chip. Don't slight yourselves because there is no space. Even building more structures in the wide and spacious garden is possible."
They all nodded and shouted. "We hear the Matriarch!"
Yasenia turned toward Tatyana and continued. "Tatyana, transform one wing of the mansion into a place where you and your subordinates can work. I won't nag you much, but consider future members and the hierarchy setting. Your group is the soul of our Clan, so we have to take care of it."
Tatyana nodded. "Leave it to me, Matriarch. I won't disappoint you."
Yasenia turned toward Cecile and ordered. "The combat group needs barracks and training grounds. Work together with Angel's Formation group and the Spirit Architect. Don't be shy about funds. The managed group may be the soul, but your group is the shield and spear that will keep us safe. I want you to be harsh in training the first batch so that they'll be able to train future recruits fast and efficiently."
"You have to assess their performance and set military ranks. The higher the rank, the better the benefits. Remember, at least twenty percent of our total revenue will go to the military camp."
Yasenia looked at everyone and reminded. "This goes for all of you. The higher your skill, achievements, and contributions, the better your position, benefits, and treatment. If someone fails to perform a bare minimum, the penalty will be at least receiving hellish training and reshaping and, at most…." Yasenia paused for a second. "…Well, depending on the failing level of the performance, the punishment can get harsh."
"Yes, Matriarch!"
Yasenia followed it up. "There are rewards and bonuses for completing beyond what you are asked for. If you work hard and create results, I will not hold back with rewards. We'll set up a point system to redeem for high-level items. Most of them will be exclusive to the Astral Sky Clan, so expect them to be of much higher performance than the items we'll sell to the outside."
Yasenia paused for a second and then said coldly. "However, if you work for working without having our Clan's benefit as your priority, you can pack up your things and leave right now. The punishment for leaving or betraying will only increase the more things you come in contact with. I'm benevolent, but I won't allow someone that knows our Clan's deepest secrets to leave easily."
They all gulped, feeling a sense of oppression from the dragoness body.
Even then, they still gathered their courage and shouted loud and clear. "Yes, Matriarch!"
Yasenia relaxed her aura and smiled. "Good answer."
Then, she gave more specific orders. First, she turned toward the people under her charge and said. "For the moment, you will work as maids. I don't care if you begin your recreational activities. However, have a sense of self and always question if the place, situation, and hour are right."
"Remember the limits I've set and that you are workers, not objects. If you are abused, talk to a team leader or me directly. To avoid fake framing, there will be written consent from both parties before the act. Naturally, if the clues are evident, I reserve the ability to judge without concrete proof. Like it or not, I'm the rules of the Astral Sky Clan, and I won't allow inner conflicts to weaken us."
They nodded and answered on cue. "Yes, Matriarch!"
Yasenia nodded and then said. "Good. Management team, I want a registering item for each room and a 24/7 working model to know in which room is who. We'll leave private areas out of it. However, you'll have to use something like an entry jade to enter exclusive areas."
"This will allow us to track all of you during your working hours. Don't worry about not having privacy."
"I'll give initial trust and only go as far as registering where you are without images of what you are doing."
"The ones exempted are the seven original Clan members: Angel, Andrea, Cecile, Evelyn, Kali, Tatyana, and me. This permit won't be exclusive, so you can achieve it by building trust with us. For example…"
Yasenia pointed at Ghana and smiled. "Ghana will also enter the exempted category as she has repeatedly proved herself."
Ghana smiled widely and exclaimed. "Thank you for this honor, Matriarch!"
Yasenia nodded. Then she regained her serious and elegant expression. "We are giving an initial trust, and I hope not to regret it."
They all nodded with seriousness.
Yasenia then lifted one hand and spoke. "I, Yasenia Dravory, promise that as long as my Astral Sky Clan subordinates do not betray me or the Clan, I'll do my best to protect them from unfair treatment even if I have to go to War."
The harpies' hearts skipped a beat and became emotional. No matter the world, as long as there was a long history of existing dragons, it was well-known that a Dragon's promise was something to be trusted.
If a dragon used the words I promise, you better believe they would do whatever they were promising.
"Long live the Matriarch!"
The resounding shout of three hundred harpies echoed in the spacious hall.
Yasenia saw that everyone understood their assignment and smiled. "You are the first branch of our [Astral Sky Clan]. The first time we deployed a working model outside our hometown. Therefore, I hope everyone lives up to my expectations, and we eventually become a prolific and influential power."
Yasenia gave them one last glance and turned around to leave. Before passing through the door, she said. "The main office room is where I will be most of the time. If you have anything you don't understand, come there. The seven spy harpies should also come as soon as possible and speak about their… small escapade."
Once the door closed, the passive pressure Yasenia had released disappeared, and all the harpies felt their bodies losing strength.
Some even fell onto the ground.
One harpy said with a sultry tone. "My Heavens, the Matriarch is truly unmatched. My legs are wobbly."
Another harpy laughed. "Are they wobbly because of her aura or something else?"
A bold one lying on the ground with flushed cheeks commented. "I don't fear confessing that I almost control. She looks so beautiful when speaking to us with that domineering tone~. Ahn~, I want to be punished by the Matriarch! I want to be looked down on by those golden eyes and be spanked!"
Angel and the others turned their heads toward Evelyn, clear amusement dancing in their eyes.
Evelyn blinked and asked. "What's wrong?"
Andrea chuckled and commented. "She is your spirit animal. What a coincidence that she is in your tailoring group."
Kali chuckled and joked. "Is this a reunion set up by Fate? Only the heavens can be this far-seeing."
Evelyn was speechless. Then she said righteously. "Although I agree one hundred percent with them. I can ask for it, so don't put me in the same group!"
This time, it was their turn to be speechless. 'This pervert is without remedy.'
The harpies' conversation was getting a bit off track as their wild nature appeared.
"Although being spanked would be perfect, if the Matriarch fingers me, I think I would become a water dispenser."
"I agree. Those long and elegant fingers would reach just the spot, and if she is rough, oh my heavens, just imagining is enough to make me drool."
Cecile's patience ran thin, and she took a step forward, spreading her aura and making the temperature in the hall plummet. She had waited for some time before intervening because Tatyana told her not to restrain them too much, but she couldn't ignore some things!
"You are all new, and I understand your race's way of thinking is different than the norm. Hence, I won't scold you much."
Even if Cecile said so, her aura and freezing tone made all the harpies so silent that even a pin drop would be heard.
Cecile continued, looking at them coldly. "However, know that having impure intentions toward the Matriarch and expressing them before me is strictly prohibited. I have a narrow heart when it comes to these things, so I hope you can respect it."
The harpies nodded like pecking chickens.
Cecile continued. "Of course, if any of you is brave enough to try to seduce her… Well, I'll leave the consequences to your imagination."
Cecile's voice was like the cold winter wind, permeating their bones and giving them chills. 'Mommy, Senior Cecile is too scary.'
Ghana took a step forward and spoke calmly. "Don't worry, Lady Cecile. We'll be careful in the future. However, I hope that if the only thing is discussion, you'll be benevolent and not be too harsh. After all, the Matriarch is very attractive looking for our race."
Cecile looked coldly at Ghana, but she did not refute.
Ghana knew that although she did not verbally agree, there would be leniency if they didn't cross her bottom line.
Cecile turned around and commented. "Today will be free. You can all return to your houses outside the mansion and pick up your possessions. Unlike the previous manor, this house will be our permanent residency for a long while."
Our girls left the hall to meet with Yasenia, leaving behind the harpy group to discuss between them.