Sitting in front of me is Jabez, reading the slavery contract. I remained seated on the sofa opposite him, while Amana stood next to me like a guard.
Currently, the three of us are inside Amana's office, where a lot of fond memories happen. When I say fond, I mean that bloody scene where I tortured Jabez to death, and the fact that I made Amana my personal slave. It's the only fond memories I have in this room, nothing else.
While I'm busy recalling my past memories in this room; Jabez, on the other hand, had his head lowered, staring at the contract paper on top of the small stable between us.
"I'm curious, why did you accept my terms?" I stated.
Jabez frowned, knitting his brows. "I don't mind working under yer command," he replied.
"I see…Is it because I told you that I'm not a noble?" I inquired.
His eyes continued to move from left to right, reading the contents of the contract. "Not really, and I don't exactly have a choice; it's better to become a slave than die."
"Is that so? I thought you were more of a prideful man," I commented with a blank face. "Pity that you didn't have such things, otherwise, Amana would have committed a crime today."
Amana and Jabez: "..."
Afterwards, the contract was sealed, and Jabez became an official member of my minions.
"Please take care of me from now on, Lady Nasrin," said Jabez, standing in front of me as he raised his hand for me to shake.
I nodded with a deadpan face, standing up from sitting as well. "It would be my greatest pleasure making you work to death, Jabez Iscariot," I stated as I clasped my hand with his.
Jabez, who stared at me speechlessly: "..."
Right after the formalities, I retracted my hand again as I gestured for Jabez to sit. "Anyway, we're not done yet; there is still a lot that needs to be known from you that you must answer truthfully with no deceptions or lies, otherwise, the lightning sword of the heavenly beings will strike upon you. Is that understood?"
Gulping hard, Jabez nodded hurriedly as he sat down again on the sofa opposite to me. "What is it, Lady?"
"First, you are to call me boss like Amana does," I stated, crossing my legs together as I sat down on the couch again.
"Understood, boss," Jabez replied understandably.
"Good," I mumbled. "As for my questions, I want to know how you came up with the plan of framing me, and as well as, the names of everyone who colluded with you in this plan."
Hanging his swollen mouth open, Jabez knitted his brows complicatedly. "Boss…what will ye do once I tell ye?"
"You are to answer when asked and not question me about it, Jabez," I replied.
Jabez sighed in resignation, frowning even more deeply. "I honestly don't plan on messing with you, boss. But I had to search for someone that I could put the blame on…"
"And that someone is, 'coincidentally,' me?" I asked with an expressionless face.
Jabez nodded slowly. "I feel bad for the starving children in the slums; they didn't have a proper shelter, food, or clothing; they had nothing," he said.
His face crumpled as if he just remembered something awful. "I remember myself being in their shoes when I was a child, so when General Amana made me guard her treasure box, I discreetly led one of the kids near it, letting her steal a pouch of gold," he explained.
"And what happened next?" I questioned.
Jabez sighs again, glaring at Amana. "I thought it would go unnoticed, but I underestimated this woman's greed for money, I didn't know that she placed another guard to observe silently in the dark," he remarked.
"Scum," Amana mocked arrogantly. "You think you're a hero?"
"At least I'm doing my best for the people, unlike you who are leeching off on the citizen's tax, building ugly golden statues of yourself," Jabez spat back, disdainful. "You're just a goddamn degenerate governor of this island, Amana. So if there is a scum in this room, that's you and not me."
"Heh, bastard, what you did only lit the fire of hope in those kids into committing countless crimes," Amana growled in anger, stepping forward. "If you were really feeling bad, you should have taught them how to work a decent job instead, idiot."
Jabez stood up as well, meeting Amana with a contorted face, glaring deadly with his beat-up face. "It's not a crime since those gold coins belong to the people in the first place, ye extortionist!"
"Silence both of you," I uttered in a calm voice. "Not a word."
The two glared at each other but didn't say anything. Probably afraid of being electrocuted.
"Sit down, Jabez," I said.
Clenching his jaw, Jabez still sat down reluctantly as he stared menacingly at Amana.
Amana smirks gloatingly.
"You too, Amana, sit down next to me," I stated.
Now it's Jabez turn to gloat, smirking at Amana. While Amana glared back at Jabez, sitting next to me with visible unwillingness.
"Jabez," I called. "This is my first task for you."
Jabez turned to me, gulping anxiously.
"I want you to bring those kids here to the mansion," I said.
Upon hearing my words, Jabez 'eyes widened in fear, but he still remained silent, waiting for me to continue.
Standing up, I went to the window, staring outside. The sky is bright, and from this distance, I could keenly hear the chaotic bustle of the city. "Find a suitable environment for them to live in here."
I heard two loud gasps behind me. One is shocked and puzzled, while the other is surprised but delighted.
"Use Amana's resources to give them food, clothing, medicine, and any necessary things that are vital for their survival. After completing these assignments, come to me again for the next task," I stated, turning around.
Jabez nodded at me with a solemn face. Yet, his mouth opens and closes like he wanted to say something but is afraid to say it.
"Speak, do you have any inquiries," I said blankly.
Jabez gulped nervously as he opened his mouth to speak. "Why are ye doin this, boss?"
"That's none of your concern. Your job is to act when I tell you to, Jabez," I answered calmly with a deadpan expression.
Jabez knitted his brows, obviously not liking my response, but he still nodded understandably.
"And as for the rebel army, I want to know what have you reported to them so far upon my arrival here on the first day," I inquired.
Sighing deeply, Jabez swallowed hard then he opened his mouth, explaining to me everything. It seems that Jabez hasn't reported yet that I was here with Alexandra, so it means that no one knew from the rebel army that I was here. After all, the only spy that was put here from the rebel army is Jabez Iscariot. After Jabez finished his report, I remained silent for a moment, contemplating on what to do.
"Do you have any other orders, boss?" Jabez asked, unwilling.
I nodded. "Yes, for now, you are to remain silent on what happened upon my arrival here, but you will, of course, continue to report to them for the other matters. Including the fact that Amana will turn to a new leaf from now on," I stated.
Both Jabez and Amana gasped again, staring at me with perplexity.
"In other words, all of my actions and orders here will all be covered up under Amana's governmental rule," I explained. "Is that understood?"
The two nodded simultaneously.
"Good, that's all for now," I said, waving my hand; like shooing away a stray dog. "Report to me once you're done."
Jabez stood up, lowering his head respectfully to me, then he went and left the room.
Afterwards, I turned to Amana, who stared at me with a confused face. "As for you, I want you to confide all your official paper works to me before signing them. And from now on, you aren't allowed to touch your money or the government's money. All of it will be used by me, do you understand?"
Amana frowned, furrowing her brows together, but she still nodded nonetheless.
"Next, I want to understand how you have governed this city," I said. "Speak and explain to me how you have been working on this island, Amana."
With a sigh, Amana then started telling me how she was dealing with everything here from the time of her disembarkment here and up until to the point where she met me.
Based on Amana's explanation, it seems that the Maharlika Island has been in corruption even before Amana's time of governance. All tax that was collected from here is being sent to the king. Anything that was left over was used by the officials here to spend for their own leisure.
Thus, the people of the Maharlika Island ended up suffering from severe poverty, and the island almost experienced a collapse in economy due to the financial crisis. So Amana resorted to shady dealings to support other miscellaneous things in the island, and the rest was also spent by her own cravings.
After listening to Amana's explanation; I stayed quiet for a while, sitting on the opposite couch from Amana.
"Is there anything you want to ask, boss?" Amana asked as she remained seated on the sofa in front of me.
I shook my head. "Shh, I'm thinking…"
Amana nodded, closing her mouth obediently.
Standing up, I went to the window again, staring at the guards, who are wandering lazily about in the mansion. At a glance, I could already tell the lack of discipline and motivation in those guard's manners and stature.
Their stomach's are a little bulging from the lack of exercise. It's obvious that they had been doing nothing in particular on this island.
I could change that. I know how to base on the knowledge I have from earth. I have basic knowledge on politics, economy, and business. The same goes for basic military exercises; I experienced it during high school; it was something mandatory to go through back then. During the last year of my high school, we were disciplined in conduct, manners, and morality.
Although they didn't teach us combat, strategy, or anything related to military politics itself. But they trained us to be upright and disciplined, and right now, this is what is needed in this island.
I could change things here, especially since I have Amana here with me.
But should I?
In all honesty, this is none of my business. However, since my transmigration, the world itself has been disturbing my peace. I have been thrown into chaos again and again.
All I ever wanted was to have quietness. To live a hermit life. Till now, I still do want that.
I want to go back to earth, then rest; away from my own family, so I won't deal with the fact that I have changed into someone they dislike; away from the loudness of the city, because I'm tired of people. I want to live with nature alone.
In order to do that, I need to return back to earth with Kendra, and my mission, according to Goddess Magwayen, is to help Kendra.
Is this it?
I don't know, but it won't hurt trying.
After all, the reason why I came back here is to set things right. For the sake of my conscience as well. What kind of a decent human being would I be if I ignore these things, right?
When my mind finally sorted things out in my head, I turned to Amana again, who seems to be waiting for me to speak.
"Give me all the financial statements," I said with a blank face. "I want all the information about every business activity on this island."