Currently, despite Magnus Valorion's benevolence towards the entire town, his reputation value still hasn't surpassed 2000, let alone reach the next stage requirement of 3000 reputation points set by the system. The phrase "a clever housewife can't cook without rice" aptly describes Magnus' current situation.
While pondering how to increase the town's population, Galen Veritas approached Magnus with a makeshift loudspeaker made of copper, and shouted to the crowd below:
"Dear townsfolk, under the leadership of Magnus Valorion, we have built this magnificent city wall and the miraculous Fountain Well. We no longer have to live in constant fear as we did before."
"From now on, we can work and produce in peace, raise our children, and look forward to a prosperous future. Now, let's welcome the greatest town leader of Green River Town, Magnus Valorion, to speak to us!"
As soon as Galen finished speaking, the crowd erupted into enthusiastic applause. Even those with missing limbs clapped their thighs vigorously to produce a clapping sound.
Magnus took the copper loudspeaker from Galen and first looked around at the townspeople gathered at the base of the city wall. The once pale and dispirited men and women had regained their vitality and health after more than six months of limitless rice porridge and pickles.
Now that the city wall was complete, many townsfolk had saved up a considerable amount of grain. Magnus naturally wouldn't continue distributing grain to them, as that would only create a town full of lazy people. Future production and a better life would ultimately depend on their own hard work, although there was little he could do if they encountered corrupt officials.
Magnus waved gently to the crowd, and the applause stopped immediately. Everyone looked up expectantly, waiting for Magnus to speak.
"Dear fellow townspeople, today we celebrate the completion of our city wall, but we must not become complacent."
"Currently, we face threats from the Altai Tribe to the north, the Tuareg and Celtic Tribes to the west, and the Sami Tribe to the east. Although our Nova Latium Imperium has 200,000 troops stationed at Ironclad Pass, our local defenses are severely lacking. We have only ten crossbows, less than thirty spears, and not even a complete set of armor."
"Therefore, I have decided to recruit soldiers and establish the Green River Town City Guard. Anyone who joins the City Guard will receive three meals of rice and pickles every day, and a monthly salary of 200 pounds of rice and 30 packs of pickles."
This announcement immediately revitalized the crowd. They knew that joining the City Guard meant eating three full meals a day, and that all three meals would be solid rice. Rice porridge, though tasty, was still mostly water and required several bowls to feel full, which digested quickly and led to frequent urination.
Solid rice, on the other hand, was not only fragrant and delicious but also filling. The most important part was that Magnus promised three meals a day, with a monthly salary as well.
Three meals a day was a luxury even the wealthiest families in Fierce Lion Province couldn't afford, as they usually had only two meals of coarse porridge a day. Hence, Magnus' announcement caused a surge of excitement, and people rushed to enlist.
However, Magnus implemented a strict selection process, requiring recruits to meet specific height, age, and strength criteria. He had two stone locks prepared, one weighing 150 pounds and the other around 70-80 pounds. Magnus couldn't lift either of them himself, but they were used to test the strength of the recruits.
To qualify for the City Guard, recruits had to lift the 150-pound stone lock over their heads and hold it for ten breaths. Those who couldn't lift the large stone lock but could lift the smaller one would join the specially formed reserve team, the Security Squad, which also received three meals a day but half the salary of the City Guard.
About 600 people, a third of the town's population, came to enlist. This represented almost all the male labor force in Green River Town. Magnus hadn't anticipated that the promise of 200 pounds of rice and 30 packs of pickles per month would attract so many recruits. This amount of rice and pickles would cost less than 500 bucks in his previous life.
What Magnus didn't realize was that even if they couldn't join the City Guard, people would still flock to enlist. Of the 600, fewer than one in ten could lift the large stone lock with one hand, including Noah and the town's only blacksmith, Mark Evans.
Mark Evans' enlistment in the City Guard didn't sit well with Magnus, who had Neil Thompson reject his enlistment. With the town already short on population and skilled workers, losing the only blacksmith would be a blow. Mark Evans was crucial for forging and preparing weapons, so his talents were better utilized outside the military.
Feeling wronged, Mark Evans dragged Neil Thompson to Magnus, complaining, "Sir, I clearly lifted the largest stone lock and held it for over ten breaths. But Neil won't let me join the City Guard."
Magnus, calmly sipping the tea handed by Galen Veritas, replied, "Not letting you join the City Guard was my decision."
Stunned, Mark Evans asked, "Sir, why won't you let me join the City Guard? Is it because I eat too much? If so, I'll eat less!"