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Chapter 932: Heavily Compromised Baked Goods
🕑 Added 2024-08-09 23:00:06 +0000 UTCGarret Headingway was an upper-echelon member of House Headingway, one of Estercost’s pre-eminent families. He was taking breakfast when his butler arrived.
“Morning mail, my lord.”
“Anything interesting, James?”
“Something from Jason Asano.”
“Oh? He’s been locked up in his cloud palace for days, seeing no one. Do you think he’s finally come to his senses?”
“As the one who investigated him for you, sir, my guess would be no. More likely is that he’s about to do something drastic, as I warned you.”
“This is Cyrion, James, not the Geller’s little domain down south. There’s only so drastic he can be, here.”
“I would reiterate, my lord, that his record suggests that may not be the case. At the very least, I doubt he agrees with you.”
Garret finished buttering his savoury scone, then took an appreciative bite. He sat it down and wiped his hands on a napkin before picking up the letter James had set on the table.
To whom it may concern,
I am sending a number of these letters to the various interests who have been negotiating for the freedom of my fellow Earth expatriates over the last week. Although you are the catalyst for what is about to happen, please know that you are not the cause. Instead, I would like to thank you for reminding me of a promise I made to myself long ago, when I was a powerless young man in a world of vast magic.
Power is a dangerous and wonderous thing. When given the chance to do whatever we want, we show the world what we always wanted to do. Sometimes we lose our way, or forget the principles that guided us when we were powerless. Do we become tyrants, claiming everything for ourselves? Do we embrace the moral responsibility of using our power to improve the world around us?
Trying to make the world better is a very good way to make it worse, but to have the power and do nothing is an abdication of responsibility. Many years ago, I promised myself that, should I have the ability, I would try to wipe out the blot that is slavery, whatever terms its perpetrators couch it in. When you, the recipients of this letter, used such laws to keep people from returning to their homes, you reminded me of that old promise. Of other friends exploited. So now, at the risk of adding to the harm, I am attempting to make things better.
Let me be clear that this is not a negotiating position. There is no talking this down, making exemptions or trading the freedom of the people of Earth for amelioration. While that conflict is the instigation point for what is about to occur, these events are larger than a group of petty aristocrats. While you can be thanked for inspiring my actions, you are ultimately unimportant.
Regards,
Jason Asano.
Garret handed the letter to James, waiting while his butler read it over.
“It would seem that you were right, James. He doesn’t say what he’s going to do, but his ambitions are certainly grand enough. He’s going to attempt something drastic.”
“It would seem so, my lord.”
“Any idea what?”
“Given the scale his letter implies, my guess would be something either related to the gods or the System.”
“The System? Right, your report on him mentioned that he’s related to it in some way. Was that confirmed?”
“My sources inside the Adventure Society say yes.”
“Well, see if you can find out some more—”
-------
System Alert: Reduced Service Areas
[System Administrator] will shortly withdraw System access in regions of Pallimustus currently operating with slavery, indentured servitude or similar legal systems. No one within those regions will be able to access any System functions. Abilities that integrate with the System will have alternate functionality while inside those areas. Rituals that utilise the System will have diminished functionality or fail entirely.
[System Administrator] will soon be leaving Pallimustus for an indeterminate period. System access to individual regions will be reviewed on his return. This message will remain active for one full day. At the end of that period, the System will cease to be accessible from within the affected areas. For a full list, please see below.
-------
Garret skimmed the list.
“This is everywhere,” he muttered.
“If one dismisses remote, rural and low-magic areas, certainly.”
Garret took another bite of his scone while he considered the message.
“James, in your assessment of the man, do you think Asano can really do something on a scale that this letter implies? And if he can, will he, or is it a bluff?”
“My assessment would be that he does have the ability. If it is a bluff, it’s not one I would recommend calling.”
“He’s going to make a world of enemies with this.”
“I believe you will find, my lord, that powerful enemies are kind of his thing.”
Garret looked up from where he was rereading the message.
“That’s an odd turn of phrase, James. I don’t believe I’ve ever heard you use it.”
“To be honest, my lord, James is unconscious in the basement. How strong is your poison resistance, by the way? I have no idea how he put so much of it in those scones without them tasting funny.”
“What?” Garret asked, and suddenly realised that his vision was going blurry. “Who are you?”
“You know, it’s good to have Jason back,” Belinda told him. “Humphrey never lets me kidnap people.”
***
Jacinda Adeline was having a very bad day. Being director of the Adventure Society’s Cyrion branch was one of the most demanding and political appointments in the entire organisation. This was never more so than when something extreme happened, from the appearance of a diamond-rank monster to the coronation of a new monarch. Adventurers themselves were often as not the problem. Every time some diamond ranker showed up, looking to take off with half the city’s gold rankers on some personal project, Jacinda felt like she was getting a stomach ulcer. She wasn’t, because magic, but it felt like it.
While she had been aware of Team Biscuit’s arrival, and of the history around Jason Asano, it had been one more thing on her plate. She’d been monitoring his interactions with the Cyrion noble houses, more closely since he cut off dialogue without results, but it all fell under the heading of minor concerns. That changed drastically with the System announcing that it would no longer be available as of tomorrow morning.
Asano wasn’t mentioned by name, but the wide-ranging messages that took place in Boko made reference to the ‘System Administrator’ as well. People were already putting the pieces together, and the doors of Asano’s cloud palace had a bigger crowd than the door to Jacinta’s office suite. In the dozen or so hours since the message appeared, she’d been dealing with aristocrats, guilds, royalty, the Magic Society and even her own people.
There was a knock on the door, her assistant not waiting for a reply before opening it.
“She’s here, Boss.”
“Send her straight through.”
Jacinta stood up and headed to a painting on the wall that reached floor to ceiling, depicting some adventurers looking generically heroic. She tapped a specific point on the frame and the painting retracted into the wall before sliding aside to reveal a full bar. She didn’t know which of her predecessors had it installed, but on days like these, she sent them silent blessings.
Jacinta was pouring the second glass of amber liquid when Danielle Geller walked into the office, closing the door behind her. The women wordlessly moved to one of several couches in the spacious room and sat down, side by side. Jacinta handed over one of the glasses and they clinked them together before drinking. Danielle took a sip while Jacinta emptied her glass in one gulp.
“I thought you might be having that kind of day.”
“Dani, what in the dark gods’ armpit sweat is going on?” Jacinta exploded. “You told me that he hired you to stop him from doing things like this.”
“I did suggest a more measured approach. Strongly suggested.”
“He clearly didn’t listen.”
“No, he did.”
“You’re telling me that this is the more measured approach?”
“I am.”
“He kidnapped seven members of some of the most influential families in Estercost.”
“Allegedly.”
“A copy of the same letter from him was found in each location, along with heavily compromised baked goods.”
“That does sound like him,” Danielle conceded.
“And that letter sounds like a manifesto.”
“He’s not trying to force anyone into anything.”
“That’s exactly what he’s trying to do. And it won’t work.”
“He’s aware. That’s why I say he’s not trying to force anything. He is fully aware that whole nations are not going to bow to his whims. He is choosing to no longer share a capability under his control as he feels it would be an endorsement of practices he finds morally repugnant. In short, he’s not going to support any authority that tolerates slavery or slavery-like social structures.”
“Indenture isn’t slavery.”
“If you want to make that argument to Jason, I’d recommend beating your head against the wall instead. You won’t have to leave your office, and the wall might actually budge. Jason won’t, especially if Sophie Wexler is in the room.”
“The former indenture on Asano’s team.”
“And the only one who could actually get Jason to reverse his position, not that she will. She’s his biggest supporter in this.”
“I read the reports of her pre-adventuring history, but they were quite lean.”
“Yeah, I’ll bet they were,” Danielle muttered.
“You were involved?”
“No. It all went down while I was off on a major expedition where the Builder cult tore us to shreds. While that was going on, the corrupt Adventure Society director was cutting a deal with the even more corrupt Magic Society director. The plan was to sell Wexler to him, for reasons exactly as nasty as you’d imagine. Asano and Emir Bahadir managed to stop it, but I would advise against telling Wexler that indenture isn’t slavery.”
“She won’t be open to convincing Asano to not do this, then.”
“No. I’m just telling you this so you realise that your best shot is such a bad one that you shouldn’t bother.”
“He can’t be convinced to make an exemption for the Adventure Society?”
“I tried that tack. He said that if he makes one compromise, it will become a constant pressure to make more. He’s not wrong. For all that he hopes for change, Jace, he isn’t expecting anyone to make any concessions. He’s resolved to make no concessions in return.”
“Surely he understands that he can’t do this?”
“Do what, Jace? Take away something he gave everyone for nothing? The System was always his to give, and his to take away. All that’s changed is that now people realise it. They’re probably about to start worrying about how much of their information he can tap into.”
“He can just pull anything from the System out of the air?”
“I don’t know. He says he can’t, but I don’t know to what degree he really means won’t.”
“But he has the control to do what he’s threatening?”
“It’s not a threat, Jace. It’s happening.”
“How is that even possible?”
“As someone who’s known Jason for a long time, I can tell you that question comes up a lot. The answers range from the nonsensical to the non-existent, and you eventually realise that it’s better not to ask.”
“That is a spectacularly unhelpful answer. Dani, I have everyone from the Magic Society director to the Queen harassing me for answers. I need something better than ‘some guy turns out to have god-like power over the System, but I don’t know the details.’ They aren’t going to like that anymore than I do.”
“Tell them that Pallimustus has gotten by without the System for the entirety of its history. It’s going to keep getting along just fine without it.”
“That isn’t how people work, and you know it. If you give them something they like, only to take it away, they’re going to throw a tantrum. And people love the System, Dani. I love the System.”
“Then they have to decide if they like their slaves more. If withholding the System was going to cause people harm, he’d be more flexible, but it wasn’t something they knew they wanted until they had it. They don’t need it, so he has no compunction about taking it from them.”
“It’s not that simple, Dani, and you know it. Asano isn’t some god we can’t do anything about. He’s a person, and everyone knows where to find him.”
“If you believed that, Jace, you’d already have the society beating down his door. He’s not a god, but he moves in the same circles as one. The Cyrion nobles might not know what they’re dealing with, but you do. You’ve seen the reports.”
“Reports? I had the damn archbishops of Dominion and Liberty in here. Seeing those two agree on anything was downright creepy. What I’m looking for is some insight on how to handle this situation. How do we get Asano to not do this?”
“He’s been clear on that, Jace. I know that’s not going to happen, and so does he.”
“Then what’s the point of all this? What does he want?”
“The Cyrion nobles he’s been dealing with have been squeezing him because they think they can. I think that has triggered memories of his time on his own planet. That was a bad time for him, and I think he’s looking to work out some of that old anger here.”
“Isn’t he planning to go back there?”
“Yes, which I imagine is part of this. He knows that if he throws his power around there, he can do real damage.”
“He’s doing damage here!”
“No, Jace, he isn’t. He’s taking away people’s shiny new toys because he doesn’t like some of the things they’re doing. He wants to show, once and for all, that he’s not a tool for people to pick up and use. He’s challenging the world to try, so that everyone can see what happens.”
“What am I meant to do about that? People aren’t going to accept the loss of the System.”
“Make them. If you want to blindside Jason, prove him wrong. Tell him that the world won’t force him into anything, but it won’t be extorted either. It will live without the System, but he doesn’t get to tell nations what their laws should be.”
“And if he decides to push his agenda harder?”
“He won’t. His friends will stop him, if nothing else.”
“Couldn’t you have stopped him earlier?”
“Probably. But sometimes extreme results require extreme actions. Jason has proven that time and again, and we aren’t opposed to his principles in this.”
“You’re sitting there and telling me that extremism is a good thing?”
Danielle drained what was left of her glass.
“I don’t know, Jace. I can’t fight gods. I can’t destroy cities and conjure new ones out of thin air. I can’t put a stop to laws that most of the world thinks are normal and natural.”
Jacinta rubbed her temples against an encroaching headache.
“I’m not going to get any more from you than that, am I? You’re saying to tell him that he can’t have want he wants, but we won’t try and take what we want.”
“Like many things with Jason, all you can do is limp away from the mess.”
“And the nobles he took?”
“Allegedly.”
“Don’t be disingenuous, Dani. Their families are going to go after Asano for that, evidence or not. His team, too, including your boy.”
“Oh, I think they’ll find there’s someone else they need to deal with first.”
“Dani, what did Asano do?”
***
Garret Headingway awoke to a throbbing pain in his everything. His senses slowly fought their way through a fog, coming into focus one by one. He could taste the air, too hot and dry for home. He smelled sand and dirt, felt bare earth beneath him. His silver-rank hearing picked out the sounds of people, muffled by thick walls. There was a mix of languages, only a few he recognised. He was somewhere in the desert regions, well east of Estercost.
He opened his eyes on a dim room, light passing through a small, slatted window. It was an empty room, or maybe a shed, with adobe walls. He was one of seven people in the room, most of whom were still unconscious. The one person already awake was leaning against the wall, looking disgruntled. Garret recognised him, Patterson Kennington. Looking around, he realised they were all Cyrion noblemen. From houses who had been in negotiation with—
“Jason Asano,” Patterson said bitterly. “He put us here.”
“You saw him?” Garret asked.
Patterson shook his head.
“Did you get a letter?” he asked.
“Yeah,” Garret said. His groggy brain finally noticed a thick collar around Patterson’s neck, made of dark, crude metal. He reached up and felt an identical one around his own neck.
“Don’t bother with magic or aura senses,” Patterson told him. “It’s a suppression collar. A specific kind of one, if my guess about where we are is right. The walls are reinforced, too, so don’t bother trying that either.”
Garret glanced at the wall beside Patterson. The mud bricks should have parted like paper to Patterson’s silver-rank strength, but several shallow fist marks were all it had managed.
“Where do you think we are?” Garret asked. “Eastern desert?”
“Obviously,” Patterson sneered. “Ever hear of a little dirtball country called Sadi Andali?”
“No.”
“Well, it’s famous for being almost lawless. The Adventure Society doesn’t even have a branch here. They just send people in from time to time, sweeping for illegal research and restricted essences. They find plenty of both.”
“What are we doing here?”
“Remember when I said almost lawless? The one set of laws they do have governs the slave markets.”
Comments
Sabroso JFD!
I absolutely love Belinda. She's the best
Willem
Expanding further, it undermines his position as well. Now all anyone has to to do is say "if slavery is so abhorrent, then why did you enslave your political opponents when it became convenient". It means he cannot really argue from a position of morality.
Willem
It is highly hypocritical to say slavery is wrong and then put your opponents into slavery. I have no problem with retracting the system but Jason shows himself as dangerously close to being arbitrary in his decision making with the kidnapping and enslavement.
Jeff
Love it when Belinda does a little crime here and there
matthew gilley
YES! Eye for an eye, freedom for freedom.
BJ
He's being wise amd chaotic, which is the best of both worlds. Lol
Goatgirl
I don't think he's making them slaves. I think he's telling some slaves what they are and letting them handle it. Could be wrong, but I don't think Jason would do exactly what he's trying to stop.
ItWasIDIO!!
Idk thats a little strong of a reaction with the making them into slaves
JDPEI97
I love Belinda getting to kidnap someone again. She is the unsung hero of the group
Naotsugu97
❤️
Jennifer OGara
Yesss, respect for what he’s trying to do but there’s no fun in wise Jason, so excited for a taste of chaos jason!
joe schmoe
I'm not sure anyone can make him budge on this one, he has all the cards. Threaten him with death? He'll be back in a few years. Threaten the people he cares about? Then you'll never get the system back. Not to mention the nobles that are probably indentured under the mirror kingdom prince or someone like that.
Henrik Nørgaard
The line "Oh, I think they'll find there's someone else they need to deal with first." Is kinda telling that Dominion might have a personal look at those families.
Jachin Nelson
Buy the nobles, and exchange them for the earthers
Kconraw
I think that Jason or someone related to him is going to buy the nobles for bargaining chips, since who fully expects these countries to not change. Thx for the chapter
ShieldWolf
I've read book reviews on this series from earlier books saying that the fight in the reapers astral space/builders dimensional vessel what pointless but it is arguably the most important part of the whole series. I can't wait to see Jason using the scythe. Maybe even converting it into his own power so he can blow up (another) city
Thomas Cops
Heh Belinda . Poor woman . Hump is such a fuddy duddy.
StarkRG
Eat the rich! (assuming they're at or a lower rank than you)
StarkRG
Probably petitioning the Rexion government to let them into Rexion proper (he met them in Outer Rexion). It'll be interesting to see what happens when someone that venerates Jason enters his spirit domain. Will he start getting a trickle of Authority?
Fuzzy Wuzzy
Yes, just yes. Let them get a taste of it for a year or two, come back and rescue them. Bet they change their minds then
Jake Thorpe
What ever happened to those ex priests who want to worship jason at Rexion Jason just kinda ran away from them
Austin Long
HMMM NEVER BEEN THIS close to the top of any comments bofore. i sure love this series. i dont know if i can handle canceling my patron membership. as my good friend sponge bob said, IIIIIIII NEEEEEEEEEEEED ITTTTTT.
Morgan Robertson
Is the Adventure Society’s director named “Jacinda” or “Jacinta?”
DDHG
Everyone on team Jason Pallimustus "Jason you are a kind person, but your stick isn't big enough to invoke change. Wait till you are gold, and then diamond." Everyone against Jason "Tch he is only silver/gold. Who cares what he wants, *I* am better because I am a noble with money and a big stick. Wack Jason's butts!" Jason with the big stick" you know what? I have the big stick now. An I will proceed to smack everyone pee pee and eat this sandwich. And fix slavery". TLDR of the situation. This also applies that Jason probably will do this on every world he visits that has corruption on this level in the future.
ByLAWphoto
I honestly think I would've snapped long before. I might even have told Colin he could eat those silver rank nobles.
ByLAWphoto
I don't think it was "poison". Remember that alcohol gets you drunk based on your poison resistance. I suspect it was a knock out drug of some kind.
Havics Child
With both dominion and liberty on the side of abolishing slavery, both very powerful gods, it's possible that something akin to holy crusades may occur. This is also coming in the middle of a war against messengers, this Will weaken cohesiveness in the defense of their planet.
Havics Child
Dear shirt, if your reading this, read the last reply i left to this first :) After reading this, I had to reread, then reread the last 3 chapters. This is going to have consequences raining down from a very great hight. I'm not saying on Jason, he won't care, I'm saying on everyone who has any say in government. And by "A very great height" I mean every diamond ranker in the the world is going to be inserting themselves into the conversation. The mirror kingdom and rimaross will be the first to change their laws. Many just won't,at least initially, and in a couple silver rank generations, those countries will have either capitulated or suffered a very large number of people leaving for greener pastures, all but the most powerful may be overthrown or cease to exist. Dani said that this won't put people's lives at risk, but civil wars will break out in a matter of months to years. In a matter of a couple decades, the maps will have different borders and names.
Justin
I’m surprised Jason poisoned food
Valmorian
great chapter i love it. stick it to them jason.
Addie
We must be getting close to the Reaper Scythe showing back up again. Trading it away got Jason a fundamental part of his existence, so it has to matter down the line.
SmokeJam
That was lovely. Especially the end.
Critical Meyhem
Pallimustus Aristo:s "Give us back your toys you shared with us they are Ours!" Jason: Smiles and takes another bite of tasty tasty sandwich goodness.
Sean Conway
I was thinking he was going to go a different way, renaming people in the system, house name changed to 'immoral weasel' so every time they meet someone, that person sees that instead of their real name from the system. He can also publically call people out. "City message: house paterson has been found to be immoral, put themselves above the city, and cheats people in deals. " bam instant change in social standing and social power.
Kaelan Spears
I do hope he takes the indentured expats anyway, rather than leaving them behind. It's not like the nobles can do anything about it in their current situation
Kelly
I felt like a badass when Kelly from the purity whackos were being chased around by Team Biscuit. 😂
pizzadelivery gaming
Feel like this was one of my favorite chapters of the series tftc
Dalth
“You’re saying to tell him that he can’t have want he wants, but we won’t try and take what we want.” Truly the only way to blindside Jason. I imagine that the number of times he has been kidnapped, bribed, beaten, etc. or hung upside down and shaken for goodies as Jason puts it, has well and truly ingrained certain expectations in Jason that people will keep trying to take his stuff, no matter how powerful he is.
mainiak
nope, it's the city wide rule so na favors for friends organisation. Also not sure if there is branch office, and they are too down in food chain to be even known by Clive himself. As others mentioned in other threads - Dominion: "no half measures" ... and if you start giving in for one thing, it leaves possible room for more (circle back to Dominions statement)
Cryfdwr
So, will the MRA have access to the system where ever they’re located? And what does Clive think about this? I’m guessing he doesn’t care so much as long as he has access
Richard Davis ll
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHA this is why I love this fucking story , when Jason Asano says he’s not going to support slavery in anyway shape or form he fucking means it. This is the energy we need in real life
StarkRG
I'm sure they'd throw a stink about a small number of Diamond rankers doing it too. They'd probably try to get the remaining Diamonds to oppose them, though I don't think that would go any better than trying to convince them to oppose Jason. The biggest issue, though, is that Diamonds would find it hard to do what Jason is. They'd have to force their will through overwhelming power, the only thing they could withhold would be protection against diamond rank threats, and they're not going to do that. Jason has something everyone wants but that nobody actually needs. They're throwing a stink because Jason isn't forcing them to do anything, just withholding something they've come to feel entitled to.
Anthony
I 2nd this question!
Roope
Palimastus basically has their gold and diamond ranks pull on their rank to get what they want, when someone triew to do that globally with a power they gave out, it is not okay? Such a double standard
Damian Karis
Totally agree, which is I’m hoping there’s more to this plan than just selling some nobles into slavery. While Jason totally is a hypocrite at times and acknowledges himself as one, I feel like it’d be out of character for him to actually stoop to their level in regards to slavery. Personally, I’ve never liked the tropes of “fitting punishments,” like a rapist getting sent to prison and getting raped themselves. IMO if you think something is evil (rape, slavery, etc.), that means being against it in all its forms, there’s no special exception for people who “deserve” it.
Jace B
Brilliant 😂
Noonert891
I fucking died with every “allegedly”
Historia Jinn
I don't think any diamond ranker would wanna offend the people Jason knows
Twilight Knights Cosplay
The Adventure Society warned Jason that when he does something out of bounds it won't be the Adventure Society knocking on his door it will be Diamond rankers. So I am wondering if they will act, and what those actions will be; positive or negative. There are other moving parts of course, that everyone else has mentioned. I just didn't see anyone mention that little tidbit, so I wanted to poke the bear.
KollegvomMirgan
Thanks for this great chapter!
Mr IHHI
…. Not sure about the ending of this one. Enslaving a slaver is not justice, it’s just a further endorsement of slavery. It’s essentially the trope of where the evil villainess gets raped after her fall from position by her past victims. It’s not fair a fair redress, it’s just an attempt to justify sexual assault as a legitimate means of punishment. If Jason honestly feels slavery is bad and had two brain sells worth of introspective power then the idea of making more slaves out of petty spite would be abhorrent. To put it bluntly, the end does not fit the character
Andromeda Adams
Tyftc What a great idea! Loved this chapter and the ending was perfect 🤩!
Kaelan Spears
I gotta know, Shirt, when Jason made that promise so many books ago, did you know this is what was going to happen, all the way back then?
Luis Herrera Moreno
fugging great job on the chappie shirt!!! god i haven’t laughed that hard in a while, the countries will capitulate its just a matter of when not if
ThoMiCroN
When the Asano cultists will learn of this godly demonstration of power, they will go apeshit. Like, they will form a church of the System. « He died in Greenstone for our sins. »
Isaac Scharff
Called it
mainiak
I bet a cookie that the nobles soon to be "sold" have Shade in their shade. (Can't have them die) Or he's going to auction (hypothesis) bad nobles to angry crowd of victims? (If they could get safely to lawless territory though) Or them being loaned to Dominion for a while is fun too.
Kalanaere
Having Dominion and Liberty at his back is a huge bonus to Jason. Even the Adventure Society lady found it unnerving to have the Archbishop of Dominion and Liberty agreeing
Kalanaere
She brags about how awesome Jason is while bashing on Hump all in one sentence. It's grand
JonO
Jason has domains. He is a gestalt being. The domains themselves are not gestalt
StarkRG
Soul-deep vampirism would require someone with the ability to modify a soul (not to mention permission). Anyone we know have that?
StarkRG
No, it's just that we've haven't seen him combine his cooking abilities with his flesh-melting abilities until now.
Benjamin Grant
I CANT BELIEVE JASON WOULD DO SUCH A THING TO BAKED GOODS ITS SO OUT OF CHARACTER ITS ALMOST SHOCKING
Addie
Will that's three jokes in the room already
Addie
My name is Adeline and my friends name is Jacinta and this chapter felt weird
Jake
I love that all of the nobles' escalation options are cooked as well. Kill his avatar? Potentially awaken a giant phoenix that can wipe out a city, or just get 25 more years without the system reinstating. Ask him "you and whose army?" Get 3 million free messengers instantly hopping out of a portal in the sky.
Maria Klein
Ha. Ha ha ha
Tucker Glick
Belinda saying that Jason being back is good because she can kidnap people is hilarious
Alejandro Piña
I want to make a bet that vampire Thadwick will be stalking Jason right until he’s about to leave and hitch a ride to earth, Jason will discover him (because… his soul) and that will be it for him, until Carlos figures out a way to dispel vampirism
Liesmith
Belinda: "Hey, does this smell like chloroform?"
Ligeia
Where did you get the meaning of Pallimustus?
John Durrett
I love Belinda and Sophie having Jason’s back. I’m betting they are reveling in this endeavor. Too soon to say the nobles will be actually made slaves. Only that it gives them a safe base of operations to hold them
Altin
A taste of their own medicine.
batchickcr8zy
Great chapter! Soo many thoughts! Jason is very against slavery, and he seems to try to not be hypocritical. I’m thinking he’s letting them cook in their own worries about being sold into slavery (the mind will do enough imagining without them having to actually be slaves), but they’ll be traded for the expatriate earthlings. Also, the diamond rankers probably also love the system and will pressure the countries affected to change the laws so that they can get the system back. I think that was part of the message conveyed to the storm king and saromer.. diamond rankers will pressure those in charge of laws. Also, Jason’s giving them time to either change their laws (at least start the process) or accept that they’ll have to do without it. Remember dominion and liberty agree on the plan. Liberty wouldn’t approve of enslaving anyone.
StarkRG
Liberty likes it because it's freeing people from slavery. Dominion likes it because Jason is using his power to exert his will onto others. It's a match made in hypocrisy.
batchickcr8zy
I love this idea
Justin
Great Chapter! TYFTC!
Owen Kaz
That ending is crazyyyyy
Mike Zebill
I am assuming the person that the royal families will need to deal with first is whomever buys the new slaves that just came in the market.
Tom C
““Obviously,” Patterson sneered. “Ever hear of a little dirtball country called Sadi Andali?”” -> I like that they refer to the country as a dirtball country, when their planet is a dirtball planet if I am remembering the meaning of pallimustus correctly 😂 TFTC :)
Kain Daniels
I love how unnatural everyone thinks it is for Liberty and Dominion to both agree to Jason’s plans.
Adrian Cheung
Beginning of a joke: The Archbishops of Dominion and Liberty were having a chat with the Head of the Adventure Society and....
Adrian
Jason has shown zero regard for any powers-that-be, up to and including GABs, who pit themselves against him. Pretty sure he wouldn't care if Dawn's parents' small intergalactic empire hated him en masse. Palimustus is filled with mortals. They matter. But their grudges do not.
Joanna
“No promises”
Joanna
Oddly, I don’t recall the verse in the Old Testament where the lord says I’m taking away your phone until you stop beating up your brother. 😉
Michael Deleon
Absolutely amazing.
Stephanie Washburn
I think the secret is that they actually can just use their power to steal them back and damn the rules.
DirePants
Yesss! 😂😂😂 slavery is fine until you’re the victim. lol love the exasperation they have trying to out play Jason
Malcolm
This chapter was fucking PEAK!!!!
Sean C Jackson
Even if it such things work for a time Jason will just patch out the exploit.
Paperback Hail6
I guess we finally get the saying karma is a bitch. Or better yet a taste of your own medicine. I'm sure Jason has a shade for each that will step in before they die atleast. Or probably when they realize the error of their ways
Yaldabaoth
Ba-ba-ba-bah-baaah! I'm loving it! ❤️ LesssGOOOOOO!?
Other Tan
It was Belinda that did it not Jason. Maybe Belinda has learned to bake now too.
David Taylor-Fuller
Dominion approves of this message
Hornbach
You can't portal unconcious people unless you force you way into their Soul first
Kevari
Love the chapter, love the approach. Just love
Zack
Most people don't have Jason's communication feature by default, so even if they had the system it wouldn't help them with this.
Logen Felxon
I mean, this Alleged plot in this Alleged chapter was allegedly pretty fantastic. Hope you're doing good mr. Shirtaloon, thanks for the chappie m8.
AbyssalIceLord
I dont believe they will be sold into slavery...maybe scare the shit outta them and make them think they will be...but i think they will be used for a straight up trade for the Earthlings....after the good ole "make em shit their pants" show. Lol
Enzer
This plan is kind of genius. A few people I think are hitting on what the end goal is. Jason has been dealing with aristocratic families hiding behind slavery laws and societies that have normalized indentured servitude/slavery. He's very publicly taken away the System, as is his right, telling the world that they don't have to fix their laws, however he does not want the System to be used by regions that support any form of slavery. The vast majority of people appear to really love the System, so people are going to be incredibly angry. Most of this anger is going to be directed at Jason or at least redirected at Jason and by the people in charge. The aristocratic population is not going to want to bow down to Jason and change their laws to get the System back. it's easier just to redirect the normal population's ire at Jason. However Jason has (allegedly) kidnapped nobles (scions?) from seven major noble houses from the largest city on the planet. Said kidnap nobles have now found themselves and the worst slaver country in the world. This will cause a major situation as the nobles can't just take their family members back. They've been legally sold as slaves as per that country's laws. They can't just break the law and take their family members back, after all they've been feeding Jason this line this entire time that he can't have the Earthlings as they are the nobles indentured servants under law. So the nobles are going to have to do one of two things, either ignore the law and take their family members back and prove themselves to be major hypocrites and potentially start a war, or they're going to have to move a bunch of political capital in order to either have the laws down their changed or something along those lines. My bet is that Jason is hoping that the common people will see these aristocratic families bending over backwards for their own family members, while ignoring the slavery laws in their own country - the same laws which are the reason why they no longer have access to the System. And these millions of people are going to wonder why the aristocratic families can move all that political capital for the sake of seven people, but they can't change their own laws for the sake of millions of citizens so that they can gain access back to the System as I got a feeling that the average joe doesn't own an indentured servant or whatever. This is going to swing a lot of the ire and pressure on Jason back towards the aristocrats and if the largest city in the world gives up on its slavery laws then it's more likely that there's going to be a domino effect and the smaller nations will follow suit as their citizens start getting irate with the power that be. Or something along those lines.
james foster
Do the nobles have access to the system while suppressed? if so, they can still contact their families. If not, oh well, so sad.
ThoMiCroN
Check this, there will be attempts to create a System VPN. They will invent rituals to trick the system into thinking you have your feet in a country that kept it.
mhaj58
Hypocrisy only works when I do it, said by every main character ever
StarkRG
In addition to his physical spirit domains (Gestalt domains?) Jason's *proper* domain is the System. Other people have cities. Other people have spirit domains (mostly gods, as far as we've seen). Other people are universes where they have complete and total control. Only Jason controls the System, though. That's his and only his. Dominion must be absolutely ecstatic to see Jason flex his new power.
Victor Mijares
At first I thought they were in Jason's soul. But if they were. He would have no need for the collars
Landsraad
Allegedly
Ligeia
This is a simply FANTASTIC chapter! Great job, Shirt!
Daniel Wills
We might be forgetting that Jason is in Estercost to pick up the outworlders who want to go back to Earth. Shutting off the system doesn’t accomplish that, not in the short term. But trading seven nobles for all the indentures? That gets him the outworlders and he moves on. He doesn’t care if Estercost is angry with him because his next stop is the Storm Kingdom and Soromir. And then Earth.
Daniel Wills
Shirt mentioned a rivalry of sorts between Estercost and the Storm Kingdom. It’s a good bet Soromir made his country slavery free as soon as the message went out, and will have no “System Outage.” Which will heavily pressure neighboring countries.
Brandon Walker
I like this theory, but I suspect they will need support, and in order for that, they will need to admit it's slavery and wrong
LolGamez
Lmfaoo
Brandon Walker
I suspect it's because he knows their families will raise support to rescue them, only way they will be able to swing that, is admitting it's slavery, and that slavery is wrong
ThoMiCroN
After a few years of no System, people will migrate to countries that don’t practice slavery, which will make them boom in relation to countries that would keep it. It will set a new standard, that the neighbours will have to eventually emulate.
Brandon Walker
No one said they support this part of his plan, also, they could be just getting pressed into dominions service
Leander
Jason is going Old Testament on their asses.
Preston Stokes
Bag em and tag em. Bye Felicia
StarkRG
That's my thinking as well. Perhaps they'll just be forced to get by on their own with un-removable suppression collars until Jason gets back.
Daniel Wills
Doubt it. Danielle’s whole argument is that the world won’t bend and neither will Jason. Liberty and Dominion are both on board with what he’s doing (this part with the nobles is likely included). Trade seven nobles for all the indentured earthers. Liberty is probably “okay” with it because everyone goes free at the end. That slave market may or may not get wiped out in the process.
#savegarytheleonid
the writing is so good! chef's kiss for the dialogue with belinda/butler and the little phrase drops like heavily compromised baked goods, which btw would make a great AOL instant messenger screen name
Kasper Lynderup Jensen
It could be that it is completely opposite of what everyone is thinking. A place that don't want to restrict anything could also be a place that violently appreciates personal freedom and wants to punish anyone that tries to take that. Just because they are wearing suppression collars and is locked in a room, doesn't mean they are going to be sold. It could just be they are waiting to punished.
Chris Furry
I think we are being played by Shirt. There is no way Liberty would go along with selling the nobles into slavery, she wasn't super happy about Jason keeping freed messengers in his astral kingdom as prisoners, and they are actively attacking her world. There is nothing in her domain that would allow for a compromise to her very authority (in the context of the authority gods and GABs wield), it is anathema to her very existence.
Chad .
....teaching a lesson.
Reno
Well, he picked more than one noble to make it more likely that they'll be freed. And ultimately, the fact that slavery laws exist isn't his doing. Had he taken them as slaves for himself, it would have been different. But he just moved a few citizens from one caste into another. Nothing wrong with that because the people he enslaved just said it wasn't slavery.
brian phillips
Biscuits!
Ghost
I'm all for eye for an eye, but I do think enslaving them undermines his moral superiority a tad 🤏
Samuel Strode
Oh uh the baked goods yeah you know jurors writing well what was supposed to be a knock out potion well it made them see things I think they wondered off
Brad Gammey
As the internet kids say, KEKW
AfroMocha
He's going to have so much control over the system when it gets to Earth and then he's going to be able to send anyone a message he may be able to view or video call anyone and overwrite them not answering although he's very respectful of privacy
Samuel Strode
Oh I love it the slave market
AfroMocha
I can't believe he did that hahahahaha
Cordell Patrick
We don't actually know what all the upgrades Shade got from hiss binding to Jason. If his storage is suddenly linked to Jason's just off to the side but both residing in his astral realm. It's possible that's exactly what happened.
Daniel is ŁØNE
No he is not, Selling them into slavery assumes a transaction for money that Jason doesn't need. He just happened to conveniently forget them in the most slavery endorsed city in the world in a position where they might just find themselves as indentured servants. But since indentured servitude is clearly a fair system by their standards they should have no issue toughing it out till they are found by either their families or Jason remembers where he lost them.
wanderer26
Omg!! This is great!! A taste of your own medicine!!! Thank you for the chapter. Still amazed how you cam write them as fast as you could and still get an awesome story!
Zero
On one hand I love that how both the priests of Dominion and Liberty were working together. On the other hand it feels a little weird to put the nobles into a slavery operation. It is karma and I’m sure the team has an eye on them so they get a heavily curated experience but idk it feels off a little. But then again these people have never had to deal with the consequences. Hmm overall my opinion is I like this arc for actually tackling the slavery issue and taking an approach to it. Thanks for the chapter.
Monty
Is he going to make them slaves?
Daniel is ŁØNE
Funny thing you can't really say they were sold into slavery, that assumes a transaction but Jason needs nothing from slavers and he has borderline infinite money. He just happened to conveniently forgot that he left them completely vulnerable in the most slavery endorsed city in the entire world, a bit of an oppsie but such things happen and after all indentured servitude to those who don't treat your life with value is clearly not slavery (in their definition) so they can tough out this totally fair system of their own creation until they are found by their families or Jason decides to remember where he forgot them.
Stephanie Washburn
Re: kidnapping and enslaving some entitled titled enslavers.
Jordan Rogers
I bet the diamond tankers give the royals of the nations a talking to in the end saying they will pull their support to cause they like the system…
Zane Hammrich
My guess is Belinda and Sophie part of the plan was to drop them into slavery. (Jason ask Belinda where are the guys i sent you for?) (Belinda I lost them or they sank maybe both.)
Stephanie Washburn
Yikes. That's awful.
Jordan Rogers
I think this little episode arch is really gonna help Jason with his decision between ruling and being the god of his world, seeing the true things that need done and having the will to do them, will help when he has to take the harder measures.
Monty
Thank you for the chapter
christian montgomery
Probably Belinda who is the most likely to have actual experience with Sadi Andali and having been the one to actually kidnap all of them, then selling them into the slave trade in Sadi Andali. I imagine the way they treat their slaves (or, I guess to be completely accurate, “indentured servants”) is a lot better than the way Sadi Andali treats their slaves, with what sounds like the only law there being the actual slave trade lol
Jake Mardis
So we’re all thinking that Jason gave the nobles over to Dominion and Liberty to teach the world just how wrong slavery is right? In doing so it forces the noble houses to go in and clean up one of the worst slave trades on the planet to get their people back and shows them the error of their ways at the same time
ABTelford
I see people saying that these noble houses will just attack this near lawless country to free their people…but that could start a war. I think it more likely that these noble houses will have to negotiate for the freedom of their people - just like Jason has been trying to negotiate for the freedom of his people. 😁 poetic justice
Themo Grulld
That is one insidious punishment
ABTelford
That’s one possibility…except it might lead to war. What will likely happen is these noble houses will have to negotiate for the freedom of their people - just like Jason has been trying to negotiate for the freedom of his people. 😁 poetic justice!
Lora Greenberg
Oh Damn...laughing my ass off
Tim G
Loved this chapter!!! I hate now we have to wait until next week to see how it all plays out! I wonder if the diamond tankers in those areas he is taking the system from will help guide the city’s to his side or maybe stand against him. So many questions! I know his ancestry majesty will back Jason! He loved Jason!
Mariana Toledo
OMG that was soooooo satisfying! I was really hoping he'd do something like this!
Gb
I really don't see it that way. I see it as turning an enemy into an ally through hard example. Those families are powerful enough to go get them. Probably pretty quickly. They are petty enough to burn that lawless place to the ground for not returning their family members immediately. This is a extreme deployment of politics. Which again those families were playing with him.
Abigail Hale
Such satisfying comeuppance! I'm a bit on the fence about Jason making use of slavery, but curious to see how it plays out. Also curious if the person Danielle referred to at the end of her meeting is Dominion or someone else 🤔 Such a great chapter !
TimeDrawsNigh
Monday was Fuck Around. Today they Found Out.
ABTelford
Yes! Well said! 😎
ABTelford
This is the most advanced release as it gets.
JonO
Oh please once they all awaken they'll begin their campaign off complaints and drastic action that will amount to nothing. They'll quickly succumb
Daniel Wills
Evil Clive is pretty fantastic.
Scott McCarthy
I do not think you want today's biscuits...
ABTelford
Oh my gosh, I LOVE THIS CHAPTER!!!!!!!!!! ❤️❤️❤️
Christian cody
He really is a "taste of your own medicine" kind of guy isn't he
deadly chibi
Unholy fuck, somebody is not playing around...
JoeyRed
When I read the beginning of the chapter, I also listened to book 11... "Jason, don't conquer the cosmos "- Farah... Very appropriate..
JonO
If you don't mind, please define sanderlanche. If only to stroke your own ego and because I'm not going to Google it. Lol
AA
How does one get advanced advanced chapters? Need to see global reactions damn it
Unwillingmainer
God damn. Turned off the System and sent some high ranked nobles on a slavery adventure. Going to get those same noble families to burn a large slaving operation to the ground. It's real easy to not be against slavery when it hasn't hurt you particularly. And honestly? This is a measured response from Jason. He could have done much, much worse. Even more with his team behind him. He is really getting ready to act on the same scale and untouchableness as a god. Earth is in for a treat when he shows up.
JonO
I think this is my favorite chapter ever... at least top three.
kaylam wilson
I know his powers don’t work this way but during the kidnappings I just imagine shade sighing and stuffing unconscious bodies in their own shadow!
Johnathon Stout
Love the pettiness. They won't be slaves for long I'm sure....
Damian Karis
Personally I hope there’s more to Jason’s plan than just selling these nobles into slavery. He’s made it clear that he’s opposed to all slavery in all its forms, so it would be pretty hypocritical, and would send the message that Jason is ok with slavery as long as HE gets to be the one to decide who’s enslaved. Sure, there’s some poetic justice here, but indentured servitude is already used on criminals in Pallimustus, and this would just be an extension of that.
Julia
right! boris makes a really fun and on the nose comment about the house elves in harry potter in book 11 as well. it’s refreshing
Jordan Rogers
So Jason is selling the aristocrats into slavery….
Danielle Warvel
Turnabout is just fair play. Jason has my support in this endeavor. 100%
Mist Sparrow
Might just be a taste that they get pulled out of
Brandon Walker
Rofl, he sold them into slavery, that's amazing, they deserve it and I am so proud of him, I suspect that might not actually be what happened, but I hope it is, very deeply
Gotrek65
Wow Jason giving all the nobles a taste of their own medicine I love it!
Allen Wilding
Nobility sent into slavery to prove slavery is wrong? Not sure I agree with that move. The world wide system outage was good tho
Pauli Wilhelmsen
A dozen half-satisfying chapters and then an EXTRA satisfying chapter. Is Shirt learning how to sanderlanche?
PapaJohn
Karma is a bitch
JonO
I think dominion and liberty are involved. I personally think they've just been inducted into dominions service
liv
I can say wholeheartedly that one of my greatest pet peeves in fiction is with main characters ignoring or endorsing slavery. Slavery is no shit one of the most vile, inhuman and terrible things in existence. And the oh it's law and legal and it's fine and oh that's just how the world works argument always pisses me off. It is one of the fastest way to turn me off a book series that exist. So seeing you treated with the proper degree that it deserves is honestly a breath of fresh air. Really enjoyed the chapter and looking forward to the next.
Adelphos Praeses
Might makes right and damn does it feel right
Julia
actually obsessed with this, i love jason drawing such a hard line when it comes to slavery! it’s a fucking abomination. also super curious about who exactly danielle was talking about!
Numbzy
What a metal fucking chapter. That was amazing.
JonO
Or, if I remember correctly.... there is no service in dominions temple, only obedience.
Buck
Poetic Justice!
Jackjargon
How very appropriate response of him! Delicious
Daylan Ethridge
Stooping to putting then in thr slave markets is a bit of a turn but we'll see how it plays out. If Jason actually just dropped them there all his high brow ideals here just turned to bullshit in an instant
Agent P.
Hahahahahahahaha hahahahahahahaha hahahahahahahaha! Best last paragraph ever!
Krystle Arnold
I loved this chapter!
Joe Foreman
That is a great way to deal with slavers by giving them to worse slavers, and won't give a shit if you have power, or a noble that just makes your price more in their eyes.
curtis gatley
so. good.
Thomas Todd
My theory is that he did it like that so the noble houses and the kingdom as a whole will have to actually do something about the slavery in that region. He's not expecting them to stay slaves but he's both making a point about how bad it is and also giving them a reason to actually have to deal with the slavery in that area
JonO
Wtf!? I am so down for this! And Belinda! I love her all over again mwahaha (this deserves an evil laugh)
Aaron Schwartz
Dani said someONE else. I’m guessing this slave market is overseen by a diamond ranker
Sean Sheldon
Well played by Jason on this one.
Christian Basso
I don't understand. Did they kidnap people to throw them into slavery? Doesn't sound very anti-slavery
Thomas Todd
Jason forcing their hand to clear out a slavery ring since there's no way the noble houses will let their leaders stay there. Neatly clearing one of the worst places for slavery up
Joe Holman
TFTC
Mist Sparrow
It's not a heist but I'll fuckin take it !!!! Loved the Belinda reveal !
Abigail Hale
🤲 biscuits plz
Chris Furry
Probably 4th! Edit: apparently 6th!
Nicholas Walker
tftc!
Robert Landers
I ate them
Mamuamap
Tftc
Connor
Seeing Jason flex is just so satisfying
John goode
1st biscuits !
