Chapter 566: Redemption?

Leo and Lily climbed in the back of the tractor and found that the rest of the people didn’t look as good as they did when they had left the town hall in the morning. Leo realized that it must be because they got tired from the farm work. However, Lily walked over to the children and asked with concern, "Maya, what happened to you?"

The two of them had become fast friends and given that Maya was even younger than herself Lily looked after her. The little girl sighed as Lily held her hand and said, "It is nothing they had a goose in the farm and it bit me. They applied some medicine but the bruise will take some time to heal."

Lily let out a sigh of relief and consoled the younger child before asking about her day. As they all sat down Leo looked at the fellow fathers and wondered if he was going easy on the little goblin. Louis said with a weak voice, "I swear herding sheep is much more tiring than the 24-hows endurance race. Like one blink and a lamb would decide that he wants to be free."

Nova Delectus shook his head and chimed in, "I used to think that since I have been to the Front I won’t be scared by anything but to my shock, I was genuinely scared when I was cleaning the horse stable. That big red guy was looking at me the entire time. I was really worried that it might kick me."

Matthew Cottons said, "Sowing corps with any modern equipment is novel but very dexterous. My legs feel like they are made of lead."

Everyone had something to say about how their day went out and that was also the reason for Leo to feel a bit guilty as his biggest concern was the stink that hard fused with his clothes.

They reached the town hall, got off the tractor, and thanked the old town head, Hyphen Tower. Everyone returned back to the courtyard and found Isedol standing there waiting for them. The lady smiled and said, "Welcome back everyone, I hope you all had a good day."

Hayden looked at her and spoke with a low voice, "It is easy for you to say this Aunt Isedol. How about you come along next time we go to the muddy fields with worms moving squishily over and across your legs? I assure you that after an hour of wailing in fear you will learn to enjoy it."

Isedol’s face twined pale at the mention of worms and Matthew Cottons smacked the back of his son’s head. He said, "Brat, apologize to your Aunt."

Hayden sighed and apologized before Isedol rebuked him, "I will show you the consequences of messing with me when you get back home."

Hayden winced and the people smiled, and Matthew said, "Just so you all know, Miss Isedol is my wife’s college mate and so she is technically family."

Isedol nodded and said, "But that does not mean you would get any freebie."

The audience laughed at the banter, and suddenly Isedol said, "How about we all meet here after an hour? You all should take a shower and assume your dignified appearance."

Matthew frowned as he looked at himself from head to toe and asked, "What do you mean dignified appearance?"

Isedol shook her head and replied, "Had I been a farmer, I would have ousted you from the town right after the task finished. That should sum it all up."

Matthew had a twitch on his lips, but he could not say anything in return, after all, he did screw up by slipping thrice in the water filled paddy and now his ass was covered with a thick layer of mud.

So, the fathers went into their rooms, took quick showers and Leo even took the time to prepare everything for Lily, who came in after he was done, when they finished, Leo massaged Lily’s feet, when he saw that she was a little tired.

The little girl smiled and curled up in his lap for a power nap, while the young man sat down in meditation. The system task was still going on, and Leo was also managing his time to grow stronger.

The audience were all wondering why Leo meditated every day, but then they thought it was normal for successful people to do things that the normal people don’t do.

If someone was to ask Leo about this in reality, he would have told them that the thing they need to change the most about themselves was the mindset that he was a successful person and that they were different from him. Since they think he was ahead of them then why not follow him, why must they wander aimlessly and think of things that bear them no gain?

The power nap finished, and Leo carried Lily out of the room as she was still in a daze and hugged him like a koala.

Isedol was still in the same spot where they left her, and gradually all the men came over. Isedol smiled, she knew that the children must have fallen asleep and denied coming out, after all, even though they had a good day outside, it was still something that tired them.

The young lady smiled and said, "Well, the tasks that you all got were random and totally upon the mood of the farm owners. So the result is based on a few criterias, adaptability, teaching the kids something new, and lastly, efficiency."

The four men thought for a bit and nodded in agreement, these three criterias sounded fair and objective. Isedol said, "The person who came in last is the darling of the nation, Matthew Cottons."

Matthew sighed and asked, "Why are you announcing it like you are giving me an award?"

Isedol and the rest of the people chuckled, and then the lady continued, Louis came in third because while he learned a lot of things by the end of this task, he was very slow in the beginning which caused the work to lag behind.

Nova was confident that he had done a good work, his task had been to erect the fence posts with other people on the farm and he also taught Maya how a fence was important for the safety of the farm animals, and also the grazing patterns. The people at the farm had praised him, so the chance of him winning was really strong.

However, when has life given people biscuits just because they asked for it? Isedol smiled and said, "Mister Cardinal, you have come out on top in this showdown."

Nova was taken aback and before he could say anything, Isedol said, "Mister Leo not only taught his daughter the process of identifying eggs, and separating fertile ones from infertile ones, he also asked questions about the usage of the cow dung that he cleaned from the cow shed. Not only that, he bathed around twenty cows alone, and even polished their horns. Farm Owner Holly remarked, ’Mister Cardinal is a machine that is a godsent to farm owners. Too bad he is a dashing young man who has already created an empire or I would have hired him.’

This was why he was the winner, Mister Delectus, do you have any objection?"

Nova sighed and shook his head as he said, "Not anymore. All I did was dig one hole after the other and help the people erect fence posts. I did teach Maya some things but they were not so practical for her age."

He was a smart man and knew how to bend and stretch, maybe that was why he managed to stay in the cut throat wearable tech business. Leo looked at the person and then he thought for a bit before he decided that he was going to bring Nova into the fold and bring his expertise to the use of the world.

Isedol smiled and said, "While Mister Cardinal is safe from the elimination, your task would be to look after the children tomorrow while the rest of the fathers will go back to the farms and face the penalty, they would have to complete their tasks and earn a point from the Farm Owners to stay on the show. Or, you can also withdraw but we would be giving you the title of ...."

Before she could speak, the three men reacted, "Stop!"

Nova Delectus and the other two exchanged glances before the former said, "Sister Isedol, we are willing to work, but please spare us the title. I, Nova Delectus, would rather be buried under cow dung than be called that."

The lady chuckled and said, "Then I wish you all, good luck, you will need it, as you know, redemption doesn’t come easy."

The three men sighed and resigned to their fates. Leo didn’t know what the title was, but he didn’t care, he placed Lily onto a soft cushioned chair in the courtyard, and went over to his stove to cook some food for everyone.