Chapter 121 - Silence
"I'm ready to take the oath now!" Anthony Burton stepped forward and put his hand on his heart
Robin smiled at him and nodded, he was starting to like this boy...
As for the rest, the situation with them did not much more pleasant, as it is clear that Robin was not joking...
Even if the oath was symbolic and not really working, this is considered humiliating in the eyes of many of them.
Finally, one of them asked, "And what exactly do we have to swear, if I may ask?"
"Good question and the answer is simple, but listen carefully because many things will depend on it.
You will swear not to leak any non-public information about anything to do with the Burtons in any way, and not to use what you have learned here to do anything without MY direct command, or else the penalty will be death.
The oath includes, of course, anything you learn from someone who has anything to do with the Burtons, and anything you see others makes that has something to do with the Burtons, even if they are our servants...
You will never speak about any thing that has to do remotely with the Burtons, not to your wives, not to your other colleagues... not even to Patriarch Brian! ...you will be forbidden to talk about anything your six senses pick up that has to do with the family.
To put it simply, your relationship with the Burton family will be to learn what you have to learn and then work silently... Under the influence of this oath, you can talk about the normal things that everyone knows, but if I told you something and your colleague didn't know, you wouldn't talk about it even to your colleague who took the oath with you,
One other thing, If one of you decides to take the oath, he must write in his handwriting a waiver of his personal safety and make the rules he agreed upon clear in that letter and that if he died by taking the oath, the Burton family will not be responsible in front any one for it, Am I clear enough?"
A moment of silence clouded the hall after Robin's little speech... Death!!
The oath is very strict and the punishment is even more severe.
Preventing themselves from uttering anything unknown to anyone is not easy.. they will have to think of every word they open their mouth for from now on, and that is not what everyone came here for!
Most of them were mainly sent by their families to find out information about what is being sold at the auctions next months, anything that has to do with the talismans, and the Burton family's relationship with the talisman supplier.. not for the sake of being some kind of silent working puppets!
"Haha it's alright with me, I'm ready, bring that tablet on!" A burly man laughed out loud and announced... He was one of the few who didn't plunge into the ocean of their thoughts after Robin's announcement.
Robin smiled at him and shook his head, "I salute you for your courage, but perhaps you didn't quite understand the situation so I'm going to give you one last warning, and it will be a warning to everyone here too... Don't underestimate the oath tablets, these tablets were created by the one who made the talismans... do you understand WHO I'm referring to?
if you have an atom weight of respect in your heart towards that awesome, absolute genius, I advise you not to bet your life on this... This will be my last warning.
After that, whoever wants to take the oath and intends evil should only blame himself, I have cleared my hands of this matter... Do you still want to take your oath now?"
By his side, Mila was having a very hard time trying to fight back her laughter, this narcissist guy really does think highly of himself!
The smile on the burly man's face disappeared, Robin's words made him think long... He really thought it was just a formality, but if there is any chance it is true...
The silence in the hall lasted for a full ten minutes, everyone was immersed in their thoughts and sometimes looking at each other, no one dared to be the first after...
But no one also dared to leave, if this was really just a show, then it is a huge one and surly a preparation to reveal huge secrets that might change their lives, if that is the case then leaving them now would be a blow they will regret for the rest of their lives
At last, the silence was broken by a hoarse voice from an old man, "Young man, the wages your family gives us is good, but do you think it's enough to bet our lives? if what you are saying is true, then that oath is terrible, A slip of the tongue could kill us, what kind of money will you pay that have me rescuing my life every day?! ... Second, wouldn't that make us work as slaves forever? What do you have that makes me recite the oath other than the monthly wage...?"
Robin replied, "Why bet your life if you don't have ulterior motives? All of you here are strong souls and that gives you above average intelligence too, what is so hard about keeping your mouths shut about a few secrets?
As for working as slaves, no, that won't make you all work as our slaves, there isn't any part in the oath that will make you obliged to work for the family forever, who wants to stop at any time can simply leave... The important thing is that he keeps his oath and does not reveal the secrets that he has to keep, and doesn't make something that he shouldn't... in that case, he can continue his life away from us happily and have a fresh start, I think this is fair?
As for the benefits... I think you have a valid point, I realize some of you are not here for the money, hmmm.. well, I won't let you down! I will give priority to selling talismans to the families of those who take the oath. I will sell your families the new talismans before the rest of the world sees them. Anything good we need an outside hand for, We will choose your families for it.
Whoever does not have a large family and wants to look for their own interests, I will personally give him a priority in taking talismans for free to use or sell them to whomever he wants in the black market, and we can even discuss some more benefits later,
Of course, all of this is by the condition that it wouldn't reach any enemy hands, and is that all of this will be under my direct supervision, otherwise it will fall under the punishment of breaching the oath.
What do you all think... is that enough for you?" Robin clasped both hands on the table smiling, he has given them much more than he had already planned when he brought them together, but the role they will play is too sensitive for his future and that of the Burton family..
he can't put such pressure on them for nothing, he wants them to be productive, not take the oath then sleep next to it!
No one responded, either with approval or objection... The eyes of some of those present started to sparkle, and some of them are still confused.
What Robin promised is surely too good for them, in fact, that it is more than good enough that it is disturbing...
What are they going to have to do to get all these privileges? And wouldn't this be like the relationship of the master to the servant? They will have to satisfy him before he grants them anything of what he mentioned.. and who knows when this will come and whether they will be able to ever satisfy him?!
This was the thinking of the serious ones anyway... As for the rest who came for the family salaries and for the sake of leaking information about the talismans, their situation was worse.
When Robin saw these bewilderment and suspicious looks, he spoke again, "I see that some of you are reluctant, and perhaps some of you are afraid of Mila's reaction if they wanted to refuse and leave... we will go for a little walk and give you two hours to think, chat with each other.. or whatever...
who refuses the terms can kindly leave before I return, you can pack your bags and take whatever wages you got and leave the city with no hard feelings, but when I return, I expect to find only those who are willing to swear the oath."
After the last word, Robin stood up and walked toward the door, and Mila right behind him
leaving a hall full of cultivators, but empty of any sound....