Gun in hand, follow me

Chapter 128 Gun in hand, follow me

Burne was just a lowly apprentice at the Newcastle District 4 steel mill.

This massive steel plant belongs to the Tuttle family's steel conglomerate and employs more than 3,000 workers.

In the vast factory area, only a little over a hundred senior technicians actually receive their full monthly salary and enjoy proper benefits.

The remaining 2,900-plus workers were all ordinary people randomly recruited from the slums of the fourth and fifth districts, and they were all given the title of apprentices.

They have no contracts and no guarantees.

The weekly wage was only two pence, and there was never even the most basic labor training.

They work more than fourteen hours a day, spending all their time next to steel furnaces with temperatures of over a thousand degrees Celsius, without any heat protection equipment.

Moreover, there were no rules in the factory area, only endless exploitation.

The overseer patrolled day and night with a long whip, and would be severely beaten for the slightest slackening.

Countless low-level workers unfamiliar with the steelmaking process often accidentally slip and fall into the molten iron furnace.

Each fall was accompanied by heart-wrenching screams.

But the surrounding workers were already numb; no one offered help, no one cried out, and everyone could only stand by indifferently.

The life of a commoner at the bottom of society is so cheap that it's not even worth a piece of scrap iron.

Bourne heard from a fellow worker that the factory was controlled by the Tuttle family, and that no one in Newcastle could defy the Tuttles.

Workers who accidentally fall will be completely melted by the high-temperature molten iron in a dozen seconds, leaving no trace of their bodies. They will eventually turn into cooled steel, becoming part of the bridges and skyscrapers of Newcastle, silently burying all the blood, tears and injustices, without leaving a single record of death or a single name.

Within just one month of joining the factory, Byrne witnessed five of his fellow workers perish in the furnace.

That biting despair and tragedy were deeply etched into his very bones.

He knew deep down that it was all wrong, an extreme injustice and evil.

The factory didn't treat them as human beings; they treated them as slaves.

But he was powerless to resist.

The steel mill was a Tuttle business, and the Tuttle family was a top behemoth that had dominated Newcastle for over a century.

For over a century, the city's industry, military and political affairs, people's livelihood, and industries have all been firmly controlled by the Tuttle family.

Generation after generation, social classes have become rigid, with the powerful and wealthy forever at the top, while the common people at the bottom are forever exploited and enslaved.

Like all working-class people, Byrne believed that this dark and oppressive rule would last forever.

Unchanged for a hundred years, unchanged for a thousand years.

Their origins are unfortunate, and they can't change anything, so they can only pray to God.

Although the workers here have never stepped into the church, since churches are never built in the fifth or fourth wards.

Until these last two days, the dark order that has shrouded Newcastle for a century seems to have shown cracks in its collapse.

Previously, the military noble family of the Second District, the Adelia family, together with the newly appointed Bishop Tyrion, held a public trial of the Rothschilds of the Tuttle family.

That sensational public trial was actually a power struggle among the upper class, one in which ordinary people had no right to even be bystanders.

However, just as chaos erupted in the city and the city's defense forces were in disarray, Bourne, along with a few daring and resourceful workers, seized the opportunity to sneak into District 2 and witness the entire public trial firsthand.

He witnessed firsthand those usually high-ranking, glamorous, and righteous figures kneeling before the cross, publicly repenting for their sins.

He also received the detailed report of the crimes, which recorded the torture, exploitation and persecution, each one of which was shocking.

Looking at the report, the pent-up emotions that had been building up in Bourne's heart for years began to dissipate for the first time, and a hope he had never felt before arose in his heart.

It turns out that justice truly exists in the world, that the grievances of the lower classes are truly remembered, and that the seemingly invincible top aristocracy, the Tuttle family who control the city, are not invincible.

Back at the fourth factory, Bourne read the contents of the incriminating report to his coworkers word for word that very night.

The hundreds of exploited workers were enraged. They banded together for support and secretly plotted to rebel against the Tuttles in charge of the factory and overthrow the cannibalistic factory system.

Everyone thought that the darkness was about to dissipate and dawn was about to arrive.

But fate took an unexpected turn.

In just one night, the situation was completely reversed.

Müller made a strong comeback, and Rothschild was publicly exonerated and acquitted.

The Edlia family, who upheld justice, were accused of colluding with the United Front and plotting rebellion, and were subjected to a second public trial and a complete purge.

The booming sound of the cannons could be heard even from that far away.

The sudden reversal instantly shattered the courage of the workers who intended to resist.

Fear engulfed people like a tidal wave. Most of the workers involved in the conspiracy were terrified and hid in their homes overnight, not daring to make the slightest move.

Overnight, the resistance force of over a hundred people was reduced to only Bourne and thirty fellow workers who refused to compromise.

What's even more devastating is that there was a traitor among these workers.

Their conspiracy was quickly discovered by the owners of the Tattle Steel Group's factories.

The enemy, accompanied by a large number of armed guards, surrounded the temporary stronghold in the factory area and captured all thirty people.

The factory owner publicly declared that the rebellious workers would be thrown alive into a high-temperature furnace to cleanse them of their sins.

Of course, this had to be carried out in front of all the workers.

Thousands of workers watched silently, and no one dared to utter a sound to stop them.

Everyone knows that here, the laws are made by the powerful and the rules are controlled by Tuttle.

The factory owner is the only law in this factory area.

Just as the execution was about to begin.

bang

A thunderclap boomed across the sky, and heavenly fire suddenly descended upon the world!

The deafening explosions spread from Zone 2 all the way to Zone 4, shaking the entire city and plunging the factory area into chaos.

Flames filled the sky, order collapsed, and the guards protecting the workers panicked.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Byrne broke free of his restraints and immediately roared to rally his fellow workers to join forces and subdue the factory owner, Tuttle, who had been acting arrogantly. They tied him up on the spot.

The factory owner, dressed in a suit and tie, was tied to the edge of the blast furnace, his forehead covered in cold sweat, yet he still maintained the hypocritical demeanor of an upper-class aristocrat, speaking with a condescending arrogance and a conciliatory tone.

"Bourne, I know you're a sensible and intelligent person."

"I can grant your request."

"Give everyone a raise, and double their weekly salary."

"At the same time, we will provide you with complete safety protection equipment and regulate your working hours."

He abruptly changed the subject, his tone turning icy and threatening.

"But you have to face reality; there are rules to the operation of a steel mill."

"You killed me. No one knows how to manage operations, connect channels, or maintain the industry. This steel mill will only fall into complete ruin."

It was abandoned and reduced to ruins.

"When the factory closes down, all of you will lose your jobs."

"Having lost their only source of livelihood, they'll all starve to death on the streets!"

A young worker, his face contorted with indignation, clenched his fist and roared, "We can smelt steel ourselves, we can produce it ourselves!"

"I don't need you vampires!"

The factory owner sneered, his eyes filled with contempt and mockery for the lower classes.

"You produce it? Ridiculous!"

Do you understand steel classification and market pricing?

"Do you understand how to connect commerce and trade and maintain the city's industrial chain?"

"Do you know the uses and regulations for producing this steel?"

Do you know how to apply for a financial loan from a bank?

"Do you know what kind of red wine is appropriate to drink at high-society banquets?"

"You all understand nothing!"

"You were born inferior to others, and you were born to bleed and sweat by the blast furnace."

"You were born to serve the powerful and wealthy!"

"You're just consumables."

"If you die, the entire factory will be unaffected."

"But if I take even one day off, the factory will come to a standstill!"

"My willingness to humble myself and listen to your demands today is already the greatest kindness."

His eyes suddenly sharpened, and he warned in a stern voice, "Let me go! Now!"

"The Tuttle family ruled Newcastle for a century!"

"We will continue to govern for another hundred years!"

"If you dare to lay a hand on us today, tomorrow the entire family's revenge will raze you to the ground!"

"If you don't want to die, behave yourself!"

"You'd better just be a worker for me!"

These words, a combination of soft and hard tactics, instantly put everyone present in a state of hesitation.

Fear once again gripped the hearts of the workers.

Byrne frowned, his mind in turmoil, filled with hesitation.

He hated the factory owner in front of him, hated the exploitation by the Tuttle family, and hated this cannibalistic world.

But he had to admit that the factory owner's words made a lot of sense.

This century-old family is deeply entrenched and wields immense power.

They were just a group of unarmed, low-level workers. If they killed the other party, what awaited them would inevitably be the cruelest reckoning and revenge from the Tuttle family.

At that point, not only will they be doomed.

Even the families and friends of all the low-level workers in the fourth and fifth districts will be implicated and slaughtered.

The workers around him instantly split into two factions.

Some people were filled with hatred. Thinking of their relatives and friends who had perished in the furnace, their wages that had been withheld, and the days and nights of being whipped and humiliated, they wished they could immediately push the factory owner into the blast furnace.

The other group was filled with fear, their legs trembling, desperately suppressing their anger, their eyes filled with hesitation and timidity, fearing that they would bring about their own destruction.

Clearly, the latter group makes up the vast majority.

An elderly, weathered worker with a thick beard roared through gritted teeth, "Bourne!"

"Don't believe his nonsense!"

"These powerful and wealthy people are the most hypocritical and cunning!"

"If we let him leave alive, he'll throw us all into the furnace the next day!"

"Last year, more than a dozen workers were killed just for slacking off for a few minutes!"

"And then there's that brat Anke, who took sick leave and racked up debts exceeding his salary, ultimately committing suicide in despair!"

"No, no way!" Another middle-aged worker quickly shook his head.

"If we kill him, who's going to pay our salaries? I think that's about it!"

"That's double the salary, four pence a week!"

People are restless and caught in a dilemma.

Just when everyone was struggling, hesitating, and caught in a dilemma!

A loud and majestic broadcast voice, piercing through the clouds, suddenly resounded from the sky throughout the entire fourth district!

The sound, amplified by a high-altitude loudspeaker, clearly reached the ears of everyone in the factory, shattering all fear and hesitation!

"I am Hextech!"

"The culprit, Muller-Tattle, has confessed and been executed on the spot!"

"The top rulers of Tartel, who oppressed the entire city, are dead!"

"To all the oppressed, exploited, and unjustly suffering people!"

"Take up your weapons! Follow me to attack the Tuttle family's stronghold!"

"Completely wipe out all the powerful and oppressive figures in this city, led by Tuttle!"

"End a century of slavery!"

"Guns in hand, come with me! Let's settle all the sins!"

Everyone suddenly looked up.

An airship slowly flew over the steel plant. The cabin door opened, and a large number of brand-new firearms and ammunition were dropped from the sky and landed on the open ground of the factory!

The workers rushed forward like madmen to open the packages, revealing rows of brand-new Infield rifles, cold and sharp, lying quietly before them.

Holding the heavy guns in their hands gave them a confidence and strength they had never possessed before.

A young worker trembled, his face filled with disbelief: "It's a weapon!"

"Mr. Hex is truly leading our rebellion! Muller is really dead!"

As Bourne stroked the cold, hard rifle barrel in his hand, all the hesitation, fear, and doubt in his heart vanished in that instant.

Muller-Tatter, the true sky of this city has fallen!

Tuttle's century-old myth has been shattered!

The so-called deeply entrenched rule of the privileged class.

The so-called unshakeable family power.

That's all there is to it!

Byrne turned around, his gaze sweeping over the thousands of workers behind him, each with a different expression. His voice was calm and firm, resounding throughout the entire area.

"I know what everyone is afraid of."

"We are afraid of retaliation, afraid of annihilation, afraid of losing our livelihood, and afraid of implicating our families."

"But now, we don't need to be afraid!"

"Müller, who oppressed us for a century, is dead; the sky that once covered us has shattered!"

Yes.

Mullerta Terdu is dead.

So why is this factory owner still alive?

Everyone's eyes changed.

They discovered that even the most powerful and influential are human beings, and they too can die.

Everyone only has one life.

Why should we fear them?

Bourne raised his hand and pointed at the bound and panicked factory owner, his eyes sharp and filled with murderous intent.

"This man exploits our blood and sweat, and treats our lives like slaves!"

"He personally caused the deaths of countless coworkers, accumulating an endless debt of blood!"

"I propose we throw him into the blast furnace, to pay with blood, to give him a life for a life!"

"Raise your hand if you agree!"

The moment the words left his mouth, Bourne was the first to raise his rifle high!

The bearded worker raised his second hand.

"He must be killed! He killed two of my brothers!"

Immediately afterwards, a young boy, only twelve or thirteen years old, also raised his hand.

The third one, the fourth one, the hundredth one, the thousandth one!

In just a few seconds!

Thousands of workers, regardless of age or prior hesitation, stood tall with their arms outstretched, none retreating, none lowering their arms!

Decades of pent-up resentment, the blood and tears of generations, and the injustices of countless wronged coworkers all erupted at this moment!

"Burn him! He killed my nephew!"

"I watched them fall into the furnace!"

"Burn him!"

"I was seriously ill and bedridden, and he withheld my entire year's salary, causing my child to starve to death!"

"Burn him!"

"Burn him alive!!"

The earth-shattering shouts resounded throughout the entire steel plant area, echoing through the sky!

Thousands of voices converged into an unstoppable torrent, carrying a century's worth of pent-up anger and despair, breaking free from the shackles and fears of the past!

The once arrogant and haughty factory owner of Tuttle was now pale, his legs were weak, and tears streamed down his face. He had lost all his aristocratic demeanor and was filled with extreme fear and humility.

He struggled desperately, crying, "Let me go!"

"I know I was wrong!"

"I'm willing to atone for my sins! Please, spare my life!"

Bourne's eyes were cold, devoid of any pity. He put down his rifle and picked up a hammer beside him, an old, worn-out iron hammer that had been handled by countless workers.

"You don't know you're wrong, you just know you're going to die."

"Moreover, this was a unanimous decision by all the factory workers."

"Only fire and blood can atone for your sins!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he raised his hand and smashed the factory owner's head with a hammer, followed by a powerful kick!

thump!

The factory owner screamed and fell straight into the red-hot blast furnace at a temperature of over a thousand degrees!

In just a few seconds, the agonizing screams abruptly ceased, a wave of heat swept over, and everything settled down.

Decades of blood debts in the factory area will be settled in one fell swoop!

Bourne raised his hammer high, facing the raging flames and thousands of burning, resolute eyes, and roared, his voice shaking the surrounding area!

"Gun in hand! Come with me!"

"Kill all of Tuttle!!"