Becoming valuable in a slave camp meant one thing: proving one's strength or skill in a way overseers recognized.
Skill brought utility.
Utility brought a fragile kind of protection.
He needed to do something bold—but not reckless. Something that elevated him without making him a threat.
The opportunity arrived sooner than expected.
The next morning, a section of the wall collapsed under its own weight. A landslide of packed earth and boulders tore down the western ramp, burying two workers alive and injuring several others.
Overseers panicked. They shouted conflicting orders, and the guards struggled to remove the debris. It was chaos—dangerous chaos.
But chaos also meant potential.
He watched as overseers tried to organize the workers into a rescue team. None listened. Too much fear, too much confusion.
Then a shout:
"The older man's still breathing!"
Raw instinct overtook hesitation.
He stepped forward, his chain dragging behind him.
"Clear the right side first!" he barked. "The earth is loose there—move the smaller stones first or the whole mound will come down!"
The overseers turned, surprised at the commanding tone.
But he didn't wait for permission.
"Hu, take the rear! Zhang—brace the largest stones with wood! You two—dig, don't pull!"
His commands snapped the men into action—because they needed direction, and he provided it.
The overseers hesitated.
Then one shouted, "Do as he says!"
Workers began moving in organized waves, clearing debris with rhythm and precision. For the first time, the line of laborers acted like a team, not individuals struggling alone.
He moved to the front, digging until his hands bled. Zhang supported the larger stones, preventing them from crushing rescuers. Hu directed others to reinforce the ramp's edge.
Within minutes, they uncovered the trapped older man. His breathing was faint but steady.
"Well done! Pull him out!" he ordered.
The overseers were stunned.
One guard muttered, "How did he—? That was fast—faster than we've ever done it."
Another guard whispered, "He's not normal."
He swallowed.
This was the dangerous part.
If he seemed too skilled, he might be removed for questioning.
If he seemed too incompetent, he would go back to anonymity.
He needed to strike the perfect balance.
So he fell to his knees, panting heavily, letting exhaustion visibly claim him.
"I just… saw the weak points…" he said breathlessly to the overseers. "Worked with rocks before…"
It wasn't a lie. The modern him had studied enough engineering videos to understand physics better than any laborer here.
The sergeant approached, wiping sweat from his brow.
"You."
The man jabbed a thick finger at his chest.
"You saved three lives today."
He bowed his head, feigning humility.
"I only did what I could, Sergeant."
The sergeant grunted. "From now on, you report to me for structural tasks. If something's weak, you tell me."
His eyes widened slightly.
That was better than he expected.
"And you two," the sergeant added, pointing at Hu and Zhang, "you help him. You work as a team now."
Zhang gave the slightest nod—controlled, deferential.
Hu bowed. "Yes, Sergeant."
The sergeant stalked off, barking orders.
As the group dispersed, Zhang whispered, "That was dangerous."
He nodded. "But it worked."
"We're on the sergeant's radar now," Hu said quietly.
"Good," he replied. "Now we can act without being questioned as easily."
Zhang smirked. "Turning danger into advantage. You are thinking like a commander."
He didn't smile back.
His mind was already racing.
If they were going to become valuable, they needed to escalate carefully.
Value could be a shield.
But it could also draw attention.
The system chimed.
[Reputation Gained: +10]
[Labor Camp Rank: Notable Worker]
[New Feature Unlocked: Small-Group Formation Training]
Formation training.
The ability to train coordinated movement in small groups—perfect for future soldiers.
He clenched his fists.
"We use this," he whispered. "Quietly. Efficiently. As preparation."
"For what?" Hu asked.
"For the future," he said.
But only Zhang understood the full meaning.
For escape.
For power.
For the army that would one day be his.
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