Hearing the workers' cries, Perfikot glanced at the workers in front of her who were still somewhat emotionally agitated and shouted, "Who's Balas?"

The worker leader had no intention of hiding, ignoring his fellow workers who tried to pull him back, he approached Perfikot with an air of determination and fearlessness. He straightened his chest and said, "I am Balas, Balas Boynes. If you're going to arrest someone, just arrest me. This matter has nothing to do with the others."

Balas did not wish to involve other workers, evidently understanding that attempting to cause trouble under circumstances where Perfikot had already fired shots and summoned the army truly put other lives at risk.

"Whether it relates or not is up to me to decide, not you." Perfikot gave no promises, and she wasn't interested in engaging in scenarios like a hero's entrance in old movies. She said blandly, "If you hide and refuse to stand out, I will issue a warrant and send people to hunt you down, along with imprisoning all who caused trouble here.

But since you've stepped forward, I'll ask you, can you represent the others? Or do your words hold weight?"

"I think I should be able to represent some. Comrades should still listen to my words." Balas looked around, seeing many workers with firm expressions standing behind him, feeling more determined not to let Perfikot widen the scope of the impact.

As Balas was speaking, workers behind him echoed loudly, "We listen to Balas!"

Though fearing the City Guard's rifles, they mustered the courage to stand behind Balas, expressing support for him.

Perfikot looked at the worker leader before her, nodded slightly and said, "In that case, let's talk. How do you or do you all intend to wrap up this matter? Your trouble-making has gravely affected the construction progress of the Energy Tower.

I don't care if any among you are wanted criminals or participants in labor movements, but you are taking my tolerance as a capital for provocation, attempting to disrupt the construction progress of the Energy Tower through strikes; this I cannot tolerate."

Hearing Perfikot's response, Balas did not recklessly argue with her or consider her an oppressive ruler.

Instead, he calmly analyzed the meaning in Perfikot's words, then said, "If, for you, the construction progress of the Energy Tower is the utmost priority, as long as it's completed on schedule, you wouldn't actually mind even if I was a wanted labor movement participant."

"Though saying that shows a disregard for Empire Law, you're not wrong. In the Northern Territory, my will is law; if I say you're guilty, then even if you're a living Saint anointed by the state religion, I can still put you on the stake." Perfikot jumped down from the box, walked to Balas, and looked him in the eye: "Likewise, if I deem you innocent, even if you're the Empire's highest-level wanted criminal, I can protect you.

But all this is predicated on you not defying my will and not impacting my plans.

Because of your antics, the progress of the construction has been severely impacted, I need an explanation.

If you can't give me one that satisfies, then today everyone involved in the riot, worker or engineer, will become the decorative cooling shell of the Energy Tower."

Perfikot's words expressed no emotion; she was merely stating her words plainly.

But seeing the fresh corpse at her feet still leaking brain matter, which she kicked with her foot, exposing the opened skull, it was clear the Count wasn't joking about building everyone into the Energy Tower.

Balas naturally understood this, he's staring into Perfikot's blood-red eyes, and said calmly, "I am willing to take full responsibility and appease all the workers. Today, they will voluntarily work overtime to catch up with the delayed construction progress.

Please forgive them generously this once; I assure you they won't cause any more trouble for you."

The reason Balas was willing to compromise and retreat was mainly because Perfikot is usually not harsh on the workers.

Apart from being very strict with quality and progress demands, Perfikot has actually been very good to the workers, far exceeding the average level of this era, whether in pay or work hardship.

For the workers, they were willing to work for Perfikot.

After all, finding such a good job in this era is extremely rare for them. Even though working for Perfikot means enduring strict requirements, the workers have no complaints.

Precisely because of this foundation, Balas was confident he could appease the workers' emotions and have them voluntarily work overtime to catch up on delayed progress.

In fact, when he said these words, the workers behind him expressed no opposition but stood firmly behind him, offering support.

Perfikot nodded slightly, not voicing displeasure but rather said, "Voluntary overtime? Fine, but I will not relax my requirements on you, construction quality must be assured. You have three days to make up today's delayed progress.

As long as you can catch up today's delayed progress within three days, I won't pursue the fault of others causing trouble.

But if you can't, then-randomly execute one out of ten, every ten workers will have one executed to punish for delaying the progress and set an example."

Hearing that failure would mean one out of ten being executed, the workers were all stirred, but Balas relied on his prestige to calm everyone's emotions, then tried negotiating with Perfikot: "Could you extend two more days? I willing to vouch for them that this won't happen again!"

"You only have three days to catch up." Perfikot showed no compromise, only looked at Balas coldly and said, "And you don't have the right to vouch for others. I am already being exceptionally kind by not pursuing your identity as a labor movement participant and fugitive. Don't test my patience."

With that, Perfikot suddenly turned to glance at the engineers who still appeared indignant, and asked them, "Who instigated the events today?"

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