In a minute Hal branded all those of the Payne forces with the Devil mark. He offered none of them contracts because as of that moment they were not truly part of HIS force and would only prove themselves worthy in the coming civil war.

In other words, he was going to use them as meat shields and not give a crap if any of them lost their lives. Only those who survived would be offered Contracts and formally initiated into his force.

Hal was not only doing this because of his grudge against the Payne family but also because he had realized that somehow, he was letting any Tom, Dick and Harry into his force.

True he could offer them incredible techniques that would improve their cultivation speed drastically, but how fast and far they would progress would depend solely on their personal comprehension and talent.

When talent was low then resources were practically being wasted. It was why, even at that moment, Hal was still drafting his men.

The reality was that not all of those he had in the newly acquired Holger estate was going to end up being a part of his Elites and some of them would eventually be cut off and condemned to be cannon fodder.

While he had not said such a thing to those that were diligently cultivating, a lot of them could guess that would be the case since he gave them a deadline of one month.

Those were the very perceptive ones who realized that while a month might truly be the city's breaking point, it was also the best moment for Hal to test their potential.

Also, the deadline was 'within one month' and not 'After one month', which meant that they most likely did not even have Four weeks but instead three, two or In the worst-case scenario, one.

Every minute counted.

Once Hal had branded all those in the Payne forces, he smiled and opted for a vocal speech as opposed to communicating with them through the mark,

"So listen up. Men and women of the Payne family forces. Your life is now mine to do with as I deem fit but you don't have to worry because as much as I hate you, I have no interest in killing you... For now.

Just as you have always done, you will continue to do. And by that, I mean, of course, that you are to continue cultivating and preparing to battle the Plebeian alliance and the Great Families.

I am not going to lie to you, it will be brutal and quite a lot of you are likely not to survive but you still have to try your able best if you want to live. Yes, that's right, even though your life is in my hands, in that war, it is your choice that matters.

You are not allowed to deflect and you are not allowed to desert once the war begins, but other than that, what you do as long as you participate in the war is your choice..."

At this point, Hal paused to view the confusion in their faces,

"What I mean is, if you wish to stand in place and let the enemy kill you, then you can.

If you wish to commit suicide, you can.

If you despair that you can not possibly survive, then you are free to take as many enemies down before you are killed. And,

If you wish to fight for your survival and live to tell the tale, then by all means feel free.

So you see, the choice is really in your hands. I don't need you to fight for me if you don't want to and so if you are sure of that decision then you can die in the war"

The look of confusion in the eyes of the crowd turned into one of understanding and horror.

This young man was Mad!

For all the fancy vocabulary, what Hal was saying was that they were all to fight for him and if they decided not to fight, they would die... one way or the other.

From the moment they were branded with the Devil mark, they could all feel that their lives were really in his hands and should they attempt to desert, they would be killed.

Hal chuckled and spread his arms,

"See how generous I am? Now, all of you are to abandon this disgusting bloodied hideout" Hal said with a wave of his hand.

Julius who was still reeling from the damage to his internal organs, cringed at Hal's shamelessness, after all, it was now clear that he was the cause of the internal conflict that dyed the ground red with blood.

Hal gestured at his Blood Knights and all Ten of them who had been mixed in with the Payne forces stepped forward.

Many of those in the crowd clenched their fists at those that had been the real traitors all along and caused them to kill many of their colleagues.

Although it could be argued that the Blood Knights were not traitors as they had always been loyal to Hal from the very start.

*Pat*

Hal patted the shoulder of one of the Blood Knights,

"These are my Blood Knights and they will be in charge. You are all to listen to whatever orders they give as they are a representation of me..." Then more quietly to the Blood Knights,

"Lead them to Payne Estate. I'm on my way"

They all bowed to him

"Yes, Master" and led the Payne forces away from the hideout while some of those in the crowd looked back on their fallen comrades, some of whom they had killed personally.

Others, however, tried not to gaze upon those dead faces, for fear that they would be haunted.

Hal could see that the events of the day were likely to cause them psychological damage but he couldn't care less. On the contrary, that would only make the weeding process even better.

Once the last of them were out of sight, Hal canceled the Dome of Astral energy that shielded Melinda and Rita,

"What was with that speech about choices?" Melinda could not help but ask once she and Rita were out of the dome.

She found it a little uncharacteristic of Hal to advise the Payne forces to kill or die.

Hal sighed and told her with a smile,

"Most of those I have contracted lately were those with no previous allegiances and for those who already had allegiances, I still got them on my side. However, for the Payne Family forces, I find myself being a little... curious.

I am curious as to what they would do when given a choice between killing themselves and serving me, the one who killed their young master and will humiliate their Lord.

I want to see just how many will still scream out their allegiance to Gregory by dying on the field of battle and I am rather sure that the number, which would interpret into the number of those who truly fought for Gregory, will be both disappointing and despairing for my 'Dear father'.

Call it an elaborate scheme if you want but I am quite sure that on that day, it would be very entertaining"

Melinda nodded and did not doubt that one bit.