It was up to them if they listened to the rules clearly.
ABOVE, ARE THE ONLY RULES. I made sure I emphasized.
I didn't mention anything about getting external help. But only participants would receive a reward. In this ruling, I am only providing standard equipment for each participant. It was implied that all participants WOULD receive ten silver coins at the end of the day. Whether they hired help from a farmer or a miner, or acquired stronger tools - that was none of my business. Very similar to how it was on Earth: I paid my employees to generate revenue. But it was up to them whether they buy coffee or treat clients to a meal. So, it was actually up to the helpers to believe in the participants or not. Considering hiring is money in first, labor next.
If someone had good planning, I considered this mindset a gift to society. Read contracts and understand their T&Cs well. On Earth, some people got scammed by signing an unfair contract and the court can do nothing against it unless it involves the victim doing something illegal.
Mum and Dad didn't understand why I started this. I explained it was a "way" to show the society some benefit. In response to the previous call of witch hunting. That no matter what, I was on the people's side.
Do people know what is marketing, brand building? No. Soon, my name would be more well known. To the extent that the first name came to foreigner's mind was Alexander - our country name. Next would have been mine, whose name is mentioned in so many activities.
For this grand event, how was it possible to not invite the Third Princess, who had just read my "reward" decree recently? Still, it was inappropriate for a commoner like me to barge into her residence. I went to the MIRAcle site in hopes of her presence. Wow, she was indeed there. No wonder people weren't slacking off.
I approached the Princess but kept a good distance and knelt down.
"Princess Maria, I have something to report.
It's regarding the competition. May I have the honor of the Princess overseeing the event as a guest? Even for just a while?"
Yes, even for just a while. Who knew if they'd be spending a whole day to dig?
————
This is an considerably large event with all this manpower.
My family members - Three
The Princess's side- About a hundred, including her guards. Maybe more if they were also hidden in shadows.
Participants - Thirty, more if they used their brain.
A hundred people of hired help from Adventurer's Guild. One emcee with clear loud voice (Good looks were an advantage). Manpower was allocated for participant's safety. Like pulling them up of observing if they fainted inside. Some crowd control, involving the Squads 109 and 110 together. We couldn't be troubling the soldiers for everything. Even five water mages were hired to supply participants with hydration. Food is up to them. My rules has said nothing about their F&B. This is not a hiring contract. It is competition event. Employment rules don't really apply for participants.
The Tavern - we invited them to set up some tables and chairs for our Guest of Honor. Some extra seat are available if people could afford it. But not anywhere close to our princess. In exchange, anyone would be able to use their toilet during the event.
I even had to commission my neighbors for the pee and poo issue. I even built extra spaces just for these… "Fertilizers".
And the crowd, probably whole town?
————
I gave a quick glance at the security. Squads 109 and 110 had allocated manpower to form a human wall. They were lightly armored and facing the participants. So long as people were controlled enough and didn't cross their line, they were chill.
The Royal Guards for the Princess are full gear as ever. Expected.
———
"For today's competition organized by Kei and his family."
So today's emcee is Guild Master himself. Is it because I added good looks is advantage?
" To celebrate the extra land our kingdom has gained, we invite our Guest of Honor, Princess Maria!"
The Princess walked out from our house.
It shocked everyone. My bad.
"Move back! Move back!" Mixed cry broke the air.
People scrambled to make space for kneeling down. It was stated in law.
"Rise, my people." Even so, her soft voice proved insignificant against the cries. Expected, for someone who looked like my age.
"YOU MAY RISE!" The voice of Guild Master sliced through the atmosphere.
The Princess, who ended up standing on a stool (provided by the tavern), gave her speech. Ah, speeches. I'd be careful not to doze off.
"Many thanks for the magnificent event today. It has been a very long time ago since we last saw such a grand gathering.
My gratitude goes to Kei, whose multiple achievements have been noted by the King himself. And to Galan, Kei's father, for the effort put into clearing this land.
I would like to use this opportunity to announce that, with the King's decree, the MIRAcle Institute's construction is officially underway!
Without further ado, we wish all the best to the participants. Stay safe, and have fun."
Mira is probably trying to hide herself. Thank you king, for such a humorous pun. Nice. Her speech ended without me falling asleep.
"Introducing our participants!
…
…
Zzz"
Ah, they already started digging. Hmm, only one participant had an extra set of shovels and pickaxes. The other had a farmer who dug along with a personal shovel.
"Isn't this against the rules?"
"The rule didn't say anything about manpower, right?"
"Damn!"
Before the actual digging commences. The participants are informed that it is possible for the Princess to walk the ground and be looking at the progress at close to zero distance. And they are allowed to continue digging and ignore her presence.
Nobody said anything on how you dig. You can rest on your own. The only rule here now straightforward: dig the water and win.
Only the Princess, the water mage, the participants, the safety staff from guild and I have the authority to be walking at the grounds where people are digging. Still. This is a big piece of land. People started scattering wider in attempt to have a closer look.
The most steady progress belonged to the two-man team. The rest showed only minor differences. But nobody dared to comment.
They probably tried the plank and failed in ten seconds.
But some participants weren't consent with being outsmarted. The Guild Master said the ONLY rule is dig, water, win. Surely, hiring people now is still fine right? They saw people moving around to get a better view. If they can walk such a distance in same given time compared to other audiences. It shows strength. Hence, they hired people in last minute deal. The authority of entering the grounds are organisers, officials and participants right? Hence, anyone COULD be participants if it is agreed. Soon, all teams became two man team.
Three-man team? Yes, it is possible. This is one rule hidden by Kei: You can do anything, but your extra asset is ten silver. You could've gotten your family for free labor right? Why does it have to be direct payment? Why wasn't profit sharing being considered? If you have the confidence of profit sharing, that was least fifty silvers to a gold worth of initial power. Profit sharing seems out this time. If only one of them promised profit sharing. The hired help could have asked his whole family to help him dig. Because it is no longer a "hiring" contract.
Yes. I did it not only in view of their strength. I announced it as endurance. Who told them it was just physical endurance? How about economy endurance?
In conclusion, the people here lacked creativity due to the very survival environment.
They could've commissioned an earth mage at the last minute, perhaps even a water mage to guage how deep any water is, maybe even using the water to push the earth upwards. If the first guy had actually commissioned a water mage, victory could had been just simply his.