Blood tax

Chapter 406 The Bizarre Adventure of Griffith ([-])
Although I feel that the earl's order is very ridiculous.But Griffith didn't show it on his face.

After learning about the situation in this house, he began to think about a series of questions——

Aristocratic councilors in power, wizards who speak for the rules, and wealthy businessmen with wealth will all ask him to sacrifice a certain powerful group to the fire, so that others will not freeze to death in the increasingly cold room Escape from prison.

So, are the Earl of Hill, the wizard Labenus, the rich businessman and the common people present here all real people?If this is an illusion created by some kind of power, Griffith can kill them all...

However, the problem is-

First of all, mysterious phenomena are like fables, seemingly absurd, but have their causes, either based on the human heart, or originate from the collective unconsciousness, in any case they are projections of reality.

Secondly, Griffith couldn't judge whether they were just illusions created by the mysterious field, nor could he ignore the possible political and reputational risks after leaving here.

If he throws the people in a certain seat to the fire, he will lead others to be freed from the realm.Then, after the survivor returns to reality, the rumors spread may put him in a disadvantageous situation.

Unfavorable public opinion is second-to-none—after all, everyone present is in danger. Imminent threat to life and unknown mystery are legal defenses that allow Griffith and others to justify their cruel actions to a certain extent. defend.

The more worrying concerns come from the other side - Griffith's choice will expose his political stance, and a clear preference for one of the noble councilors, wizards and merchants will make the other two classes wary of him , not to mention Griffith trying to keep Tina and those ordinary people, which will completely offend the powerful and wealthy people.

Even if he is willing to do so, even if he has the right to make decisions in this special environment, Griffith has to worry about the future.

Griffith was not an apprentice knight who had just returned from the battlefield, nor was he a soldier who silently followed orders. After that day, January 1444, 1, he was already thinking about whom he was fighting for.After seeing Roland's unimagined path and breaking away from Krista's tragedy, he was thinking about how to fight again.

All in all, I am a sword. The Kingdom, the Senate, the Arcane Council, and the rich people here all regard me as a sharp sword to carry out their will, so do I have to behave as they wish?

When Griffith thought, he was as calm and distant as a statue.

Earl Hill frowned: "Are you listening to me? Knight, you are the sword of the Kingdom and the Senate, remember your duty, otherwise, the power of the Senate will make you regret it.

"Throw those merchants into the fire."

The count returned to his seat, and then Wizard Labinus came to talk to Griffith.

The wizard did not come directly to the main seat for an interview like the earl, but led him to a side door not far away.It can be opened there. After entering, it is a small room with a few tables and chairs, which is very private and quiet.

"The Earl does not know this place," said the wizard, "but I can read the hints of the flames and explore its mysteries.

"Knight, look at the fire in the hearth, and tell me, what do you see?"

Griffith turned around and stared at the fire, he felt that the swaying flame seemed to be some kind of living thing, and there was a certain will in the dark calling him.However, he could not hear clearly and could not decipher.

The wizard noticed the confusion on his face, and couldn't help smiling: "As you can see, knight, this world is full of unknowns, and the frontier of exploration is infinitely far away. We are trapped in this strange house, and we must be careful, a little If you are not careful, you will walk into danger. This kind of thing is incompetent for nobles who are Extraordinary and ordinary people who know nothing.

"Compared with monks and priests in the past, we don't blindly believe in gods, we understand the mystery better, and we are more creative, which is suitable for such a challenging era."

Griffith nodded, approving the wizard's words.

"I don't think you have misunderstood the situation in front of you," the wizard continued. "The mystery here tells us that in this small closed world, you must be in charge. If the rules of the world are that soldiers decide life and death, why? Everyone in the world thinks that the king, the Senate and the Arcane Council dominate the world? This is because without us, the world will lose order. Those mortals who cannot explore the mysteries all their lives, the wealth in their hands is just an illusion, as long as one Acts, a war, their so-called wealth evaporates like water mist, only order and truth remain forever. Only we have real power.

"Throw those merchants into the fire. Other mortals can also be phlogiston."

When Griffith returned to the living room with the wizard, he found that it had become a mess.

The air became colder, frost even formed on the walls, and even Griffith shivered.One of the civilians standing in the corner was burned to ashes, and one of them froze to death.Standing in the crowd, Tina pulled her cloak, shaking violently.

Seeing the door of the small room open, businessmen and industrialists sitting in the middle seats rushed forward, blocking Griffith inside.

"What did the nobleman say? (What did the wizard say?)" they asked in a hurry, looking uneasy.

"Quiet." The leader of the group, Mr. Beble, the shareholder of the shipping company, shouted.Everyone fell silent immediately.

"I know what they say," said Mr. Beble, "when the country has no money, they ask us to collect taxes; when it's freezing to death, they chop us up for firewood. But, knight, you know, How powerful we are."

"Is it stronger than the elders and wizards?" The owner of the cotton mill asked in surprise.

"Go away, I'll talk to the knight.

"You guys, go do what I assign you." Mr. Beble scolded, sent his companions away, walked into the room with Griffith, and closed the door.

Only Griffith and the shipping tycoon were left in the cabin.Knowing that the situation outside is already very urgent, the latter still said calmly.

"I'm an ordinary person," Mr. Beble said straight to the point. "In the past, I also considered taking potions to become an Extraordinary. That thing is not expensive and not difficult to obtain. However, I didn't do it in the end.

"Low-level Extraordinary, after all, is too weak, no more effective than a team of bodyguards. Not to mention the risks that come with it, hearing strange voices, and encountering ghosts. When I was young, I saw many become Poor monsters who were once successful investors, beautiful socialites, and lost everything just because of a crazy idea, they drank a potion that might make them stronger and more beautiful."

Griffith did not interrupt Mr Beble, but listened to him.He felt that this gentleman was different.

"However, this means that I am weaker than nobles, councilors and wizards, can I be slaughtered by them?
"No, it's impossible. In the past, fast ships at sea had to use the blessing of magic to speed up and strengthen the hull to withstand wind and waves. However, in recent decades, the keel and hull reinforced with wrought iron and metal are no longer afraid of reefs, The steam engine that Roland gave us makes the sea ship fly like the wind, and the coal used is far cheaper than the magic circle and dust crystal. I dare say that it will not be long before I will replace all my fleet with iron ships that spew thick smoke. Magic has to take a back seat."

Mr. Beble looked into Griffith's eyes and said to him: "When I am constantly converting my profits into new investments and expanding the industry, what are nobles and wizards doing?

"They are hunting and holding dances. A foxhound costs at least 8000 silver lang. The seven gods, a tutor's annual income is only 1200 silver lang. Every year during the social season, there are dinners and receptions every night. , dances and theatre, and spend a lot of money to maintain their extraordinary abilities, and take knights and armies to fight where there is no profit. If these are all paid by themselves, I have no problem.

"However, Mr. Second Assault Squadron Captain, they have no money now. This time I came to Baiyelan, and they invited me. There are also hundreds of factory owners, shipowners and merchants from all over the world. The kingdom is in The wars in Verona and Odessa burned hundreds of millions of silver lang, but did not earn a few cents. You know, the financial deficit has reached an astonishing level, but those nobles and wizards want to use our hard-earned The money is used to subsidize them, so that they can continue hunting without any worries."

These circumstances, Griffith is not very understanding.However, he knew that the meeting he would attend with Sonia in the next few days would be attended by many wealthy businessmen from other provinces, which was different from the past.

The policies of Byelan are determined by the King, the Senate and the Arcane Council, and most merchants are not on the list of the Council.

"Actually, I already knew that this day would come." Mr. Beble suddenly lowered his voice, "Someone reminded us that the nobles and wizards will treat us as cows, usually milk them, and kill us for meat if we are hungry. .

"I am not a beast to be slaughtered. We have been preparing for it a long time ago. Mr. Second Assault Squadron Leader, I know that your status does not allow you to take action directly. I don't ask you to do anything, I just hope You remain neutral."

"Neutral?" Griffith asked in surprise.

"Yes, as long as you remain neutral," said the shipping magnate, "in that little drawing room outside, with everyone so close together, are our fists and daggers no match for dull swords and wands? They think we're weak, No guts. Actually...

"We've been preparing for it for a long time."

Griffith suddenly woke up.He listened to the movement in the living room, and vaguely heard roars and screams coming from outside.

He rushed outside in a hurry.

"Wait!" Mr. Beble hugged him.However, the strength of mortals could not stand against the extraordinary knight, and he hung on the knight like a koala and dragged towards the reception room.

"Don't you go out! You'll ruin everything! Listen to me!" cried Mr. Beble. "Think carefully, why should you be chosen as the host of this strange house? The nobles, the wizards and us, Did you come here to kill one of us? If so, if you leave here and go outside, will others spare you?"

Griffith froze.

Grabbing a glimmer of hope, Mr. Beble shouted hastily:
"You are the host. According to the rules here, you are not the one who has the voting seat! You, a soldier, can decide who goes into the furnace? Will the world still have a peaceful day?"

"You want to stop the wheel of history from rolling forward, how can it be possible? The blood has already flowed, and if it doesn't flow through, no one can get out here. Isn't the blood shed in vain?"

Griffith picked up Mr Beble and threw him aside.But the latter was unwilling to give up, and still shouted: "When the dust settles, we need an enforcer and a protector!"

"Bah!"

Griffith kicked the door open and rushed into the reception room.

He saw the wizard strangled by a belt, his eyes bulging out, and Earl Hill's stomach was stabbed like a sieve, and his intestines dripped all over the floor.Corpses lay in disorder on the ground.Others, not only those who sat on the couch in the middle, but also those who had gathered in the corner, panting, each bloodied, gathered together.

"Who did it?" Griffith shouted.His voice was like thunder, and everyone took two steps back in fear.

There was silence in the drawing room.After a while, a small voice said:
"I didn't see it clearly."

Another added:
"The murderer is also lying on the ground."

Others said:

"Should we put 'em in the furnace. Got fuel now?"

At last Mr Beble came forward.He looked at the corpse on the ground, and then at Griffith: "It seems that some things not only depend on individual efforts, but also consider the process of history."

(End of this chapter)