Witch, Fireball and Steam Evil God

Chapter 482 Participate in the election, Reiko!
Under Bazalian's influence, Oasis City is gradually becoming the freest city in the far west.

Here, as long as your faith is strong enough, you can make a wish to get rid of any person you consider annoying.

With the arrival of Bazalian, the long-standing class system in this land has been broken down. The nobles of the upper city are no longer the sole masters of force, and the people of the lower city have gained the means to easily kill them.

Heriot was the first, and Hawke was next. If this trend continued, it wouldn't be long before all the high-ranking people in the upper city would be dead. The sheriff's office and detectives were completely unaware of the strange changes happening in the lower city. They were still gathered at the Eternal Theater, investigating the murder of Heriot.

However, Ethan felt that this was not their responsibility.

After all, no one could have imagined that a goddess who had disappeared for thousands of years would suddenly return and turn something as superficial as "faith" into a tool that could be used to eliminate dissidents.
They wouldn't even consider that this was the wish of the people of the lower city, and attributed Heriot's death to a political struggle. No one believed that a group of poor civilians who couldn't afford to eat and didn't even dare to speak loudly in front of the sheriffs could kill the treasurer of Oasis City.

“When all the exploiters and scoundrels are eliminated, the new era that Carlo promised will arrive, when everyone can put aside their prejudices and hatred and live happily together.”

The fairytale ending is truly delightful.

"Really?"

Mary couldn't help but ask, deeply doubting, "How could a group of people who would open their mouths and burn everyone in the house to death possibly put aside their prejudices and hatred?"
She felt that Ethan's only honest opinion was that the pastries at the underground tavern were indeed quite good. While she was distracted thinking, she had unknowingly eaten about ten of them.

"This is just one version, and it should be the version that most people believe at present."

"I'd like to know the other versions."

"After the brave and indomitable people joined forces to defeat the evil god, they were surprised to find that the new era could not fulfill their wishes. There were still too many annoying people in the world, perhaps right next to them, and they happened to hold a weapon that could 'eliminate' all the annoying people at any time."

Ethan paused, then continued, "And another group of people who are good at being prepared for the worst realized that someone might use this weapon against them. Even if some of them died, no one would know who made the wish. Therefore, someone would stand up and suggest that this 'weapon' be put under control. Having reached the new era, they no longer need this killing weapon."

"and then?"

Mary asked eagerly.

"Then the person who advocated it was found dead in his home the next day, the fragile trust collapsed, and people officially entered a new era of free fighting."

Ethan shrugged. Regardless of which outcome was achieved, the people of Oasis City would usher in the freest era.

Free fighting is also freedom.

Hawke was burned to death today for maliciously raising drug prices and ignoring the seasonal flu raging in the downtown area; he deserved to die. In the beautiful New Era, the market owner would be found dead at home because the price of vegetables was 2 silver dollars higher than yesterday, or because she said something unpleasant.

That would be the grandest era his good friend Kane would love most.

"By the way, there is you."

"I?"

Ethan subtly gestured to his left, and Mary looked in that direction. The people who had been so enthusiastic and advocating for burning Hawke were now gathered together, pointing and gesturing at Mary. Of course, in their eyes, Mary now looked exactly like the old woman in the hotel.

"The strength of your faith is being tested."

Ethan cleared his throat. "Why did you raise a different opinion when everyone was voting to burn Hawke alive? What was your purpose? What were your intentions? Were you sympathizing with the others affected by the fire? Was it possible that you would inform the sheriffs or the nobles in the upper town?"

Mary was speechless for a moment.

She did indeed ruin the celebratory atmosphere and make herself the target of everyone's criticism.

But she clearly noticed that when she mentioned the servants in the house, some people in the crowd stopped shouting and jeering. They also fell into deep thought, but they were too caught up in the enthusiastic atmosphere to speak.

"Such discussions can only lead to one outcome."

Ethan said, "To avoid your sympathy ruining things, the Brotherhood has made a decision and hopes you can make a sacrifice."

Mary got the old lady innkeeper's name on the "death list" with just a few questions.

"Good news, you don't need to blame yourself for this. To prevent the old lady from being implicated, you have already taken care of her in advance."

Mary is a truly loving person with a high sense of crisis.

It's like breaking a child's legs to prevent them from kicking off the covers at night.

"Moriko!"

Mary's face fell, and she glared fiercely at the person across the table. "Can't all these pastries shut you up?"

She felt that Ethan was the one with a truly high sense of crisis—just look at his mouth; if the new era really came, he would definitely be among the first to be killed for saying things that were unpleasant to hear.

However, Ethan's words eased her heavy mood somewhat, and more importantly, her thoughts became much clearer.

She took a deep breath. "Okay, what's your suggestion?"

Ethan, however, swallowed two pasta balls right in front of her, stuffing his mouth full, while looking at her with innocent eyes.

"hiss--!"

This is terrible!
Mary glanced back at the people still basking in the afterglow of their joy. Ultimately, without Bazalian's protection, they were nothing but a group of powerless weaklings in the face of the extraordinary. Now that she knew the truth, all she needed to do to get rid of these troublemakers was a simple spell.

According to Ethan's "prophecy," their uncontrollable desires will sooner or later cause even greater chaos.

Those who had been gossiping about her nervously avoided eye contact with her. Ethan's "prophecy" had clearly come true; after discussion, they had decided to add her name to the death list.

Just like Ethan said, the "Brotherhood" needs you to make a sacrifice.

This made Mary very unhappy.

“This was an inevitable outcome… Oh, Your Excellency Saint Mary, may I speak?”

"Say!"

“When the laws of the kingdom cannot guarantee the safety of the inhabitants, once they are given the power to resist, the resistance will inevitably exceed the limits, even become extreme. And in such extraordinary times, the more extreme the voice, the easier it is to gain support.”

The moderates have long lost their faith and gone down the completely opposite path.

“Bazalian has already taken the lead over you. He has bestowed weapons upon all believers. At least for this moment, as a new god, He has gained the recognition of the residents of the lower city of Oasis. In my opinion, Hawk is a good entry point.”

"Go on."

"If you believe Hawke deserved to die and that their trial was misguided, can you offer a better solution to Hawke's case?"

Mary did not respond immediately; she seemed lost in thought.

"This is a competition, and also a decisive battle between you and Bazalian." In Ethan's view, there are many ways to have a decisive battle.

One scenario is that Mary abandons all thought, wields the Wind Elemental Sword, and storms into the Eternal Theater to challenge Bazalian to a duel. In a battle of this magnitude, regardless of the outcome, Oasis City would most likely fall. At that point, both nobles and commoners would discover that no matter what obsessions they held, they would all turn to dust in the battle of the gods.

No one remembers their names, nor does anyone know anything about the past of Oasis City. Future generations will only remember that a god fell here and a memorial hall was rebuilt here.

"Or, you can think of this as an election for the new mayor of Oasis City. Look at them; these are all potential voters for you."

"Running for...mayor?"

This was a completely unfamiliar territory for Mary. Back when the Crimson Era ended, she was considered by the people of the Vatican to be unsuitable for management work, and her volatile temper left a rather bad impression on many of her colleagues in the Vatican.

She never dreamed that she would one day face such a situation.

"Your rival, Ms. Bazalian, has proposed a new bill for 'everyone to carry a gun and fight freely.' Based on Oasis City's past environment, I think this new bill is very appealing to the residents of the Lower City. Now her supporters have decided in good faith to shoot Hawke and everyone in his estate."

Ethan said, "So, Reiko, can you propose a better new bill?"

Even so, Ethan discreetly hid a small note under the pastry and handed it over.

"This is……"

"Ivy Margaret's contact information; I've heard she's very accomplished in this field."

"Thanks, Moriko."

When the two left the tavern, it was already dawn. The police and the Vatican's enforcement teams were still everywhere, and the entire lower town was shrouded in an extremely oppressive atmosphere. Some people vaguely noticed the abnormality of the commoners, mainly the way they were being looked at.

Many ordinary people have lost their former timidity and humility, and have gained a bit of fierceness, as if they are conveying a message with their eyes.

—I'll slaughter you all sooner or later!
The two returned to the hotel. Mary kept a close eye on everything around her, and when she saw Winter, a smile finally appeared on her face.

Just as rumored, she is a vengeful person.

Now, she wants to take revenge on Moriko for what she did in the underground bar.

"Miss Winter."

She stepped forward and said, "I want to report this."

"Ok?"

"Ethan was just peeking at the waitress's thighs in the underground pub!"

Ethan was dumbfounded. For a moment, he lost his magical "prophetic" ability. This sudden betrayal left him stunned on the spot, but then he sneered, "Do you think she would believe such a clumsy lie?"

Ethan stepped forward and put his arm around Winter. "You see, this is trust."

“I know, but it has nothing to do with trust.”

Mary's slight upturn of the lips made Ethan's heart skip a beat. At the same time, Winter seized the opportunity to tighten her grip on Ethan's shoulder. "Didn't you notice? All she needs is an excuse. The credibility of the excuse itself doesn't matter."

"Reiko—!"

This was Ethan's last shout before he was dragged into the room.

That damn politician, he's going to vote for Bazalian!
That morning, another shocking piece of news spread throughout the upper town: following Heriot's mysterious death, a fire had burned Hawke's manor to the ground. Fortunately, no one was injured in the fire, and they were rescued when the fire broke out.

It wasn't until the afternoon that the news reached the ears of the residents of the Xiacheng District.

For them, this was nothing short of devastating news.

Hawke is still alive. The fire only destroyed his mansion, but for a villain like Hawke, losing a room is nothing. With the money he squeezes from the people of Oasis City, he can rebuild his estate at any time.

This also means that their wish has failed.

Could it be that... even goddesses cannot completely punish these villains?
For a time, the Lower City was deathly still, until another bombshell piece of news spread like wildfire among the crowd—this evening, a public trial of Hawke would be held in the central square of the Upper City, at which time all the blockades to the Upper City would be lifted, and the person who released this news hoped that all the residents of the Lower City would participate in this public trial.

"lie!"

"This must be a conspiracy by those people!"

This was the first reaction of ordinary people.

A public trial for Hawke?

Even a three-year-old in the Lower City wouldn't believe such an obvious lie. Hawke's ability to manipulate drug prices was undoubtedly due to his collusion with other officials. Those who had reported Hawke and Heriot were either arrested by the security forces, imprisoned on trumped-up charges, or secretly murdered.

"They're trying to trick us into going to the upper district!"

Inside the underground tavern, another urgent meeting is being held.

On this issue, opinions among ordinary people also diverged.

Some advocated staying in the lower city and refusing to go; others planned to gather all the "Fangmin," for the goddess had not only cured their illnesses but also enhanced their physical abilities, enabling them to resist even when facing armed security forces.

"Fight them!"

This is another perspective; in their view, Hawke's escape from death is an opportunity, and also a test from the goddess for them.

They too must personally engage in the battle.

But things are different now; they know that the goddess is with them.

The meeting quickly reached a resolution, with faith in the goddess prevailing. The people decided, "Gather all our strength; today it's either them or us who perish!"

Meanwhile, inside the Upper Town Hall, Hawke looked ashen-faced.

He thought he had escaped the fire, but little did he know that the person who rescued him was only after his own life, and that he would be sent to the guillotine.

However, at this moment, not one of the officials who usually accepted bribes dared to step forward and speak up for him.

Because before them appeared the former Holy Mary of the Papacy.

As stated in the Holy Scriptures, her every word and action represents the will of the goddess of life.

(End of this chapter)