In Ark Simulator, why do I always get a tough start?

Chapter 11 Beer Hall Coup

More than a month later, some unusual news arrived.

The son of the old Earl of Viseheim died suddenly shortly before being appointed the next earl.

[The "Queen's Voice" was unable to determine the cause of his death, only knowing that this young man, who was about to succeed the count, had been eating imported Iberian seafood, the freshest fruits and vegetables, and fine wines every day for more than a month before his death.]

Even the medications he took when he had a cold met all medical standards, and no toxic ingredients were detected.

Ultimately, after the "Queen's Voice" investigation yielded no results, the count's son was ruled to have died suddenly.

[And without any suspense, the position of Earl of Viseheim fell to his only remaining daughter, Lady Gertrude.]

[Without any possibility of being suspected or tracked, you accomplished this assassination without leaving a trace simply by using a common-sense principle of "mutual restraint."]

[Gertrude then kept her promise and provided you and your organization with substantial financial support.]

But this is not the greatest help Gertrude can offer you.

Although you don't know what Gertrude is thinking, you can be certain now that she's willing to stand by you.

Furthermore, she is willing to offer her full support without reservation.

This means that all your actions are now guaranteed by the Earl of Viseheim.

With the guarantee of an earl's status, you have the greatest leverage to negotiate, trade, and exchange interests with commoners, merchants, politicians, and nobles alike.

After all, who wouldn't believe the reputational guarantee of an earl with territory?

[And you didn't waste any time during this past month or so.]

[With the deliberate spread of your organization's members, your reputation in the slums has grown significantly. More and more people who have lost hope have come to know that there is someone who wants to fight for more benefits for everyone in the slums.]

There was a man whose organization tolerated no internal bullying, regardless of whether they were ruthless thugs or barely surviving infected individuals; everyone was treated as an equal.

Everyone who violated this rule received their punishment—a severe beating with a mace.

All those willing to serve the organization received their compensation and rewards immediately.

Ultimately, whether driven by a burning desire for hope, a simple need for shelter, or even just a thirst for food, the choice ultimately rests on their shoulders.

Your organization has grown significantly in the past month or so, with members now numbering over a thousand!

Once the team had grown to a certain size, you finally named your organization—the Social Workers' Party of Letania.

[But whether it's because it's not catchy enough, or if someone did it intentionally, the full name of your organization is rarely known in the slums, or even within the organization itself.]

Instead, a title has emerged that inspires longing in the slums and strikes fear into the hearts of even the most wicked who are not yet willing to submit.

"Son of the Witch King."

As the leader of the "Son of the Witch King," through repeated misinformation, this title has gradually become your trademark.

[And Jian, who stayed by your side without ever leaving, silently expressing her opinions with only the simplest strength, gradually acquired her first nickname.]

"The Sword of the Witch King".

Now, with people, money, and power, you can finally begin the first step in your plan to overthrow the Gemini Queens' rule.

Meanwhile, you also heard some important news from Gertrude.

After more than a month of tragedy, the Gemini Queens finally brought an end to the great battle to find out "who are the remnants of the Witch King's forces."

Perhaps they finally realized their methods were flawed, or perhaps after a month-long investigation, they had confirmed that the core members of the Witch King's remnant party had all been captured, leaving only insignificant small fry.

This is undoubtedly bad news for you.

This also means that the number of unfortunate people who will suffer the same fate as you will not increase. In fact, time may gradually fade people's memories of anger, which could once again become an obstacle in your path.

Just as you were thinking this, Gertrude smiled and shared another piece of news with you.

The Gemini Empresses have calmed down, but that doesn't mean the Electors and nobles have calmed down.

[The Twin Queens, from the weapons created by the Electors to overthrow the Witch King, to their current rule over Letania, are certainly not just barbarians relying on brute force.]

In order to maintain a balance, they naturally promised many benefits to the electors and nobles who supported them.

[Among these, the twin empresses granted their supporting nobles and electors extremely favorable policies regarding the right to dispose of and supervise the people within their ruled territories.]

They believed that the stability of the lives of the common people under their control was directly linked to their own interests. As long as the nobles weren't fools, they wouldn't abuse their power to seek exorbitant profits through heavy taxes and exploitation, would they?

[And that was indeed the case. Nobody was stupid; the nobles understood the importance of having enough to eat at every meal.]

However, reality deviated significantly from what the Gemini Queen had envisioned.

Heavy taxes and excessive oppression can indeed provoke huge public resentment, and if riots break out, the cost of suppression will be even higher.

But who says they'll oppress the common people to the point of explosion?

The balance of power in Letania remained relatively stable during the reign of the Witch-King. Although the Witch-King supported the front lines during the War of the Four Emperors by increasing taxes, tax revenues returned to normal after the war.

The nobles, having gained autonomy over their own territories, unanimously chose to adjust tax rates within their domains to wartime levels.

After all, while the people of Letania faced some difficulties during the war, they didn't starve to death, nor were their daily lives disrupted.

Wouldn't everything be better if the taxes on the people of the territory were adjusted to below a "threshold" that they found intolerable?

The common people can survive, and the nobles can reap greater profits faster—it's a win-win situation.

What? What if the quality of life for the people in that territory declines?

What does that have to do with them?

To the electors and nobles, the commoners in their territories were nothing more than slaves who paid their taxes and provisions.

They should be grateful that we let them live; what right do they have to ask for a better life?

In this environment, businessmen naturally sensed the potential for profit, and they began to stage similar scenarios in their own companies, enterprises, and factories.

Wage cuts, reduced benefits, and the parachuting in of new leaders—the businessmen acted with impunity, causing immense turmoil in businesses throughout Letania and leaving the common people of Letania filled with resentment yet powerless to do anything about it.

As for those who dare to rebel by resigning, businessmen simply disdain them.

If you're not willing to do it, there are plenty of others who are.

The Four Emperors' War, the death of the Witch King, and the purge of many of the Witch King's remaining followers... have brought many areas of Letania to a standstill. Many people have been displaced, homeless, and jobless; for them, dignity is no longer a consideration.

As for resistance, that's a joke.

Merchants might exercise some restraint, but the nobles, having gained the power of disposal, could use vigilante justice with impunity against those who disobeyed.

As for the accident that resulted in death... which short-sighted executive officer would dare to go against the nobles in such a climate?

[While none of this has shaken the foundations of Letania, the growing anger and resentment in the hearts of countless people... have all been witnessed by you through Gertrude's recounting.]

You realize that now is the best time for you to raise the banner of resistance.

[If you want to overthrow the Gemini Queens' rule, now is the perfect time!] [And so, amidst the anticipation of the masses, you ascended the high platform—]

That day, in the tavern, Chen Qi, accompanied by Jian and Gertrude, ascended the high platform where he usually gave speeches.

Chen Qi's gaze swept over everyone present, and he could tell that the atmosphere today was completely different from usual.

Inside the tavern, which was packed with hundreds of people, not a single person held a glass or made a loud noise.

Everyone held their breath, watching Chen Qi's every move with eyes full of unease, expectation, admiration, and even fervor.

The silence lasted a long time...maybe ten minutes?
But everyone was waiting for their leader to give the order.

Finally, Chen Qi's words shattered this tranquility.

“...Just now, Countess Gertrude handed me a notice.”

"It is a new decree from our beloved Gemini Queen."

Chen Qi calmly raised the paper in his hand. His tone was devoid of any sarcasm, but everyone could hear the irony in his words.

"It records that they have made adjustments to the tax standards. From now on, 5% of our base salary will be taxed."

"And the higher the salary, the higher the tax rate will be... Of course, officials and nobles are not on the list of those who are subject to tax increases."

As soon as he finished speaking, Chen Qi felt the already tense atmosphere instantly intensify with a long-suppressed anger.

Pairs of eyes filled with unbearable hatred were fixed on the decree in his hand, as if they wanted to tear it to shreds.

And Chen Qi's wish came true.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we are falling into a bottomless abyss called 'Oppression'."

Chen Qi casually tore up the notice in his hand, glanced at the angry eyes, and said coldly:
“They are constantly testing our limits. They want to turn us into slaves without dignity or backbone, who can be exploited at will.”

"Tell me, proud people of Letania, do you still wish to remain enslaved?"

"Absolutely not!!" XN
The response to Chen Qi came in unison from the tavern and even the onlookers outside! They all raised their fists, expressing their indignation and resistance.

"no way!"

Chen Qi nodded heavily, responding sternly to everyone.

"We must fight! We must survive! We must take back our bread, our jobs, our dignity, and even this country from the hands of the nobles and the twin queens!"

"But, Leader! What should we do?!"

Below the stage, a fervent follower eagerly asked Chen Qi a question.

"Shut up, the leader is speaking!"

The follower was quickly met with angry rebukes and glares from others, and those around him immediately reprimanded him for his offense.

But at that moment, Chen Qi answered the follower in a calm and gentle tone.

"That's a good question. What should we do?"

"We must take action to resist their oppression. I need you to mobilize all your resources to unite with those in the city who are oppressed like us!"

"Strikes, marches, fights... Since the high and mighty nobles cannot see the suffering of the world, let us fight for the interests of our compatriots!"

"Unite more people, and let more people rise up like us in resistance—that is our next step!"

Chen Qi raised his voice again, and faced with pairs of eager and enthusiastic eyes, he responded with absolute certainty.

"My fellow countrymen, I promise each and every one of you that the struggle will be meaningful, we will have bread, we will have jobs, and most importantly, we will have the dignity to live!"

"History will remember our achievements in resisting oppression today!"

We will all become heroes!

"Long live Letania!"

Chen Qi raised his hand high.

The next second, what responded to him was an overwhelming momentum!

"Long live Letania!" XN
"Long live the son of the Witch King!" XN
Below the stage, the crowd raised their hands high in unison, as if they possessed the power to overturn everything!

On the stage, Chen Qi, drenched in sweat from overexertion, looked at his followers who exuded an aura of a thousand troops.

They have infected people.

There are unemployed people.

There were people who had recently escaped into the slums.

There were even guards, soldiers, and junior officers who rebelled against the government because they were dissatisfied with the infringement of their interests.

His heart was also filled with immense excitement.

A few months ago, he was all alone, like a stray dog ​​who had lost everything, and fled to the slums for refuge.

Months later, he was met with thousands of followers who were willing to follow him into hell!
At this moment, Jian, standing next to Chen Qi, was deeply moved by the scene of everyone united in the audience. He also turned his gaze to Chen Qi, who was shining brightly at that moment.

Although along this journey, Jian can be said to have witnessed his growth and development.

But looking back now, it's amazing how this man beside me managed to rally such a large force to face the crisis with me in just a few months.

But he entrusted his life and death to her... asking her to take his life on the day he fell into depravity.

With her limited intellect, Jian didn't know if Qi would become the next one to fall into depravity.

But the reality before him made Jian realize at that moment what kind of person he was following.

He may not be a perfect person.

It's not some powerful monster.

But the power of unity that he can mobilize is more powerful than anything else!

"Should we leave all our actions to the judgment of history...?"

"Qi, you have truly shown me a peak I have never seen before."

Save Letania?
This goal, now it seems... not so impossible.

Having already found the answer in his heart, Jian's lips curled into that familiar, dangerous smile.

She imitated Chen Qi's actions and raised her palm for the first time.

"Long live the son of the Witch King..."

Jian murmured softly, in a tone more resolute than anyone else's.

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(End of this chapter)