Successors of all mankind

The clerk's persistent pursuit of them made him vaguely realize that the tax collector might have some kind of ulterior motive towards them.

Otherwise, if they just wanted to extort benefits, they wouldn't need to do all this; they could just reach out and take it!

Would they dare not give it to them?

So it's probably the tax collector's idea, therefore this lackey needs to find some... reason?

But does the tax collector really need a reason to deal with them?

The gatekeeper can't understand the problem here, but that's okay.

Just be aware that there's a problem!

They were commoners, incapable of rebelling against the nobles. But Yu Le was different; he was a member of the great nobility!

"And sir, I... I think there might be a serious problem here. I beg you, please save us for the sake of what we did to help you!"

Ok?

Yu Le turned around in surprise and looked at the gate.

Da Men then told Yu Le in detail about all the problems he had noticed that day.

The more I listened to the music, the more alarmed I became.

At first, he thought that he had not actually repaired the divine machine, so the scribe noticed something was wrong, which made him uneasy.

But now that I've heard it...

It feels like there's something wrong with the machine itself, and they were just waiting for this day to cause trouble?

I never expected that I would suddenly appear out of nowhere.

Yu Le interrupted Da Men, who was about to continue speaking, and then looked at Wen Shu, whose face was contorted in pain.

After a brief moment of thought, he came up with a good idea and said to the clerk:

"Get your master here to see me! Otherwise, let him and all his stupid deeds die!"

The psychological fear instantly overwhelmed the severe physical pain.

When the person behind him released him, he slid to the ground, drenched in cold sweat, and said:

"Yes, yes. My lord, I will relay this to Lord Barkley as truthfully as possible!"

Very good, in that case, there should only be one nobleman, the tax collector, here.

However, feeling that this wasn't enough for his anecdotes, he added:

"One last question, who do you think I am?"

Chapter 21 The Lost Traveler

The clerk opened his mouth, somewhat at a loss for words.

How could I possibly know who you are?

But since the nobleman has spoken, he must answer.

"You, you are a distinguished member of the Hudson family?"

The Hudsons are one of the largest aristocratic families known in the document.

The other party was the undisputed upper class of the slaves, Nor. Of course, there were other great noble families, but the Hudson family had the most offspring.

Documents naturally gravitate towards the most likely place.

Yu Le, of course, cannot admit that all he wants is a sense of dread from the 'unknown' and an 'association' that starts from it.

So Yu Le gave a disdainful sneer:

"Get out of here, and bring Truman to see me!"

Neither admitting nor denying, you can guess for yourself!

Upon hearing this, Wenshu and his two lackeys, no longer caring about anything else, ran towards their six-legged cart as if they had been granted a pardon.

However, after running only a few steps, Yu Le called him to a stop:

"and many more!"

The document is turning back in despair. Do you expect me to leave something behind?

"Is there anything to eat?"

Yu Le didn't want to create too much conflict with Truman, lest the other party act rashly in desperation.

So Yu Le decided to let the other party know a little about his 'embarrassment'.

In this way, Truman would realize that he and Truman might still have a relationship of mutual dependence.

After all, although we've had some minor disagreements, perhaps I can get your help?

To be frank, we're not mortal enemies!

Completely overwhelmed by fear and oblivious to the voice-over, Wen Shu paused for a moment before saying:

"You, you don't have anything to eat?"

The Silent Way of Enjoying Music:

What do you think?

Wenshu glanced at the gatekeepers who were starting to feel inferior.

He immediately realized, "That makes sense. How could a nobleman possibly swallow anything in this godforsaken place?"

But... but I don't have any!

He's just a rough tax collector, he doesn't have anything good to offer!

But he had no choice but to bite the bullet and search.

Finally, they brought out a few compressed biscuits and some water.

"Sir, that's all we have!"

Looking at the beautiful compressed cookies and the clean water.

Yu Le was actually quite satisfied; he had been eating things these past few days that he himself didn't want to describe.

Whenever he thinks back, he feels that wilderness survival is just like that, after all, they still have rabbits and fish to eat!

But on the surface, he disdainfully picked up the cookie with two fingers and finally uttered a curse:

"Disappear immediately!"

The clerk immediately fled using both hands and feet.

Yu Le finally got to eat her first proper meal.

Although it was just flavorless compressed biscuits and equally flavorless water...

Yu Le, hiding in her room munching on compressed biscuits, was a little nostalgic for sugary drinks and fried chicken.

Come to think of it, today should be Crazy Thursday... but my home isn't here... I'm lost, so far away...

-----------------

On the way back, Wenshu, having gradually calmed down, began to worry about her future.

But what could he do?

He could only tell Lord Truman the truth, hoping that he could find a good way to solve this huge problem.

The six-legged vehicle was fast.

But Wenshu felt it was still too slow.

He sat in the passenger seat, his eyes fixed on the road ahead, but his mind was a complete mess.

That person's sneer, that person's eyes, that person's disgusted expression when picking up the compressed biscuit with two fingers.

Every detail was flashing wildly through his mind.

Amidst the fear, there was also boundless awe.

This is true nobility!

“The Hudson family…” Wen Shu murmured to himself, then shook his head violently.

No, that's not right. The man chuckled coldly. So it probably isn't the Hudson family.

Which one is it?

He didn't know. He was just a rough man, a clerk who ran errands for the tax collectors.

Numen Nor has so many noble families that he can't even name them all, let alone the truly noble people who are so high up that even the tax collectors are not worthy of seeing them.

The six-legged vehicle traversed the desolate Gobi Desert and drove onto the paved road leading to Numenor.

The road surface wasn't perfectly smooth, but it was a world of difference compared to the rocky beach outside.

The clerk knew that this was the path taken by nobles—or more precisely, the path that nobles allowed them, these "respectable people," to take.

People of high status have their own exclusive channels, and you will never associate with them.

As the six-legged chariot accelerated, the outline of the outer city of Numennor came into view ahead.

What was called the "urban area" was actually nothing more than a dense cluster of low shacks and simple buildings, patched up like mortar on the outskirts of the slave city of Nor.

It formed a stark contrast to the towering, smooth, almost work-of-art steel city wall.

Without planning or order, only the instinct for survival drove them to grow wildly in chaos.

Every time he came back, he would frown, not because he was a stranger, but because he was too familiar with the place.

I'm familiar with the filth, the crowds, and the lingering stench of decay here.

However, whenever he saw these people looking up at him on the six-legged vehicle, his annoyance would instantly disappear.

But now...

Looking at his reflection in the car window, he had a feeling that after today, he might really be looking up at a new 'self' from below.

No, it might not even have that; it might have simply turned into a corpse...

But even in such a dirty and chaotic place, there are exceptions.

That's where the tax collector lives!

In theory, as a tax collector for the nobility, he should naturally live in the city.

But in reality, to make his work easier, he moved directly outside the city and lived among the lowly people.

For this, the tax collector Truman was also awarded a silver medal from a powerful knight, which was the tax collector's greatest pride.

Therefore, the cleanliness and tidiness here are extremely incongruous with everything around him.

This creates an almost dreamlike contrast!

Seeing that it was the clerk returning, the guards were surprised by the speed, but still let him pass.

After getting out of the car, I looked at the magnificent detached villa in front of me.

The clerk carefully accepted the full set of protective clothing from the guards and put it on.

This is the territory of nobles. He is just a boor. If we let him in, he will offend the nobles' eyes and defile their land.

However, calling it a "detached villa" is actually a bit of an understatement.

In this area, Barkley's residence wasn't the largest, but it was certainly not small either.

The three-story stone building has six carved stone pillars on the front, and the Barkley family crest is engraved on the lintel: a hawk with outstretched wings, holding a gear and a sword in its talons.

This is said to be the origin of the Barkley family, but the details are unknown to the author.

The tax collector didn't bother to talk to him about this.

The steps leading to the entrance were paved with white marble, spotless and immaculate. On either side stood a guard, ramrod straight, their armor gleaming.

Every time Wenshu comes, he feels that this is the place where people should live.

And every time, I am proud to be able to set foot here.

But this time...