Successors of all mankind

Both are the closest and most likely places around Numennor to produce nobles with titles.

Although there was no rule prohibiting nobles from leaving their territory, they enjoyed traveling around.

The problem is—this is the slave Nor.

Do important people from other places really come here?

Although the confusion remains, the completion of the tax collection brought a sense of relief.

After all, if that's the case, it means that although I made a fool of myself, I did get a false alarm.

Hmm? That's not right. If he's an important person from out of town, why would he specifically want to see me? And how did he end up here?

I felt much more at ease, but my confusion only grew.

Upon hearing other place names and seeing that the other party was simply puzzled rather than hostile or suspicious, Yu Le breathed a great sigh of relief.

He took a gamble, not too big, not too small.

Actually, he should have asked the gatekeeper beforehand if they had the concept of "out-of-town nobles," but he kept hesitating about whether to find an opportunity to run away, worried that his performance would be exposed, and the other party arrived too quickly, so he never asked.

Fortunately, this concept does exist. And judging from the expressions on the faces of those who collect taxes, it's clear that out-of-town nobles don't need to be treated as enemies.

However, the other person must be very confused now, wondering why I'm here and why I specifically wanted to see him.

After a moment's thought, Yu Le gently patted the casing of the machine, and amidst its increasingly loud hum, slowly said:

"As you can see, I encountered some unexpected situations. So, I need a little kindness."

I won't go into specifics. You can use your imagination. Then I'll adjust and control the details based on your answer.

Yu Le doesn't understand official jargon, nor does he know what's really going on in this world.

But his several brushes with death have made him quite adept at his performances.

He was no longer that desperate, unlucky guy who was thrown into the desert and rushed towards any human figure he saw for help.

He learned to observe, to remain silent, and to say the most crucial words at the most critical moments.

He is growing up.

Although not enough.

But its strength lies in its practicality!

Chapter 26 Slave Nor

A small act of kindness?

The tax collection deadline left me a bit confused. What does this mean?

Then, he looked with a slight sense of realization at the dilapidated settlement and the noblemen who seemed out of place there.

Realizing something, he tentatively asked:

"My lord, where are your guards? Have you encountered some trouble?"

The more he spoke, the faster he became, even revealing a hint of expectation and inappropriate greed that he himself was unaware of.

Are you alone right now?

Even if you ignore your identity, family, and all other external things.

The interests represented by a single high-ranking nobleman are already outrageous enough; the more one understands this, the more tempted one becomes.

He didn't have much courage, nor did he think he had any amazing abilities.

But even when I realize this, I still can't help but fantasize.

Just as everyone has moments when, due to certain factors, dark thoughts arise.

Whether it can become a reality, they probably don't even know themselves.

Yu Le wasn't aware of these things, but what he always did was to eliminate all possible risks as much as possible!

Yu Le gently tapped Shen Ji, then said to him meaningfully:

"Many things may remain just misunderstandings, but they may not. So, let's not delve too deeply into our respective issues, shall we?"

If you help me, I'll keep quiet; you're happy, I'm happy, everyone's happy!

Otherwise, you should decide for yourself whether it's worth it!

That's a good point; the tax bureau immediately bowed its head in apprehension.

Since it was a blunder, he wasn't driven to the brink and wouldn't be as extreme as those black market merchants.

"It is my honor to be able to help someone as esteemed as you, but, sir, I don't quite understand how someone like me can be of any help to you?"

Having gradually taken control of the entire entertainment venue, Yu Le watched the obsequious and sycophantic tax collector close down and smiled, saying:

"I need to move to a different place now. We can talk about the other issues later, what do you think?"

After a moment of surprise, the tax collector asked:

"My lord, I would like to confirm with you, are you really willing to go to our Nor?"

They asked me if I was willing to go to Numenor.

"Is there a problem?"

"No, no, of course not. It's just that the important people outside rarely want to come here unless absolutely necessary..."

Even though he considers himself an aristocrat, Truman Barkley, the tax collector, is still quite insecure, just like the original Gates.

Yu Le saw all of this.

This tone, this behavior... So this godforsaken place looks like a wasteland, truly a desolate and impoverished place that's not even a third-rate city, right?

What is this? Is it an alternate world version of Lingnan, the place of exile?

“That’s not a problem. Besides, you’ve got one thing wrong. You’re not going to Sultan Nor, you’re going to your place!”

The tax collector was stunned on the spot:

"Ah? My lord, where am I? I... I don't even have a servant like Nor here!"

Yu Le pointed around and said:

“I don’t think there’s any problem. Besides, I’m taking two people with me. The gate, the tin can, you two come with me, so, is that alright?”

He needed two reliable helpers, who were the most suitable choice as he needed to assist the settlement and had a basic understanding of the area.

One is that they have a lot of sunk costs on themselves!

This is unfair to them, but... I had no choice.

However, they must also hope to stay by their side to make sure their home can continue to exist!

As expected, the group of people who were worried that Yu Le would abandon them and never care about them again immediately lit up when they heard this.

"Of course we are willing, sir! Of course we are willing!"

Seeing them nod at the gate, Yu Le looked back at the tax collection office for a final confirmation.

Seeing this, the tax collector naturally no longer objected, but said with slight trepidation:

"My lord, I have no problem with it, but I would be so kind as to ask you to do me the honor!"

There's not much to pack, so we can set off immediately.

But they need to arrange everything in the settlement.

So after exchanging glances, the two of them mustered their courage and decided to ask for permission.

Therefore, the tax collectors instinctively reprimanded them for wasting the nobles' time.

But just as he was about to speak, Yu Le glanced at him and said:

"It's no trouble at all, we'll just wait."

With just one sentence, the anger over the tax collection deadline immediately subsided.

They immediately indicated that there was no problem.

Looking at the tax collector who was once unapproachable, but is now someone even the two third-class citizens dare not rebuke or refute.

There were two things: the gate and the iron can. I could only feel something churning in my chest.

They couldn't quite put their finger on what it was; they just felt it was both good and not so good.

They handled the gate very efficiently, and Yule didn't have to wait long.

The two of them came back.

They even changed into an outfit that, at least in their eyes, looked quite nice.

Even so, they were still not as good as the guards who accompanied the tax collection.

Seeing that they had changed their clothes and were standing next to Yu Le, the tax collector's eyes also flickered.

Then they boarded the six-legged vehicle that was collecting taxes.

It's grand, spacious, and futuristic.

Seeing the three people staring at him, the tax collector ignored the two men at the main gate who had become more reserved, and asked Yu Le with some pride:

"My lord, what do you think?"

This car is his favorite, and also one of his biggest expenses.

However, the feeling was less one of pride and more like that of a dog waiting for its master's praise.

"It's good, but I thought it would be bigger."

Yu Le spoke sincerely because he felt that the tax official, as a nobleman, was responsible for collecting taxes from so many settlements. Even if his status was not high, he should still be a very lucrative person.

In addition, I just noticed that this six-legged vehicle is a size larger than the others.

He subconsciously assumed that it would be very big inside.

The result wasn't as big as I'd imagined.

However, when these words reached the ears of the tax collector...

His pride was instantly shattered.

Clearly, the important person only made that compliment out of consideration for face...

How could someone like me possibly be worthy of such a distinguished person's attention? I must be crazy to even try and humiliate myself like that...

The convoy drove into the residential area in the outer city where the tax office was located.

Yu Le also stepped out of the open car door.

He then turned around and glanced back at the road he had come from.

This is the outer city of Numenor.

Yu Le originally thought he would see a dense and chaotic scene like Kowloon Walled City, but the scene in front of him was more like a magnified version of Settlement No. 386.

Low shacks, simple doors and walls, potholed dirt roads—this place has everything a slum should have.

Looking up, beyond the towering metal city wall, he saw another world.

Neon lights, skyscrapers, and dazzling lights that you won't find here.

The buildings were so tall that one had to crane their neck to see the top, and huge glowing screens were embedded in their exterior walls, flashing symbols that Yu Le couldn't name in the darkening sky.

Huge virtual projections flickered in every corner.

It perfectly presents a realistic cyber world for entertainment.

The distance between the inside and outside of the city wall, only a few dozen steps, felt like two different eras.

The cyberpunk fantasy and the ruins of an African slum were forcibly pieced together by a single wall.

Yu Le narrowed his eyes.

So this is the slave Nor.

Chapter 27 The Horror of Belated Realization

All of this is commonplace for the tax collectors and everyone here.