Transcendent Journey

To

The source continent is in the north, uppsala, a medium-sized city in the east of Atlant, Iceland.

wu wu wu…

Even though the last month of spring has arrived in the rest of the continent, this land seems to be still in winter. The cold wind is blowing on the eaves and the remaining snow on the treetops, making people’s faces hurt.

“Stop! Stop! The king’s, the church, and the lord’s, my three window taxes and fireplace taxes have been paid, you can no longer take away my treasured porcelain!”

An old man wrapped in a shabby sheepskin coat screamed miserably, but he couldn’t stop the wolf-like soldiers and the lean tax official with a faint sulfur smell on his body.

The neighbors on this street poked out their heads cautiously, and all of them couldn’t bear it, but even if a few youngsters were filled with outrage, they didn’t dare to act at all.

Because of the old man’s encounter, none of them can avoid it!

The natural environment of the Atlan Kingdom is harsh. About 30% of the northern territory is located within the polar circle, and most of the remaining areas are cold all year round, and agriculture and animal husbandry are underdeveloped.

Not to mention that they did not catch the ride of the steam industry at all. The characteristic striped cloth produced by the hand-crafted workshop was also severely impacted by the tulip industrial products.

Although it was once a maritime power that immediately followed the Sirius Empire to open up foreign exploration, it has actually declined a bit due to various reasons over the years.

Especially, with the death of the older generation of “Guardians of the Kingdom” one after another, Atlan’s national fortune is no longer there.

Peak military force, which can support their bloody shadow over the coast of the continent for four centuries, has disappeared.

Now only one titled Knight “Bloodthirsty Hunting” is left alone to support it.

If it were not for the surviving fierceness and the hard-to-maintain navy, this country would almost completely fall out of the continental powers.

In addition.

Goddess, the “breath of frost” believed by the Atlanians, is the holy residence on earth at the northernmost end of the kingdom. It is also the deepest part of the land of eternal white land and snow, and the source of all cold waves in the northern hemisphere. .

As a natural Spiritual God, this Goddess is as indifferent as his [the priesthood], like a north wind gazing coldly at the world, and rarely interferes with the progress of the world.

Only the “Church of Breath of Frost”, under the banner of Goddess, fights against the secular rulers.

These characteristics have caused this Icelandic kingdom to have strong folk customs, but the kingdom’s “feudal” remnants are also extremely heavy, and it still retains many real lords and private armaments that belong to them.

In other words, the king has to collect taxes, the church has to collect taxes, and the lords have to collect taxes!

For example, the “window tax” and “fireplace tax” currently being levied by local lords.

“Window tax”: All houses are the basic fee of 20 copper (converted). If the number of windows reaches more than 10, you must pay 40 copper.

“Fireplace tax”: 10 copper furs for each fireplace, levied every six months, that is to say, a Chang Family with only one fireplace must pay at least 20 copper furs every year.

There are many more exotic taxes than these two taxes. For example, the “fat corpse tax” stipulates that the width of the coffin used by the deceased is 58 cm, and the tax is 50 copper for more than 1 cm.

Various exorbitant taxes and taxes cover all aspects of people’s lives.

What’s more terrible is that the same tax has to be paid three times to three people, and the people are all complaining.

And because the “fireplace tax” must enter the residents’ houses to be counted, tax officials and soldiers have to collect taxes from house to house.

In the process, the “taxes” belong to the lord, but the extra gain belongs to…they themselves.

Like Ivan and Livina, the ruling classes that have the ability to restrain themselves and know how to implement “wealth redistribution” to alleviate social conflicts are after all a minority.

Most royal families are better at using violence than profit to rule the people.

It can be said that many times everyone is worse than anyone else.

The king’s autocratic rule, political system rigidity, human rights disregard, government corruption, economic recession, high unemployment rate, people’s hardship…

The long-term rule of the ruling class, lack of reform, opaque political and economic distribution, etc., have become more than a stubborn disease in Atlant.

Especially now that the “Tulip Alliance” rules the sea, and the flying shears are quickly launched into the water, and the days of Sea Pirates have gradually become difficult.

No looting from the outside, only intensified exploitation at the inside, Atlant gradually fell into a vicious circle.

Looking at the soldiers who robbed residents’ property unscrupulously in the middle of tax collection, it really looks like the end of the dynasty, the collapse of order, and the precarious wind and rain.

creak! creak! …

In this depressing and numb atmosphere.

A burly and tall young man with the appearance characteristics of Atlan and Kojaks walked into this unspeakable city by stepping on the uncleared snow on the ground.

The young man wore a clean and decent hunting outfit, bright leather boots, and a long sword hanging from his waist. Although they don’t wear any aristocratic coat of arms, they seem to be two types of people with those suffering haha ​​civilians.

The city gate official who used to watch people order food, didn’t even charge his entrance tax.

“It’s really unexpected here…it sucks.”

Ivan’s fifth disciple Bach, for the first time in his life set foot on his father’s hometown-Atlan, a country with pirate genes.

However.

Ever since he took the teacher’s mission and set foot on this land, Bach has been disappointed in this so-called motherland that he has never been to.

Although it is much stronger than the Kojak who also live in the polar circle of the new continent.

But not to mention that it is compared with the rich and civilized Garrett duchy, even if it is far inferior to the former Sirius colony.

Bach, who came to the source continent for the first time, couldn’t help but feel a little expectant and disillusioned.

“en? “

Under the guidance of the [spirit net network] dispatched in advance, after walking through several streets in succession, his ears suddenly moved.

But I heard that in a sheltered place on the corner of the street next to him, a down-and-out bard with worn-out clothes was chanting poetry.

There is nothing wrong with the poet himself, but it is the poet’s singing that makes him stop and listen.

The general idea is:

“All the suffering of the people is due to the dictatorship of the monarch and the dictatorship of the nobility.

The people of the “Lower Republics” in the south are already qualified to choose their own leaders. The leaders of the country must serve the people instead of sucking blood on the people.

The people not only have enough food and clothing, but they can also enjoy the loans and subsidies granted by the government, which give them the opportunity to become masters…

If a democratically elected leader fails, the people have the right to change to another… Only when we are united can we have a happy life of our own…”

Such words are mixed in the story.

In the end, even if there is no reward at all, he doesn’t change face.

Taking off his hat bowed to each of the longing audiences, saying: “‘Atlan Democracy, Freedom Process Office’ bless you!”

There seems to be some kind of “bewitching” power in the tone, which makes people can’t help but believe what he said.

The crowd dispersed again, only Bach stood still looking thoughtful:

“This is the [Democracy Fighter] in the [Faceless Man] intelligence? Is the Low Republic targeting Atlan?

This broken place is really a dance of demons.

Forget it, none of this has anything to do with me. It is still important to complete the teacher’s task first. “

The “world currency” plan in the mundane world does not affect the two medium-term goals set by Ivan:

Explore the unknown behind the door of “End of the World” and the [Ring of Mobius] that may be hidden there; explore the space tightly sealed by the “Sweepers”, and [Carter Leo’s] that may be hidden there wheel】.

If you want to go to the world behind the door and get the “ultimate secret” of this World, if you don’t pass through the door guarded by the “Golden Kingdom”, you will most likely be completely lost in the storm belt.

So.

Since returning from the “Murian Civilization” last time, Jeros has set out to find the remaining [Golden Compass].

Only when thirteen golden compasses converge, can the door to the endless ocean “Furcus” be opened.

In the most recent transmission, plus the original ones, Jeros had already collected a total of seven, plus one in Ivan’s hand and one in Olivia’s hand.

Now that they have nine compasses in their hands, it is not too far to collect them all.

There is another one that clearly knows the clue…

Thoughts were surging, and Bach had already been guided by the [Spirit Net Network] to outside a street where there were some flying dogs, and saw the group of soldiers and tax officials who were collecting taxes from house to house.

I can’t help but wrinkle frowned at a glance.

Although Bach’s main career path is on the physical side, he has also learned about witchcraft from Ivan as a minor in [wizard].

When standing at the downwind, the keen sense of smell has automatically captured the breath of the skinny tax officer:

“Sulfur? A… Demon of the Lower Realm?”

At this moment.

Ah——!

A slightly immature girl screamed across the street.

Immediately afterwards, he heard the soldiers “collecting taxes” in a certain family yelling excitedly:

“Hahaha, head, look! The poor ghost who lives here actually holds a compass, which seems to be pure gold!”

“Shut up, what a collection of poor ghosts? This is obviously stolen goods! Take it with me and the others!”

Jingle screams…

“Ah! Let go of me!”

The eyes of the mixed-race youth couldn’t help narrowing dangerously.