Chapter 175 People are the greatest wealth
[Dear Demon King, this morning when I was patrolling my territory, I found a beetle with a special pattern. Its pattern is like a four-leaf clover, very beautiful, and it shines like a moving gem in the moonlight. I want to give it to you, hoping that it will bring you good luck for the whole day.
In addition, the wine you gave me is delicious, but I still prefer human red wine to the fruit wine brewed by Pointed Ears.
A long time ago I heard from an elder that the pointy-eared ones would trample the berries with their feet when making fruit wine. Please forgive my presumption, I don't mean to spoil your appetite, but it really sounds like footbath, especially since they often walk around barefoot in the forest.
If you like the flavor of fruit wine, Nightmare Land can also serve you. We usually fly and rarely walk.
This is purely for your health.
Of course, I like any gift from you. :)
——Queen of the Nightmare Land, your most loyal minion, Sissi】
[I have received your kindness, but next time please don't put living beetles in the letter. I have been a little allergic to living insects recently.
I mean, what about trying to make it out of amber? That way it would last longer and I could make it into a necklace.
Of course, I like your gift very much. I wish you all the best. Many lucky things happened today.
In addition, based on my understanding of Thunder County’s brewing process, they should also use traditional methods to brew.
The so-called blood of Saint Sis is just a gimmick.
——Luo Yan】
…
Luo Yan discovered a long time ago that population is the greatest wealth.
Although many miracles in this world are the will of gods, they are ultimately the manifestation of human will.
Even the gods themselves were created by humans.
The people here are not just humans, but intelligent creatures in a broad sense of the planet, including dwarves, elves, orcs, demons, monsters, and even goblins and ratmen.
Even "Little Gray", who has no specific form but has awakened his self-awareness, is included.
It’s just that different individuals have different self-wills and the weight of their souls is also different, so different races receive unequal favors from the gods.
In this sense, the human beings in this world are indeed lucky.
Both the Demon God and the Saint Sith paid a lot of attention to them.
Even Luo Yan, a newbie who had just embarked on the "road to ascension", after tasting the sweetness, began to show a certain degree of preference for the humans on the surface, and even "stepped over his authority" to respond to the prayers of those suffering people on behalf of Saint Sith.
As time went by, the name of the cemetery gradually spread among the refugee group, and even formed a "word-of-mouth effect" through word of mouth.
Especially for those refugees gathered outside Thunder City.
Without any lords to drive them away, they gathered together all day long, either waiting for job opportunities or ships to the colonies at the docks, or waiting for relief from the citizens in camps at the city gates or in the slums near the underground streets.
This kind of place is most likely to breed rumors.
Especially in the underground streets, there are brotherhood "godfathers" like Jack who secretly believe in the devil.
With the help of some people, rumors soon spread.
Legend has it that in the southwest corner of the Wanren Mountains, there was a benevolent magician who used forbidden necromancy to save the displaced people.
He used the spirits of the dead he summoned to help the refugees build houses to protect them from the wind and snow, and used the bones of the dead to build walls for those in need. He used the gold and silver he robbed from the rich to exchange for food to give to the poor, and he used the magic potions he prepared to heal the wounded...
There were even wandering poets who composed catchy songs about what the legendary magician had or had not done.
Although some locals have refuted the rumor, saying that the person occupying the North Peak Mine is not a benevolent magician at all, but the Demon King of Thunder County who is famous for his evil, most of these rumors cannot reach the ears of the refugees. They are often just a topic of conversation in taverns where adventurers gather, mocking the wanderers for being stupid and hopeless.
However, the refugees could not enter these places at all, so it was naturally impossible for them to hear what those well-dressed people were saying.
Even if they heard it, the ridicule, which was obviously sarcastic, would only sound harsh and noisy to them.
Compared to those harsh ridicules, it is obvious that those beautiful legends are more heartwarming.
They are pitiful enough living in the cold winter, and they don't want to, nor are they obliged to, endure the lessons of those who shut them out.
They didn't turn into robbers because of Saint Sis. And because their prayers had not been answered for too long, now even the remaining morality and faith in their hearts were facing the test of humanity, and they didn't care what was true and what was false.
Besides, what if that benevolent magician is the devil?
There is no maze in Dusk Province, and the residents there are not as afraid of the Demon King as the residents of Campbell Principality, let alone the citizens of Thunder City. In their eyes, the so-called Demon King is just a bigger demon, and in comparison, the Ogres in the Dimensional Desert are more terrifying to them.
Recently, they heard from other beggars that their relatives may have arrived in the northern part of Silverpine Forest and were protected by that adult...
More and more people began to think about going there to try their luck.
It was also under the influence of this trend of thought that a second migration trajectory gradually formed on the vast land covered with snow.
The last time was from Dusk Province to Thunder County.
This time, it was from Thunder City to Silver Pine Forest...
…
The suburbs of Thunder City.
Five richly decorated carriages, surrounded by a team of cavalry, moved towards the north gate of Thunder City.
Whether from the decoration of the carriage or the armor of the mounted guards, it is not difficult to tell that this group of people are either rich or noble.
And that is exactly the case.
The gold-plated emblems printed on the five carriages were the Campbell family emblems that had been passed down for thousands of years! And the distinguished person sitting in one of the carriages was none other than the Princess of the Principality of Campbell, the one chosen by the Light of Legend—Irene Campbell!
In fact, she should have come here with the light of legend a month ago when the crisis of chaos just broke out.
That was the most dangerous time in Leiming County, and it was also the time when the people of Leiming City needed her the most.
Unfortunately, however, it coincided with the change of power in Campbell Castle, and many things happened in the court.
Some nobles were dissatisfied with her eldest brother's close relationship with the new nobles of Thunder City, so they challenged her eldest brother on the issue of inheritance rights. Instigated by some nobles, her second brother also began to make moves, plotting to take the title that did not belong to him.
In fact, these things had nothing to do with Irene. She had lived under the protection of her father since she was a child. Apart from practicing swordsmanship and court etiquette, she had hardly participated in the upper-class politics of the Principality of Campbell.
Faced with the jealousy of her eldest brother and the olive branch thrown by her second brother, she was forced to be involved in this power struggle and could only deal with it tirelessly, mediating between the two forces, trying to persuade her two brothers to remain calm and not be used by people with ulterior motives... So her trip to Leiming County was delayed.
At the recent New Year's banquet, the tension between her two brothers finally eased, and she was finally able to relax and head to Thunder County to fulfill her duties as God's Chosen One.
However, when she was halfway there, she heard from a nearby lord that the Chaos Gate that appeared in the maze seemed to have been closed by the new Demon King.
The journey that had once seemed to have a clear purpose suddenly lost its urgency.
However, considering that a new demon king had appeared in Thunder County, she chose to continue her journey instead of turning back.
If the new demon king causes trouble, she must stand up at the first moment to protect the people of the Campbell family.
Of course, she also admitted that part of the reason was that the atmosphere in the castle made her feel suffocated.
Although she also hoped to mediate the conflict between her brothers, she also wanted to escape from this vortex.
There is no contradiction between the two.
Looking at the snow-covered and silver-covered pine forest through the glass window, Irene yawned sleepily.
The carpet with heating inscriptions sewn on it made the carriage as warm as spring, and the dry, warm air made her, who was fully dressed, drowsy.
She regretted wearing the fleece lining.
Faced with the persuasion of the maid who helped her change clothes, perhaps she should be more assertive.
"How long until we get there?"
Hearing Princess Irene's voice, the female guard sitting on the opposite chair said respectfully.
"We are almost there. In front of us is the gate of Thunder City. The governor and the mayor will greet us there."
Her name was Theresa Peg, the second daughter of the "knight family" Peg family, two years older than Irene.
Because Theresa's father had a life-and-death friendship with the previous Grand Duke Campbell, the two were playmates when they were young and have always been close.
Later, when Irene was old enough to wield a sword, Theresa became her swordsmanship instructor, and after her strength broke through the silver level, she became a knight loyal to her.
Irene, who has always stayed away from politics, has no direct descendants of her own in the court.
But if she had to find someone she could trust unconditionally among all the people she knew, she would choose the person sitting opposite her without hesitation, rather than her two brothers.
看着一本正经端坐着的特蕾莎，艾琳不禁用调侃的口吻说了一句。
“我总觉得从刚才开始就听你说过类似的话。”
特蕾莎微微愣了下。
“……有吗？”
“有吧，只是你不记得了。”
“抱歉，我……”
看着下意识低头认错的特蕾莎，艾琳的脸上露出了捉弄人的笑容。
“不用抱歉，该道歉的人其实是我……对不起，我承认是我记错了，你刚才确实没有说过这句话。只不过我看你太严肃了，忍不住想捉弄你一下。”
特蕾莎的脸上露出哭笑不得的表情。
“公主殿下……”
艾琳眨了眨眼睛。
“可以原谅我吗？”
“卑职不敢，我的意思是……当然可以，”看着那张楚楚可怜的脸，特蕾莎临时改了口，接着又继续说道，“无论您做什么我都会原谅您，但我还是希望您能够把警惕心提得更高一些，这里毕竟不是坎贝尔堡——”
“但这里是坎贝尔公国的领土，而且是坎贝尔公国的腹地，没有哪个蟊贼敢袭击坎贝尔家族的车队不是吗？”艾琳公主的脸上带着自信的笑容，从容不迫地说道。
她的自信并不是毫无道理。
莱恩王国乃是骑士之乡，能够将自治权紧握在手中的坎贝尔公国自不用说，若非武德充沛之辈根本不可能从蜥蜴人的手中夺走漩涡海东北岸的一角。
流寇劫匪在坎贝尔公国的土地上根本无法生存，更不可能是她亲卫队的对手。
看着一脸自信的艾琳，特蕾莎的脸上露出了无奈的笑容。
她想说这可不一定。
并不是所有蟊贼都是真正的蟊贼，也有一些是伪装成蟊贼的刺客。
在这次旅程的出发之前，她的父亲可是特意嘱咐过她一定要小心藏在暗处的危险。
虽然行刺艾琳公主并不会为正在角力中的两股势力带来明显的好处，但有时候即便没有肉眼可见的利害关系，把水搅浑本身也是一种好处。
觊觎的视线有可能不只是来自宫廷，也有可能来自宫廷之外。
比如忌惮着传颂之光的恶魔们。
不过看着那张天真无邪的脸，她最终还是没有打搅她的雅兴。
其实艾琳公主说的也对。
放松一些未必是什么坏事儿，绷得太紧在关键的时候反而容易发挥失常。
就在她试着让脸上的表情松弛些的时候，车队终于接近了雷鸣城的北郊，高耸的城墙和城门也一并引入了坐在马车内的两人的视野。
那座巍峨的城墙据说是艾萨克王朝时代的遗产，直到今天依旧在发挥着作用，哪怕绝大多数人都已经忘记它是如何修建的了。
眺望着那座巍峨的城墙，艾琳的目光忽然向下挪了几寸，被道路两侧一栋栋低矮的窝棚吸引了注意。
那些窝棚让她不禁想起了坎贝尔堡边上的池塘附近养鹅的棚子。
然而住在这些棚子里的却不是鸡鸭鹅之类的牲口，而是一个个衣衫褴褛的人。
他们有的裹着破旧的麻布和衣物，有的蜷缩在芦苇或者稻草裹成的褥子里，或者十几个人守着一小撮火苗……而这已经算得上是富裕的。
更多的人只是一动不动的躺着或坐着，蓬头垢面的脸上和露在外面的皮肤满是冻疮，双目无神地望着某个方向，让人分辨不出他们是死是活。
她不是没有见过穷苦人，却也是头一回见到如此之多。
想必就算是地狱，也不会比这更凄惨了。
“……那里是什么？”艾琳的声音带上了几分颤抖，情不自禁的摒住了呼吸。
特蕾莎声音低沉的说道。
“那些人应该是来自暮色行省的流民……听说那里最近局势动荡，堕落于混沌的食人魔部落派出小股部队绕过了黄铜关劫掠，导致一部分领主放弃了领地，许多村庄被迫迁徙……”
行省是王国的直辖地，土地大多掌握在国王本人的手上，地方上的领主既没有保卫土地的动力，也没有那个能力。
这场危机可以说是席卷了整个莱恩王国，作为王国的封臣，坎贝尔公国自然也不能幸免。
虽然同情那些流民们的遭遇，但特蕾莎并不赞同艾琳在他们身上倾注过多的关注。
仁慈虽然是一种美德，但过度的高尚却有可能在拯救他人之前燃烧自己。
况且她并不具备帮助这些人的能力。
最⊥新⊥小⊥说⊥在⊥六⊥9⊥⊥书⊥⊥吧⊥⊥首⊥发！
她手中的“传颂之光”也不具备。
而真正有能力解决这些问题的人，此刻正面临着更重要的问题……
“把车停下。”
特蕾莎不知道艾琳想做什么，但还是照她说的叫停了车队。
在骑兵的簇拥下，坎贝尔家族的车队缓缓停在了道路的一侧。
艾琳推开车门，婉拒了特蕾莎的搀扶，独自跳到了雪地上。
她并不是那种娇生惯养的大小姐，也曾在风雪呼啸的日子修习剑术。
然而当她的皮靴踩在雪地上的那一刹那，那透过皮革传来的寒冷还是冻得她情不自禁的一哆嗦，靠着运转体内的超凡之力才将侵入皮肤的寒冷驱散。
今年的冬天似乎不同以往。
离开城堡那么长时间，直到现在她才真真切切地感受到这一点。
她无法想象，这些没有超凡之力的人们是怎么在这寒风中坚持下来的。
“殿下，您的靴子不适合在雪地里行走……”
特蕾莎上前一步，想请艾琳回到车上，然而后者却打断了她的话，用不由分说的语气下令道。
“让车队跟上。”
看着艾琳脸上的表情，特蕾莎愣住了几秒，最终还是恭敬的点头。
“是。”
车队重新上路。
只不过与先前不同的，这次骑兵们不再是簇拥在马车周围，而是紧紧跟随在了艾琳公主的身后。
特蕾莎则是跟在艾琳的身旁，右手时时刻刻按在腰间的佩剑上，警觉的目光扫视着周围，不放过任何一处可能藏有危险的地方。
至于艾琳，她的目光总是聚焦在了那些破败简陋的窝棚上。
这座营地里的大部分帐篷都是由破旧的麻布和木棍搭建的，根本无法阻挡寒风的侵袭，稍微大点的雪都能将它们压垮。
事实上，这样的事情应该已经发生过许多回了，不远处的雪堆里就能看见窝棚的残骸，甚至还有无人收殓的尸体就这么遗弃在雪地上，任由风雪掩埋。
直到它们变成亡灵，才会有人去处理。
看着这犹如人间地狱一般的景象，她的眼中不禁带上了一丝悲伤。
唯一令她感到慰藉的是，随着她继续向前，映入眼帘的景象终于不再只有凄惨和绝望，仍然存有一丝散发着温暖的光芒。
那是一座木头搭成的棚子，里面支着一口大锅，锅里咕嘟咕嘟的冒着泡，汤汁稀的像水一样。
不过纵使如此，那木棚子外面依旧挤满了衣衫褴褛的人们。
那一张张饥肠辘辘的脸上写满了渴望。
艾琳欣慰之余，眼中不禁浮起几分好奇。
她停下了脚步，吩咐特蕾莎从旁边随机找来了一名路人问道。
“那里是什么地方？”
不敢直视面前的两位贵人，衣衫褴褛的男人埋着脑袋，畏畏缩缩地说道。
“那是炎王的粥铺……可以免费喝粥的地方。”
艾琳还没有开口，站在一旁的特蕾莎便微微皱眉道。
“炎王？”
她不记得雷鸣郡有这么一位领主，而即便是一般的领主以王自称也显得有些僭越了。
然而这些平民们却显然不这么认为。
那些复杂的宫廷礼仪和不同头衔对应的称谓就连一些乡村贵族都会被绕糊涂，更别说这些大字不识一个的家伙了。
“没错，这就是他开的。”
那个衣衫褴褛的男人连连点头，脸上洋溢出一丝罕见的红润，声音也不由自主地多了几分敬佩。
“那位大人是附近有名的人，甚至比北峰山的法师老爷还要有名……关于他的传说两天两夜都说不完！”
直觉告诉特蕾莎，这种自吹自擂的家伙一般都不是什么好人。
不过他旁边的公主殿下却并不这么觉得，反而好奇的继续问道。
“他在这里吗？”
“呃，他当然不在这里，他在忙着为我们这些穷人制作护身符……”
艾琳继续追问道。
“那你们有人见过他吗？”
衣衫褴褛的男人略微窘迫说道。
“没有……”
“看来是个神出鬼没的家伙。”特蕾莎朝着不远处的粥铺望了一眼。
那个衣衫褴褛的男人犹豫了片刻，又继续说道。
“虽然我没见过他，当我听说他之前在银松镇出现过，还帮那儿的人们赶走了巨龙。”
“巨龙？！”特蕾莎的脸色微变，眼中写满了难以置信。
那种传说中的生物怎么会出现在雷鸣郡？！
更不可思议的是，她居然是第一次听说！艾琳的脸上同样露出了惊讶的表情，不过却并不全是因为关于巨龙的传说。
银松镇……
她对这个名字有点印象。
It seemed to be one of the entrances to the maze, and the nearby barony was also one of her targets!
Without waiting for Her Royal Highness the Princess to speak, Theresa asked immediately.
"Do you know the name of the Flame King?"
The ragged man said, shaking his head.
"I don't know... maybe his name is Flame King?"
Theresa was silent for a long time and said with emotion.
"I didn't expect that there are people in this world who do good things without leaving their names... It's really rare."
Irene nodded, with a hint of emotion in her voice as well.
"It speaks volumes about how little we know about what's going on outside of Fort Campbell."
Then she inquired about some rumors about the Flame King. She ordered the servants who accompanied her to reward the ragged man with an Austrian silver coin, and then sent him away after thanking her profusely.
Then she looked at the porridge shop in front of her, thought for a long time, looked at Theresa and said.
"Now that we have reached our destination, let's leave the team's supplies here."
"Yes." Theresa responded and quickly passed on what Her Royal Highness the Princess had ordered.
Dozens of cavalrymen dismounted from their horses, unloaded the dry food in sacks from the army's covered wagons, and left them in the porridge shop that was providing relief to the refugees.
This action won the admiration of the surrounding refugees.
Although they no longer had the strength to cheer, the gratitude written in their eyes was genuine.
In fact, it is never difficult to win people's hearts, especially in such difficult days.
It’s just that the vast majority of nobles are unwilling to do so, and even dislike those who do so.
Princess Irene's good deeds unknowingly earned the Campbell family a good reputation in the refugee camp, but at the same time it also aroused the vigilance of some upstarts in Thunder City.
Not far away from the city gate.
Upon learning that Princess Irene had gotten off the carriage near the refugee camp, Governor Wilson could no longer stand there and hurried over with the welcoming team.
The same goes for Mayor Mil Lucius, who represents the citizens of Thunder City.
Only one person did not move, and that was Jan Andes, who was standing on the city wall and looking down.
As the head of the Andes family, he is a guest of honor of the new Grand Duke Edward Campbell. He is also the richest man in Thunder City and the actual power holder who truly controls the lifeblood of this city.
He looked past everyone and stared at the sword at Princess Irene's waist. His thumb rubbed the ring on his index finger. His face was expressionless, as if he was thinking about something.
At the same time, the satisfied Irene had returned to the carriage and continued to move forward surrounded by the cavalry.
Recalling the legend about the Fire King she had just heard, she looked at Theresa and said with a smile.
"It would be nice if I had the chance to meet that gentleman."
It sounds like that person is a hermit with great magical powers, and he also has the blessing of Saint Sith.
Today, the situation on the northeast coast of the Whirlpool Sea is turbulent, and the threat of chaos is approaching.
If he could be persuaded to come out and serve the Duchy of Campbell, it would be a blessing for the subjects of the Duchy of Campbell.
However, after hearing what Irene said, Theresa's face showed a trace of worry.
"I'm afraid this strange person may not be a good person..."
It is impossible for a true God-chosen one to be born in obscurity, let alone to be stranded in the wilderness.
Those who claim to be God's Chosen Ones almost all have ulterior motives.
All they rely on is the ignorance of the general public.
But Irene sees it differently.
God can only decide whether a person's soul is noble, but cannot decide whether a person's soul is pure.
At least so far, everything she's seen has been positive.
"I will confirm this with my own eyes."
(End of this chapter)