Episode 659 Wins Heart (3)
Sitting on the table that Harpman cherished, Ray tidied up his nails with a sword and spoke softly.
“So you don’t even know why?”
“yes. Just because you’re a sober doesn’t mean you know everything in the upper ranks. I thought something was wrong with the branch, but it seems more serious than I thought.”
Halfman, who rubbed ice on his swollen face from being beaten, continued.
“How about visiting?”
“I still think so.”
He got up, tidying up his messy clothes.
Originally, he intended to win Sandal’s heart and immediately concentrate on reclaiming the territory, but he was not comfortable because the corps, which should be centered, was creaking.
‘It must have something to do with Celia’s circumstances.’
The Kingdom of Celia is experiencing a lack of funds since the half-man merchants called for a halt to the deal.
The royal family must have been impatient to overcome the financial crisis, so it is only natural that they could not pay that much attention to the people.
If that happens, the angry people will flock to the top.
“I’ll be back, so prepare by then.”
“yes. I will prepare a wagon, so go on your way in peace.”
“Oh. What happened to the nearby Heukbang branch?”
“There is no movement yet. But I’m more worried about the demonic cult than the branch.”
Halfman said with a worried expression that he was not worried unless it was a deficit.
“What is it?”
“We started to attract capital and buy lands at random. Predicting carefully, I think it is preparing for the opening of the country.”
country?
Could it be that he intends to create a new religious state?
‘Seongguk’s eyes are wide open. How can I do that?’
Haffman continued, as if feeling such a question.
“Ever since the opening of the Demonic World, Seongguk has become an ogre with tendons cut off. It seems to be holding it in check, but where can it pose a threat? Thanks to this, satellite churches and demonic cults are rampant these days.”
‘If I knew it would be like this, I would have withdrawn the Holy Kingdom’s funds in advance…’
Halfman clicked his tongue in lamentation.
I can’t imagine the castle kingdom had declined that much.
Perhaps there was a black room in the background.
Otherwise, the provincial country, which had been creasing as a powerful country, would not show a downward trend in just a few years.
‘Now I’m going to move openly.’
This smells kind of dangerous.
If the demonic religion goes to the sunny side in earnest, the movement of the black room will be smooth.
It is a black room that creates an ‘union’ in just a few years and puts the position of the kingdom at risk.
If they were to work in the sun instead of the dark like now, the situation would go their way before they could even use their hands.
Ray thought deeply.
Shall we use the top of the halfman as before?
no.
In terms of utilizing the top, they are on top.
In addition, small kingdoms are still trembling because of the pressure with money or force, so even the upper half of the half won’t be able to deliver a decent blow.
Now we need an organization with power.
‘If you grow the territory quickly…’
Although it is a land where there are not many territories in the wasteland, wouldn’t it be somehow possible if goblins who know how to handle mana start receiving training?
However, I also thought that this was useless in front of the power of the black room.
While the goblins are being trained in earnest, they will already finish their preparations.
In that case, it would be meaningless to grow the estate.
After thinking for a while, something flashed in Ray’s mind.
“The Huffman Satellite Church was definitely a group that worshiped me, right?”
“yes. It’s a little different from the previous personality, but the context is similar.”
“Then, if I give an order, they will gather?”
At that question, Hafman nodded.
“Goddess Gaia gave an order to assemble, but would the Holy Kingdom ignore it? For them, God is Lord Taesangdan.”
Somehow proudly, he pats his chest and speaks.
This baby.
Couldn’t it be that he has already entered the satellite bridge?
When he came up with a way to overcome the situation, Ray raised a grin.
“Heh heh. After several years of rolling in the Holy Land, blessings are finally coming to me too. After all, people should live while doing good things.”
“Isn’t it all Goddess Gaia’s blessing?”
sounds like a blessing
What that woman gave her was useless divine power.
It clung so fiercely that even his own mana could not hide all of his divine power.
What kind of goddess is she who does not let her voice be heard even though she does all the hardships with her own hands?
Ray, whom he had known for a long time, snorted.
“It’s a goddess and it’s Nabal, and I need to collect satellite bridges first.”
“Shall we arrange a seat?”
Halfman quickly asked.
“Make it bigger if you can. So that I can know not only the kingdom of Celia, but also the kingdoms around it.”
“It’s natural that Taesangdanju is standing there. I’ll even borrow Celia’s castle and prepare it.”
Halfman smiled without even asking King Celia’s opinion.
Laughing at him, Ray left Hafman’s office.
When I left the headquarters of the guild and found the branch, sure enough, there were two guards like yesterday standing guard.
Looking at the face that would surprise even an adult with a fairly large fence, it gives the illusion that it is not the entrance of the upper ranks, but the entrance of the bandits.
Somehow, when I see the vicious-looking guys, I feel happy.
Unlike yesterday, Ray approached me in a friendly way.
“Are you still standing today?”
“This guy! Are you here again! I would have told you to go back!”
“Stop doing that, look at this.”
He handed over a luxurious parchment while rummaging through his arms.
The two guards, who looked at it suspiciously, became contemplative after a while.
“Taesangdanju? Is this a kid?”
I feel bad for the kids to hear.
“That kid is Taesangdanju, so let’s open the road first.”
“Yes yes… Excuse me.”
The dumbfounded guards moved out of the way.
It’s a face contemplating how to accept this.
“guide.”
“yes.”
Surprised when Ray, who had many things to say, chanted briefly, they folded the window and took the lead.
Upon entering, the branch was cleaner than expected.
Is it Hafman’s preference?
The antique paintings and stylish wallpaper made me think that it was indeed a branch of the upper half of Hafman.
“It’s quite different from the stark scene at the entrance.”
Go through the hallway and open the door to the office.
An old man asked without even raising his head.
“Who is he?”
“That’s it… In the letter, it’s called Taesangdanju of the guild.”
“Taesangdanju?”
Only then did the old man’s eyes turn to him.
Gray hair peeking through the robe.
It was difficult to see in detail because it was hidden by the hair, but the shimmering blue light matched the impression that had been announced.
The old man snorted without even getting up from his seat.
“joy.”
“huh?”
“What is Taesangdanju, a kid who doesn’t even know the word ‘Sang’ in the upper ranks?”
As if to listen openly, he gave a reprimand.
It was quite different from the expected reaction, so Ray was also dumbfounded.
“Let’s ask the old man directly. Why is this branch so desolate?”
“That’s what I want to ask, man. Why did you break the deal with Celia Kingdom?”
The question returned to the question.
“Something like that happened.”
“Because of you, only the people are bleeding. Did you know that only the Celia royal family would suffer if the supplies were cut off? People who need to make a living are not receiving support from the capital, so how can they live, you bastard!”
My ears are tingling because I raised my voice to the point where the entire office resonated.
“What are you talking about? The corps is supporting, but the people are dying!”
“What do you do with support? If you raise taxes, even that will be taken away!”
At those words, my mouth fell shut.
He had never expected that the Kingdom of Celia would draw and eat the blood of its people.
The king I saw before was never that kind of person.
‘I thought at least I wouldn’t fill my stomach by killing my own people.’
Even if it rots, it is said to be Junchi.
Although King Celia was playful, he had a sincere heart for the kingdom.
However, the reality seems to be slightly different.
Raised taxes made support from the upper ranks virtually useless.
If this is the case, only Silia’s royal castle will be full.
“Sheesh. In the end, it’s an old book. You raised money by selling public sentiment.”
The people’s resentment toward the Celia royal family would build up, but in the end, the financial crisis was overcome.
Perhaps that’s what the king thought was best.
The old man groaned.
“The young guy got stained and dirty at the top! Why did I feel like I could buy and sell public sentiment with money after working at the top for several years?”
“The old man’s voice is also good. wait a little bit It’s just that it’s a transitional period right now.”
“transition? Would you like to see the old man’s transitional skills?”
He holds the knife in his hand and swings it on a plate with fruit.
At that, Ray ran out of the office as if he were running away.
“Have you seen this crazy branch!”
I never thought that there would be a branch leader wielding a sword against Taesang Danju!
Ray thought about it even though he was struggling.
“I thought the king would raise taxes. I thought I’d leave it as a last resort.”
When taxes are raised, public sentiment is agitated.
If this period continues, a rebellion may occur, so it must be the last move the king did not want to leave.
Even so, King Theogard made the move.
Why?
‘It may have something to do with the epidemic that circulated last time.’
A giant plague that circulated in Celia.
Perhaps the cause was in the black room.
What kind of problems did that cause, and Celia couldn’t have reached her limit with that alone.
If you think that you are struggling even if you raise taxes because you are in a corner, it makes enough sense.
“It’s sick.”
It didn’t make sense that Celia had made such a strong move because of just one plague, but it seemed clear that there was something she didn’t know.
Before convening the Satellite Bridge, it would be necessary to have an open conversation with the Kingdom of Celia.
