Published at 1st of January 2021 01:40:05 PM
Chapter 110
Chapter 110: Right or Wrong Direction
As incredible as it may seem, the swindlers did not steal anything from the rich and strong . Swindlers were often on the side of the rich people . Sometimes they accumulated good wealth that made them rich themselves . Of course, they wouldn’t take advantage of people like them . And if they wanted to deceive, they would be prepared accordingly .
So, rather, for those swindlers, their real “customers” were the poor people who did not know if they would eat today, much less tomorrow .
Usually, these swindlers would try to reach out these poor people gently, and whisper sweet temptations on their afflicted ears . The swindlers’ words were like heavenly “help”, since the poor would even kiss the devil’s hand in order to survive .
This allowed the swindlers to do as they pleased . They forced the poor to give off all their possessions to them, or even rob all of them such as tools or even property . These swindlers were merciless people who robbed others, and shook the victims’ hands a sweet goodbye as if nothing ever happened .
Therefore, it was necessary to think carefully before hearing an external voice . Poor people were weaker at heart because of the hurdles they lived through every single day . Their vulnerability made them an easy target . Therefore, they had to keep a cool mind in order to discern whether the external voice or the external hand approached them with good or bad intentions .
I, myself, had a good understanding of such things .
The people in the backstreets, who were born and raised in the slums, were often mistaken for being the big swindlers who deceived people and stole their properties . Their weakness and inferior status made them easy targets of mockery and prejudice .
Because this reality was a repeating process, those who lived in the slums never believed in other people sincerely . They were not foolish . In the backstreets, everyone lived that way . I once believed that was the only way to live .
Well, that was when I lived in the backstreets… I was at a different place now . Yes, true . But, the horrible truth behind the poor people’s lives did not dissipate at all . So, was the power of the Heraldic Order strong or weak? Which one would it be?
「…Our city-state of Belfein . Like the walled city of Garoua Maria, I want to keep Belfein in the patronage of the Heraldic Order…」
Words were spilled at the round table, which I hardly understood the whole conversation . Why was I at the round table in the first place? This was such a bothersome place . Why did I have to listen to what others had to say?
I was sure that these people would add more unnecessary things to this never-ending conversation . In the end, I would be the one to have remained silent, but dragged on with their trivial matters .
At the end of the round table, I was staring at the messenger who spoke for a long time from my seat . I kept chewing a tobacco with my teeth .
The messenger from Belfein stepped on the soil of Garoua Maria just when I was unable to withstand the cold air that swirled in the meeting room .
Without the messenger suddenly appearing in the meeting room, my left arm would have been broken already . By the hands of no one else but Caria . In that sense, this messenger was undoubtedly a messenger of salvation .
The authority who sent the messenger was the city-state of Belfein . Like Garoua Maria, Belfein was one of the autonomous areas that maintained independence as a city unit . Belfein was a powerful city-state, and neighbor of Garoua Maria .
Belfein was certainly the closest city to Garoua Maria; therefore, it had a thriving trade with Garoua Maria . People say that Belfein made great progress because of Garoua Maria, which had a strong characteristic as a trade city .
Summing up, Garoua Maria played the role of trade for the surrounding city-states, while Belfein played the role of military power, so to speak, as the function of a mercenary city .
Undoubtedly, in terms of military power, Belfein must be by far the greatest city-state in all autonomous areas .
That was what people were saying about Belfein . Therefore, it was important for us that they joined hands with the Heraldic Order and come under its patronage . However, everybody in Garoua Maria thought that this would be the most difficult task to accomplish . Contrary to everybody’s expectations, Belfein made the first step to a good diplomacy . So the main question came to everybody’s minds . Why did Belfein “surrendered” so easily like that? This diplomacy sounded excessively easy .
Ah, what a complicated matter . I had nothing to do with this meeting . With heavy eyelids, I endured the whole conversation of the messenger that arrived in the meeting room, as I fed myself on the scent of my chewing tobacco .
Everything about this meeting took a lot of time .
After the messenger left the meeting room, another strange silence engulfed the area . Of course, this silence wasn’t awkward or emotionally stagnant . Actually, no one was sure what to say, and their lips were stiff .
Even if something came to the corner of my brain, I wondered if I should say it or not . I felt hesitant given the delicate situation .
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While everyone was silent, their gaze naturally pointed toward Matia’s parchment .
「…Indeed, there is no abnormality in the official document issued by the city-state . Belfein’s magical mark is also engraved in the parchment . 」
Unable to withstand the gaze and the long-lasting silence, Matia finally uttered those words . Her words stirred up the whirlpool of everyone’s thoughts .
The magical seals verified the authenticity of official documents issued by city-states . The wax seal was a certificate used by the upper class families, while the magical seal was a certificate used in formal exchanges between nations .
Each nation had its own seal with a particular design, and each nation validated its text with the magical seal . This process was obligatory and undeniable . Whether the content was exorbitant or far from expectations, the nation had to fulfill its contract by using the magic mark of its own country .
If not, the nation would lose its credibility all at once . If that happened, commerce between nations would no longer be possible, and merchants would only be able to sell goods in exchange for physical gold .
In other words, stamping an official document with a magical seal was equivalent to a nation throwing its credibility down to the ground .
That said document was present here and now . As the Saint woman said, there was no mistake in the design and magic power of Belfein’s magical seal . Oh gosh .
To be honest, even the agenda of this meeting was too hard to swallow . And now this . Anyone who was given a letter, which could be taken as a devil’s message or a god’s message, would certainly fall into confusion .
I glanced at the black hair that swayed at the edge of my eyes . Filaret had her lips slightly sharpened .
I recalled that tough situations happened occasionally during my previous life . Especially during my days with the Hero’s Party . There were times when everyone pressed their lips and remained silent to ponder about what they should do in the future .
However, in my case, I understood clearly that my opinion was not that important, whatever it might be . In fact, I also remained silent during those situations so that I would not step on the snake’s tail .
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In any case, the genius Filaret was the one who always worked her head the most at such times . She had a multifaceted knowledge and could calmly express accurate opinions . Because of her talent, she performed fairly better than ordinary people did .
Therefore, I did not know what to expect this time, and my gaze went naturally to Filaret . I did it unconsciously, which mean that my turning face told me that my old habits were still alive .
Filaret tilted her neck . Her black eyes blinked as I looked at her, and then, she smiled mysteriously .
“Hey, what did you decide upon tilting your neck?”
I didn’t understand her intention at all . I professed that question in a whisper manner while waiting for her response . I was curious to hear her opinion on this matter, in order to provide a feasible answer .
After a moment, Filaret rounded her eyes and moved her lips with an expression that said it all .
「I don’t care about what everyone thinks . Either option is okay with me, as long as Lugis choses it . I will follow Lugis wherever he may go . 」
No, wrong . That was not the answer I expected to hear .
Of course, she had her freedom to decide whatever she wanted . But, her words crucified me . I was not expecting this at all . Where was the old Filaret I knew of?
I thought she would give her own opinion on this current situation . I waited for her usual guidance and insight . I did not expect such words from a person like her that professed strong wisdom . What on earth happened just now?
Perhaps she read my suspicious and confusing expression . Filaret continued to speak with rosy cheeks as if she felt embarrassed somewhere .
「Because you won’t listen to me anyway . Even if I say, “don’t go to that dangerous place”, you will behave like a small child who runs without thinking of the consequences ahead . 」
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I see . Her statement was indeed irrefutable . Involuntarily, I strongly pressed the chewing tobacco against my teeth .
Well, I couldn’t say that I never committed anything dangerous until now, or that I took all possible precautions beforehand . Actually, I almost fell inside the “devil’s mouth” many times since I came to this past timeline .
She was, in fact, not wrong . But, I had no choice .
If an ordinary person like me wanted to reach heroes such as Filaret with my hands, then I had no other choice but to make reckless friends, face the danger, and try to move forward .
Besides . If I tried to take care of my own life, avoid everything and live through it, then I would end up without getting anything like I used to be during the Journey of Salvation, where I was nobody, just a mere rat . It would be horrendous . I didn’t want to cross that path again .
I felt like something scary pierced my own heart . I swallowed my spit without realizing it .
Therefore, Filaret’s words were not that wrong . Actually, she described me accurately . However, I felt it unbearable, and I lowered my eyes down .
Upon seeing my defeated gesture, Filaret opened her lips with a smile and sighed softly .
「You know, Lugis . It doesn’t make sense to me to say what is right and what is wrong . If you say so, then your answer will be my right choice…Ahh, but, you see…」
“…I still want you to explain to me who you are and what you are . ”
Filaret finished her words with a whisper in my ear . That strange bewitching voice and the stagnation of invisible emotions made me lose my own voice .
I see . So what was the right answer for this case? Did that task just fell on my shoulders? I was trying to figure out in the corner of my brain what could be right or wrong .