"Why should we? What right do they have to make us hand over Night Silver?"
"Not long ago, we were nearly starving to death. Things have only just improved—how can we endure Golden Chicken Ridge squeezing us dry like this?"
Everyone was indignant.
Although food from outside had been brought in by giant beasts, it still had to be bought with money. With the harvest so poor, where would they find money to pay tribute to Golden Chicken Ridge?
Most crucially, the ones they were supporting were a band of brigands.
In such a remote place, if a family of three spent carefully, one Night Silver could more or less cover a month's food and warmth.
Yet the two men Golden Chicken Ridge had sent sat brazenly atop chicken backs. With a casual opening of their mouths, they wanted to take away a month's living expenses from every household. It was sheer bullying.
And no one knew whether this was a one-time demand or whether it would become the norm, with payments due every so often.
"These brigands truly never act like human beings!"
The crowd was furious. People wanted to resist.
The two Golden Chicken Knights had merely come to notify the villages. They had already gone far from the village entrance, yet they could still hear the angry clamor behind them.
"These mud-legged peasants are reacting far too fiercely. We need to report this to those above. Don't really stir up their emotions and make them resist at all costs."
"Mm. The stronghold's strength has been severely weakened. In these troubled times, we do need to mind the consequences."
"Isn't Red Haze City going to do anything?"
The villages outside the mountains could not calm down. Everyone was discussing the matter.
Some suggested finding the Mountain Patrol