The Difference Between Benevolence and Respect
Visible?
Bai Cai realized that it was because her mental strength far exceeded that of other Soul Master of the same level that she was able to Frisk the abnormality.
The Sea Soul Master died by drowning, and in the same way, all his previous advantages turned into disadvantages.
Several civilians passed by on their way to a nearby restaurant, where a flock of birds circled down and Pluck the lees.
The Belun region remains peaceful, with the undercurrents confined to the vicinity, and all the pressure resting on the Bai Cai.
"Belun is about to face disaster."
The girl in yellow did not make a move, but instead whispered a warning before turning into a nearby alley, seemingly hiding from something.
Kidnapping suspect, high-level Soul Master, disaster warning... Perhaps, the Belun region hides some precious treasure?
With a guarantee from the Belun wine shop, Bai Cai quickly returned to the estate and asked Dianya.
"Disaster?"
In the nursery adjacent to the garden, Dianya snapped off a section of vine. "The industry association is planning to levy taxes?"
"Perhaps that's true."
Bai Cai stopped asking questions at this point, saying, "For Belun, taxation seems to be a disaster as well."
Without evidence, publicizing this warning is tantamount to creating panic, and may even be Nasty Plot by Evil Soul Master to deliberately spread rumors of disaster.
Disaster? What can be called a disaster? War, beast tides, civil war, or Evil Soul Master?
The fact that this disaster was predictable suggests that there were signs, but apart from the kidnapping, the Belun region was calm and there was nothing unusual to be found.
Moreover, this warning stemmed from the kidnapper, and even setting aside his actions, the identity of the girl in yellow remains a mystery.
Of course, judging from the known information, the disaster in Belun must be inseparable from the city lord, perhaps due to an unusual bloodline, or perhaps because he was a key figure in the disaster.
However, investigating the city lord clearly requires the cooperation of certain forces...
"These vine peaches have already been pruned and need to be dealt with quickly."
Dianya blinked, her eyes charming and adorable. "Aside from the winemaking portion, Tina, we can't finish it all."
Tina is a nickname for Dianya. In the custom of the Belun region, saying a nickname signifies approval.
It was already afternoon, and the sunlight carried a hint of twilight. A pair of shadows gradually lengthened and disappeared into the vines.
The vine peach, a specialty fruit of the Dou Ling Empire, resembles a peach in shape and a plum in color. It has a thick skin and no seed. It blooms in late spring and ripens in summer and autumn. It is usually quite sour and astringent and is mostly used for brewing wine.
The Belun region also produces wisteria berries, which ripen in autumn, resulting in a sweet and sour flavor that is suitable not only for winemaking but also for eating fresh.
Carrying the fruit basket back to the room, Bai Cai grabbed a small knife, took out an oval-shaped vine peach, casually cut off a third of it, and handed it to someone in front of her.
Captivate aroma wafted over, and Kirlia finally revealed herself. Using her Confusion, she scooped out the fruit pulp and savored the sweet and sour vine peach.
[Disaster, warning—the other side seems to have been prepared; this isn't the first time!]
What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again.
As the fruit basket gradually decreased in weight, the Bai Cai grasped a clue that vaguely led to the truth.
If the disaster occurs multiple times, it will be recorded in the history of Belun, and by following the clues, the truth behind the disaster can be found.
However, even if a clue is found, unraveling the truth is equally difficult.
The Belun region has existed for thousands of years and dozens of generations. Its historical records may have been altered or lost. Unless the original manuscripts are consulted, it is difficult to reconstruct the truth of the disaster based on just a few fragments.
The four major powers in the Belun region—the city lord's family and the Belun Family —seem to have been established around the same time. The Life Spirit Academy ranks third, while the Industry Association is listed last.
The city lord's mansion is currently under martial law, the Life Spirit Academy is hostile to outsider Soul Master, and the industry association has no communication channels. Considering the difficulty level, there aren't many options.
"Why investigate these matters? You were neither born in Belun nor have received any favors from them; this region has nothing to do with you."
These words resonated deep within his soul. Ice Empress instantly materialized into human form, his golden eyes seemingly burning with flames. "Meddling in other people's business? This isn't a normal Soul Master."
"Just a task."
Taking out another vine peach, Bai Cai cut off a third of it with a knife, paused for a moment, and hesitated before saying, "Reporting to the academy is too late. If the warning is true, the Belun region is like a place hit by a fire in the middle of the night. Sober tenants should wake up sleeping tenants."
"Overflowing sympathy, foolish kindness."
The Sea of Consciousness surged with waves. Ice Empress suppressed her Rage, "Destroying the city is at least equivalent to being Titled Douluo. Waking them up is equally useless and will only add to their suffering."
Ordinary Soul Beast can only develop intelligence after living for more than ten thousand years. In other words, those under ten thousand years old, apart from their own kind, are mostly food for other Soul Beast. Even if a beast tide is stirred up, these Soul Beasts are just cannon fodder at the bottom.
These commoners have nothing but wisdom; they are born to be food. Even out of pity, taking a few would have been enough. Why choose to investigate the truth?
"To die in ignorance may seem merciful, but to awaken and resist disaster is a hundred times more merciful."
Stroking Kirlia, Bai Cai gazed at the setting sun outside the window. "No one is distinguished by status or strength. All intelligent beings— Soul Beast, Soul Master, and commoners—have never needed mercy, but rather respect."
"Respect..."
Ice Empress neither agreed nor disagreed.
These statements are certainly true; all living beings are equal because of wisdom, and this was the order and law of ancient times. However, over the past few hundred thousand years, this order has changed.
The next morning, the same table, but a different breakfast.
Spread cheese on the bread, cut off a piece of savory smoked meat, and enjoy the sweet and salty filling mixed together – it's incredibly delicious.
Bread and smoked meat are the staple foods of the Heavenly Soul Empire and northern Star Luo Empire, while rice and cured meat are the staple foods of the Dou Ling Empire and southern Star Luo Empire.
The common people in the Heavenly Soul Empire and the northern part of the Star Luo Empire could at most buy some bran bread, which turned black after baking and was mixed with bran and sawdust.
Ordinary people usually buy multigrain bread, which contains a small amount of bran and some soybean residue. Apart from its rough texture, it tastes acceptable.
Wealthy families typically buy refined white bread, which contains no bran and is made from flour sifted more than three times; such bread is quite expensive.
The Belun Family, being wealthy merchants, mixed honey into their flour and marinated their smoked meat in jam, making their material costs equivalent to a dozen or so Silver Soul Coin.
Dianya hadn't left yet; she was reading a newspaper. After breakfast, Bai Cai finally asked, "What price do I have to pay to look up some historical information?"
Most historical materials are unique copies, which are like a kind of heritage. Even for Shrek, access to materials is still quite limited.
"Cost?"
Dianya tossed aside the newspaper, stretched languidly, her figure subtly revealed, and said, "Anything will do—a story, a Present, a romance—well, the third one is a joke."