Everyone, stop rioting and go sing and dance!

Early in the morning, the people of Nice gathered in a square in the south of the city, preparing to launch the "18th-century zero-dollar shopping" event, just like a while ago.

However, people soon noticed the notices posted everywhere—in fact, most people had them posted on their doors as well, but literacy rates here were far lower than in Paris, so many people simply didn't look at them.

An outstanding student from Church School enthusiastically read aloud for everyone:

"Her Majesty the Queen has decided to provide an opportunity for every person in France with a dream and talent to realize their dream. Whether you are Craftsman, a laundry worker, a maid or a farmer, as long as you have a beautiful singing voice and graceful dancing, you can sign up for the ' Star of France ' selection competition."

Competition content: singing, dancing, and playing musical instruments.

Location: Lehi Square, south of Nice City; City Hall Square, north of Nice; Jupese Town of Nice...

Competition format: Professional judges will score performances...

No registration fee required; free meals are awarded upon successful pre-selection. Each round you advance earns you a corresponding bonus...

"The Nice City grand prize Livre, with the Royal House funding the trip to the Versailles Palace for the Finals. The grand prize winner receives Livre and the opportunity to join the Royal Orchestra."

For a moment, people almost forgot why they were there, and began discussing the ridiculously generous prize money of the competition.

"Can anyone participate just by being able to sing? My daughter has a naturally beautiful voice!"

"My brother's dancing is recognized as the best in town; he might just win Livre!"

"My cousin studied at Conservatory of Music! You amateurs can't compare to her."

"Is the registration at the City Hall? I need to go check..."

Singing and dancing are very easy skills; almost anyone can do them. And there are plenty of people with inexplicable self-confidence. Even if someone lacks confidence, they probably have one or two relatives who can sing and dance.

Such a great opportunity to get rich quick was not to be missed, and nearly half of the people immediately left to sign up for themselves or their relatives and friends.

What people fear most is having no hope.

Once given hope, people will instinctively grasp at it.

Then, the middle-aged speaker who had previously worn a black short jacket appeared.

His speech was still as persuasive as ever, but the content took a complete 180-degree turn:

"Dust to dust, ashes to ashes. Those who did evil have been punished, and you punished them yourselves!"

"Now, let's begin a new chapter in our lives. Hatred is gone, but life must go on..."

The people looked at each other, realizing that what he said made sense. The Duke of Dourfo's Manor, which had been involved in smuggling the grain reserves, had been burned down, and the Nobility's entire family was too frightened to return to Nice. The other Nobility were also unrelated to the matter, and everyone seemed to have suddenly lost their focus.

Everyone searched high and low for the man with the scar on his face who had led them earlier, but he was nowhere to be found.

Even the most enthusiastic people seem to have disappeared.

Did they sign up for the "Star of France" team? Or did they feel they had already gotten their revenge and didn't want to resort to violence again?

The vast majority of the people are a "mob." They can follow along and shout when someone leads them, but they really can't organize their own "activities."

As the speech continued, people began handing out Pamphlets to the crowd.

Those who could read glanced at a few lines, their eyes lit up, and they unconsciously read aloud:

"Alchemy, Level Three!" Staring at the few words gleaming brightly on the Magic Testing Stele, the boy remained expressionless, a self-deprecating smile playing on his lips...

Several people nearby were immediately drawn over and urged:

"Why has that gifted boy fallen into such a sorry state? Please continue reading!"

The story is so captivating that once you start reading, you can't put it down.

Soon another group of people came to the shade of the tree with the Pamphlets in their arms and began reading them with an addictive enthusiasm.

When people had read about a third of the way through the Pamphlets, they suddenly noticed a notice inserted there: Between noon and 5 pm daily, the Church will be selling bread at 30% off at five locations in Nice City, limited to 4 pounds per person. While supplies last. The addresses are...

The news spread quickly, and people couldn't stand still.

For the vast majority of people, bread is the core of their lives!

A three-fold loaf of bread means their filling can be doubled!

Almost instantly, fewer than a hundred people remained in the square.

Most of these people who are obsessed with "zero-dollar purchases" are Lesser Nobility who want to make a fortune, while some are so poor that they can't even afford a 30% discount on bread.

Just as they were ignoring the speaker's earnest advice and starting to whisper among themselves about whose house they could possibly rob, a squad of Police in brand-new gray uniforms, carrying Y-shaped Fork, walked in.

The lead Police shouted at the people in the square:

"Go home immediately! The Nice City Police Department is on a riot prevention mission!"

More than twenty people were intimidated by this imposing manner and left in silence.

Among the remaining crowd, a Lesser Nobility defiantly raised his voice:

"Police, even His Majesty the King cannot forbid us from taking a walk in the square, can he?"

The officer glanced at them and waved to the middle-aged Police beside him:

"Paul, take your men and follow them. If you notice anything unusual, blow the whistle to warn them immediately."

"Yes, sir!" Paul led eight Police to the side of the sixty or seventy people, staring at them coldly.

The point of riots is to create that kind of irrational, frenzied momentum.

With a group of law enforcement officers nearby constantly reminding you to stay rational, no one would have the inclination to riot.

Finally, the crowd in the square dispersed. A few Police stayed behind to patrol, while the others followed their superior from Paris toward the north of the city.

Meanwhile, in a rural parish in Provence Province, a Church approached a group of menacing farmers who were preparing to march to the nearest city to join a riot. He first made the sign of the cross, then took out a document and said in a kind voice:

"Listen, everyone, this is a decree that His Majesty the King has just issued."

"Are they going to raise taxes again?" someone shouted.

The priest waved his hand:

"No, Anouk, it's a decree that abolishes the lord's privileges."

"What?" The farmers were stunned and looked at each other in confusion.

"Let me read it to you," the priest skipped the opening platitudes of the decree, "Effective immediately, the lord's right to use the peasants of his territory to work for him is hereby revoked..."

"Remove the lord's power to designate hunting areas..."

"Remove the lord's right to unilaterally change the tenancy agreement..."

"Cancel..."

The farmers' eyes widened in disbelief; it was simply incredible!

If all of this is true, then my life will definitely become much easier in the future!

(End of this chapter)