After a brief period of quiet, the people in the bar quickly became noisy again.
Alcohol can help weary men temporarily forget their worries. Even if they are anxious about what news the nobleman Babel will bring, and they only have a few pitiful copper coins in their pockets, they don't mind having a pint of frothy beer and drinking it to their heart's content.
Jenny, the only waitress at the bar, and the obese proprietress weaved through the crowd serving crude ale. The two plain-looking women's swaying, plump buttocks quickly became the subject of conversation among the men as they drank without restraint. Someone reached out and gently pinched Jenny's buttocks, and amidst the exaggerated scream of the freckled, chubby girl, the men in the room burst into laughter.
This is a typical wine from a small farm town.
This is also a typical lifestyle for serfs in a small farm town.
Some people couldn't help but steal glances at the five strangers in the corner by the window. Of course, the main thing was to see the beautiful and pure girl among them, as delicate and innocent as a porcelain doll. Such a beautiful and pure girl was like a goddess from heaven in the words of wandering poets. Even the older men would blush and their hearts would race if they stole a glance. It was a kind of beauty that broke through the limits of their imagination, pure and noble, as if she were untouched by worldly affairs, making it impossible for them to have even the slightest thought of desecration.
Compared to a girl like this, the wife of Lord Babel, whom many people in Krun Town fantasize about as their dream lover, is like a beggar standing next to a noble royal princess.
People were whispering and speculating about the origins and identities of the five strangers, but no one dared to approach them.
"Hmm, this is a very interesting place. I like this atmosphere..." Sun Fei sat by the window, turning his head to see the bright and beautiful stars in the clear blue night sky outside. The chaotic atmosphere of this country tavern reminded him of his college days in his previous life, when he and a group of friends would enjoy eating gutter oil barbecue with a group of cronies outside the school at midnight after finishing their game time.
For some reason, Sun Fei found himself becoming increasingly nostalgic.
Perhaps it's because I'm gradually settling down and taking root in this world, and many memories from my previous life are slowly fading away, so I instinctively want to hold onto something.
Angela had clearly never experienced this kind of atmosphere before, but the girl didn't dislike it. The only thing that bothered her was the smell of smoke and foot odor in the air. She snuggled closer to Sun Fei like a well-behaved kitten, subconsciously sniffing her cute little nose.
A young girl's charm is immense.
Her subconscious action made the men at the nearby tables quickly stub out their cigarettes and put their black feet, which had been brazenly peeking out of their old leather boots, back inside.
Torres sat to Sun Fei's left, slightly to the side, his sharp eyes scanning everyone in the tavern, judging whether they posed a threat. He even scrutinized the few emaciated, pale-faced prostitutes among the men, wrapped only in large linen blankets and a few clothes, soliciting customers. Although the blond boy knew perfectly well that His Majesty the King was powerful and that there shouldn't be anyone in this small town who could threaten Sun Fei, his instinct as a close bodyguard kept him sufficiently vigilant.
The divine master Garcia and the divine knight Alan sat opposite Sun Fei.
Garcia, born into poverty, had endured the hardships of a life of hardship in a declining branch of the Black-Robed Holy Temple. He was completely at ease with this small amount of wine, sitting quietly and contentedly. He even familiarly greeted the plump maid Jenny, ordering each of Sun Fei and his companions a serving of salted beans, a glass of sour homemade ale, and a few pieces of earthy-colored whole-grain bread.
Just then, with a loud bang, the old, dilapidated wooden door creaked open as it was kicked open.
Everyone turned to look, and a swaggering figure appeared at the doorway. He was over two meters tall, wearing a decent-looking light leather armor, bald, and with two steel-studded wristbands around his bare arms. He scanned the wine with a ferocious expression, a smug smile playing on his lips. He was very pleased with the sudden silence and awe in everyone's eyes as they looked at him.
Then, he turned around, and in that instant, his smile changed to a fawning one. He bowed and gestured for him to enter.
A middle-aged man in brocade robes, with a pale and somewhat thin face, walked in. He was arm in arm with a middle-aged woman who was heavily made up, somewhat attractive, and whose full figure appeared slightly bloated due to her age. Her jeweled clothes only made her look more vulgar. The moment they stepped into the bar, a clear look of disgust appeared on their faces. They both pulled out clean white handkerchiefs from their pockets and covered their noses, clearly disgusted by the foul air.
The gaunt, effeminate-looking middle-aged man is the master of Krun Town, the town's only nobleman, the powerful lord who can decide the life and death of any serf in the town, Ryan Babel, a nobleman from a collateral branch of the King of the Kingdom of Black Rock family. The slightly plump woman is his wife, Kelly, and the strong, bald man with a menacing physique is Dick, the head of this nobleman's guards.
"I think you all know why I've called you here. Spring planting is about to begin, and according to the long-standing tradition of Krun Town, starting tomorrow, land will be allocated and wheat seeds will be sold. As you all know, the entire Kingdom of Black Rock has now been bestowed upon His Alexander of Chambord City by His Great Emperor, so the old rules must be changed."
Slowly walking to the only table in the middle of the bar that looked relatively clean, the maid Jenny quickly came over and wiped it again and again with the cleanest tablecloth before Lady Kelly finally sat down, pinching her nose. Lord Babel, on the other hand, remained standing, speaking slowly and deliberately, his tone neither hurried nor loud, but absolutely unquestionable and provocative, as he scanned the expressions of the people around him.
"According to the newly promulgated decree of His Majesty Alexander of Chambord City, this year's tax revenue will be increased by three new taxes: Spring Seed Tax, Fairness Tax, and War Tax. These will be levied per capita, with each tax costing one silver coin per person..."
Before Babel could finish speaking, the entire bar erupted in shouts and commotion, almost exploding.
"Gods above, three new taxes? Are you trying to kill us all?"
"One silver coin per person? I work hard all year and only earn five or six silver coins. That's not even enough to pay my taxes. What are we supposed to eat? What are we supposed to wear? We can't survive!"
"That damned King of Chambord Alexander, is he trying to kill us?"
"We can't survive, we really can't survive! Fairness tax? War tax? Where's the fairness in this? War? What do we care? There's no war here..."
"Why don't we just let the Ajax invade? Maybe then we can at least get a decent meal!"
" Tyrant Alexander! I curse you!"
Although this day was always a day of anxiety and pain for the serfs, knowing that the high and mighty nobles above them would never be satisfied until they were completely exploited, the suppressed anger in their hearts still erupted when they heard with their own ears that they would be ruthlessly burdened with such heavy taxes in the new year.
The entire room was suddenly filled with angry shouts and clamor.
Sitting at the table by the window, facing the slightly surprised and questioning gazes from Angela, Garcia, and the others, Sun Fei shrugged. "Don't look at me. I've never given such an order. I don't think Uncle Best or Brook would make such a decision either."
"Quiet down! Be quiet!" Master Babel banged on the table in dissatisfaction.
The tall, burly, bald head guard swept his gaze around with a wolf-like look, his knuckles cracking as he clenched his fists. A fierce aura erupted from him as he punched a wooden pillar beside him with a thud, sending dust flying from the roof. A flicker of fear crossed the faces of the serfs, and they quieted down slightly.
Powerless and without influence, they seemed to be able to do nothing but rage.
"You must understand, His Majesty Alexander is currently fighting the Ajax on the front lines. To defend our homeland, each of us must contribute our strength. If military funds are not guaranteed and the army is defeated, the scimitars of the ferocious Ajax sand demons will not be as lenient as I am. They will slaughter all the men, defile all the women, and turn this place into a Hell of bones and scorched earth! Therefore, all these taxes must be paid!" Babel paused here, seeing that his intimidation had successfully extinguished any resistance in the eyes of these poor wretches, and nodded in satisfaction. He continued, "In addition to the increased taxes, land rent will also triple this year, and the price of wheat seeds will also triple. All payments must be made within ten days. If you fail to do so, hehe, you will not receive any land to cultivate, nor will you receive any wheat seeds..."
Before he could finish speaking, the whole place erupted into chaos again.
"What? That's impossible, we simply don't have that much money..."
"How could this be? Impossible! Damn it, tyrant, damn it, tyrant! Who will save us? They're not planning to let us live at all!"
"We'd rather return to the rule of the King of the Kingdom of Black Rock family, that damned King of Chambord, he doesn't care about our lives at all! Get them out of Krun Town! Alexander is a vampire, a greedy demon!"
" Chambord people, get out of Krun Town, get out of Kingdom of Black Rock!"
The angry crowd pounded on the table, some even squashing the metal sheets in their hands. Curses and shouts nearly filled the rooftops. The air felt like it was filled with gasoline, ready to explode at the slightest spark. Mars 'Babel words had truly crossed the line for these wretches. If this number were taken into account, almost no one in the entire Krun Town could afford to farm.
"I sympathize with everyone's plight, but there's nothing we can do. This is King of Chambord Alexander's decision, and no one can defy it."
The angry people, under the slightly deliberate guidance of Lord Babel, directed their fury towards Chambord City.
As some serfs shouted that " Alexander is the devil," Torres stood up abruptly, gripping his longbow. Sun Fei, however, nodded thoughtfully, gesturing for his guard to sit down, clearly realizing something.
Just then--
"You're lying, Your Majesty Alexander! Such an absurd order was never signed!"
In the crowd, a young man suddenly stood up and loudly retorted.
First update.