The palanquin procession of the Pale God, in a grand and imposing manner, dispersed the pedestrians in the heart of the Imperial City's main street, brazenly occupying the road alone and slowly making its way across the road.
As the Pale God increasingly traveled, the Holy Empire was forced to enact special laws for him.
Just like modern traffic rules, the chariot of this Pale God is now also subject to corresponding rules.
However, unlike today's somewhat restrictive traffic rules, the Pale God's traffic laws only offer benefits, not obligations.
No pedestrian or carriage, or even a moving train, may veer into the carriage of the Pale God.
That's why he can now dominate the road and walk alone.
In terms of respect for the Pale God, the Holy Empire certainly held Norton in high regard.
Unfortunately, this so-called respect is nothing more than a sliver of power derived from strength.
Norton sat high atop his carriage, his dark gaze sweeping over the workers around him, who were diligently starting their shifts like ants, and felt a pang of melancholy.
It's only six in the morning now, and they've already started their hard work for the day.
Even young children could be seen everywhere, carrying buckets of water or other objects, diligently cleaning, their clothes tattered and their bodies emaciated.
In the distance, the huge chimneys of the thermal power plant continuously spewed out black smoke, and gentlemen in tailcoats and top hats had already arrived early to wait for carriages or to go to the train station.
The eyes of the impoverished people at the bottom of society have long been bent over by the weight of life. They work with all their might, but at the end of each month they still have to borrow money at high interest rates just to barely survive.
Behind these usurers were nothing more than the powerful and wealthy of the Holy Empire.
Such a cycle of compounding interest and constant borrowing to repay loans left them utterly desperate.
From beginning to end, the only one who was truly good to them was the Pale God, whom they had forced to 'give up' his power by using his authority to oppress others!
It's truly tragic and lamentable.
But how can they, who once deposed that Pale God from his throne, now shamelessly worship him again?
No, they would swallow their pride and not even think they were wrong; they just wanted the Pale God to return to power so they could have the same good life as before.
So when Norton's carriage appeared in the middle of the royal city's road, countless poor people knelt down.
"Waaah... Your Majesty, Your Majesty! Holy and pure Pale God, we beg you to have mercy on your people!"
"Your Majesty, please grant us some more land, so we can return to our former lives! Your Majesty, Your Majesty, you are a holy and boundless God; surely you will once again shower upon us, the lowest of the low, your mercy and holy light!"
"Your Majesty Norton, you cannot be unworthy of your name! Look at me, look at me, I'm already starving! I long to be able to eat my fill as before! Please grant me back to my former life; without your glory, the name of God is unworthy..."
Looking at the magnificent chariot of the Pale God, at its exquisite carvings and the exquisite, expensive furs covering it, at the magnificent canopy that they could never afford in their entire lives, which was merely used to shield the Pale God from the sun and wind, the people kneeling on the ground felt no shame for their past betrayal of the Pale God. Instead, they felt that the Pale God's bestowal of holiness was only natural.
Otherwise, how could he hold such a high position? Otherwise, how could he enjoy such a high level of luxury?
Having gone through past demonstrations and successfully brought the Pale God down from his high pedestal, they naturally assumed that the Pale God's current status was due to their support.
Their bosses are ruthless, and they dare not resist or utter a sound. The overseers who supervise them are mean and acerbic, deducting wages or even verbally and physically abusing them for the slightest mistake, but they dare not speak out because it is too brutal. Now, the powerful and wealthy class of the Southern Continent relentlessly oppresses them, yet they place signs in some mid- to high-end places, prohibiting lower-class people from entering, but they dare not speak out because they hold high positions and power.
But they dare to beat their own family members, wives, sons, and even parents, because these are the only people they can control.
Now, this self-proclaimed God, a holy and noble Pale God, dares to threaten them, because they feel this is what the Pale God should do, and have even forgotten their past 'toilet brutality' for it.
This Pale God, whom they worship, has been without desire or want for many years; he should bring them a better life!
Therefore, as Norton has been around for longer, this supplication to the Pale God has evolved from a simple prayer to one that now carries a hint of coercion.
However, the high command of the Holy Empire, having already discovered this flaw, took action to address it.
The poor do not know the power of the Pale God, but they know it perfectly well.
He ascended to power under duress from the people, and now that he has rebelled against Heaven, what will this Pale God do if he wants to reclaim his power?
Therefore, following the Pale God were a large number of the Holy Empire guards.
At this moment, as the group of unruly people knelt down one by one in an attempt to create a disturbance, a large horde of soldiers rushed in, wielding clubs.
Then the sticks rained down on us like a storm.
"You dare to coerce the Pale God? You scoundrels have committed a grave crime!"
With roars, the soldiers surrounded and attacked the poor people on both sides of the street.
"Ahhh!! Stop hitting me! Stop hitting me!"
"I don't want it anymore, I don't want it anymore, I'm going to work now, I'm going to work now!"
"Waaaaah... Pale God, this is all your fault! You have to do something about it!"
The entire street was in chaos, with merciless clubs lashing at the emaciated bodies of the poor. The sight caused Norton, the Pale God seated on his chariot throne, to frown and feel a pang of sympathy.
He immediately covered his eyes and said with pity and sorrow, "Quick, drive! My heart is pure, and I cannot bear to see this tragic scene!"
Alas, when a dynasty prospers, the people suffer; when a dynasty falls, the people suffer even more!
Oh, and don't waste the dead ones; send them to my beloved subordinate Abraham later...