A rare magical miracle in the world

So, what is the reason for the aristocracy’s recklessness?

It’s simple, the absolute authority!

Even if you can’t get food, I’ll still come to collect the taxes.

Why?

Because I want to let you know who your master is.

I can make you go hungry, let you die.

And you, cannot resist!

Every village, every town, every city.

No matter where you are, in whatever ravine, the aristocrats will always reach out and bring fear right to you.

The aristocrats ensure everyone remembers one thing, that your life, freedom, and all that you own, to whom do they truly belong?

Aristocrats are not merchants, their actions are not always for profit, but sometimes, purely for pleasure, for fun, for interest.

Aristocrat: As long as I am happy, who cares about your life or death.

Money, grain?

The aristocrats have plenty of these.

What they now crave is absolute rule, the highest dignity.

The aristocrats know how fearsome God (Master of Miracles) is, but God is hands-off.

So, them being chosen by God, along with their descendants, naturally have to act on behalf of God, to manage this land.

What is hierarchy?

Life and death not in one’s own hands, that is what hierarchy is!

Unable to control others’ life and death, unable to make others tremble at the sound of your name, how can you call yourself an aristocrat?

"Huff~~~"

The old man had lived all his life under the atmosphere of hierarchy created by the aristocrats over decades, even centuries.

So to him, aristocrats were indeed more terrifying than storms and Sea Beasts.

To resist them, to be an enemy to them, only those who truly grew up in the Ancient City understand the courage required.

"Is there anything else?"

"There is something I need to tell you."

The old man called Rhode aside, then whispered, "Leave here quickly, the people above have taken an interest in your daughter."

"What did you say?"

Rhode was shocked; he looked at Iotina.

The girl wasn’t very pretty, only average, the kind that could be replaced by anyone in a crowd.

"Her reputation has spread."

With these words, Rhode understood everything.

Iotina was extraordinary, her singing voice like a heavenly melody, possessed the miraculous ability to calm the raging sea, to make Sea Beasts retreat. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Rhode didn’t know what was going on with his daughter; lacking broader vision, he naturally wasn’t aware of the existence of the Miracle Power.

"Is it, the Lord?"

Rhode asked, "Is the Lord sending someone to take her away?"

The Lord here refers to the City Lord of the Ancient City, General Winter.

Unfortunately, General Winter, as City Lord, never involved himself in such matters.

The ones who truly held power were the ruling aristocrats, headlined by the six major families; they were the true rulers, even owners, of the Ancient City Xilu’en.

"No."

The old man said, "It’s the Skelot Family."

"Why them?!"

Rhode and the old man were old acquaintances; they had mutually benefited each other for many years, and the old man had given both him and his father a lot of help.

"Why?"

"I don’t know."

The old man shook his head, "So I hope you’ll be prepared in advance, and send Iotina away sooner."

"Send away?

"But where could she possibly go?"

Rhode hadn’t expected trouble yet it had come: "What about you?"

"Sorry."

The old man said, "Informing you is the only thing I can do, and I also don’t have the ability to protect the child."

The old man was barely securing his own safety, so how could he protect an unknown girl from the covetous eyes of greedy merchants.

They weren’t blind; in fact, as soon as Iotina spoke, her melodious voice would quickly be recognized and then presented to the Skelot Family.

"That family is full of madmen!"

Rhode clenched his fists tightly: "They blinded a girl for having beautiful eyes, beheaded another for her lovely hair..."

Madmen, the people in that family, all of them were mad!

If Iotina fell into their hands, death would be the kindest fate, the more terrifying prospects were the tortures worse than death.

"No, absolutely not."

Rhode was very afraid, fearful for his daughter facing harm, yet he felt powerless, unable to do anything.

"Damn!"

"Why is this happening?!"

Rhode clenched his fist secretly, suppressed the panic in his heart, and then sincerely thanked the old man: "Thank you."

"What thanks. My life was also saved by that child," the old man spoke and hesitated for a moment before finally saying, "If you plan to set sail, go to this island, I’ve left a boat there with dry food and water."

"You..."

"I had planned if I couldn’t make it in the Ancient City anymore, to go to Azure looking for opportunities," the old man said self-mockingly, "But Azure is too far from the Ancient City, encountering storms or Sea Beasts along the way, if even once, it would be over."

"For many years, I didn’t have the courage to set off, maybe I will never use that boat in this lifetime."

So this is gambling, wagering life for freedom.

"However, who knows what Azure is really like, maybe it’s the same as here."

Yet, they were just ordinary people; whether Azure was truly as idyllic as they hoped,

Could they find happiness there upon arrival?

No one knew this; no one could guarantee it.

Thistle Province deliberately restricted information with a policy of keeping people ignorant; their news was too isolated.

As a consequence, ordinary people would rather become slaves than dare to risk their lives for a chance of freedom.

"I know, you might not trust me."

"But I swear on my life, on my nephew’s life, and on my family’s name," the old man said, "I would never do anything to harm that child, please be assured."