Chapter 114: The Arrival of the Goddess! [Request for Recommendation Vote]
Modo City, Chishui Town.
This land is coastal, and when fish are in season, a large number of red fish return, turning the nearby river a bright red hue, hence the name.
It is now August, and due to different construction timelines in the town, wheat harvests vary, with Chishui Town being one of the last to harvest. Most of the grain has been dried and gathered, while a man dressed as an official is counting households one by one. Modo City has its own regulations: all grain transactions must occur through the city, preventing private sales. Excess grain is uniformly acquired, and the City Hall stabilizes prices. The price of grain is set according to market value. Initially, everything went smoothly, but a bit of unrest arose during the second round of collection.
“I’m not selling.”
“I have many mouths to feed; my consumption is significant.”
The speaker is a wealthy merchant dressed in fine clothes, speaking with a strong Northern dialect, his small eyes darting about as if trying to argue with the official before him.
Peter frowned as he studied the man in front of him. His grain collection had been going smoothly until he encountered this trouble. He glanced at the servant behind the merchant and said, “How many people do you have in your household? How much grain do you consume? What was your harvest this year?”
“Bring it here.”
“Get the population registration documents.”
Soon, the servant retrieved a document from the mayor. Peter glanced at it and couldn’t help but chuckle, saying, “You only have twelve people in your household; how can you consume so much grain? I’ve heard you have acquaintances at the harbor. Are you planning to sell grain privately?”
At this, Peter’s expression turned cold.
The merchant began to sweat; he didn’t want to sell but merely stockpiled it. With the current turmoil, grain prices are soaring, and getting a way to smuggle it out and sell it would be ideal. However, this situation couldn’t be made public, as Modo City recently issued a new decree prohibiting private grain sales, or else face imprisonment.
Having encountered many such individuals, Peter was not polite. “Grain is to be uniformly purchased at market value, and stockpiling is strictly prohibited, as is private selling.”
“Violators will have their lands confiscated and be sent for forced labor.”
After finishing, Peter ordered the grain to be taken and tossed a bag of coins in front of the merchant.
“This is Modo City.”
Peter thought for a moment, stepped in front of the merchant, and said sternly, “This is not the Northern territories, nor the Southern Sea. Here, you must first learn to obey the rules; otherwise, you will definitely pay the price.”
Since the City Hall initiated unified grain management, they have encountered numerous troubles.
Some wish to stockpile grain, fearing future price hikes. Others, benefiting from this year’s good harvest and rising prices everywhere, plan to secretly smuggle and sell it. In such situations, Modo City’s officials have always been unreasonable; there’s no room for negotiation, as the current policy is grain control, and anyone unwilling to sell their grain over dissatisfaction with the city’s prices will be sent to labor. Soren’s rule is never one of mere mercy, and the lawful evil within Modo City’s officials are numerous; they understand the rules but employ ruthless means. With grain prices skyrocketing across the continent, many who harvested grain first in Modo City, be they commoners or wealthy merchants, contemplate smuggling their grain out to sell. To address such situations, Modo City’s City Hall has implemented compulsory purchases. There’s no need for discussions of reason here; because without Modo City, they would have nothing. If they cannot hope for gratitude, they can only rely on the law to maintain order.
Meanwhile, in the port area of Modo City, a fleet of ships loaded with grain is preparing to set sail.
This year, Modo City has welcomed a bumper harvest, but all grain is forcibly acquired by the City Hall at market price. The fleet of ships full of grain is ready to head out to Spearwind Hills.
The impact of this decree on ordinary people is minor.
Because Modo City’s prices have always been stable, the greatest impact falls on merchants who expect profitability through private sales of grain to double or triple their earnings. However, everything in Modo City serves Soren; in the face of the overall expansion into Spearwind Hills, anyone calculating for their own benefit is crushed.
In the Lord’s Mansion.
The merchants’ dissatisfaction has reached Gloria through various channels. After learning about the matter’s development, Gloria merely said, “Arrest a few ringleaders and deal with them.”
The plan for Spearwind Hills must not be disrupted.
Consolidating the refugees means huge grain consumption; Modo City will continually provide supplies. For these merchants who only wish to profit, Gloria does not mind sacrificing a few exemplary figures to settle the matter.
………………
This small episode had little impact.
But some astute individuals picked up on hints, noting Modo City’s implementation of the ‘grain control’ decree, followed by seeming restrictions on other supplies. Some smart people have realized that Modo City appears to be preparing for war, as City Hall is continuously stockpiling resources. A few offending merchant guilds quickly fell in line since during wartime, Modo City has historically shown no mercy in killing.
At Spearwind Hills, on the border.
Rows of ragged refugees have been sent to makeshift shelters extending for miles. They will wait here for three days: first for disease inspections, then for population statistics and registration of names and households, before being dispatched to other locations in Spearwind Hills.
In just three days, Spearwind Hills has taken in nearly fifteen thousand refugees.
This number continues to rise, as word of relief spreads, with refugees flocking in from the entire southern region.
The Agricultural Church has sent over a hundred priests; similarly, the River Goddess and Sprout Goddess have also sent priests. They supervise channel irrigation, and after brief rests, these refugees are thrown into busy work.
Digging trenches, reclaiming land, repairing roads, building walls.
To prepare for the impending impact of the Saint’s Cataclysm, Modo City has dispatched a large number of clay golems to construct walls on both the southern and northern sides of Spearwind Hills, each garrisoning an additional ten thousand troops.
The population under Soren’s control is rapidly increasing.
Spearwind Hills itself already has over a hundred thousand people; following the acceptance of a massive influx of refugees, the number quickly surpasses two hundred thousand.
At this rate, the combined population of Modo City and Spearwind Hills will soon exceed one million. An expanding population means an unending source of faith. The influx of refugees has quickly risen to over thirty thousand, many of whom have abandoned their original deities and turned to the worship of Soren and the Agricultural Goddess.
The faith of common people is inherently unstable; with slight guidance, they are easily led to worship other deities.
During times when the Saint’s Cataclysm has not erupted, the priests in the Churches of the Gods spent most of their time competing for faith and expanding the influence of deities.
Soren’s followers have increased by tens of thousands in a short time and continue to grow, while the large-scale agricultural reclamation has also benefited the Agricultural Goddess. Her divine profession is intrinsically connected to all this; with minor guidance, she can garner a substantial amount of faith.
All plans are proceeding methodically.
Recently, a bank established by the Goddess of Wealth has appeared in Modo City, currently only accepting deposits without any fees; receipts can at any time be exchanged for value at other Temples of Wealth along the Southern Coast.
………………
In the Bottomless Abyss, the Shadow Divine Kingdom.
In front of a magnificent temple, thousands of Demon Hunters are on standby. Since they secured two-thirds of the land in the Divine Kingdom, the Heroic Spirits within the kingdom have temporarily slowed their expansion. Numerous potential Prayer Weavers have been transformed into new forms of Demon Hunters, and now the majority of the Heroic Spirits in the Divine Kingdom have turned into Demon Hunters, totaling several thousand.
Metals from the Land of Forgotten are continuously delivered into the Divine Kingdom.
Under the day and night labor of the Prayer Weavers, these resources have been forged into weapons and armor, and the fighting forces of the Divine Kingdom have expanded to over ten thousand.
Unlike Modo City’s army, most of the Prayer Weavers in the Divine Kingdom are mid to high-level professionists, with almost no cannon fodder present.
At Gurenba Arena.
Since aligning with the Evil God, Balroth Fire Demon—Soren seems to have halted his expansion plans, yet he continues to amass demons. Some are sent to mines to toil away, while others are engaged in battles to exterminate the undead. Almost every day, thousands of Coward Demons are sent to the Gurenba Arena’s barracks, with ninety percent of them perishing in battle; those who survive often undergo a rank-up.
This is an exceedingly cruel elimination rule.
In just half a month, tens of thousands of Coward Demons have died, but this has simultaneously birthed more mid-level demons.
At present, the worms near the Abyss bl**d Pool have halved in number; even the demons transformed from the Abyss bl**d Pool can no longer keep up with the pace of consumption under Soren’s ravenous extraction.
As of now, the demon army at Gurenba Arena has expanded to approximately fifty thousand, with mid-level demons comprising half the total. These demons are concentrated in barracks, where demon goblins supervise the laborers tirelessly working, continuously forging weapons and equipment for them.
The scent of war looms.
Almost everyone predicts that Demon Lord—Soren is preparing for a great battle, yet they cannot ascertain the target of the assault.
………………
Time passes steadily.
Just as August is drawing to a close, Modo City suddenly establishes a Grand Temple serving the Agricultural Goddess.
Simultaneously, a radiant divine light rises from within the temple, a brilliance invisible to mortals, yet perceivable to deities and Legendary Professionists. This is a temple favored by the Agricultural Goddess, and amidst the enveloping golden glow, a beautiful woman steps into the depths of the temple.
On this day.
The Agricultural Goddess has personally arrived in Modo City and has taken residence in the Grand Temple prepared for her by Soren!
Hundreds of Druids and High-level Priests have arrived in Modo City overnight, ostensibly preparing for the grand harvest celebration, but secretly on guard alongside the Shadow Divine Kingdom against any potential attacks.
It is also on this day.
Soren has left Modo City, heading towards the Bottomless Abyss.
According to the agreements of the True God Covenant, the Agricultural Goddess will personally oversee Modo City for the next half month in Soren’s stead!
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(PS: First update.) (To be continued ~^)
