Extraordinary Voyage Chapter 850: Undercurrents are raging

Uppsala, a medium-sized city in the eastern part of Atlant, the country of Iceland, is located in the northern part of the mainland.

Woohoo...

Even though the rest of the mainland has come to the last month of spring, this piece of land still seems to be in winter. The cold wind swept the eaves and the remaining snow on the treetops, making people's faces hurt.

"Stop! Stop! The king's, the church, and the lord's, my three window taxes and fireplace taxes have been paid, you can't take away my treasured porcelain!"

An old man wrapped in a shabby sheepskin coat screamed miserably, but he couldn't stop the wolf-like soldiers and the lean tax official with a faint smell of sulfur on his body.

The neighbors on this street poked their heads out cautiously, all of them unbearable, but even if a few young people were filled with outrage, they didn't dare to act at all.

Because of the old man’s encounter, none of them can avoid it!

The natural environment of the Atlan Kingdom is harsh. About 30% of the northern part of the territory is located within the polar circle. Most of the remaining areas are cold all year round, and agriculture and animal husbandry are underdeveloped.

Not to mention that they did not catch the ride of the steam industry at all. The characteristic striped cloth produced in the hand-crafted workshop was also severely impacted by the tulip industrial products.

Although it used to be a maritime power that followed the Hilius Empire to start foreign exploration, it has actually declined a bit due to various reasons in recent years.

Especially, with the passing of those older generations of "Guardians of the Kingdom" one after another, Atlan's national fortune is no longer there.

The pinnacle of force that can support their **** shadows enveloping the mainland's coastal waters for four centuries, has disappeared.

Now there is only one titled knight "Bloodthirsty Hunt" alone to support it.

If it were not for the surviving fierceness and the navy that was struggling to maintain, this country would almost completely fall out of the list of mainland powers.

In addition.

Skati, the goddess of the "breath of frost" believed by the Atlanians, is located at the northernmost end of the kingdom in the world, and is also the deepest part of the eternal white land and the country of ice and snow, and the source of all cold waves in the northern hemisphere. .

As a natural god, this goddess is just as indifferent as his [the priesthood], like a north wind staring coldly at the world, and rarely interferes with the progress of the world.

Only the "Church of Breath of Frost" fights against the secular rulers in the name of a goddess.

These characteristics have caused this Icelandic kingdom to have strong folk customs, but the kingdom’s "feudal" remnants are also extremely heavy, still retaining many feudal lords and private armed forces that belong to them.

In other words, the king must collect taxes, the church must collect taxes, and the lords must collect taxes!

For example, the "window tax" and "fireplace tax" currently being levied by local lords.

"Window Tax": All houses are the basic fee of 20 copper Vul (converted). If the number of windows reaches 10 or more, 40 copper Vul must be paid.

"Fireplace tax": 10 copper furs for each fireplace, levied every six months, that is to say, a normal family with only one fireplace must pay at least 20 copper furs every year.

There are many more exotic taxes than these two taxes. For example, the "fat corpse tax" stipulates that the width of the coffin used by the deceased is 58 cm, and the tax is 50 copper for more than 1 cm.

Various exorbitant taxes and taxes cover all aspects of people's lives.

What's even more terrible is that the same tax has to be paid three times to three people, and the people are all complaining.

Because the "fireplace tax" must enter the residents' houses to be counted, tax officials and soldiers have to collect taxes from house to house.

In the process, the "taxes" belong to the lord, but the extra gain belongs to...they themselves.

Like Elvin and Livina, the ruling class that has the ability to restrain themselves and know how to implement "wealth redistribution" to ease social conflicts is after all a minority.

Most royal families are better at using violence rather than profit to rule the people.

It can be said that many times everyone is worse than anyone else.

The king’s autocratic rule, political system rigidity, human rights disregard, government corruption, economic recession, high unemployment rate, and people’s hardship...

The ruling class has been in power for a long time, does not think about reforms, and the political and economic distribution is not transparent, etc., which have become more than a stubborn disease in Atlant.

Especially now that with the "Tulip Alliance" ruling the sea, the flying shears are also quickly launched, and even the life of pirates has gradually become difficult.

There is no way to plunder externally, but to strengthen internal exploitation. Atlant has gradually fallen into a vicious circle.

Look again at how these soldiers unscrupulously robbed residents' property in the middle of tax collection. It really looks like the end of the dynasty, the order is broken, and the storm is precarious.

Crack! Squeak! ...

In this depressing and numb atmosphere.

A burly and tall young man with the appearance characteristics of both Atlan and Koyak people walked into this unspeakable city by stepping on the uncleared snow on the ground.

The youth is wearing a clean and decent hunting outfit, shiny leather boots, and a long sword hanging from his waist. Although they didn't wear any noble emblem, they seemed to be two kinds of people with those suffering civilians.

The city gate official, who is used to watching people order food, doesn't even charge his entrance tax.

"It's really unexpected here...it sucks."

Alvin's fifth disciple, Bach, for the first time in his life set foot on his father's hometown-Atlan, a country with pirate genes.

However.

Since he took the teacher’s mission and set foot on this land, Bach has been disappointed in this so-called motherland that he has never been to.

Although it is much stronger than the Kojak who also live in the polar circle of the New World.

But not to mention that it is compared with the civilized and prosperous Duchy of Galliot, even if it is far inferior to the former colony of Hilius.

Bach, who came to Source Continent for the first time, couldn't help but feel a little hopeful of disillusionment.

"Huh?"

Under the guidance of the [Mind Network] dispatched in advance, after walking through several streets one after another, his ears suddenly moved.

On the other side, in a sheltered place on the corner of the street, a down-and-out bard with shaved and white clothes was singing poetry.

There is nothing wrong with the poet himself, but it is the poet's singing that makes him stop and listen.

The main idea is:

"All the suffering of the people is due to the dictatorship of the monarch and the dictatorship of the nobles.

The people of the "Lower Republics" in the south are already qualified to choose their own leaders. The leaders of the country must serve the people, not **** blood on the people.

The people not only have enough food and clothing, but they can also enjoy the loans and subsidies granted by the government, so that they have the opportunity to become a master...

If an elected leader is unqualified, the people have the right to change to another....Only when we are united can we have a happy life of our own..."

Such words are mixed in the story.

In the end, even if there was no reward at all, he didn't change his face.

Taking off their hats to bow to the longing audience, saying: "'Atlan Democracy, Freedom Process Office' bless you!"

There seems to be some kind of "bewitching" power in the tone, which makes people can't help but believe what he said.

The crowd dispersed again, only Bach stood still thinking:

"This is the [Democracy Fighter] in the [Faceless Man] intelligence? Is this the Lowland Republic targeting Atlan?

This broken place is really a dance of demons.

Forget it, none of this has anything to do with me. It's still important to complete the teacher's task first. "

The "world currency" plan in the ordinary world does not affect the two medium-term goals set by Aiwen:

Explore the unknown behind the door of "End of the World", and the [Circle of Mobius] that may be hidden there; explore the space that is firmly sealed by the "Sweepers", and the [Catrio] that may be hidden there The Wheel].

If you want to go to the world behind the door and get the "ultimate secret" of this world, if you don't pass through the door guarded by the "Golden Kingdom", you will most likely be completely lost in the storm belt.

So.

Since the last time he returned from exploring the "Murian Civilization", Jeros has set out to find the remaining [Golden Compass].

Only when thirteen golden compasses converge, can the door to the endless ocean "Furcus" be opened.

In the last transmission of the letter, with the addition of the original ones, Jeros had already collected a total of seven in his hand, plus one in Ivan's hand and one in Olivia's hand.

Now they have nine compasses in their hands, and it is not too far to collect them all.

There is another one who clearly knows the clue...

Thoughts were surging, Bach had already been guided by [Mind Network] and came to a street with a little turmoil, and saw the group of soldiers and tax officials who were collecting taxes from house to house.

Just a glance, I can't help but frown deeply~IndoMTL.com~Although Bach's main career path is on the physical side, he has also learned about witchcraft from Aiwen.

When standing at the downwind, the keen sense of smell has automatically captured the breath of the thin tax officer:

"Sulfur? A...the demon of the lower realm?"

At this moment.

Ah——!

A slightly immature girl screamed across the street.

Immediately afterwards, he heard a soldier who "collected taxes" in a certain family yelling excitedly:

"Hahaha, head, look! The poor ghost who lives here actually holds a compass, which seems to be pure gold!"

"Shut up, what is the collection of poor ghosts? This is obviously stolen goods! Take it with me and people!"

"Yeah! Let go of me!"