October 3, 2614 in the Suspension Calendar, the tenth day of the ninth month in the old lunar calendar, was the wedding day of the second prince of the Red Dragon Principality, Finn Maris, and the former second princess of the Silver Claw Principality and the fifth princess of the Black Feather Principality, Dongfang Xuanran. After more than half a month's journey, the Chunyan sailed upstream and finally arrived at the free trade city of Sanchahe City.
Looking at it, the city is built along the river, long, narrow and majestic. There are endless ships docked on the shore, and the cargo yards are filled with containers stacked on top of each other. Looking from a distance, the towering billboards look like primeval jungles. Giant LCD screens hanging in various buildings play advertisements all the time. Colorful neon lights are everywhere. Every corner of the city is filled with commercial atmosphere.
The porters on the dock are like industrious ants, connected head to tail, busy. The walls of the warehouses along the river are covered with all kinds of posters, with dazzling handsome men and beauties and a dazzling array of products being the only themes on the posters.
However, in this place filled with the rot of money, there is a place of isolation.
In the center of the pier, there stands a huge statue of the goddess. He is wearing a white robe and a golden crown, blindfolded, holding a sword in his right hand, a scale in his left hand, a stick stuck behind his back, a big dog sitting at his feet, and a scepter, books and skulls.
She is the contract goddess Tia, who symbolizes fair trade and the spirit of contract. She is the main god of merchants and a symbol of the free trade city.
"We are free, we are free!" "Hail!" "We are back!" "We are home!"
The moment they saw the statue of Tia, the whole ship boiled, the exiles cheered, and their hats and clothes flew out.
Under the guidance of personnel on shore, the Chunyan slowly docked. As soon as the approach bridge was lowered, the crowd rushed down. There were no official inspectors stopping to ask questions, and there was a breath of freedom everywhere.
Unlike the groom's official, Finn Maris, who was looking gloomy at the moment, everyone seemed to be celebrating a festival, rushing into the bar in small groups, hugging the girl, smashing open the barrel, singing loudly, and partying all night long.
But for Chen Xing, the 25,000-mile Long March has not yet come to an end. In the Gothic cathedral that stands in the center of the city, Chen Xing sits upright in a side hall dimly lit by candles. Opposite him was one of the most powerful people in Sanchahe City, Slade Tamada, the deputy bishop of the Sanchahe City branch of the Church of Light.
Slade is over eighty years old and a little chubby, but his face is still rosy and there is no wrinkle on his face. Under the influence of advanced medical technology and psychic evolution, human lifespan has broken through the shackles. It is not impossible to be as young as a young man at the age of 180, as long as the money and strength are enough.
"You mean, you want to clear the sins of two thousand one hundred and five friends?" Slade asked.
"As you mentioned, we are willing to donate a large amount of money to the church." Chen Xing said.
"Young friend, I must correct this." Slade paused and said, "The atonement is not a donation. In this business, we are just agents of White Elephant City and must pay it in full as a maintenance of the clear network system. Fund. Of course, they give back the five percent management fee, but that’s our labor income.”
Chen Xing nodded to express his understanding.
"In addition, if you want to regain your clearnet status, you still need to provide proof of employment for more than five years. You can go to the Chamber of Commerce to solve this problem. Those guys who are full of money will find a solution."
"Thank you for the tip." Chen Xing said sincerely, and then asked, "The amount of the atonement is..."
"It depends on the specific situation..." Slade pondered for a while, leaned forward and lowered his voice and said, "Tell me who these people are."
"Who else could it be? They are refugees from various places." Chen Xing said.
"Don't pretend to be confused with me. I think it's very likely that he came from Xiaodongzhou." Slade said, Xiaodongzhou refers to the Black Death Continent.
Chen Xing did not answer, neither admitted nor denied. For such a well-informed person, anything you say is nonsense.
"I can help you, but..." Slade's tone became serious, "Have you ever thought about who these people are and what it means to let them return to society?"
Only then did Chen Xing remember that these two thousand people were all criminals, and they were all criminals who had committed serious crimes. Although there are some extenuating circumstances, they are only a small number, and most of them are criminals who seriously endanger society.
"This is not the first time I have received people who have smuggled back from there, but I can guarantee that most of them are not good people and will be sent back within a few days," Slade said.
"They are all mercenaries now, with their own teams and stable income. After suffering once, most of them will not do it again." Chen Xing said.
Slade thought for a while and said, "Eighty gold per person, at least."
Chen Xing calculated that there were more than 2,000 people and about 170,000. The major war groups could afford this amount, so he decided, "I wish us a happy cooperation!"
"Ehehehe..."
After Chen Xing left, Slade let out a lewd laugh and muttered to himself, "We have made another big business. With the dividends, we can buy some new goods again, hehehe..."
As he spoke, he took off the oil lamp from the wall, walked out of the side hall, passed through a long passage, and walked down the hidden spiral staircase to the basement.
A flame the size of a soybean danced in the oil lamp, and the dim firelight gradually illuminated the surrounding area. All kinds of torture instruments came into view, including tall and sturdy torture chairs, dark shackles, instruments covered with small wires, and a blood-stained slaughtering table...
On the side is a long row of cells, with white bodies visible through the black iron bars, making it overwhelming.
Every time Slade passed by, a woman would pounce on him, clutching the iron bars and pleading.
"Sir, please let me go home." "Sir, I can't bear it anymore." "Sir, please forgive me for my sins. I don't dare to do it anymore." "Sir, my lord..."
Every time Slade would smile and say, "Aton for your sins well and don't take any chances. As long as you atone for your sins, you can go back."
There are mainly three types of women here. One type is introduced here through a debt company because they cannot afford to repay high debts and are unwilling to be exiled. The second type wants to obtain clearnet status but is unwilling to pay atonement, so they put themselves here. Treat it as atonement; the third type is fooling you into being deceived, really thinking it is to atone for your sins so that you can enter the kingdom of heaven in the future.
But no matter how you come in, as long as you step into this door, even if you can leave in the future, your soul will be imprisoned here forever and become an indelible memory.
