The projection disappeared and the flash of magic went out. "There is something I think you must understand." The leader's tone was unquestionable. "Perhaps you have heard that a mysterious force is helping us. I can tell you that it is indeed true."
Kaampang's heart lifted. God forbid, it's not what I thought it would be.
"They are also a persecuted group," the leader said. "Our purpose and belief are the same."
If nothing else, Kaampang himself has no faith at all. Whichever relief station has a richer breakfast, he will believe in that god. If faith couldn't feed a man like him, he didn't think he had any reason to praise the gods. The priests hated me, and he knew it. Every time he cheated on food and drinks at the soup kitchen, Kaampang would dress up in disguise so that the nuns who distributed bread and hot porridge would look better.
Many people share my beliefs. Kaampang was sure that no one would take this seriously, not even the leader. He was just looking for an excuse to make people put down their guard and fear, and at least make people listen to him calmly. Witchcraft without incantation can do many things, but the magic of words is still irreplaceable.
The crowd waited silently in anticipation of his sermon.
"I think you are already prepared. Under the guidance and slander of nobles and officials, people are wary of each other and abandon their relatives, friends and loved ones. All this is the fault of those superior people. They want to divide us and prevent people from establishing Trust." The leader said, "Because we are weeds that can be seen everywhere in the city, and we are also an indispensable guarantee for their superior life. They need to control us to maintain their status as superiors."
"Our labor creates wealth for them, and our blood and sweat water useless flowers. We are forced to fight for the soil for our lives, while some people are born with everything."
People gradually became commotion.
"Obviously, this is unreasonable. The blood of the nobles comes from the shadow of the ancestors, but Motog has long become history. If these arrogant idiots go to the ground, the Eastman Kingdom will be the ancestor who destroyed these idiots. A human country, they will kill these former noble officials to show their respect for this noble bloodline." The leader's smile thawed the atmosphere, and Ka'ampang heard sporadic echoing laughter.
"Therefore, we have reason to suspect that these idiots who have been defeated since their ancestors are actually incapable of ruling San Carlos. Their status is based on illusory lies and pretentious honors, because Croita did not allow it at the beginning. The local aristocratic immigrants, those who now hide in the red walls and brag about their bloodline, are mostly descendants of thieves who survived by smuggling across the border." The leader waved his hand, and Ka'ampang's eyes moved involuntarily. Everyone listened carefully and thought. He noticed that the curious black cloaked guard beside him was also thinking quietly.
The leader continued: "In order to maintain their nobility and privileges, the nobles bribed the law enforcers of the Public Security Bureau and the officials of the Department of Affairs. They worked together to make San Carlos their backyard. Look at the heavy fog outside! This is one of the products produced by the alchemy factory. The goods are exchanged for gold coins in the boss's pocket, and the factory was built without the consent of any common people. Who pays for our health?"
"No!" someone shouted. Somehow there seemed to be some uniformity in their voices.
"Of course not, because in their eyes we are no different from machines that spit out goods. The machines need maintenance, and we need to pay the bills. How much wages are paid is also determined by the law, and the law was born through official discussions. Everyone present will meet every Monday We got relevant notices in the newspapers, and they told us what to do, or we would be punished. But, there are always buts. If the nobles do something wrong, who will punish them? Chloe's messenger?" He mocked, " Don't count on it. We are rebels, we are a group of bandits who only know how to burn, kill and loot and desperadoes who do all kinds of evil. Our wishes are easily trampled on! Is this the justice of the tower? We deserve to be persecuted, is this the truth? ?”
"Overthrow them!" Even Kaampang couldn't help shouting at this time. "Justice!"
The leader lowered his arm to signal for silence. "Justice requires strength to implement. We have strength, and it exists in our hearts. It is not an empty slogan, not a false belief, but a real sword blade that is in our hands." He suddenly clenched his fists and protruded. There is a surging sense of life and strength flowing in his veins. "I said that the nobles are trying to divide us, because when we join hands with each other, their fragile walls will crumble. Our weapons are right next to us, and they are afraid that we will reach out and grasp them. They are so afraid!"
coming soon. Kaampang thought, should I reach out? Dare I reach out? By the gods, he really planned to be a bandit. Who knew the leader he followed would have such great goals? Disaster is coming, maybe he should escape secretly. As the petty leader who commanded the militia, he was sure to evade the guards.
The crowd was trembling, like reeds trembling in the cold wind. Kaampang was not the only smart person, everyone realized the true intention of the leader.
"Demons. They gave a helping hand to their friends in the most critical moment. Brothers, how can we repay this kindness? No repayment is enough! But, we can give them what they lack. Also within the red wall The last thing the superiors want to see. We can give them credit."
"Now, I hope these people are among us. We share a common destiny." The leader's tone was calm and powerful. He looked as if what he had just been talking about was not a dangerous demon, but an inconsequential weather report that the rain outside was about to stop.
In the dark basement, people remained silent, and the only response to the leader was deathly silence.
"They are the devils of hell." Until someone spoke up.
"The gods have passed away, and the kingdom of heaven no longer exists." The leader told him, "There is no hell anymore."
"But they are different from us!"
For a heartbeat, Kaampang saw the leader's eyes turn golden red in the candlelight. "You're right. That's it. This is the root cause." The leader suddenly stood up.
He walked down the steps, and the black cloaks at the front spontaneously opened a path for him. Ka'ampang saw that the man beside him didn't move, and seemed to be lost in thought. No one noticed him though, all eyes were on their leader. This was a different look from before. Kaampang found that they looked at him with a new look, filled with doubt and fear, but also conviction and excitement.
"You are not afraid of the devil, but afraid of differences." He came to the center of the people, and Kaampang could only see the leader's back and broad shadow. "On the gallows we could not hear their defense, only the priest's arrogant pronouncement. This was wrong. The lies in the noble words printed in the newspapers by the noble officials formed the fog of San Carlos. Since we want to overthrow those The rule of idiots, why do we still let the ideas they spread control our minds? Who declared the nameless people to be demons? Who prescribed their crimes? Is it us?"
"It's those noble officials, the church and the mysterious fulcrum high above." Suddenly, someone answered. More people echoed.
"That's right." The leader nodded approvingly, his shadow shaking. "To put it bluntly, demons are originally one of us. They are proof that mortals receive mysterious favors, rather than being controlled by demons. Maybe they are the favored ones selected by the gods because they are dissatisfied with those stupid spokesmen, but they are manipulated by hypocritical believers. Public opinion clouds our minds.”
"There is nothing different about us. We are all the souls of our parents. Brothers, we must accept each other. This is the only way to success."
After the speech, people left the basement. Dim candlelight flickered on the walls, and green moss grew between the damp stone slabs. Every time they passed a lamp, the flying insects and moths avoided them. Kaampang twisted his body as if his clothes were not made of soft lining but of prickly linen leather. There seemed to be nothing wrong with what he said, but he still felt that something was wrong. "That's it." He muttered as he walked, "I was deceived by them for more than thirty years."
He wasn't the only one who was so frightened. The people who participated in the riots gathered here to resolve the uneasiness caused by the rumors. The leader also came up with coping methods, which are enough to eliminate anyone's feeling of intimidation due to lack of confidence. But...let's put it this way, Caampang would rather give up the victory in San Carlos and the justice he longed for, and wander around the island like a lost dog, rather than fight side by side with the devil and guard this dusty city. The preferences of the gods have nothing to do with me. He is considering whether to stay here. This was different from what he had originally thought.
But before the threat of witchcraft, self-comfort seems to be the only thing that can be done. Kaampang turned around among the slow-moving crowd, but the door was already closed. The leader asked them to prepare for an attack, needless to say the purpose. Ka'ampang was unsure whether the demon could resist the tower's messengers and become their spear to pierce the city walls. After all, if all demons had extraordinary powers, they wouldn't be hanged by the Cross Knights, right?
War will come soon, Kaampang thought. We will either be defeated before the mysterious power, or we will share the fruits of victory in the palace behind the red wall. How will the leader deal with the demon then? He wished he could make suggestions. Accepting the demons of Hell will bring disaster, even to the leader.
As he stepped out of the steps, the rain started falling again. Countless silent warriors await his orders. They are all creatures of magic, infinitely powerful and fearless of life and death. The commander can control their actions, which is a wonderful feeling for a former beggar. I need them. Ka'ampang somewhat understood what the leader was doing.
