When the Saint comes, she does not collect food

#155 - The public did not cross the river, but the public crossed the river! [4k5 2-in-1]

"Are you saying the Edict Company has already broken through three fortresses? How could it be so fast?"

Horn didn't have time to sort out his previous chaotic thoughts about Jeanne and eagerly asked.

"How would I know?" The black-clad witch who came to meet him shrugged. "It can only be that the Edict Company is too strong."

Horn took two steps back and slumped to the ground. Could it really be this fast?

Logically, even the outermost three fortresses would take ten days to half a month, or even a month or two, to conquer each.

A castle guarded by dozens of Transcendent Knights should be able to withstand tens of thousands of ordinary people or thousands of Transcendent Knights.

At this rate, they'll be at Joan of Arc Fortress in three or four days at most. How is that possible?

Taking a deep breath, Horn suppressed his chaotic thoughts and said to the black-clad witch, "I understand."

"You guys are lucky. If you had waited another four or five days, you probably wouldn't have been able to leave," the black-clad witch casually sighed before going to the river to wait for the boat.

Horn sat upright under the linden tree, looking at the winding river, but he didn't know what to say.

But what does this have to do with me? Whether it's fast or slow, Horn has to leave.

Horn's chest heaved violently. Why should he care so much?

"Your Grace, do you have time now?" Armand approached from the side. He hesitated and said, "I have something to report to you. It's a very important matter."

Horn rubbed his cheeks, calmed down, and said slowly, "Speak."

"We've discovered that among the twelve abnormal bills from 1425, four of them perfectly match the Blueblood Orphans."

Armand's voice wasn't loud, but his words were shocking.

"You see, the production area of the fur is the birthplace of the Blueblood Orphans, the year is their age, the entry time is..."

"Someone in Joan of Arc Fortress is manipulating and selling Blueblood Wine?" Horn seemed to be struck by a heavy hammer, and his mind was a little unclear for a moment. "Those wrong accounts are for money laundering?"

The Blueblood Orphanage is indeed close to Joan of Arc Fortress, and next to Joan of Arc Fortress, there is indeed a canal!

Most importantly, who is this money being laundered to?

Those who can reach this level... No, no, no, it's not necessarily Danet. Maybe it's the local church?

But the local church's Bourvilleville is clearly Danet's dog?

Here, Armand was still narrating:

"Then, after our verification, we found that the income from these four transactions was exactly lost in futures trading.

But we found that the counterparty to their futures hedge was the same chamber of commerce, called the Ruger Chamber of Commerce.

Although we didn't find out the specific situation of the Ruger Chamber of Commerce, we found out that one of the controlling shareholders of the Ruger Chamber of Commerce is called Mr. G."

Speaking of this, Armand suddenly changed the subject: "Your Grace, do you still remember that locksmith thief named Haimertin?"

"I remember. Why are you asking this?"

"When I was talking to Bonnerde about this, she was on the side. She told me that she might know who Mr. G is."

"How does she know?"

"She tried to escape Joan of Arc Fortress, not because of anything else, but because she personally saw Casti, who escaped from the courtyard, being killed by several robbers while she was using the riot as cover to steal things, and they called Casti Mr. G."

At this time, Duvalon, who was on the side, poked his head out and said as if taking credit, "Your Grace, the reason I laughed at Casti's obituary was because his middle name was [Gee]."

"So, we guess that there is a high probability that Casti is the controlling shareholder of that Ruger Chamber of Commerce. As for the actual controlling shareholder of the chamber of commerce..."

Armand didn't dare to say any more.

As if struck by lightning, Horn seemed to connect everything.

Casti's position made it impossible for him to manipulate these things.

In 1425, when Danet succeeded to the throne, the Pope had always favored John VIII in the north. How could he help Danet?

Is there a possibility that Danet, in his youth and vigor, threatened to blow up the church with Blueblood Wine?

Otherwise, why would he ostentatiously close the canal and land checkpoints? Wasn't it just to prevent the Blueblood Orphanage from secretly transferring?

But why wasn't he afraid of it blowing up at that time?

Wait, could it be that they started doing this since Duke Cush's father's time?

He had just succeeded to the throne, and his hands weren't dirty yet, so he wasn't afraid!

No, no, no, without real evidence, all of this is just probability.

But what if, what if, it's really true?

Horn sat there blankly. The former king of Thousand River Valley was actually using his own people to brew wine and sell it for profit.

Wait, if the Duke had known about Blueblood Wine for a long time, what was with his previous appearance that day?

Looking back at his appearance now, it was more like fear than surprise.

Based on this, if he helps the church sell wine and binds them so deeply, would Danet dare to revolt?

If the Duke revolts, even if the local church in Thousand River Valley collapses, wouldn't the Duke also lose his position if the church reveals this matter?

Horn had a flash of inspiration, and he took out that ring from his pocket. Could this be the "S" ring that the Duke was missing?

The Duke's ring representing the family is [K.i.a.b.s]. That day, the Duke only had [Kiab] in his hand.

No wonder the villager guarding the stream walked away as soon as he saw this ring in the afternoon.

He recognized that it was the Duke's ring.

According to Harkin, the Earl of Jiba Mountain inherited a large fortune from his ancestors and wanted to immigrate from Norn to France, and he is still constantly transferring wealth.

Thinking about it this way, changing the order of these ring positions is not Jiba [Kipa]?

That Earl of Jiba Mountain is likely to be Duke Cush.

In other words, the Duke is very likely preparing to escape. He doesn't want to revolt at all, and the church is very likely to know about this.

Knowing that the Duke will not rebel, they still send the Edict Company over. Aren't they afraid of forcing him to rebel?

Is it really because those Edict Companies are too strong that they can break through the castles so quickly?

Then the only possibility is one.

Horn's brain was like a rusty, stuck gear. That idea was about to come out, but he just couldn't think of it.

Or rather, he didn't want to think about it.

Perhaps, the Duke had already colluded with the church and the empire, and those tens of thousands of "short-haired" refugees were his gift to the empire, a ticket to enter the imperial aristocratic society.

Horn suddenly stood up from the ground, but his body froze again.

Go back? But what's the use of going back? Notify them to escape?

It was not until this time that Horn realized that the river was blocked, and these 20,000 people could not leave by water.

The castles and checkpoints leading to the mountains in the northeast were all blocked, and the southwest was a plain of hills and mountains. In this terrain, how could their two legs outrun the four legs of the Edict Knights.

Not to mention that there are more than 100 Transcendent Knights and thousands of well-equipped mercenaries in Joan of Arc Fortress, as well as vassal troops.

The Duke's secret army is said to have been stationed nearby. Where can they escape to?

Conversely, the only way out of the dead end of Joan of Arc Fortress is on this ship.

Unconsciously, the Duke had laid down a net.

Leaving, this is the only way out.

Standing under the linden tree, Horn looked at the slowly coming ship, and the sound of the river was so harsh.

"Your Grace, the ship is here."

Looking at that small oar sailboat, he suddenly became extremely calm.

Look, the open road is right in front of him. As long as he steps on this ship, he will be a high-level member of the Black Serpent Bay's number one secret party in five years.

Clockwork technology has not yet been further researched.

The Pool Marsh Town has not yet been developed.

He should, as envisioned, complete the pre-industrialization of alchemy in five years, carry out light industry in five to ten years to absorb enough funds, complete the development of heavy industry in five years, and finally pave the entire empire with a sea of clockwork guns.

Take a step forward, step on this ship, and go to Black Serpent Bay, where there is a glorious future, an empire that belongs only to him.

Staying in Thousand River Valley, there is only an endless quagmire of war.

It's time to go, it's time to go... Is it time to go?

Horn took a difficult step, and the half-sword at his waist fell from his belt.

He subconsciously bent down to pick it up, and just as his hand touched the scabbard, a voice came from a distant place.

But that voice was so clear as if it was in his ear.

"Our country no longer needs knights to protect the weak."

Horn lowered his head, and the scabbard lay quietly in his hand.

After Danji threw the scabbard to Horn, he launched a charge against 2,700 Transcendent Knights. He asked Horn to build a country that did not need knights.

"Don't let the children die in front of us old folks anymore."

Horn grasped the hilt, stroking the rough texture.

After this hilt was inserted into his waist, Fric raised his spear and stabbed at 2,000 well-equipped mercenaries.

He begged Horn not to let their children die in front of them old folks.

"I have dirty blood all over my body. I only ask to drain it to exchange for justice."

Horn drew out half of the sword in his hand. He destroyed this Cloud Snow and erected a tombstone for thousands of Blueblood Orphans.

That nameless thief monk handed him the list, asking him to send the children home.

"What kind of transmigrator am I..." Horn murmured as he looked at the sword in his hand. He seemed to be able to see three tombstones.

"What kind of transmigrator am I--" Horn roared in his chest, gritting his teeth.

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Under the moonlight, the half-sword made of red steel was emitting a faint red light. Horn suddenly narrowed his eyes, lowered his head, and carefully looked at the sword body.

Because Brock didn't know Alvin, when he recast this sword, although he tried his best to engrave the same inscription, he still engraved two letters wrong after all.

But it was just these two letters. The inscription on the sword was no longer the noble "Cloud Snow", but "Blood Covering the Clouds".

"What kind of transmigrator am I?"

Horn's voice was calm and indifferent, like a murmur in a dream, not knowing who he was talking to.

"I should have run away early and become a small workshop owner, a small manor owner. The lofty professions of Pope Savior are really not suitable for me."

"Your Grace?" René Duvalon, who was beside Horn, looked at him with a blank and questioning gaze, not just these two.

Everyone present was looking at Horn. Rather than waiting for Horn to board the ship, they were waiting for Horn to make a decision.

The combination of Armand's conclusion and the witch's news gave everyone some idea, but they still had to wait for Horn to make a decision.

To make the final decision.

Horn always laughed at those Chen Sheng and Wu Guang for being irrational, and thought that the Chongzhen rebels and the Western Army were not smart.

Why not establish a rear? Why wander around? Why not know how to build high walls, accumulate food, and slowly claim the throne?

Why?

"Until I die, I am still that paranoid small-town test-taker."

Laughing self-deprecatingly, Horn sighed in his hometown language.

He couldn't be righteous, nor could he be unscrupulous. He couldn't be either a hero or a tyrant.

He was just an ordinary person, both in his hometown and here.

But Horn thought that there were too many heroes and tyrants in history, and it wouldn't make a difference if there was one more or one less of him.

But there are too few ordinary people in history, pitifully few.

People always have to die, but sometimes, how they die is more important than how they live.

"Life is like a dream, how much joy is there? How can there be immortality?"

In this kind of situation, Horn should want to recite two farewell poems, like "I laugh and raise my sword to the sky" or "Life is fifty years".

But he didn't have this talent after all. His level of knight poetry was just a ditty level. He could only recite, but that was enough.

Humming softly, he drew out all of the Blood Covering the Clouds from the scabbard, and the sharp red light seemed to be able to cut off the moonlight.

"Sir, do not cross the river! Sir, you crossed the river! Laugh and turn the elegy into a triumphal song!"

Blood Covering the Clouds emitted a strange red light, buzzing and shaking, as if roaring.

Suddenly laughing softly, Horn sheathed his sword. He looked around at everyone present, his eyes shining terribly:

"Cici, Grampwen, I have something to do. I have to go back to Joan of Arc Fortress. You guys go first."

The air was suddenly quiet for a moment.

Immediately afterwards, the child soldiers who were originally carrying luggage onto the ship immediately surrounded him.

"Papa, we'll go with you."

"Do you know what I'm going to do?"

"We know," Duvalon nodded vigorously.

"I'm going to die, are you going to follow me too?" With the Blood Covering the Clouds in its scabbard resting on his shoulder, Horn didn't look like a swordsman, but rather like a farmer carrying a hoe.

"You have a reason to go back, and so do I," René replied.

Horn smiled and ruffled René's hair.

Cici sighed and jumped off the boat: "It's okay if you don't mention it. When you mention it, I also remember that I forgot to do something."

"You, you guys..." the witch asked in disbelief, "Do you know that this place will soon be massacred by the Edict Company?"

At the same time, Corset walked past her. He still couldn't speak, but dragged his heavy and strong body from the deck to the shore.

Then, one after another, those who followed Horn, even Sissy, jumped off the boat.

"That's my hometown," Sissy said, trembling.

Grampwen held Dia's hand and looked towards Horn.

"You go," Dia touched Grampwen's face affectionately.

"But..."

"The person I married wouldn't stay on the boat at this time. Don't worry, we'll meet again."

Taking one last deep look at Dia's face, Grampwen leaped over the river and stood behind Horn.

Looking at the old, weak, and disabled on the boat, and the stunned witch, Horn instructed them, "I'll have to trouble you to take the rest of these people to Black Serpent Bay."

"Are you really going back to Jeanne d'Arc Fortress?"

"Goodbye." Without answering, Horn simply smiled and waved at the witch before turning and leaving.

"This, this..." The witch turned her head and, seeing the crowd gradually moving away, she asked the robust old man in the cabin, "Grand Wizard Paslick, what do we do now?"

"This old man merely came to see what he was like." From the shadows, the old man named Paslick stepped out of the cabin, "Meredith chose him as my successor, I..."

"Eh!" Horn poked his head out from the hillside, and the old man instantly retreated back into the cabin, even losing a shoe in his haste.

"Almost forgot, tell Carrie..." Horn shouted loudly towards the riverbank, "Don't come looking for my bones. The place where I am buried is my hometown, and its name is—"

"The free Thousand River Valley!"

Having spoken these last words of farewell, Horn did not look back and walked towards Jeanne d'Arc Fortress.

Behind him were Grampwen, Yeshka, Kosei... everyone was there.

Under the starlight of the night, everything was peaceful and beautiful. Under the starlight, Horn and his companions were heading forward against the cold wind.

"Eighty acres of good land..."

Horn suddenly began to sing, his voice more cheerful than at any other time.

"And a gentle, kind mother-in-law..."

Yeshka continued Horn's song.

"The children can grow up smoothly, and when they come of age, they can build their own houses..."

In the end, everyone began to sing, their cheerful voices making it seem as if they were on an autumn outing.

"I grow my own food, and the more I work, the more I harvest..."

Before them was Jeanne d'Arc Fortress, hidden in the shadows in the distance.

It was like a giant beast with its bloody mouth open.