Chapter 850: Turbulent undercurrent

It originated in the north of the mainland, and is located in the medium-sized city Uppsala in the east of Atlant, Iceland.
Oh oh...
Even though the last month of spring has arrived in other parts of the mainland, this piece of land still seems to be in the winter. The cold wind is blowing on 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 no longer 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 out their heads cautiously, all face unbearable, but even if a few young people were filled with outrage, they did not 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 territory is located within the polar circle. Most of the remaining areas are cold all year round, and agriculture and animal husbandry are not well developed.
Not to mention that they did not catch the ride of the steam industry at all. The characteristic striped cloth produced in the handcraft workshop was also severely impacted by the tulip industrial products.
Although it was once a maritime power that followed the Hilius Empire to open up foreign exploration, it has actually declined a bit due to various reasons in recent years.
In particular, after the death of those older generations of "Guardians of the Kingdom" one after another, Atlan's national fortune is no longer there.
The pinnacle force that could support their shadows enveloping the coastal waters of the mainland for four centuries, has disappeared.
Now there is only one titled knight "Bloodthirsty Hunt" alone to support it.
Had it not been for the surviving evil and the navy that was struggling to maintain, this country would almost completely fall out of the ranks of the mainland powers.
In addition.
Skadi, the goddess of the "breath of frost" believed by the Atlanians, is located in the world at the northernmost end of the kingdom. It is also the deepest part of the eternal white land, 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 a strong folk style, 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 has to collect taxes, the church has to collect taxes, and the lords have to 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 fur (converted). If the number of windows reaches 10 or more, 40 copper fur is required.
"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 weird types of 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 fors if it exceeds 1 cm.
All kinds of exorbitant taxes cover all aspects of people's lives.
What's more terrible is that the same tax has to be paid three times to the three objects, and the people complain about it.
And because the "fireplace tax" can only be counted after entering the residents' houses, 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 Irwin and Livina, the ruling classes that have the ability to restrain themselves and know how to implement "wealth redistribution" to alleviate social conflicts are 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 autocratic rule of the king, the rigid political system, the disregard of human rights, government corruption, economic recession, high unemployment rate, and the 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., have become more than a stubborn disease in Atlant.
Especially now that with the "Tulip Alliance" ruling the sea, the flying shears are quickly launched, and even the life of pirates has gradually become difficult.
There was no way to plunder externally, but to strengthen internal exploitation, and Atlant gradually fell into a vicious circle.
Looking at the soldiers who robbed residents' property unscrupulously in the middle of tax collection, it was really a dynasty, collapsed, and precarious look at the end of the dynasty.
Squeak! Squeak! ...
In this atmosphere that makes people feel depressed and numb.
A burly and tall young man with both Atlan and Koyak appearances walked into this unspeakable city by stepping on uncleared snow on the ground.
The young man wore clean and decent hunting clothes, 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 used to watch people serve food, didn't even charge his entrance tax.
"It's really unexpected here...it sucks."
For the first time in his life, Ivan’s five disciples, Bach, set foot on his father’s hometown—Atlan, a country with pirate genes.
however.
Ever since he took the teacher’s mission and set foot on this land, Bach has been disappointed in the so-called motherland 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 compared to the former colony of Hilius.
Bach, who came to the Source Continent for the first time, couldn't help but feel a little hopeful of disillusionment.
"Ok?"
Under the guidance of the [Mind Network] dispatched in advance, after walking through several streets one after another, his ears suddenly moved.
But I heard that in a sheltered place next to the street corner, a down-and-out bard with old clothes and white pulp 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 general idea is:
"All the suffering of the people is due to the dictatorship of the monarch and the dictatorship of the nobility.
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 instead of sucking 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 masters...
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 remained unchanged.
Taking off his hat bowed to each of the longing audiences, and said: "'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 the Low Republic targeting Atlan?
This broken place is really a flurry 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 tightly sealed by the "Sweeper" and the [Wheel of Catrio] that may be hidden there .
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.
and so.
Since returning from the "Murian Civilization" exploration last time, Jeros has set out to find the remaining [Golden Compass].
Only when the thirteen golden compasses converge can the door to the endless ocean "Fulcus" be opened.
In the most recent 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 Aiwen's hand and one in Olivia's hand.
Now that they have nine compasses in their hands, it is not too far to collect them all.
There is also one that clearly knows the clue...
With thoughts surging, Bach had already been guided by [Mind Network] to a street where there were some flying dogs, and saw the group of soldiers and tax officials who were collecting taxes from house to house.
He frowned deeply involuntarily just a glance. UU Reading www.uukanshu.com
Although Bach's main career path is on the physical side, he also learned about [Witcher] from Aiwen's corresponding witchcraft knowledge.
When standing at the vent, his 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.
what-!
A slightly immature girl screamed across the street.
Immediately afterwards, he heard the soldiers who "collected taxes" in a certain household yelled excitedly:
"Hahaha, head, look! The poor ghost who lives here actually holds a compass, which seems to be pure gold!"
"Shut up, what the poor ghost's collection? This is obviously stolen goods! Take it with me and the others!"
"Ah! Let go of me!"