Vol 2 Chapter 289: Closest to the gods

Chapter 289: The Person Closest to God
Aesop volunteered to explain to his relatives: "They do n’t know if I have an heir. Besides, I ca n’t prove my identity or have a suspicious history. The houses and granges are real property and belong to them. They are smart or stupid, only the gods know. "
The driver Amon shrugged and said, "I don't know. I'm a driver!"
"You are rich enough, in fact, it is not difficult to buy a house and a grange, and if they do, I think they will be happy to recognize your relatives," Medanzo asked.
Aesop asked, "Medanzo, we live in the world, have you considered a question-who am I? You are Medanzo, but why are you Medanzo? ... If I do that, I lost the sense of finding my homeland. Actually I don't mind giving them a lot of money, but why is that? Let's start by proving my identity. I am Aesop and act as Aesop. "
Medanzo asked again, "How do you feel when you meet such a relative, are you a little disappointed?"
Aesop said frankly: "In fact, I'm not surprised or disappointed at all. They are all little people in all sentient beings. They may look marketable, selfish, and suspicious, and they look ridiculous, but their ideas and practices are very common Common and normal people, even those playwrights in the city of Aaron often describe the gods like this.
Since all sentient beings are so, the relatives of anyone may be such a small person, why can't my Aesop's relatives? Their response is understandable. In fact, I have no resentment. On the contrary, I am even grateful and thankful to the gods. When I returned to my hometown, I could still see the relatives of the Ackerman family. My old house and my father's grange were still there. "
Amon, driving, sighed, "Aesop, you may be the closest person to the gods in this city-state."
...
Ackerman's son Aesop is back, 60 years after his disappearance! This incident caused a little commotion in Midori City, which became the talk of people in their free time. Some people say that Aesop made a fortune outside, but also took back the grange and house that his ancestors should inherit. Some people also said that the foreigner was not Aesop, but had heard about the old Ackerman family, pretending that Aesop returned from getting rich and tried to cheat.
Aesop lives in the inn with a groom and a guard. Everyone who sees him when he is old says that he really looks like the Ackerman family. Maybe it is Aesop-A Kerman. Some people started to talk again. Since Aesop was rich, why bother returning the assets of his cousin's family for 60 years?
Reid Ackerman was very prosperous before he could keep the property. After so many years of war, if the house was changed to another house, the house and the grange are likely to be long gone. Even if Aesop returns, he can Who are you looking for? The sages who like to preach on the temple square also talked about this. According to their point of view, if Aesop is Aesop, then the house and the grange are his, and Aesop's generosity is fine, and this fact cannot be changed. .
Even if Aesop is willing to give his cousin and grange to his cousin, he must first prove that it is his, before he can talk about generosity and giving.
Aesop's status will be determined by the City State Citizens 'Meeting, a request submitted by Aesop himself, who will be the fifty permanent representatives of the City State Citizens' Meeting. This is not the same as submitting it to the court for trial by a judge, because the court can only try a property dispute complaint filed by Aesop or a fraud charge against Aesop by Reid Ackerman. Claim identity.
Reid Ackerman has not filed a complaint with the city-state court, he merely claimed that the identity of the old man could not be determined.
On the day when the civic meeting was held, many interested city-state people went to watch the lively audience, and the city-state conference hall was full of people. The Citizens Conference appointed a representative to chair the ruling, the famous sage Thales in Midoli. After accepting this commission, Thales first invited more than a dozen old men in the city-state who were over 80 years old, all of whom had met Aesop Ackerman that year.
Longevity has always been regarded as a blessing of the gods. After the war-torn years, those who have lived in the same city-state and enjoyed such a high life, as long as they are not criminals, are respected elders. There weren't many such people, and it was even more difficult for them to be sane and able to recall what happened sixty years ago. It was hard to invite ten people.
It is indeed unrealistic to want these elders to clearly remember a teenager who they knew 60 years ago but did not pay special attention to. After seeing Aesop, several elders told Thales that his features are indeed like Aesop Ackerman in his memory, but it has been too long. The impression of that time has been blurred, not to mention Aesop is now Old man, can't confirm!
Thales did not expect these elders to confirm that they could recall Aesop then, only to prove that this ruling is meaningful rather than farce. You can't just come to the city and declare someone who was decades ago, and the city conference will rule for him.
Next, Thales asked Aesop in front of the crowd: "An old man returning from a foreign country, you insist that you are Aesop Ackerman. Is there any document to prove your identity?"
Aesop replied: "I have a document that can prove my identity in Egju and Salem, but I can only prove my identity there, which is meaningless for this ruling. Only such a document is Midoli The civic meeting of the city-state can only be signed, which means that I may have it after the ruling is over. And even if the paperwork was gone, even if it was still in my hands, it would be difficult to prove that I was the person in the paperwork. "
Next, the city-state conference conducted an important ceremony, and on the proposal of most citizen representatives, requested the deities to descend. If the oracle confirms Aesop's identity, then no further judgment is required. In the parliament hall, there is the statue of the city-state patron saint. Under the auspices of two city-state priests, Thales prayed to the gods on behalf of the city-state people and prayed for the coming of the gods.
The situation of the Olympus deity is very interesting. Its composition of the gods is similar to that of the United Kingdom of Heaton. Zeus is not the main of every city-state. Almost every city-state believes in its own patron saint as the city-god's god. For example, the patron saint of the city of Aaron is Yalena, the patron saint of the city of Kibada is Ares, the of war and blacksmith, and the patron saint of the Midurian city is Hermes, the messenger of gods and the of commerce.
Amon and Medanzo also stood in the crowd, and Medanzo's voice quietly sounded in Aesop's soul: "Old man, don't worry, if the two priests were bought by someone, they deliberately lied and pretended to be gods. Alas, I will tell them they won't be able to speak for a lifetime! "
Aesop didn't worry about this, just watching silently, ordinary priests would not lie on such occasions. If they really believed in gods, how much would it cost them to betray them in public? Amon is interested in this. Will Hermes drop the oracle to confirm Aesop's identity?
Sure enough, the presence of a shrine was really a sign from Hermes on the altar. Amon sensed clearly that the priest did not play any tricks, and Thales, who presided over the ceremony, truthfully announced the contents of the shrine.
"The people of Midori, the old man in front of you has returned from a foreign land, where he has not received the light of the gods. The gods will not prove his identity and need him to prove himself."
Amon was a little surprised that Hermes should be able to confirm Aesop's identity. For example, Amon can also use retroactive divine magic to confirm that Aesop is now Aesop Ackerman. However, Hermes refused to provide a conclusion, and instead asked Aesop to prove himself and handed over the decision to the city-state civic conference.
But Hermes did not lie. The was telling the truth, and he did not deny Aesop's identity. Thales didn't seem to be surprised by this result. After reading the oracle, he said to Aesop: "The has made a sign, let you prove your identity."
Aesop replied: "I can testify myself. I stand here as proof, but what kind of evidence do I need to provide before the civic conference will make a decision?"
Thales thought about it: "This is a difficult problem. In fact, you are you. You don't need to prove it. But according to the laws of the city, you must provide the basis for the ruling. There should be three kinds of such basis: the imprint of the previous identity, Memories awakened by past experiences, traces of your homeland that you have retained. "
Aesop nodded and said: "It should be so, then I will come one by one. First of all, please look at this mark carefully." He stretched out an arm to pull up his sleeve, near the elbow on the inside of the upper arm. A light brown fuzzy mark that looked like a scar left a long time ago.
Aesop explained: "I was very mischievous when I was a kid. I heard that gold won't burn and won't spoil in the fire. I sandwiched my father's ring on the fire with something, and accidentally dropped it on my arm. I was burned. The ring was engraved with the Ackerman family's emblem. At that time, I was only eight years old, and the scar happened to be half of the emblem. This scar also grew as I grew up, but the outline of the emblem was also visible. . "
Thales called Red Ackerman in front of him, took off his ring and checked the family crest, and the mark on Aesop's arm was indeed the vague outline of the half crest, apparently not recently left. Thales also asked the other representatives of the Civic Conference present to take turns to check it. Although the scar was already blurred, it was still recognizable.
Medanzo in the crowd grinned and laughed, secretly saying that the old guy Aesop was ghostly, hiding such a hand, and waited for this occasion to put his sleeves up.
After inspecting the scar, Aesop lowered his sleeve and said, "How can there be no memory of past experiences? Otherwise, how did I find it back here? Mr. Thales, I need you to ask Red Ackerman a word. Although the house has been renovated, the steps in front of the gate have remained intact for 70 years, haven't they? "
Thales turned to ask Red, and Red nodded and gave a positive answer. Aesop also said: "There are five steps of stone steps in front of the gate of the house. The entire stone slabs are pressed against each other. The four stone slabs above are taken apart, and the largest and heaviest slab at the bottom is turned over. I still remember the engraved patterns, which can be drawn in public. "
Thales asked, "How do you know?"
Aesop replied, "That step was repaired when I was six years old, and I saw it with my own eyes."
Thales ordered a pen and paper for Aesop. Aesop drew a scepter on parchment paper with two pythons entwined at the top. This is a common look of Hermes' scepter, carved on the steps Under the slate is used to guard the house. Many of Midori's buildings have this custom when they are built, leaving a symbol of the city-state patron saint in an invisible place. As for where to stay, it is the secret of each family. It is said that if the secret is revealed by the demon, it will lose the protection of the patron saint.
The house was newly built after Aesop's father separated from Red's father. The symbol of the patron saint remains under the first-stage stone slab on the front steps. This is not even known to Red-Ackerman. The situation, Aesop said in public.
This kind of thing cannot be joked, if it is verified, then according to the custom, this house must be rebuilt to live, because the hidden position of the patron saint has been exposed. Thales hurriedly asked a priest to take a group of strong warriors to the house, demolish the steps and open the slate for inspection.
After a while, the inspector returned, and the priest reported the results to the civic representative. The steps in front of the house had no trace of passive passage, and Aesop provided accurate information. The voice in the hall suddenly became very noisy, people were whispering, and no one doubted Aesop's identity.
Thales waved his hands and asked everyone to be quiet and let Aesop continue to speak. Aesop was about to speak, and Red Ackerman stepped forward to salute Thales: "Masters, dear Citizen Conference delegates, don't ask anymore, this old man is my cousin Aesop-A Kerman, I'm sure! "
Reed Ackerman was a nobleman and one of the representatives of the civic assembly of the city-state, and he heard the discussion clearly. Whether he recognizes Aesop's cousin or not, he has identified Aesop's identity in the hearts of everyone. If he waits until the verdict, he and his three sons will be despised and ridiculed. Although Reid was clever, he also knew things, and at this time stood out.
Thales smiled and looked at Red. "The issue locked in the Civic Conference is to confirm whether the old man in front of me is Aesop Ackerman sixty years ago. On this occasion, you ca n’t bear it. Recognition does not represent the final result. Mr. Aesop, Mr. Reid, shall we continue to ask, or will we submit the vote now? "
Aesop smiled: "Please vote now, if city city civic representatives think I need to continue to prove, I will continue to prove."
At the beginning of the voting, one of the fifty representatives participating in the voting believed that Aesop needed no further certification and confirmed that he was Aesop Ackerman. Applause and applause sounded in the hall, and Red Ackerman called the three sons over and asked them to salute his uncle Aesop. The eldest son Blake flushed with shame, the second son Hunt looked embarrassed, and the third son Weir seemed very happy.
Aesop opened his arms to his cousin with a warm hug, and then hugged three nephews in turn. Then he reached out and took out three flame elves and gave them to each of them. "Dear nephews, I am alone. This is my present for you in your hometown. Now that you have confirmed my uncle, please accept it. This is a blessing from afar. "
Many people in the hall were stunned and looked at the flame elves in the hands of the three brothers with various eyes. They never expected that Aesop's shot was so generous, and they gave three nephews such valuable gifts in public. In fact, when Aesop met his relatives for the first time, he planned to give them away. Otherwise, Medanzo would not have taken them out. This is a gift already prepared.
Red-Ackerman was sweating on his forehead, making the three sons kneel down to thank him. He took a step forward and grabbed Aesop ’s arm. His passionate lips were shaking: "My cousin, you are too generous! Give your child such a valuable thing? Excuse me ... "
Aesop interrupted him and laughed: "I never blame you. I heard that you are going to buy a merchant ship to do business. I have no other use to keep the money. If I were your cousin, it would be the same to support them. As a matter of course .... In fact, I thank you very much. After I return to my hometown for so many years, I can still see the old house and the grange when I was a teenager. They are kept by you and your family, which is too precious for me! "
The scene was very emotional, and Thales cleared his throat and said, "Today's meeting, the first issue of the vote has ended, and I also congratulate the Ackmans' family members. The next vote will be The two issues were put forward by Hunter Ackerman of the Ackerman family, and this second proposal will not take effect until the first issue is decided. "
Aesop turned quietly and asked, "Oh, dear sir, is there a second issue today?"
Thales reluctantly replied: "Yes, this second issue is also related to you. The City State Citizens' Meeting unanimously ruled that you are the son of Ainsman, Aesop Ackerman, and Ainsman The house and grange left by Mr. Kerman should belong to you, which was determined at the same time the ruling was made. Your nephew, Hunt Ackerman, had raised another question in advance and requested to make another based on this ruling. ruling……"
Before Thales's words were finished, Hunter Atman stood up flushed and opened his arms loudly: "Citizens, please forgive me for being rude, I take back my offer!"
Reid Ackerman also said, "God, please forgive this stupid child! I also ask him to retract the offer."
Thales asked with a smile: "Mr. Hunt-Ackerman, are you really giving up on your request?"
Hunter nodded again and again: "Yes, I take it!"
Thales waved his hand simply: "So this meeting is over."