??Chapter 282: Chapter 281: Takeover Strategy
Chapter 282: Chapter 281: Takeover Strategy
“Are the children hungry?” Lanqi looked toward his two kids.
“No, we just ate so food. It was barley porridge.”
“Was it provided by them?”
“Yes, and they also said they would ensure a supply three tis a day.” Alice sat down, holding his hand, “Although it’s a bit cramped here, we can move around freely, which is much better than when we were locked up.”
Lanqi surveyed the surroundings. This place couldn’t truly be considered a room. It was originally a single-person prayer room with dinsions barely three ters deep and one and a half ters wide. There wasn’t even a door at the far end, only a curtain separated the inside from the outside. The Paradise Sect clearly knew how to pick a spot. There were easily a hundred prayer rooms like this one in the Acalian Sanctuary. After removing the wooden carvings used for prayers, each small room could barely accommodate six people – of course… don’t even think about bathing or using the toilet.
“We can’t stay here,” he muttered, “The border garrison has already fled; this place will beco a battlefield for gangs and bandits… If we could get back to the castle’s secret chamber, perhaps it would be much safer…”
As he spoke, Lanqi’s voice gradually faded. He was no longer as certain about his initial conviction that they “absolutely must not stay” as he once was. It was clear to any observant person that the organizational power of the Paradise Sect far exceeded that of any ordinary gang. He instinctively didn’t trust these people to have the resources to quell the inner-city gang riots, yet evening had co and still, there was no sight of the predicted turmoil.
“Wasn’t the castle destroyed? There are dead bodies everywhere; I don’t want to stay there. The secret chamber is no different… it might have been discovered and looted by Airco’s people already,” Alice disagreed, “Without attendants and personal guards, an empty lord’s mansion is even more dangerous.”
“We could hire so rcenaries…”
“Where? From a tavern? I think trustworthy rcenaries would have been snap up by other nobles and rchants for a high price by now. Are you sure the ones left can protect our family’s life in a ti of crisis?”
Lanqi found he had no reply.
His wife was speaking the truth—the rich were all well-inford, and everyone was worried that Thistlefort might soon fall into great chaos. Reliable rcenaries were definitely in high demand now. While he was indeed the Earl of Blinton, his losses in the military rebellion had been great. Now, aside from the title, he had little of value to offer.
Clang-clang-clang-clang—!
Suddenly, the sound of bells ringing ca from within the sanctuary.
“Good evening, everyone. I am the Mother Superior Jenny of the Paradise Sect.” A crisp female voice followed, “I know what everyone is most concerned about, such as when the turmoil will end, and when you can return ho. Now, let
tell all of you!”
With that, the noisy clamor ceased, and everyone unanimously pricked up their ears, listening to the Mother Superior’s address.
“Right now, the Paradise Sect is already performing a cleanup of gangs and riffraff in the Outer City District. The Inner City District is being swept for any hidden border garrison soldiers. The process cannot be completed overnight, so it will be done in stages. For those of you who fled their hos due to the previous chaos, you can start returning ho tomorrow!”
“For those of you who ca here to seek refuge from gang looting, it might take about a week. During this period, the Paradise Church will update the cleanup progress daily, so everyone can stay inford. Moreover, during this ti, the costs of als will also be covered by Paradise.”
Cheers imdiately erupted from the crowd!
Lanqi lifted the curtain and poked his head out, only to discover that the speaker was just a young girl, who, despite her youth, had an air of soone who had seen much of the world.
“Um… Could you tell us about the origin of the Paradise Sect?” soone interjected.
“Yeah, I’ve never heard of this sect.”
“Which divinity do you worship? Will it respond to our prayers?”
Seeing soone take the lead, the crowd began to ask questions in a clamor.
“The Paradise Master is real! They are not so fake sect!” Suddenly, a man burst out, his face flush with excitent as if he had been holding it in for ages, “I was arbitrarily imprisoned by the border soldiers, and my wife and daughters were insulted. When I was almost in despair, only the Paradise Master responded to my prayers!”
“You are…” Jenny looked toward him.
“My na is Moge, Moge Weller, a lumber rchant!” the man exclaid loudly. “I prayed for two days and nights until the Paradise Master bestowed a revelation, and then you all appeared!” Then he recounted his ordeal once more, and finally knelt on both knees and said, “Thank you, my Lord, I will rember Your salvation for the rest of my life! Please let
also join the Paradise Sect and praise Your glory!”
Moge’s words resonated with many.
Although these people were not clear about the specifics of the Paradise Sect, they were all too aware of the actions of the border garrisons. Setting aside the rchants who had been directly imprisoned and killed by the Airco garrison, the city’s economy had also suffered a severe blow, rendering the whole of Thistlefort isolated like a giant military camp.
What was even more infuriating was that while the military controlled the Inner City District, they turned a blind eye to the gangs in the outer city, even showing signs of toleration. As a result, within less than half a month, the level of public security in the streets plumted, and a large number of residents from the outer city were forced to relocate to the inner city, having to pay the stationed troops a hefty entrance tax along the way.
“The lord is also a scumbag. He never bothers with the military’s affairs!”
“That’s right! And we still pay him taxes! The lord and the Airco camp are cut from the sa cloth!”
In an instant, the crowd was outraged, and there was a strong sentint to overthrow the rule of the Blinton family.
These troublemakers!
Lanqi was so angry his teeth itched. How was he in cahoots with Airco? He himself was a victim of the rebellion! But as much as he was annoyed, at this ti, he didn’t dare stand out to refute a group of agitated refugees.
“Please stand up.” Jenny helped Moge to his feet. “Paradise welcos any believer who longs for justice and freedom, and you are no exception. By the way… would anyone be interested in making money?”
Huh? Lanqi was taken aback. They had just been discussing the lofty beliefs in divinities; how did the topic suddenly shift to money?
The others also hadn’t had ti to react, and there was a mont of quiet in the sanctuary.
“Hahaha… I’m not so swindler, and you don’t need to be so sensitive about money,” Jenny laughed. “Actually, the Paradise Church plans to establish a company here, and there will be a lot of job positions available, with compensation at the higher end of the scale. The shelter only provides the most basic food and won’t fundantally improve your lives, whereas an official job is different. Instead of sitting idle, it’s better to find sothing to do, right?”
“May I ask… what kind of work is it?” soone cautiously inquired. “Does it require joining the sect?”
“No, as long as you do the work, you will definitely get paid. As for the types of work, there are many!” said the nun, counting on her fingers. “For instance, houses destroyed by artillery need repairs, sick people need treatnt, city wells need clearing… In short, whatever jobs there are will be announced in the sanctuary’s hall. Even if you can’t read, there will be soone to offer consultation!”
“These people… really do intend to take the lord’s place,” Alice muttered from behind.
Lanqi was silent. Repairing city facilities, improving the lives of the citizens… these were responsibilities originally borne by the city hall. He wondered if his comrce and construction officers had run off with the army or had already died in the rebellion.
“Darling, what do you think… I should do?”
His biggest backer, the King, was now at war with Duke Longjiu, and it seed that he was on the losing side. And it was just his luck to face betrayal by Airco and lose control of Thistlefort at this ti. The situation he had found himself in was not entirely the fault of the Paradise Sect; after all, they had rescued him from house arrest.
“If it really cos to it, we’ll go back north, to Gaota City,” Alice suggested.
“Your holand?”
“Yes, my family surely wouldn’t kick us out just because you’re no longer an earl?” Alice smiled. “With your abilities, raising two children together with
shouldn’t be too difficult.”
“I…” Lanqi was deeply moved, and just as he was hesitating, soone lifted the curtain and walked into their shelter.
“Mr. Lanqi Brindon?” the person inquired.
“Uh… Yes, that’s .”
“Pleasure to et you. My na is Xue Quan.” The man shook hands with him. “Please co with . Mr. Zhao would like to speak with you.”
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