Gravedigging.

For most townspeople, it was creepy to hear it, not much different from the actions of shameless and despicable grave robbers. The communal cemetery of the church is where most freedmen bury their loved ones and remember their loved ones. For all of us, it has a special meaning.

Since the disappearance of Father Gensley, Waterdeep has had a new priest. Most people are very unfamiliar with this pastor. Until the appearance of the harbor sea monster, many merchants went to the church to ask the priest for help, and they all got the same answer.

It was the disrespect of the townspeople, as well as the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, that led to the appearance of the sea monster.

To ask the Holy Spirit for forgiveness and to drive away sea monsters, one must pay homage to the Holy Spirit.

What is Honor?

Food and gold coins, and in the name of the consul, Poldut even levied an exorcism tax on the townspeople. Everyone had to pay it, and the tax was sent to the church for repairs.

To a certain extent, this has caused dissatisfaction among many people. This is not a bustling and affluent city in Water, and the household income of small traders and craftsmen is only enough to feed and wear. The extra taxes have meant that they have to cut back on food and clothing to survive the winter.

But soon, even more terrible news came, and the tax grain in the town of Daotan was burned.

The lack of food means that small traders and craftsmen who are not engaged in farming will not be able to buy food for the winter.

The worst of them were the freedmen, who, though they enjoyed many freedoms, were often the most barren of the entire territory, and the fertile land was in the hands of the nobility. The grain harvested was taxed to the king and the church, and their lives were, in a sense, worse than those of serfs who were dependent on their lords.

The port was completely shut down, the traders and artisans had no source of income, and there was no food stockpile. The panic has long spread in the town.

Now the news of the evil spirit in the church has suddenly broken out, stirring everyone's nerves.

Sea monsters, fires, gravedigging, and demons, the town seems to have been turned into a bad place by demons.

And when these people flocked to the church, they saw with their own eyes that the white-robed priest had dug up almost all the graves, and the bones were all over the place.

Wrath?

No, it's more of fear.

Benedict didn't care about the stares of those people, who in his eyes were blasphemers and disrespecters, who caused the town to suffer.

When the news reached Lord Mister's ears, he was worried about food, which should have arrived at the castle of the Black Forest a long time ago, and had disappeared inexplicably.

After being identified by the wheels of his knights, the direction of disappearance is Daotan Port. Reminiscent of the princess's ship, the truth is revealed.

Now Mister is more anxious than anyone else, and the chief of the Black Forest Knights, who has been begging for explanations for several days, has long been unable to appease, and dissatisfied voices have come and gone.

This was completely different from what he had imagined, and the letter to his mentor had been lost to the sea, and there has been no news of him yet.

What's going on in this town?

Mister was more nervous than anyone else, he didn't want to give up the territory he had in hand, but all kinds of ** happened, so that his plan to buy people's hearts was completely bankrupt.

"What? Demons in the church?"

Lord Mister, who was in a hurry, bounced up from his chair almost immediately, his expression changing.

"Yes, sir. Fansen buried his head very low: "The young priest is digging a grave. That, he claimed, was the source of demonic growth. ”

Lord Mister, who has a close relationship with the Church of the Holy Spirit, thought for a moment: "Quick, order the Knights, and follow me to have a look." ”

When Mister led the mighty knights to the church, the door was already crowded with people talking and pointing.

"It's horrible, churches can be overrun by demons. ”

"Is it disrespectful to the Holy Spirit again, we pay enough taxes!"

"I am afraid that the Holy Spirit has forsaken us. ”

"The port is coming to an end, and the town of Daotan is dying. ”

"This winter, I'm afraid I won't be able to get through it. ”

With a gloomy face, Mister smeared through the crowd and caught a glimpse of Benedict's mud-stained robe in the lonely cemetery.

"Benedict!" Lord Mister frowned as he looked at the open tombs. When he came to town, the pastor had visited him and learned about his status in the Church of the Holy Spirit.

"Your Excellency!" Benedict, who was already tired and out of breath, stopped moving, and his eyes sparkled with joy: "Oh my God, you're finally here." ”

"What the hell is going on here?"

Benedict took a deep breath: "The Holy Spirit is above, and I have seen the devil's tricks here. The cemetery is the lair of demons. These...... What you see has long been infected by demonic power. They will crawl out of the cemetery at night and cause trouble in the world. ”

Mister, who knew that there were indeed demons in this world, saw Benedict's words, and his heart immediately sank, and since he came here, all the signs he had seen were very strange.

"Your Excellency, I have seen it with my own eyes. The crab-like crawling hands, the wriggling entrails, the bloodshot eyeballs, the rickety black shadows, the demon's sneer, and the whispers of unknown meaning. I'll never forget. ”

Whispers of demons.

Lord Mister's expression became nervous: "Benedict, you have to make sure that what you say is true. ”

"I swear in the name of the Holy Spirit! I can even remember the whispers. Benedict was caught up in the fear meeting of last night, the lack of sleep for days, and the incessant digging of graves, which made his face pale, his eyes blue, and he looked stiff and horrible.

"The devil is humiliating the Holy Spirit with impunity!

"Benedict, you're so tired. Mister gave him a deep look, "Perhaps, we can go to the room and have a closer look." If the demons really exist, maybe we can report them jointly. Not only the Supervisor of Crimanes, but perhaps the deacon will not sit idly by. ”

"Okay, but here ......"

"I'll arrange for someone to handle it. Now outside the church, there are too many people gathered. The church is associated with evil spirits and causes great panic. I think we can solve these problems more insidiously and thoroughly. ”

"Yes, listen to you, Your Excellency. ”

......

As soon as Benedict and Lord Mister entered the chapel, Vincent commanded the Order and dispersed the crowd.

But panic is not so easy to dissipate.

At dusk, the Bubbling Wine Bottle Inn in Daotan Town, a miscellaneous type inn made of clay mixed with grass and straw and a thatched roof, is in simple but spacious conditions for entertaining the merchants who live here.

Halsey, the head of the Pierre family's car dealership, lived here.

"Hey, Yoshimoto, be careful. Don't break up the goods. ”

Inside the compound, Halsey was directing the coachmen and porters, busily loading the caravan with goods, most of which were purchased spices and raw leathers and animal skins.

"Mr. Rodri, are you leaving?" Hoover Bell, the head of the car dealership who also belonged to the Chamber of Commerce of Arabe, a short and fat man with a rosacea on the top of his head, walked over curiously and asked, "As far as I know, the port has long been closed, right?

"It turned out to be Mr. Bell. Halsihaha greeted with a smile: "If you don't leave now, I'm afraid it will be even more difficult to leave in winter." However, I don't want to leave through the port, and the exorcism powder I have on hand has long been sold out. ”

"So you're going to Waterdeep? That's seven or eight days away. ”

"No, it's closer. Halsey blinked, suddenly looked left and right, leaned over and lowered his voice: "You also saw what happened at noon today." There are even traces of demons in the church, and it seems to me that the town is cursed. I don't want to stay here and die. ”

"That's what worries me as well. Hoover furrowed his brow and looked at the convoy that was loading: "There is less and less food to buy." I'm also thinking about leaving, but ...... You know, our fleet, simply can't dock here. So, you say, closer to the place?"

Mr. Halsey pointed to the west, "The nearest place, of course." ”

"You mean, Blackstone Collar?" Hoover was a little surprised, "I heard it's even more barren than here." Ah, I forgot, the lords there have a friendship with your Pierre family. ”

"It's more than just friendship. "Halsey lived in the town of Daotan all year round, and was responsible for the acquisition of goods, as well as the dispatch of caravans to transport goods from the city of Arabe. Hoover did no different things than him, and the two of them got along all year round and had a good friendship.

"The Blackstone Collar has had a bumper harvest this year and has enough food. Moreover, they are also stepping up the production of exorcism powder. I think that as long as I survive the winter, I will be able to continue my business next year. ”

Hoover, who was also worried about this matter, was moved: "Enough food?"

"That's right. Halsey smiled confidently: "Accommodation will also be provided." Actually, it's not much of a secret, man, Mr. Bourne of the Eagle-Tail Flower Family, and he got the news from me. And the benevolent lord of the Blackstone Lord, willing to help us caravans, only needs a small amount of gold. ”

"Coins? That's fine. Hoover's face was full of eagerness: "Man, as long as you can survive this winter." I don't want to be in this horrible town for a minute. ”

"Of course, there is one special condition. ”

"Special conditions?"

"Yes. Halsey nodded, "The Blackstone Collar needs people right now. ”

"People?"

"Yes, freemen, petty traders, craftsmen. Optionally, the caravan you plan to go to needs to bring some people. Of course, we do not need to pay the honorarium for these populations. We just need to convince that they will prescribe for these people the equivalent of twice their original income. Freedmen could even get farmland for free, guaranteed to be fertile. ”

"Why is that?" Hoover was a little confused: "Can they hold it up?"

"What you don't know, Blackstone Collar now has an important trade relationship with our Pierre family, and its annual regular income is about 50 pounds of gold bars. It is fully payable. ”

"We just have to convince?"

"Yes! Mr. Byrne is working on that. Perhaps, tomorrow evening, he will be able to lead the caravan to depart. ”