On April 22, 1645, as the shadow of death on Makarov's airship approached the air defense zone southwest of Jagenk, the funeral of the late Governor Stanford Darke took place as scheduled.

A governor who was devoted to the people, who was generous and benevolent, and who was determined to forge ahead, fell. Died in a conspiracy, an assassination.

The frozen sea whimpered, and the glacier was sad. People from all walks of life spontaneously gathered on the way from the funeral home to the cemetery, wrapped in black yarn on their arms and wearing white flowers on their chests, silently watching the black hearse slowly coming from the funeral home.

He offered his workers six times the average in his industry.

He created a new village under the sea and won a new home for mankind in front of the god of the sea.

He created free education, health care, and a good welfare and social security system.

He pursued a policy of religious tolerance, strengthened the doctrine of the Dark God Cult, and severely restrained its followers, so that Stanford was clean and upright.

It is said that the Governor has recently been pushing ahead with the unprecedented abolition of agricultural taxes.

"I don't see any positive point in levying high agricultural taxes in a city where manufacturing and processing industries are the main pillars, other than increasing the burden on the population and providing a lot of opportunities to get caught up in red tape. As a representative of advanced modes of production and lifestyles, Stanford should not put the shackles of policies that have proven to be the inefficiency of the old era. ”

However, an assassination attempt, put an end to all this.

The murderer, a hitman sent by the Yagenk Army, mixed in with the refugees and fired six bolts at the governor who had rushed to the relief of the victims in Jagenke with a rapid-fire crossbow.

The unfortunate Governor died on the way to the infirmary.

The wind in the North Sea was hard and cold, the clouds were low and thick, and everyone's heart was heavy.

The Governor's close comrade-in-arms, the successor to the new Governor, Candidi, announced that, in accordance with Governor Dack's wishes, Jane would be buried and everything would be simple. The funeral should be handled by Archbishop George of the Dark God Cult. It is hoped that the masses from all walks of life will keep in mind the legacy of Governor Dak, conscientiously study, work hard, and strive to build a first-class city and realize their own emancipation and progress.

At this moment, the person in charge of the funeral and the dead man were chatting in the hearse.

"You mean, Stolten's daughter joined the Cult of the Dark God?"

Faced with Duck's question, George smiled: "His daughter is progressive-minded, and when she was studying in Dorland a year ago, our people came into contact with her, and she later became one of us. In fact, it's not just her, Stolten's adjutant Herodotus, and the fortress garrison Osbayer are all followers of the Cult of the Dark God. ”

Darker let out a sigh of relief: "It seems that Stolten has taken nine out of ten?"

"It's hard to say, he has a certain prestige in the army, and he is also a very capable guy, so it is very likely that he will go his own way. So the next step is to do both ends, on the one hand, to step up his work, on the other hand, to completely crush his dreams. ”

"What's the shredding method?"

"Makarov airboats and warships carried out cleaning of specific areas. ”

"Ready to go on a killing spree?"

"Specific areas. Our men will mark the target area and bomb it, not targeting civilians – like destroying Dog Island, then the commandos will carry out targeted killings, and finally, they will tear down the Bahrain wall and mobilize the masses to liquidate the so-called big aristocratic big factory owners. Stolten has nowhere to go. The difference is only whether it is a 'surrender' or a 'captive'. ”

"If that's the case, I'd like to hear how you can solve Jacque's problem once and for all. You're going to purge the old aristocracy and replace them with technocrats?"

"Of course, power, money, status, and fame are all compliments for our own people, otherwise why would others give you their lives? Fools who only strive for their ideals are hard to find. ”

"It's your own business to do what you do, but if you do it, you'll create a new class of nouveau riche in ten or twenty years, and you'll be back in the same way as Jacques. Because the nature of capital is to pursue profits, and personal conduct cannot compete with the influence of the system. To put it mildly, you call it wearing new shoes and walking the old way. ”

"The Jacques will be preserved, and the followers of the Cult of the Dark God and the Cult of the Light will gain more political rights - the wise and pious in troubled times will be better than the opportunistic bureaucrats. ”

Duck smiled, "Don't kid yourself. How many seats are you going to leave for the technocrats? If you don't, if you do, they'll keep digging you in the corner. Don't forget, they were also big factory owners, and their Jagenque counterparts had poached Rustford, Alfran, and Jacque's army. You people are good to talk about while you live, but what about after you?"

George smiled with satisfaction: "Okay, Duck, the hardships of the past few years have not been in vain, and there has been a lot of progress." Promotions and fortunes, choose one of the two. ”

"You can't do it," Duck shook his head decisively, "fools can't make money, and smart people who can make money don't just think about money." You can't stop these people from choosing careers or rent-seeking power. ”

"Why? The Cult of the Dark God is in full swing, and even after the Cult Affairs Campaign, there are a lot of people waiting to join. They see very clearly that Beihai will fall into our hands sooner or later, and joining the religion now is tantamount to retaining the possibility of becoming the seed of future officials, besides, will there be a more tolerant religion in the world than the Dark God Cult?"

"I don't have anything to worry about the Cult of Darkness and your control, I'm asking about those who have the money and joined the Cult of Darkness. ”

"Hand over the factory. ”

These five words stunned Dark, and it took a long time to react: "You want to confiscate their capital?"

"That's right, clean out of the house, clean into the house. ”

Darker felt that his mind had not turned, and he stammered for a long time, and said: "But, but he will still retain all ties with the past, and may also put forward proposals that are beneficial to the big conglomerates and big factory owners!"

"Don't be funny, in the future Beihai, there will be no big conglomerates and big factory owners, everything must be led by the Economic Affairs Department of the Dark God Cult, all big factories belong to the collective, belong to the whole people! We welcome individuals to open factories and enterprises, but if you dare to hire more than eight people, just wait for the squatting room!"

"Are you crazy?"

"Nope. I want to destroy the big corporations and replace the dictatorship of the individual and the of the rich with the collective rule of the Cult of the Dark God. ”

"Collective rule?"

"Yes, group elite domination in the cloak of traditional forms. ”

"You can't make it. ”

"Our technology is unmatched, our production capacity is unmatched, and it is not a simple difference in quantity, but a new development model, so there must be a new way of governing. ”

"This is the baby you said asked for a blood sacrifice? this is the new path you have found for alchemy, for Jacque, for humanity?"

"That's right. I only know what he looked like in swaddling clothes, what the future holds, I am as confused as you. Just like the birth of the legendary Son of Light, some people cheered, and some people lamented. But at least, we've given the world a whole new path of development, and at least it's no worse than any other path in any of the world, right?"

There was silence in the hearse, and neither of them spoke again.

After a long time, Duck let out a long breath: "So many people came to my funeral, perhaps, they also attended the funeral of the old era, right?"

"Thank you for your blessings, my brother. ”

Duck shook George's hand hard: "I thank you too, but unfortunately, our differences are too great, and I am not destined to fight side by side with you." ”

"I understand that you are not a coward. In the future, you are always welcome to raise your knife to me. ”

"If your new world is even worse. Until then, it's better to destroy this old world as soon as possible. ”