According to the prior agreement, before Su Hao came back, all the big and small affairs in Konoha Town were handled by Kensen and Mo Xingkui.

By the time Capella walked into the mayor's office, Kenson had already anticipated what kind of problems he was going to face.

Capella was a middle-aged woman in her forties, with a thick waist and arms, and a thinner man was not even as strong as hers. Despite being a mother of two, Capella still looks energetic, with a red face that looks healthy, and can carry a heavy oak vat alone.

There are many bakeries in Konoha Town, and Capella's small shop is one of the most famous ones. The butter pie she makes tastes great and the cheese toast is also popular. Despite Capella's diligence, the bread in the shop always sells out early. If I go late, I will run out of goods, so I can only wait until tomorrow to come back.

Facing Kenson, Capela smiled, revealing a mouthful of slightly yellow teeth: "Captain Kenson, I'm here to exchange the house residence certificate." ”

Sixty percent of the houses in Konoha Town are communal. Settlers could choose to build it themselves or rent it from the town manager for a small amount of money. Whether it's the former or the latter, it's actually a good deal. There's plenty of wood here, it doesn't cost anything, as long as you put in the effort, you can get it. As for the rent, the price is also very low, and it is definitely a level of benefits that are unimaginable for renters in the Empire.

Kenson took the proof of residence from Capella, and suddenly had a very bad premonition in his mind.

This is the 28th person who has returned his residence certificate to himself this week. The Emperor is on top, today is only Thursday, and there are three days left to be a full week.

Many people have left, and the reasons are varied. To sum it up, there is actually nothing more than one: the living environment and conditions in the nearby town of Oviado are much better than here, and of course we want to leave.

"I love the butter pie you make. It's true. ”

Kenson also wanted to make a final effort. He tried to put a smile on his face and look more kind: "Capella, the bread you make is the most memorable delicacy in our town. If you leave, I'm afraid many people will be sad and can't eat. Hehe, this is the room now, you can use it for free. I really don't want you to leave. ”

"Captain Kenson, you're a good guy. Oviado is not far from here, and I will come to see you often. ”

Capela seemed to have expected Kenson to say this, and responded with a smile: "Seriously, I don't want to just leave." But the conditions on Oviado's side are really good. They promised me a complete house, which could be heated in the winter without firewood, and that there was ample security in the purchase of flour and cream. They even promised me that they would provide me with enough cherries and strawberries on time. This seems to me to be unthinkable. My favorite items are cherry pie and strawberry pie. Here, I can only get canned fruit, but I can't get the freshest goods. ”

Kenson thought for a moment and said, "If it's just because of this, I can help you, it shouldn't be a problem." ”

"But...... Me, I also have two children. ”

Capela lowered her head, wringed her clothes with her hands unnaturally and whispered, "They're all young, they're old enough to go to school." There was no school in the town, so they had to learn simple words from Mr. Sahusen. I know that Mayor Su Hao is already planning to build a school. But he left months ago and doesn't know when he'll be back. ”

Kenson interrupted Capella's words: "You don't have to worry about this, Mayor Su Hao is just temporarily out for training丨You know, our town has been included in the jurisdiction of the main army." That's the famous "Iron Warrior", not your average Imperial Wehrmacht. ”

"I've been in Konoha Town for eleven years."

These words did not have any effect on Capela. She raised her head and said seriously, "I've been here since I was a little girl. I was trafficked, and I still don't know where my parents are. The man who abducted me wanted to go to Redstone City, but he froze to death on the way. Luckily, I was brought here. I used to work in a bar, and even I didn't know who the father of those two children was. I'll admit that the people here are very kind to me and there are a lot of people who are willing to help me. But this is not the Empire's territory after all. I may never be able to leave, and I have to bake bread to make ends meet. But I never want my children to live this life. They should get out of here. At least, better off than I am. ”

Kenson couldn't refute Capella's words.

The actual situation in Konoha Town is like this, although Su Hao has already put a lot of effort into changing, it will take time to make the transition. As a "worker bee", Kenson certainly believes that Konoha Town will get better and better in the future, but it is one thing to believe in it, and it is another thing to believe in the thoughts in other people's heads. Like Capella, Kenson couldn't persuade her to stay here as she wanted.

Looking at Capella's back as he walked out of the office, Kenson only felt an indescribable sense of loss and irritability.

Mo Xingkui came in from outside and happened to meet Capella, who had left here. After a brief conversation, it still failed to redeem Capela's determination to leave.

"Hell things are getting worse and worse."

Mo Xingkui walked into the room, put the shotgun in his hand on the table, picked up the kettle and poured it violently, drank enough, and then put down the kettle, wiped his wet mouth, and shouted unhappily: "What's going on with the town called Oviado next to it?" In recent times, a lot of people have left to settle there. They actually let out the word, saying that everyone who is willing to go can get a house for free. ”

"It's not just about a house."

Kenson frowned, shook his head, and said, "This is the border of the Empire, and a settlement of this size will not appear for nothing. It can be seen from the progress of their construction that there must be a powerful figure behind them. They have a large fleet of transports, and there is no shortage of all kinds of supplies. Although we can get food from the space field, we are indeed far inferior to them in terms of the quantity and variety of cargo. I just went there last week to see that there's even a medium-sized electric heating station in the town of Oviado. They don't need to burn firewood in the winter, and they don't like to live in a smoky house for the winter.

"In a hurry, we can't build any electric heating stations."

Mo Xingkui walked to the table and sat down, took out a cigarette, gave one to Kensen, and said seriously: "The key to the problem is not here. I think that this place in Oviado is probably deliberately built against us. ”

Kenson lit a cigarette, took a puff, and asked calmly, "Tell me, what do you have?" Or do you know something? ”

"Oviado's position is in front of us, which is equivalent to cutting off the road between the inner realm of the empire and Konoha Town. I don't know if the guys who set up the toll card point last time had anything to do with it, but it's clear that Oviado does a similar role to that card point. The only difference is that they did not blatantly charge fees there, but put up all kinds of generous conditions to poach our people here one by one. ”

"They opened a liquor store in Oviado. Listen clearly, it's a batch, not an ordinary retail pub. Austin had bought an extra batch of spirits from Ovia two weeks earlier, and the price was 80 percent higher than it had been if it had come directly from the previous trading city. Oviado's men also had a good reason: they brought the wine from the inner realm of the empire, removing the wear and tear and various costs on the way, and Austin only needed a day to get the goods back, and the sales cycle was shortened. Therefore, this price increase is a must. ”

Kenson seemed to have something in mind and asked, "What about Austen?" What does he think about this? ”

Mo Xingkui sighed: "Austin's bar is running out. These are his own exact words. ”

Kenson's face changed suddenly: "Why? ”

"Because the wine in Oviado is cheaper than ours."

Mo Xingkui's expression gradually became stern: "For the same wine, the price of the tavern in Oviado Town is about twenty percent cheaper than ours here.

"How is this possible? Didn't you just say that Austin bought from there at about this price? ”

"Yes, but those guys don't just make batches, they also retail. There are also bars in the town of Oviado, which are sold for the same price as the lot price. The only difference is that if you want to have a drink, of course you will choose the bar. If you want to buy a large bottle and drink it slowly at home, then whether it is a liquor wholesale or a bar, you can meet your needs. ”

"Who are the operators of those bars?"

"It doesn't matter who you are. According to the latest regulations issued by the mayor of Oviado, as long as you have the status of a resident of Oviado, you can freely choose your occupation in the town. No matter what they want to do, they can get a certain amount of loans, or help in substance. ”

As he spoke, Mo Xingkui flicked the ashes of his cigarette: "Now, you should understand that I am not exaggerating. Those guys are really targeting us. They want to hollow out Konoha Town and turn it into an empty dead city. It's ridiculous, at first, I thought there was a nice neighbor next to me. Unexpectedly, it was a cunning and ill-intentioned fox. ”

Kenson didn't speak, lost in thought.

Austin's bars are definitely not going to open.

Even if he buys alcohol from Oviado Town at 80 percent, and comes back to Konoha Town, he will definitely have to raise some of the price in order to make a profit. Austin wasn't a greedy guy, but in any case, the wine bought from eight copper plates had to be sold for at least nine copper plates. The tavern in the town of Oviado can sell for eight copper plates, which means that the tavern operator must have a lower purchase price than Austin. Seven, maybe six, or less...... In this matter, Austin is indeed not competitive.

No one's money is blowing in the wind, and many people in Konoha Town are used to being careful with their budgets. Since you can buy cheap enough alcohol by walking for an extra day, I believe that many people are willing to go to the town of Oviado. Of course, it is impossible to go that far for a drink, and people who want to drink will bring back a lot of it every time. As a result, the taverns in Konoha Town are not frequented. Bar owners like Austin would have to lose their jobs.

Unless, Austin is willing to lower the price of drinks. But this kind of thing is equivalent to inviting everyone to drink for nothing at your own expense, and it is better to have a drink once in a while, but it is simply impossible after a long time.

If you go further, as before, through the jurisdiction of 44 infantry pei, to the inner territory of the empire, the price will of course be much lower than the wholesale in the town of Oviado. The problem is that too far away means cost. All things considered, it's even better to buy directly from Oviado. There is no solution to this cycle. It is conceivable that the owner of Oviado Town is indeed rich and willing to cut off the vitality of Konoha Town in this way. He may only have to pay hundreds of thousands of gold coins for this. But for Konoha Town, it was a real disaster.

Looking at the silent Kensen, Mo Xingkui added a few words that were weighty.

"It's cold and people like to drink. But that's just the wine. The price of a commodity may not tell the whole story. If...... I mean, if, they start ramping up their efforts to lock down all biological stuff in this way. Clothes, salt, medicines, etc., when that time comes, what are we going to do? ”

Despite his mental preparation, Kenson felt terrified. He smoked slowly, his voice low: "Over the past few months, hundreds of people have left. Even Capela left. Vimore had saved her life. On the night of the siege of the dark creatures, Capella and her two children would not have survived without Vimore. ”

"I know more about this than you do."

Mo Xingkui still sighed and said: "Capella has looked for Vimore before, saying that he wants to live with him, and then the two of them will go to Oviado Town together to start living. Vimore, of course, would not agree, and Capela would have to go over on his own. She was actually right, if I had two children my age, I would want to send them to school and get a better education. No one wants to be born a mercenary, and if they can return to the Empire, no one will stay here. ”

Kenson didn't seem to be touched by Mo Xingkui's words, and said to himself: "There will be more people who will leave in the future." Perhaps, hundreds, thousands. ”

Mo Xingkui pinched his fingers fiercely and accentuated his tone: "We have to stop this from continuing." ”

Kenson raised his head and glanced at him, "How to stop it?" ”

Mo Xingkui replied: "Go to them, find the actual controller of Oviado Town." ”

The next day

Looking at Mo Xingkui and Kenson standing in front of him, Count Thoma curled the corners of his mouth slightly, revealing a rather smug smile.

Duke Marven has already collected all the relevant information about Konoha Town. For the closest people around Su Hao, a complete archive has also been established. There are the names of Mo Xingkui and Kenson on it, and Count Thoma has seen their photos, although this is a meeting, it is not unfamiliar, and it can even be said to be familiar.

"What do you like to drink?" Coffee? Or tea? I also have some fine wines here, so I can have a glass if you want. ”

Although he said this, the personal attendant brought three cups of steaming coffee. It was Count Thoma's favorite drink, and he was a very shrewd fellow who knew what to say and when. The other party is just two ordinary mercenaries, and it is okay to be polite on the surface, but it does not mean that they are qualified to be equal.

I'm a count, a nobleman.

Kenson had no concept of this kind of thing, but Mo Xingkui saw the problem. He didn't say anything, he didn't reach for coffee, he just sat in his chair and looked coldly at the other side.

"I have always felt that those who dare to come to live on the borders of the empire have brave people who have the ability and are willing to face reality."

Kenson said seriously, "Mr. Thoma, you are the mayor of Oviado Town and a neighbor of Konoha Town. We would like to welcome you very much. However, the situation is very different from when you first arrived a few months ago. ”

"Oh change? What are you referring to? ”

Count Thoma smiled and took a sip of his coffee, and said to himself very comfortably: "This tastes good, really good." Well, by the way, where did you just go? What's changing? ”

He is used to pretending to be crazy and stupid. This is a habit that Thoma has had since he was a small businessman. Whenever you can't stand up on morality, talk about it with boring topics. This trick is very good, and it tends to distract the other person and forget the main point of the conversation.

"A lot of people in Konoha Town have left, and they are now settled in Oviado Town."

Mo Xingkui interjected, getting to the heart of the matter: "The price of spirits here is very cheap, and heated houses can be provided for free, and residents can have all kinds of daily necessities that are almost supplied at cost prices. Well, I'll admit, this qiē is something that Konoha doesn't have. Mr. Thomas, I am amazed at your wealth. Oviado can be built in such a short period of time, and in addition to the essential construction machinery, you have brought a large number of skilled construction workers from the inner realm of the empire. Paying their daily wages alone is a considerable expense. In addition to this, the transportation of large quantities of goods requires the consumption of fuel, and the immigrants must have been a significant investment to get them out of the empire. As far as I know, there's nothing around here, and the only production is werewolf fur from the dark world. Do you want to make this place a paradise? If that's the case, it seems like you're in the wrong place. ”

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