In front of Ricardo, on a gilded fragrant wood table, a telescope decorated with tortoiseshell turtles sits out. Crafted by skilled craftsmen, it is luxurious and effective, and even if it is far away from the stage, you can still see the beautiful figures of the actors and singers.

It's just that the famous banker obviously had no interest in watching the opera at this time, and he didn't even glance at the telescope, but kept urging the only steward in his room, who was also his most trusted henchman: "Are you coming? Keep an eye on it, don't miss it." ”

The steward squatted beside the small pipe, sweating because he didn't know if he was too nervous or because of the long squatting distance. His eyes were fixed on the thin tube, with both longing and fear in his eyes, as if he was about to emerge from the fine management in a moment, the demon in the lamp in a fairy tale, who could bring disaster to people or an incredible fate.

Time passed quietly, and a high-pitched, melodious female voice echoed through the cleverly designed theater, "To live or to die, that's the question." The questions accompanied by the magnificent symphony seem to beat like a drum, constantly beating in people's hearts.

Ricardo, who had been on the edge of his seat, closed his eyes at this time, as if he was savoring the beautiful music, or the question that kept ringing:

Is it life or death, and what decision will be made about it?

"Ah......h At this moment, an abrupt shout rang out in the room: "Here it is." It is neither beautiful nor loud, completely breaking the tragic atmosphere created by the opera, but at this moment, this voice is more beautiful and beautiful than any vocal music in Ricardo's heart.

It was like a ball that had been smashed to the ground and bounced up. Ricardo's fat body bounced off the couch with incredible agility, and he sprinted two steps, almost tripping over the wide couch.

"Where?" he asked.

"Here, here. The steward did not dare to slack off and handed him the cloth ball in his hand, perhaps because it was too urgent, the cloth ball had been crumpled by him, and it was soaked with sweat.

Ricardo couldn't take care of this, so he snatched the cloth from it, unfolded it, and looked at it hurriedly. The cloth group is not big, and even if it is a small print, it can't write much. But Ricardo watched carefully up and down for a long time, and then thought in silence for a moment.

"Have you finally made up your mind?", he nodded, and then carefully folded the ball of cloth and put it in the pocket of his lining. Then he slowly sat back on the couch, picked up the binoculars on the table, and began to enjoy the opera with relish.

"Master, this ...... What is written on the cloth ball?", the butler standing behind him hesitated for a long time, but finally couldn't help but ask.

Originally, a sophisticated henchman like him really shouldn't have asked such a question. But he has followed Ricardo for many years, and as Ricardo's right-hand man, he deeply knows what this group is about, and he also knows that this matter is not only related to his net worth and life, but even related to this kingdom.

Ricardo waved his hand, "Listen to the opera first, it's hard to hear such a beautiful singing." His fingers tapped on the table as if in response to the melodious melody, and only occasionally he could be heard talking to himself.

"The kingdom of God on earth, what a joke about handing over your property to those clergy!"

......

With the cold wind blowing from nowhere, this Holy Radiance City became colder and colder. Pedestrians walking in the city, the daily greeting words, also changed from the usual parents to short, oil, salt, sauce and vinegar, to complaints such as "why is it getting colder and colder this day".

In short, this winter in Shenghui City is different from the usual cold, and it is also different from the usual hardship.

However, the saddest thing is that the babies and children in this winter, the adults can still endure it, and these people who are weak are the most difficult to survive such a cold winter. In the Poole and Hillivan districts of Shenghui City, many nameless corpses can be found frozen and purple in the mud or stinking ditches every day.

The corpse collectors in Shenghui City ushered in the busiest time of the year.

"It's damn weather. If you have a little extra money at home, you can only squeeze out a small amount of surplus money from your money bag and buy some charcoal, coal, and the like everywhere to make a fire for warmth. If you don't have much money, you can only go around collecting some wood chips, and no matter what, it's always good to be able to start a fire.

The usual firelight on weekdays has become the most precious thing in winter, and the world is impermanent, maybe that's it.

The price of charcoal, coal, and so on, everything that can make a fire, has risen upwards like wheat in the spring, "swishing" upward, and it can't be stopped, and it can't be suppressed.

"These black-hearted bastards, their consciences are really eaten by dogs, and they actually give this kind of life-saving money, and the whole family will definitely die in a few days!

But within a few days they found out that it was good to be able to buy it before! From now on, there was no shop in the city to sell charcoal, coal, or the crude sawdust.

Early in the morning, all the low-end shops in Shenghui City were surrounded by three layers inside and three layers outside. Don't mention the evil fire in the big guy's heart, the price of this thing that can make fire is constantly rising, and everyone is blocked in their hearts, but their arms can't twist their thighs, everyone turns a blind eye, and it's over.

But now that all the shops are not for sale, what do you mean, do you want to watch everyone freeze to death? Some of the impatient men are all picking up the guys and preparing to do it, and they are shouting that they will burn down all these shops. bluffed those workers into shouting wronged:

"Oh, guys, let's put down all the guys in your hands first. It's not that we don't sell, it's really out of stock, to put it mildly, let's open a store to do business, just to make money, why don't you make money? ”

"Don't believe us, you go and inquire, even the Holy Domain is out of stock!"