Section 23 Questioning

The book clearly states the way to get help from others. There is always a limit to what a person can do, and there is no such thing as an all-knowing and all-powerful human being, so anyone who wants to accomplish great things must be assisted by others.

The best way is to use your own spirit to infect others, and the second is to use your interests to persuade others. Of course, there is the last method, but it has always been rejected by the wise – and that is to rely on intrigue to control others.

All the books praise the first method and consider it to be the most important ability a leader needs. According to some exaggerated statements, if a person can move others with his lofty ideals and noble sentiments, then it means that this person has the most basic capital to be king. In fact, anyone knows how important this ability is, even businessmen who usually have no lofty ideals or noble sentiments. How enviable it is to be able to get a group of followers for free.

On the other hand, it costs to convince others with stakes. Either you have to give someone good, or you have to have the ability to hurt someone. The former tends to be expensive, and often in the case of mercenaries – you can buy someone to do it for you, but you can't expect them to die for you in a real life-and-death crisis. And the latter has always hidden the danger of betrayal. It's easy for bandits to co-opt a bunch of civilians as cannon fodder, but don't expect them to go all the way with you. Especially when you are surrounded and suppressed, these people will become your talisman.

"I thought it would...... do," the little girl muttered to herself in a voice that she could only hear. It was the first time she had made such an attempt, but it was clear that she didn't have the aura of a king as the book suggested. Even if there were, at least it didn't work against the guardian called Ashrufat.

Even she could feel that this man called Ashrufat had some kind of quality that was completely different from ordinary people. This was a big difference from her other two guards, Essien and Pharysses. He's the kind of ...... People who don't seem special at first glance, but can't help but make a lasting impression. In addition to this, his attitude is different from that of others. At least in the midst of all the accidents that had happened before, he had been clearly perfunctory about his duties as a guard, and had not even treated her as a true queen with the same respect.

How can I get him to really think of me as a queen?

Of course, Ashrufat didn't know that such thoughts were spinning in the minds of the little girl beside Lu Dao. He just followed her, slowly moving forward as a guard should do.

When she got back to her room, the first thing she did was pick up the big thick book. The title of this book is "On Human Relations", which is a well-known contemporary philosophical work and an important part of her study.

Books are not practice, but books are the foundation of practice. That's what Jana told her. However, no matter how much she turned the book, she couldn't seem to find the answer she wanted. Although she sits on the throne, everyone sees her as a little girl. Is it true that if you want to be a queen, to be a real queen, you must first be an adult?

......

When Ashrufat came down from the shift, it was the next day. Essien came to the shift change on time, and politely greeted Ashrufat, suggesting that we go for a drink tomorrow.

"Don't you need a rest tomorrow?" said Ashrufat, who was surprised by Essien's proposal. If a normal person is on duty all day, he probably doesn't have much energy to drink anymore.

"Oh, Ashrufat, you don't know what to do, today I only need to be on duty for half a day, and tomorrow the three of us will rest collectively, three days in a row. Essien made an exaggerated expression. "We only have this opportunity once a year, so we should cherish it. ”

"What do you mean......"

"Three days later," Essien said. "Our little queen has to attend a religious ceremony. For this, she had to go to the temple and meditate for three days. She's going to go this afternoon. For the past three and a half days, her diet and daily life were all taken care of by the church, and even we could not follow her...... In other words, for us, it's a three-day holiday. ”

I see. Eshurufat did not refuse Essien's request, and after a few polite words, he left.

Under normal circumstances, the first thing ordinary people do when they go back after a day and a night of duty should be to get a good night's sleep. However, Ashrufat was not an ordinary person, so he did not go directly back to his bed, but went to Rhodia's shop to sit down for a while. It was morning, and at this time, the "Red Rose" had just opened, and it was empty, and Rhodia, as the owner of the shop, was sitting at the counter very bored, holding a notebook to settle accounts.

"Oh, it's Mr. Eshurufat. "Rhodia saw Ashrufat. "What, did you just come back?

"Well, actually, I'd like to ask about something. Ashrufat asked. "Are there any religious ceremonies coming soon?"

"Ah, you said that. Rhodia chuckled, "You're a foreigner, no wonder you don't know what to do." This is also a major festival in Eagle City. It is a large-scale sacrifice for the gods of the Star Field, and we locals call it the 'Great Festival'. But it's a large-scale festival that takes place in the plaza outside the city. The king himself was to attend and hold the ceremony of lighting the sacrificial fire with his own hands. ”

"Oh, why does the king go to the church to bathe and meditate, can't he be in his own palace?"

"I don't know that. Rhodia replied with a smile. "I guess it's the rules set by the original King Makremiz. Eshurufat, it seems that you are really a very responsible guard, are you worried about that little queen? Don't worry, no matter how incompetent the church is, it will not let the queen have an accident at this time. How can we say that this tradition has lasted for hundreds of years, and there have never been any accidents. Besides, our two ministers are counting on the little queen to come of age and legally usurp the throne, and they won't do anything about it. ”

"Is that so?" Ashruphat somehow remembered the fierce glint that flashed in Duke Byron's eyes for a moment. Was that directed at him? He recognized me? But that's unlikely...... Well, he would rather believe that when Duke Byron showed that kind of gaze, his eyes were looking at the little girl, not he, the guard who stood beside the little girl.

"Is there any other news lately?" asked Ashrufat casually.

"Yes, the other day, the Crazy Horse Gang was finished. Rhodia said seemingly lightly. "So we're a lot calmer here. ”

"Crazy Horse Gang finished?" Ashrufat remembered the two Crazy Horse Gang members he met on the first day he came to Eagle City. It really depends on them, otherwise Ashrufat wouldn't have known Rhodia and wouldn't have gotten the free shelter he has now. Of course, this free shelter is better than nothing for Ashrufat.

"Well, to be specific, on the other side of the city's business district, the Crazy Horses have been seriously challenged lately. A new gang, presumably called the Iron Hawks, is struggling to squeeze the Crazy Horses' power. Perhaps because of this, the Crazy Horses had to try to open a gap on the side of Flower Street. Rhodia spoke in a very flat tone, as if she had nothing to do with herself. Her hands were not idle, and in a few moments she made a glass of beautiful wine that looked gorgeous. "It's just that this venture of theirs was countered by the Scarlet Rose...... Overnight, the Crazy Horse Gang's boss Dalian Sympathy and four of his subordinates were killed together in a well-defended lair. ”

Sure enough, it's over. Ashrufat chuckled and took Rhodia and handed him the wine. This is like on the battlefield, an army with little chance of victory, and the main general fled alone before the war. In this case, it is difficult not to collapse.

"In just two days, the Iron Eagle Gang has completely taken over the original territory and most of the members of the Crazy Horse Gang. If they're not mistaken, they'll probably go after the Black Pig Gang on the side. If they can expel or annex the Black Pig Gang, then there's a lot to see. Rhodia continued.

"What's the show?"

"If they can do this...... It's going to be a big deal. All the other gangs have only two ways left, either sit and wait to die, waiting to be swallowed up one by one by Iron Eagle with its strong strength...... Or......" Rhodia said in a meaningful tone. "Unite and uproot this gang that threatens everyone in one fell swoop!"

As she said this, her eyes were on Ashrufat. Unfortunately, Ashrufat had no interest in this at all, in fact he only listened to these things as legends.

"It's an opportunity. Rhodia said. "The result of the two tigers...... It must have been quite tragic. If there is a person, let's say a person who is strong enough and ambitious enough, to hold this precious void...... Maybe he could be the yellow finch that followed the praying mantis. Become the uncrowned king of the entire Eagle Falcon City's underground realm. ”

"What do you mean......" Ashrufat asked. "Do you want ......?"

"I'm just talking about it. This is indeed a time of great change, and with your own efforts, you can rise in a short period of time, without having to go down a path that requires countless hours and patience, as is normal. ”

"Maybe. Ashrufat replied with a smile.

"Well, speaking of which, Mr. Esseurofat seems to be from the place of Brasian, right? ”

"That's right. ”

"Well, is it the squire nobles of that place?"

"How do you know about it? I don't think I mentioned it. ”

"It's easy," Rhodia replied with a smile. "Because the positions within the palace are not the right of the common people to set foot in. At the very least, it has to be a squire and nobleman. This conclusion is easy to draw from the fact that Mr. Esseurofat was able to book a position. ”

"You don't think that's fair?"

"It's not unfair, because there's a lot of security involved. I hate to admit it, but it's true, the poor are easier to buy than the rich. ”

"Why did you suddenly mention this matter? ”

"Actually, it's good to be a squire nobleman. The best thing about it is calm...... Of course, the biggest drawback is also true. If you are used to living a peaceful and waveless life, then you have no ambition. Still," Rhodia looked at Ashrufat. "Mr. Ashrufat doesn't look like that. ”

"What kind of person do I look like?"

"Ambitious. ”

"Ah, I don't think I want anything. Ashrufat smiled and put down his glass, even though he hadn't even touched his lips with the wine.