Chapter 1962 Defender

"It all started with the closure of a city newspaper this spring and the prosecution of Edmund Zenger for defamation of the Colonial City Council."

Mr. Popper took a sip of coffee to moisten his throat, and described in vivid detail how Joseph Adams had risen to fame in New Avalon.

"There is a man named Edmund Zenger in the city who once worked as an editor for the "Jortunheim News". Later, he resigned in anger because he opposed the excessively strict news censorship system of the authorities, and called like-minded literary reporters. , founded a "New Avalon Weekly", which often anonymously published four-panel cartoons and humorous jokes satirizing the powerful."

"For example, this newspaper once published such a joke."

“The congressmen were having a meeting, and the moderator said: ‘Those who support the slave trade, please sit on the left side of the venue, and those who oppose the slave trade, please sit on the right side of the venue.’”

"So the MPs got up one after another, most sat to the left, a few sat to the right, and only one well-dressed gentleman sat motionless in the middle seat of the venue."

"The host asked inexplicably: 'Sir, are you for the slave trade or against it?'"

“The gentleman replied: ‘I think it is right to condemn the immorality of the slave trade in words, while privately investing in it to make a fortune.’”

"The host was taken aback when he heard the words, and said in trepidation: 'Dear sir, you should sit on the rostrum!'"

Before Mr. Popper finished speaking, Hyla, Audrey, and Holden burst into laughter in unison.

Qiao An couldn't help but raise the corners of her lips. After laughing, she deeply felt that this joke had a profound meaning, humorous yet spicy. No wonder it immediately became the joke of people after dinner after it was published. It became popular all over the city and lasted for a long time. The gentlemen couldn't hold back their face, and were so angry that they slapped the table, insisting on sealing up the newspaper office.

"New Avalon Weekly was just a very humble tabloid when it was first published. However, it opened up sales with these satirical cartoons and humorous articles. Its sales have increased tenfold in the two years since its publication, and it is popular among ordinary citizens and intellectuals. Welcome, the politically satirical caricatures and jokes in the newspapers have become popular and widespread," Mr. Popper continued.

"New Avalon's censorship bureau repeatedly asked the newspaper's editor-in-chief Edmund Zenger to reveal the anonymous contributors who wrote those eccentric satires, but Zenger always refused, and finally couldn't bear it anymore, and simply declared that those with sinister intentions The works were all created by Zenger himself, and he was thrown into prison for defamation."

"At that time, the lawyers in the city were privately receiving hints from the MPs, warning them not to act as Zenger's counsel."

"Only Joseph Adams, a newcomer to the land, ignored this. He accepted the entrustment of Mrs. Zenger and appeared in court to defend Zenger, pointing out that Zenger's works of art published in newspapers did not name names and did not meet the defamation standard." Definition, if anyone feels that those humorous cartoons and satirical jokes are deliberately aimed at themselves, isn’t it a manifestation of "taking the seat"?"

"Mr. Adams declared in court: Edmund Zenger did not slander anyone, and that it is the gentlemen who are guilty of seeing caricatures, not the painters who criticize the current situation through anonymous works published in newspapers, who should really reflect on themselves." and writers."

"The jury was deeply impressed by Mr. Adams' eloquence, and all the jurors unanimously found that Edmund Zenger was not guilty and should be released in court."

Finally, Mr. Popper concluded in a tone of admiration and envy:

"This judgment aroused great repercussions in all walks of life in Jotunheim, and also made Edmund Zenger's defender, Mr. Joseph Adams, famous in the first battle, becoming the most popular barrister in the city and a scholar in the intellectual circle. All the ladies and ladies in the social world are proud to be friends with him."

At this time, the housekeeper of the villa knocked on the door and came in, inviting the distinguished guests to dinner.

Accompanied by Mr. Popper, everyone enjoyed a sumptuous dinner, and then returned to the living room to drink coffee and chat for a while, and Mr. Popper got up to leave.

After sending Theodore Popper away, and there were no outsiders in the living room, Audrey asked Hailar what his plans were next.

"It's getting late, everyone rest first." Hailaer covered his mouth and yawned, and said sleepily, "Tomorrow morning, let's go to the port and find the 'Narwhal' first, to see if Messinger is on board , if you are not there, follow the address provided by Mr. Popper and go outside the city to investigate Am Flodie's estate."

"If Messinger is also in Flodi Manor, do you want to take advantage of these two villains alone and kill them all?" Holden asked eagerly.

Hailar hesitated for a moment, shook his head and said: "Messinger has the strength of a quasi-legendary level, and Mustafa is by his side. Flodi is said to be a 15th-level warlock, and there will be no lack of excellent strength in the manor." Bodyguard, we have little chance of winning if we do something on someone else's territory, so we'd better be more cautious."

"Besides that, don't forget that another important mission of our trip is to track down the legendary 'Herlinghorn' that has become a 'ghost ship'."

"Messinger has far more information about the whereabouts of the Herlinghorn than we do. Only by tracking this person secretly can we hope to find the ghost ship as soon as possible."

"Conversely, if Messinger is alerted, it will be very difficult to follow him with his cunning and suspicious nature."

Audrey nodded and said, "Haila is very considerate. During the time we are in New Avalon, it's best to keep a low profile and not cause trouble."

Joan agreed with Hyrule and Audrey, and offered to cast a spell to investigate the "Narwhal" and Frody's Manor, saving everyone a trip.

Back in the bedroom on the second floor, Joan took out his pocket watch and looked at it. The hour hand pointed to ten o'clock at night, which was far from the time for him to go to bed. He opened the window next to the desk, and the cool sea breeze was blowing in front of him, which was salty. There is a hint of bleak autumn in it.

Joan stood in front of the window and made a spell-casting gesture, chanted the spell in a low voice, and summoned a group of owls. After blessing the "Myth Link", he sent them to the port to investigate and search for the anchorage where the "Narwhal" was located.

The night was dotted with stars, and the crescent moon was like a hook. The owls swept across the streets and the undulating buildings, quietly came to the sky above the harbor, and soon found the particularly conspicuous iron-clad ship.

Joan projected the observation angle over there. Only a few cabins on the ship were still lit. Through the windows came the sound of drunken quarrels from the sailors, and the faint sound of shaking the dice. He didn't notice the breath of the mythical creature. It can basically be concluded that Francis Messinger is not on board.