Chapter 2782 Populus Euphratica Witchcraft Case

"The witchcraft case in Huyang Village is the bizarre case you mentioned in your letter the day before yesterday?" Joan became interested.

"That's right, it just so happens that this case is also related to the 'Holy Fire Syndrome' that you are most concerned about. There has been a lot of trouble these days, and even His Majesty was alarmed. Your Excellency the Patriarch started arguing."

Conti forked a piece of squeaky roast beef into his mouth and chewed, his lips were stained with grease, and his lips became more rosy and attractive.

After killing a large piece of meat and taking a sip of hot chocolate, Conti continued the topic just now.

"My mentor, Lord Tonya, also attended the imperial meeting, and finally helped His Majesty persuade the violent Patriarch, His Excellency, to dispel the terrible idea of ​​calling on all believers of the state religion to launch a 'witch hunt'!"

Of course, Joan knew that the "His Excellency the Patriarch" mentioned by Kandy was the current head priest Boris of the Syndra Church in the Far East, and his status in the entire Holy See institution was second only to His Majesty the Emperor who was also a voter of Syndra.

Conti's mentor, Lord Tonya, is also a disciple of the legendary Grand Druid Valentina, and the junior sister of Conti's father Victor Kalinin.

When Kalinin sent his daughter to study in Kolasberg, he specially asked his younger sister Dongia to take care of Kandy.

Later, Conti entered the Collasberg Agricultural College for further studies, and Ms. Tonya occasionally came to teach students as a professor. It is reasonable for Conti to respect her as a mentor.

Joan had met Tonya several times at court banquets. This quasi-legendary druid was the best friend of Empress Lyudmila. He was awarded the title of Lord for his outstanding contributions to agriculture and public health. Assistant to the Prime Minister, who was recently promoted to the Minister in charge of Health and Epidemic Prevention, is the youngest female senior official in the current cabinet in the Far East.

From the point of view of Ms. Tonya's authority, it is her job to prevent the "holy fire disease" and curb the spread of the epidemic. However, how can "holy fire disease" be related to the "witchcraft case" under the jurisdiction of the Holy See?

This also starts with Populus euphratica Village located in the central part of the Far East.

In fact, Qiao An is no stranger to Huyang Village.

Many years ago, when Qiao An and Medea cooperated in the research of supernatural petrification, they traveled in the central part of the Far East in order to find the "cockatrice" with the natural petrification ability.

The experience that left the deepest impression on Joan at that time was to take a train pulled by the Lost Beast, buy a ticket from "Big Rabbit's Nest Town" and get on the train all the way to "Valley Village Commune". It is "Wufeng Township", and then "Huyang Village".

Since he was just passing by by train, Joan didn't stay in Populus euphratica Village for too long at that time, and took the opportunity of parking to stroll around the platform and bought some fruits and souvenirs peddled by local dwarf hawkers.

Now when I heard Kandy talk about Populus euphratica Village, I learned that this place is a large village where dwarves and humans live together. There are more than 300 households, half of which are dwarfs and humans.

Huyang Village was only included in the list of agricultural reforms last year. A commune and a state-owned farm were established, and village priests, druids, and sheriffs were stationed in the village. Together with the village chiefs elected by the local dwarves and humans, they jointly formed the village level. of administrative agencies.

"Joan, Huyang Village is different from other villages in the Far East. Humans and dwarves live in a mixed population, and the population is almost the same. There is no main ethnic group. It is very rare to live in peace."

"The dwarves and human residents of Huyang Village have followed their nature for many years and engaged in the work that best utilizes their racial endowment."

"Most of the local gnomes are artisans and hawkers, while humans focus on farming and growing vegetables. Over the years, they have formed an interdependent symbiotic community and get along very well."

"After Huyang Village was transformed into a commune, the human residents easily adapted to the new way of life, but the gnomes went through a difficult transition period."

"You also know that dwarfs are not naturally suitable for plowing and farming. Their petite stature can't do heavy field work, they can't handle big animals, and they don't have the patience."

"His Majesty Roland understands this situation, so let the officials who promote agricultural reform be more flexible, and don't engage in 'one size fits all'. Since the dwarfs are not interested in farming, let them engage in business or handicrafts that they are better at. After all, rural communes It also needs hawkers and craftsmen."

"Thanks to His Majesty's mercy, the dwarves in Huyang Village have been able to continue their traditional way of life, and the religious customs of the past have also been preserved, including the 'Worship Festival', and this is the key to triggering the 'Witchcraft Case'!"

Having said that, Conti's expression became serious—although this did not hinder her good appetite, she poked two fat oysters with a fork and stuffed them into her mouth deftly.

"According to the traditional customs, at the turn of spring and summer every year, the dwarf women of Populus euphratica village gather at Tituba's house to hold a sacrificial ceremony dedicated to the 'God of Dwarfs' Gal Shinjin."

"The host of the sacrificial ceremony, Tituba, is an elderly dwarf old woman. It is said that she is a witch doctor or something. She knows a little bit of alchemy and a few low-level natural magic. What have you seen in the world, treat this old witch as a prophet, take care of food and drink, and send her good wine and meat during the holidays."

"After the establishment of the Huyang Village Commune, the newly appointed pastor in the village, Mr. Saguna, was a vigorous young man who was born in an officer's family. Master priest from here, can he be used to traditional customs such as village sacrifices?"

Conti shrugged.

"Saguna went to work in the countryside, and got along well with the local human residents, but he couldn't get used to the dwarfs who were prank-loving by nature and always had witticisms on their lips, especially the old witch Tituba."

"Mr. Saguna accused Tituba more than once of pretending to be a ghost, making some farts and using unavailable herbal medicine to treat people's diseases, cheating on food and drinking, it's nothing more than delaying patients' receiving regular treatment is the most hateful thing, and even suspecting Tituba They are cultists lurking in Huyang Village."

"This tense relationship lasted until the beginning of May, and it was the annual festival in Huyang Village. Mr. Saguna heard dwarf women crying and laughing hysterically in Grandma Tituba's wooden house. Uneasy, until the night fell and the cabin returned to silence, he finally couldn't hold back his curiosity, took a bottle of 'invisibility potion', took a sword and a pistol, and quietly approached Tituba's cabin to find out."

Speaking of which, Conti had already finished her two main dishes, and was about to kill the caramel pudding, her tone and demeanor became secretive and gloomy, as if she was telling a scary and suspenseful story.