Chapter 162 Public Trial and New Retinue

Early morning, Hebron.

Conute, the waterman, walked out of the public toilet. This kind of public toilet was specially built by the new earl. It has both squatting positions and urinals, which is very convenient.

After defecation, you can use the wood chips provided in the public toilet to clean up, which is considered a unique public facility in Hebron.

The excrement accumulated every day will be transported out of the city by dedicated personnel in the early morning. After composting, it will be sold to farmers at a low price.

There is no doubt that public toilets can make money, but the money is really not worth mentioning to Lothar.

Since the public toilets were put into use in Hebron, coupled with the vicious city defense troops who often patrol the streets with sticks, the sanitary situation in Hebron has been significantly improved.

But this is not a good thing for Cornut, because he is a waterman.

In the past, he had to go to the "water house" in the city, a well with a pavilion, and queue up to draw water, and then deliver it to the home of the person who ordered the water.

During the dry season, people even have to go further to the mountains to find clean water sources.

But now people often only use river water.

The frustration of being about to lose his job made Kaunute feel a little resentful towards the city's rulers.

Although the salary of water delivery workers is often only a quarter of that of stonemasons and carpenters, it is still much better than farming in the countryside, and the harvest is guaranteed during droughts and floods. Who can refuse an iron rice bowl?

He came to the bakery, and on the way, he saw merchants being surrounded by city guards and extorting money because their animals defecated on the street but they did not recycle the feces.

These gangsters rely on their own power!

Kanut looked away angrily and turned his attention to the freshly baked bread in the shop.

The rich aroma of roasted grains made him swallow his saliva: "Old Neil, bring me a loaf of rye bread, freshly baked."

People who run bakeries are often the most disgusted. According to many bards, they are the first choice for demon possession.

Because these damn guys often add various impurities, such as sawdust and pebbles, into the flour to increase the weight of the bread.

But Old Neil is an exception.

The bread baked in his home is the most authentic. Although it is a little more expensive, you won't have to worry about biting into it and breaking a bloody tooth.

While picking up the bread for him, Old Neil muttered: "It's a coincidence that you came here, Cornut. I'm just about to close the store. If you come one step later, I'll leave."

Cornut was a little confused and said: "Isn't it a good time for you to do business? Why do you want to close the store suddenly?"

Old Neil said with a smile: "There is a public trial again. That bastard Ahmed finally got the retribution he deserves! I will be a witness to attend and read out his charges to everyone!"

"This is really a happy event."

Cornut couldn't help but feel happy for Old Neil.

Everyone who lives on this street knows the enmity between Old Neil and Ahmed.

That was back when Old Neil was still known only as Junior Neil.

There was a drought that year. Because Old Neil could not pay enough taxes, Master Ahmed confiscated all the land and grain from his family, causing his family to almost starve to death.

Fortunately, thanks to the blessing of the Holy Fire, Old Neil has achieved what he has today.

"Here's the holy fire, Old Neil, what do I see?"

Cornut's eyes widened because he discovered that Old Neil was actually wearing a silver cross on his neck!

Isn't this the mark of the pagans?

Old Neil picked up the cross and smiled at Cornut: "Yes, I have converted to the right faith, not to get back the fields that originally belonged to my family, but because I am sincerely grateful to the just Earl, except in this way ——There is nothing else I can do for your lordship."

Cornut was silent.

He wanted to accuse Old Neil of betrayal, but he knew in his heart that the new earl was a rare kind lord who treated them as human beings.

On the contrary, in the past, weren't it the so-called brothers of the same clan who rode on their heads to show off their power?

The corners of Old Neil's mouth raised, and a kind smile appeared on his wrinkled face: "Cornut, maybe you should consider changing your job. You are a hard-working young man, and you shouldn't waste your life delivering water. On this kind of thing.”

Cornute was stunned for a moment. He touched his waist, which was a little stooped due to carrying water day after day. His father could no longer straighten his waist at all.

"Indeed, but I can't do anything except deliver water."

He took out the coins and wanted to pay the bill, but Old Neil pushed him back: "No need this time, please wait for me for a while, and we will go to the public trial together."

Cornute and Old Neil followed the crowd and rushed towards the high platform where the public trial was held.

He could not help but feel a sense of joy in his heart as he looked at those formerly aloof men, with their hands tied and kneeling on the ground.

The waterman is far from being a decent person.

During the process of delivering water, it is completely normal to encounter deductions, abuse, and even beatings.

Although he was a little dissatisfied with the new lord who ruined his job, at this moment, Cornute suddenly thought about it - even these gentlemen lost their lives, so why should I be dissatisfied?

Lord, you are a good person who supports common people like me. At the worst possible time, you can just quit your job as a water deliveryman and become a manure collector.

Old Neil, who was standing aside, would have been so angry that he would have slapped him in the face if he knew that Cornute, whom he was trying so hard to persuade, had the greatest ambition of changing from a water delivery worker to a dung collector.

You brat, change your faith quickly and join the army!

…

Lothar had no intention of presiding over the trial in person or appearing on it.

The shouts outside were like a roaring mountain and a tsunami.

But he was not moved at all. He just worked hard at his desk to compile Hebron's first written code. He wanted to abolish the "customary law" currently in force.

The content of the "Hebron Code" compiled by him is very simple, but also very detailed, with detailed provisions on debts, property inheritance, marriage, litigation and other aspects.

Customary law is too easy to be misinterpreted and sophistry.

For example, adulterers, in this era, can appeal to the church even if they are just suspected, and use divine judgment to throw the woman suspected of adultery into the river.

If she sinks, she is guilty, but if a person is thrown into the river, how can she not sink?

Of course, this kind of law is often not applied to aristocratic women, but it also depends on the authority in the noblewoman's family. If she is the daughter of a powerful duke, and she has loyal knights and brings a generous dowry, then Even if he cuckolded him in front of his husband, he had to endure it.

Therefore, this kind of law has simply become a patent for persecuting civilian women.

In Lothar's opinion, the biggest reason why Hebron is more suitable for him than Bethlehem is that here, the power of the church is the weakest, and there is no institution like the Inquisition.

But the customs of the pagans are also deeply rooted. For example, in the Jewish neighborhoods, if an adultery case occurs, it will definitely be tried internally by them, which is what Lothar does not want to see.

The power of feudal lords has no limit, just like the emperor, some people can increase this power unlimitedly.

Some people can only be like puppets on strings. Their power can only be regarded as that of a city lord or a little earl. They can't even keep their word in their own palace.

…

Return to Hebron's castle.

Fringilla stretched lazily: "I didn't listen to the adults telling stories last night, and I felt that the whole ghost life was incomplete."

Jeanne rolled her eyes at her: "You are hundreds of years old and you still look like a little girl. Don't you feel ashamed?"

Fringilla hummed and said, "Then there is nothing to be ashamed of. I will always be a little girl in front of adults."

Jeanne's mouth curved.

This stupid girl doesn't really think that adults like little girls, does she?

"Okay, you go back first, I have to go to the stables and put this guy in place."

Putao is a big bad-tempered beast, and only Jeanne and Lothar are allowed to touch it. Last night, Fringilla tried to ride a horse, but was almost kicked by Putao's hind hoof.

She was so angry that her teeth itched.

"Hmph, sooner or later I will suck your precious 'grape' into a specimen!"

She rushed to the second floor of the castle hall with brisk steps: "Sir, silly big man, I'm back!"

"Miss Fringilla."

The familiar voice made Fringilla raise her head in surprise.

Immediately, she saw a man in a butler-style black and white dress with meticulously styled hair looking at her with a smile in the corridor at the end of the stairs.

"Ku...Kurs!"

Fringilla exclaimed.

"It's me, Your Highness."

Kors touched the guardrail on the stairs with his white-gloved fingers, looked at the dust accumulated on it, and said to Lothar with a frown:

"With all due respect, your residence is really unfashionable. It is full of dust and old furnishings. It will greatly lower the status of the owner of this place."

Lothar said helplessly: "You have to know that we are still in the High Middle Ages, and the king will not be so particular."

Kors sighed: "So that's what you think. Poor lady, she has to live in such a shabby room."

This guy was as old-fashioned as Urdin, and the dress he wore was ironed without a single wrinkle.

Even the expression on his face was perfectly expressed, as if he was doing it strictly according to a certain standard.

Fringilla was obviously a little excited and trotted up the stairs: "Kors, why are you here!"

Kors saluted gracefully, and a heartfelt smile finally appeared on his face: "Your Highness, I am very happy to see you again. After His Majesty the Ancestor learned the news of your disappearance, he almost went crazy with anxiety."

Fringilla hummed softly: "What's the use of being anxious? If you have the ability, just respond to your call and come across the border?"

Lothar pursed her lips slightly.

The ancestor that Fringilla refers to is the helmsman of the Blood Royal Court and the most powerful leader of the Tepesh family among the many blood kings - Vlad Tepesh.

In fact, it is the famous impaler in history - Dracula.

In the background setting, this is a BOSS-level character. Only players with a deep card pool and high levels of practice can defeat him through operations.

A new player like me, at this stage, would probably be wiped out if he encountered Fringilla's ancestors, right?

Name: Kors Tepes

Category: Assassin

Quality: Epic (five stars)

Grade 1

Intimacy: Cold

Strength: 20

Agility: 25

Physical strength: 10

Stamina: 8

Mental strength: 15

Introduction: Kors is a lower-level vampire serving the royal family of Tepeshe in the Blood Royal Court. Due to his good service, he was given the true blood of the royal family by the Blood Lord Vlad, and was promoted to a high-level vampire.

Talent: Blood Demon Disintegration: Coors was once a lower-level vampire, and he always had the "Blood Falls" magic in his body. After he was promoted to a higher vampire, this magic also evolved into the higher-level "Blood Demon Disintegration". The effect is: on the next attack, increase one's own attack power to 300%.

Blood Shadow: Coors, who can hardly use any blood magic, has gained a great reputation because of his proficiency in using the "blood shadow" magic.

Skill: Blood Thirst: Coors can absorb any blood rich in life force as nourishment to replenish his consumed physical and mental power.

Blood pool transformation: (needs elite level one to unlock)

Blood Clone: ​​(needs elite level 2 to unlock)

The bond takes effect: Blood Court. (Each high-level vampire follower of the Blood Court you have will increase their all-round attribute value by one point.)

There are many similarities between Kors's skill template and Fringilla's.

They are probably all members of the Tepesh family, descended from the same blood.

At this time.

Coors' face suddenly showed a hint of panic.

Downstairs, Jeanne's footsteps were heard.

Lothar was worried that he would make too drastic a move, and quickly warned: "Don't get excited, I'm my friend, Jeanne and Fringilla are very good friends."

"Tch, who is her friend?"

Fringilla hummed softly, but still comforted her: "But Kors, you really don't need to be nervous. Jeanne is a traitor in the Holy Church. You will find out later that her behavior is different from that of those old-fashioned priests." They are not the same at all."

"Well - I smell a strong evil blood."

Jeanne raised her head warily and pointed at Kors: "Is this one of our own?"

Lothar nodded and said, "Yes, from the same clan as Fringilla."

"oh."

Jeanna's tense body immediately relaxed. She didn't even go upstairs. She just stood downstairs and waved: "Hey, newcomer, nice to meet you."

He sat down on the velvet-cushioned chair and took out a bottle of wine from the locker.

Lift it up, tons, tons, tons——

Coors' expression was tense, and his face, which seemed to never make unnecessary expressions, was a little stiff.

After a long time, he gritted his teeth and said, "Yaoyao Knight?"

"right."

Fringilla hurriedly added: "Don't think about avenging my brother. That guy deserves it. Now Jeanna and we are our own people. The biggest one on your head is Lord Lothar, not the ancestor anymore." .”

Kors took a deep breath. It took him a while to digest the exciting information that "he will work with the Glory Knight".

He said, "Your Highness, you think too highly of me. I am not qualified to assassinate the Glory Knight."

After he finished speaking, he bowed to Lothar again: "Sir, please rest assured. I swear in the name of the Blood Ancestor that from now on, you are the only person I am loyal to."

Lothar smiled and said: "I accept your allegiance, Kurth. One thing you said is very good. This castle, including the manor, and the properties under my name are too chaotic in terms of management and are in urgent need of help." A professional will take care of it for me, I wonder if you are willing to do the work?"

Coors said quickly: "I am willing, sir. Please rest assured that I will tally all the accounts as soon as possible."

He paused slightly and then said, "I wonder how much budget you are willing to spend to decorate the castle, hire servants, and buy new furniture?"

Lothar considered it.

Although he gained a large amount of money by raiding his house, he still wanted to form a merchant fleet and open up an Eastern Sea Route.

Transporting the products of Jerusalem to Western Europe, where a large sum of money would change hands, can be said to be the hen that lays golden eggs.

Of course, there are risks.

For example, they were killed by pirates in North Africa.

It’s just that Lothar feels that if she has a good talk with the witch Anna and reaches a cooperative relationship, the safety of her own fleet should be guaranteed.

In addition, cooperation with the Hospital Knights can also be put on the agenda. Their fleet is not much worse than the Eastern Empire's fleet.

So, Lothar said: "Coors, pleasure is not my first goal now, so the less, the better."

Kors was slightly startled, but still nodded: "I understand, sir."

Using the smallest budget to do the best thing is what he is good at.