Chapter 145: Chapter 133: Exposing Each Other
Chains wrapped around the redeemers like venomous snakes, everyone’s complexion turned exceedingly dreadful. With his words, Fernand had distributed the hatred equally among all.
Everyone also fully understood Ash’s intentions now—this damn prison escapee wanted them to divulquarter each other’s governmental secrets that were unknown to the public, exposing those “trivial abuses of power” in front of all the citizens of Kaimon City, and even dragging those unmentionable entities down!
Why hadn’t the Crime Hunting Hall arrived yet! Why didn’t the broadcast station cut off the live feed! What on earth were the Church and the research institutes thinking!?
Everyone started looking at one another and suddenly reached a consensus—stop talking, as continuing would only incite the anger of the citizens. Just remain silent and stall for time until the Crime Hunting Hall arrives to interrupt this broadcast!
However, not everyone was willing to abide by this tacit agreement, such as Kui Wen, the former leader of the violent gang “Gluttonous Snake” and a Beastman, who could hardly hold on any longer.
Compared to those council operators whose “evil” was not very apparent and felt distant, Kui Wen was undoubtedly the most grounded and accessible form of “Violence” to the populace.
If there was no external interference, Kui Wen would undoubtedly be a “hot candidate” for the Blood Moon Judgement. And the greatest advantage of a scoundrel was that he would not miss any opportunity to drag others down with him in a collective doom.
“Three years ago, in the ‘Dragon’s Nest Apartment Case’, Fernand also made considerable efforts!” the Beastman shouted loudly. “Everyone hasn’t forgotten, right? Dragon’s Nest Apartments grew rapidly by buying apartments from owners at high prices and leasing them to tenants at low prices, not only in Kaimon City but even forcefully taking over the rental markets in cities like Dream City and the Outer Sea.”
“But Dragon’s Nest Apartments paid the owners monthly while collecting one or two years’ rent from the tenants, thereby attracting huge sums of money. Everyone knew this was a ticking time bomb, yet they turned a blind eye, even escalating the situation! Back then, Fernand had the Government Affairs Hall issue the ‘Guidelines on Financial Innovation’, allowing commercial banks to operate new businesses like ‘rental loans’, burdening tenants with debt to funnel capital into Dragon’s Nest Apartments! In this matter, Fernand was utterly responsible, but theoretically, he had done nothing wrong.”
“Why do I know this so clearly? Because I also own a commercial bank and took the opportunity to issue a large number of low-amount loans to quality customers such as students and newly employed workers.”
“And as far as I know, a member of the Forest Art Gallery is also operating a commercial bank!”
Hearing the sound of chains moving, the ogre let out a deep breath.
He knew that everything would proceed as planned by the cold Observer next to him, and more tragically, he had to accelerate the process until the wrath of the people burned everyone to ashes.
“Andrey,” Fernand said, “with your efforts, Moon Candy was legalized in Kaimon City in 1662. The candy makers shifted from underground to formal businesses, and the largest candy company ‘Eternal Life’ established the Eternal Life Wine Club the following year. Although you were caught and brought here, the Eternal Life company is still producing Moon Candy at this very moment, every minute and second sees countless people falling into illusions because of Moon Candy.”
Just a few words caused Andrey’s pillar to erupt in chaos, numerous shackles coiling around this middle-aged scholar like tentacles.
His face was somber, knowing he had incited public fury.
As an addictive drug, Moon Candy was a banned substance in most parts of the Kingdom of Blood Moon, except in a few cities like Kaimon where it was legalized.
Although many “sugar people” liked candies, more people disliked Moon Candy; almost every citizen had experienced harassment from “sugar people,” whether on the streets, in restrooms, in university classrooms, or in cinemas, and the violent crimes caused by “sugar people” had drastically increased, making the citizens deeply disgusted.
Andrey did not feel he was wrong, because according to the “Act of Human Rights Freedom,” no one could stop a mature race from consuming Moon Candy, as the crimes bred by sugar consumption were a different matter.
But violent crimes fall within the jurisdiction of the Crime Hunting Hall, the council has nothing to do with it, everyone’s performance assessments are different, and Andrey and his team need not consider the surge in crime caused by the legalization of Moon candy.
Since everyone has the right to consume sugar, Moon candy has been hard to eradicate.
Since it can’t be banned, why not just turn it into an official industry? At least it would generate taxes, and without violent gangs skimming off the top, the sugar man could get cheaper sugar, and a world without injury would be born—except for ordinary citizens.
But if Moon candy were strictly banned and those who consume it arrested? The Human Rights Association would have something to say about it, and the Racial Rights Association would not stand by either, especially since Goblins, Beastmen, and Ogres have natural resistance to drugs, and for them, the benefits of consuming Moon candy outweigh the disadvantages, with no withdrawal symptoms after discontinuation and frequent consumption actually improving attention and work efficiency.
Especially for Ogres, to whom Moon candy is almost a more essential necessity for oil painting creation than paint itself.
The proposal for the legalization of Moon candy was passed not just because of Andrey’s personal biases, but also as a consensus reached by the council based on the local situation in Kaimon City, from which all parties benefited.
Ordinary people couldn’t say much about it either, as they had elected the council members themselves.
This is elite politics.
However, the public’s resentment toward the Moon candy legislation was growing day by day. At any other time, it might have just festered, but during the Blood Moon Judgement, resentment really could bite.
“It’s just like you, Fernand,” Andrey said, “Now the public is directing their anger at me.”
“Andrey, your literary knowledge is terribly lacking. Directing anger implies venting rage onto unrelated parties, but you are the main council member who proposed the legalization of Moon candy. This is not redirection of anger; this is revenge,” the Ogre sneered.
Andrey sighed, “Does it have to be this way?”
“If you’re willing to sacrifice yourself to protect everyone, then this game will end with you,” Fernand spoke indifferently.
Andrey looked around, seeing the hopeful eyes of his subordinates. He then turned and caught a glimpse of Ash watching the drama unfold from the edge of the rooftop, his eyes filled with deep sorrow.
“Us, a group of self-proclaimed geniuses, being played by a mere death row inmate…” he said with a bitter laugh, “What a hideous spectacle.”
“Let me end all of this.”
The Ogre was somewhat surprised, while the others breathed a sigh of relief, their faces showing the joy of having survived a catastrophe.
Just then, Andrey shouted,
“If anyone here deserves to die the most, it’s only you— in the ‘422 incident’, you let the innocent citizens of Kaimon City suffer an attack by Foreign Domain Mages!”