Bab 165: [Chapter 165] Troop's Resurrection Festival
With just a few hours left until the Resurrection Festival, Troop was covered in colorful decorations.
In other parts of the empire dominated by the Timaios religion, it was customary to decorate the festival with red flowers. However, Troop had slightly different customs. While they were followers of the Timaios religion, the culture of the Berlen-descended Lendang people mixed in, resulting in many houses adorned with blue flowers.
In reality, whether it was red or blue flowers, it held no special significance. Just because the gods dyed the flowers in different colors to honor themselves didn't mean they would send anyone to hell.
However, the people of Troop seemed to have made up their minds to dislike those who decorated with flowers of a different color.
"The Lendang people!"
The Vista people who adorned red flowers spat and cursed when they saw houses decorated with blue flowers.
"Unlucky folks!"
The descendants of the Lendang people who adorned blue flowers muttered under their breath when they saw houses adorned with red flowers.
It was clear who had the upper hand just by looking at whether one could loudly curse or had to mutter quietly. However, the Vistans said they were afraid of the Lendang people whenever they gathered these days.
"They're crazy. Haven't you heard what the priest said? Blue flowers are heretical. The Lendang people are non-believers who don't follow the doctrine, so they kill each other. Do you know their traditional food contains hallucinogenic substances?"
"Never leave the kids alone. The Lendang people might suddenly turn around and take them. Didn't they take Karl's son because he couldn't pay the interest?"
"I'm terrified that something might happen in our house too."
Whether hallucinogenic substances were really in their traditional food or if Karl's son was really taken, no one knew. But these stories circulated in every tavern.
Originally, as ordered by Neris, Joan was supposed to issue instructions from outside Troop instead of coming in person. In case of emergency, this was a precaution to ensure Joan's physical safety.
However, Joan, deeming the contents indicated in Neris's letter too serious to allow any delay, decided to be present here.
"Really, how did she anticipate this?"
Following Neris's instructions, Joan had already established an upper branch in Troop some time ago and prepared this branch to respond to any violent protests independently.
If someone was really up to something, a day like today, when most shops closed early, and emotionally close people gathered to drink together, was the perfect time.
Saying this, Neris mentioned, "There might even be people suddenly storming into the neighboring houses with knives."
Since life had changed thanks to Neris, Joan never doubted her words.
However, this remarkable lady was still miles away and was even someone with no connection to this place. The fact that such a person could accurately read this incredible situation was truly astonishing.
Joan approached a man who had been quietly sitting among the people.
"Mr. Lafur, it's time to go."
Lafur slowly rose with Aaron's support. His face looked weary, and he seemed weak. Despite the short time, his health had not fully recovered from the terrible time in prison.
But his eyes shone with unwavering determination. Even when falsely accused of murdering Lady Maraiya's maid and subjected to cruel torture to confess, his gaze remained unbroken.
"Yes, understood. Thank you for your help, Mr. Morie."
"Are you feeling okay?"
Released from the imperial prison and arriving in Troop this morning, he played a central role in protecting the Lendang people tonight. It was his job to inform about the neighbors who were particularly active in framing him and to act as bait.
The first task was already completed. Lafur's list of names coincided with people who had recently frequented the Willow Mansion.
The Lendang people living near their homes had already gathered the elderly in a distant place and were preparing for any contingency.
Initially, they were not cooperative with the absurd idea of an attack threat. However, the diligent attitude of some quick-witted Lendang individuals who felt the recent atmosphere was unsettling, along with Joan's sincere approach, eventually won over the people.
"It's okay."
Acknowledging the efforts already made by the people, Lafur nodded without hesitation.
"I'm more concerned about those here than myself. It's only natural for me and my compatriots to do what is necessary to survive. There are also local relatives who will help in case of a crisis. But the Morie upper branch members are outsiders, Vista people, yet they have helped us, so they might be attacked more ruthlessly."
Despite the gloomy outlook, Aaron and everyone present simply smiled.
Having been warned to prepare for dangerous areas, even for violent protests, Joan was not alone in coming.
Over the past few years, while the Morie upper branch had been growing at an insane pace, Joan and Aaron had been colleagues who had faced everything together. With all the unusual events that had occurred, they were not easily surprised by minor incidents.
Aaron replied confidently, "Don't worry. We are specialized in crisis management. Besides, we have already outsmarted the other side. Our superiors are greedy, creating opportunities out of thin air and swallowing up the opponent's avenues."
"If I say that, what does it mean for me?"
Joan smiled wryly. She then looked at Lafur earnestly and said,
"Let me reiterate. They released you suddenly at the behest of the lady of the house, so they will surely assume that suspicious activities in this area have been reported to higher authorities. They might want to capture you to interrogate you. Or at least, they might want to silence you by killing you. So, do you know what to do?"
"We need to draw the enemy towards me as much as possible. Understood."
"No, you need to survive. If the enemy doesn't gather as much as expected, there are arrangements that can be made accordingly. If you sense danger, come back here immediately. Just think about surviving tonight, as your presence alone limits the enemy's movements."
Joan's diligent gaze held a hint of concern. Lafur looked at her for a moment before smiling.
"After we safely get through tonight and the Willow Mansion folks' masks are removed, do you plan to collaborate with our compatriots?"
The Lendang people, with a long history of persecution, were known not to do business with those outside their kin. Joan was momentarily taken aback but then confidently replied with a self-assured smile,
"Get the lawyer ready. Our contract is quite lengthy."
In the distance, flames rose.
❖ ❖ ❖
The young delinquent wiped the sweat off his forehead as he peered through the bushes. Torches were visible all around, illuminating the night.
This meant that he could see even his friends, who had stormed into the neighboring houses with swords, facing fierce resistance and being driven out.
'What's going on?'
He had lived here all his life and considered the highest person in the world to be the direct lord, Troop Kye. Even he knew the three legendary heroes.
The owner of the most magnificent mansion in the area, the Willow Mansion, was very wealthy and from a noble family. Surprisingly, he was said to be a relative of the three legendary heroes. In fact, he was a distant relative, but the man didn't know such details; he simply admired the people of the Willow Mansion.
The people of the mansion had recently made a request. They wanted help in driving out the terrifying heretics, the Lendang people, who killed each other in this area.
If successful, they promised to take the money the heretics had earned in a dirty way and distribute it justly.
The plan was simple. They would provide all the weapons, and on the night before the festival, when they were drinking heavily and sleeping together, they were to enter and threaten them. There was no need to harm anyone. They had already spread rumors about Troop Kye, so there should be no problem.
In reality, the clients had planted a few informants, expecting the armed troublemakers to get excited and shed blood on their own. For certain key figures who needed to be killed, they planned to send their own people to disguise themselves as if they had been caught up in the incident and died.
However, the man was unaware of their true intentions. He had simply been half-dazed by the gold he had seen while going back and forth to the Willow Mansion with his friends, and had gotten involved in the "plan."
But.
"Why is everything already prepared?"
Instead of being drunk, young men disguised with sturdy armor, shields, and clubs were waiting beyond the door adorned with blue flowers.
To the troublemakers who had been given alcohol to forget the fact that they were entering their innocent neighbors' homes armed, this was a bolt from the blue.
"I-I need to go to the Morie store."
Someone seemed to have weakened and leaked secrets. While they could distinguish between the descendants of the Lendang people and the Vistans, the locals were usually related.
The people of the Willow Mansion had promised to pay a significant sum to the person who set fire to the Morie upper branch store. The man decided to head in that direction.
Since it was a store, there shouldn't be anyone there at night, right? Then there wouldn't be anyone waiting with clubs.
As the man twisted his body in the bushes, something cold touched his neck.
"A rat was here too."
It was an employee of the Morie store. The man recognized his face and was dismayed once, then dismayed again by his cold expression.
Battles erupted throughout the city.
Some battles were one-sided, while others were evenly matched.
But all the commotion quieted down before dawn.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone