Angel on earth

"And what about the Crescent Islands—no, I mean, how could anyone have such an obviously stupid idea?"

"You can ask Rollins... Forget it, don't ask him, he will kill me..." Arnold scratched his hair, "Of course, except for those unpleasant factors, I believe His Excellency Rollins is as kind as you , but it is inevitable to compromise. He will let you make a big fuss, realize for yourself that the resistance is insufficient, and then you will officially become one of them."

"You sound like—"

"A rebel wizard?"

Mikhail smiled embarrassedly: "Yes."

Arnold shrugged: "Many people think so, but they just don't say it. I, as you can see, do the same thing as them, and it doesn't matter if I sing a different tune occasionally. There are many people like this, and at least it's better to say it out." Some."

"You are much better than them."

"That's really absurd." Arnold shrugged, "The quality of cardamom and nutmeg in the Crescent Islands is very good, and it's close enough to Potosí. It's a pity that the trade is in the hands of the Baal people, and it's much more expensive to pass one in between. Your Highness , In fact, you don’t have to think so much. Leaving the Mithra Dynasty, there are sects everywhere, all for their own interests, otherwise there would not be so many countries in the world.”

"Isn't it because we respect their customs? Their kings and queens are crowned before God, shepherd the sheep for God the Father, and treat His people well. As long as a person works hard enough, he should be respected and given enough clothes and food."

"Your Highness, I am from the Siegfried Federation. Let me tell you that people who are starving to death cannot work. You have killed nobles and lords, have you not seen the serfs in their manors? You know How did they become serfs? No one cheers for you, right?"

"Yes. They hide in the house and dare not make a sound. Some mothers even accidentally smothered their children to death." Mikhail said honestly, "That's why the Federation needs to change. They need the love and truth of the church , learn to be humble and introspective, and in the arms of God one another—”

"To the federal people, you are the same as the master. Rather, you are a stronger and more irresistible master." Arnold interrupted, "Your Highness, if you are kind, don't stand up for them. New The master will praise you, and then let them take a heavier yoke!"

"Wait a minute...Arnold, you are too excited." Mikhail said worriedly, "These heretics...no, maybe they are correct, just tell me, I am glad you trust me. That Iraqi What happened?"

Arnold grabbed his hair again.The short hair was not dry in the first place, and now it is messy.Annoyed, he brushed back a lock of hair that was drooping on his forehead, and said: "Old Ivan is struggling. Tiet received a bounty, the same money that the Chicherin family paid to find Catherine, although It’s only half, it’s a lot of money for them... When they’re happy, they eat too much and they’re stuffed to death.”

Mikhail’s hands stopped making small movements, and he looked at him in shock: “How can you be so strenuous? No matter how hard it is?... I, I don’t believe you, but, but at least I have to know them, What a life my brethren and sisters are living. It must be..."

"In order not to starve to death, I have no time to be your brothers and sisters." Arnold said, "The tax system in Potosi is different from that of the Federation. It has been changed several times in the past few years, and it is said that it will be changed this year. There are many supporters in Chalek— —The household tax was changed to head tax. For the rich, the extra money is not much. For the poor, if they pay more copper coins every month, the whole family may hang themselves. But, the poor can’t live a good life themselves. Well, it deserves it, that's what everyone thinks. Anyway, let me say," he raised his voice twice harshly, "if restructuring is imperative, a cripple like old Ivan would love to jump into the river hand in hand. Porto This is good for Xi, the church does not allow suicide, but the law does not prohibit it."

"But didn't they get a sum of money? Miss Olga mentioned that half of fifty gold coins is 25, and there should be 22 after tax! For the poor, this much money can live a good life for a long time, and then You can learn a craft, get a job—”

"Aren't you very clear about this? But what kind of life did they live in the past?" Arnold leaned closer to him suddenly, his green eyes showed a kind of aggressiveness behind the blurred old lenses, "More than half a month ago , I went to see the old Ivan, he almost starved himself to death. The food they buy every day is limited, Ji Te has to work, Ivan is also old enough to do odd jobs, old Ivan can't do physical work, Needlework and the like are not as good as women can do it fast. He hopes that the children will eat more, and hope that Kit and Ivan can be stronger than other children in the lower district! After he was injured, his wife went to work for him , doing the same job but only getting half the money, and soon because of overwork, he fell into molten iron during the night shift; ask anyone, and you have seen Tit and Ivan barefoot in winter. Digging wild vegetables on the river bank. Before Jit got the money, old Ivan hadn't eaten meat for several years, his teeth were almost gone, he was curled up, and he might not even touch your knees when he stood up, Your Highness, 'eat Not everyone understands the concept of fullness!"

Mikhail turned pale and could not speak.After Arnold finished speaking, he breathed a sigh of relief, leaned back on the back of the sofa, and said "I'm sorry" after a while.Mikhail shook his head:

"No offense. I don't know if it's consoling to say that: old Ivan must be a case of various unfortunate coincidences. Not all rich men are like Morozov, many of them She is a devout believer, and she has to pay one-tenth of the tax to the church in addition to giving to their respective countries every month, and there are donations on festivals; the church uses the money to open workhouses, give porridge, and help the poor. Isa Bella said that life is much better now than it was hundreds of years ago, but we need time to do better."

"Your Excellency 'Red Moon Priest' is generally right. But, Your Highness, have you considered that within a few decades, there will no longer be an inch of land in this world that belongs to the common people? What will they do then? Noren has given The rich men of Potosí are the new aristocracy, and they flog the commoners in a crueler way, and that is all legal."

"You mean Mayor Kozlov?"

"There were many more, in fact, including the Chicherins. Their offerings were by no means equal to the value they wrung from the peasants and laborers, and what the Church spent on palaces, wars, gold and silver, and the poor. Perhaps saints like you would have nothing to hold back about their property, but not them. But, on the other hand, most of them know nothing of it and are innocent."

"...I have no property of my own." Mikhail pouted, "I am the property of the church."

Arnold looked up in astonishment.Frustrated, Mikhail pulled a leaf out of the bunch of hibiscus flowers on the coffee table, twisted it into a ball and threw it forward: "Okay, I know it's inappropriate to say this, but...it seems to be the case .Nobody explained to me, nobody listened to me. What is the difference between me and my broken wood and metal idols?"

Out of nowhere, Arnold raised his hand and stroked Mikhail's blond hair.

Mikhail froze for a moment, his face flushed from his neck to his forehead.However, he closed his eyes and let Arnold continue to take two shots.

Arnold reacted, extremely embarrassed.

Fortunately, as in the evening, the pious Dr. Edwards waited for another knock on the door.

It was a deacon who was soaking wet and wearing a black monk's robe.Arnold knew him, and he sometimes went to serve Vasily, the great elder of the monastery.

The deacon hurriedly greeted him, asked if His Royal Highness Kupala was inside, and before he had time to change his shoes, he rushed into the living room, saluted and said solemnly:

"Father Vasily has been called by the Lord."

Immediately Mikhail stood up and made the Sun Cross on his chest.He nodded to the man, and apologized to Arnold: "Sorry, doctor. As you can see, I should go back too."

"I should say I'm sorry." Arnold sent the two of them out, straightened his glasses, and smiled guiltily, as if the fatigue and self-loathing after the rage surged up, "I said a lot of bad things that bothered you today. I'm sorry. Forget them, Your Highness. Just a few partial complaints made in the heat of the moment."

"No, there are benefits. Thank you for trusting me today."

Mikhail put on his boots, held an umbrella in one hand and a gun in the other, borrowed an umbrella for the deacon who was waiting far away under the eaves of the courtyard gate, and held them together.When he was about to leave, Arnold suddenly slapped his forehead, let out a strange cry, and shouted:

"Wait a minute, Mikhail!"

"Ok?"

"Are you sure your 'Ivan' is a boy?"

"...What?" Mikhail frowned.

"Ivan, that Ivan this afternoon, has a sister, twins. I just remembered... It's not very respectable, but I was new here and I had no other work to do. I delivered them. I thought Yulia Dead... that's what I've been thinking about all these years. It's a common thing... Ivan, he's been out on the Upper Side for a while, and I met him there the day Catherine went missing.

"No, I don't want you . . . that's not what I mean. I hope not. Can you find out? I mean, after Father Vasily's affairs are settled . . . the family is much better, If Yulia has indeed entered the monastery and is still alive, please... please rescue her!"

There was a bang, and there was a thunderous sound over the clinic.The night rain did not become heavier because of this, but in the increasingly drowsy darkness, Arnold saw a storm suddenly set off in Mikhail's pair of irises like morning mist and morning stars, and dense lightning flashes lit up the whites of his eyes.

The author says:

Planted a red seed in Misha's heart (X) Misha was struck by lightning (√)

"Idol" is used in its original meaning, which is the "idol" mentioned in the Bible as a statue carved from wood and metal.

Don't reason, just make trouble.