I, the prince in distress, send money

Chapter 284 Religion
If anyone were to learn about the winter in Wotradnoy, they would be astonished to discover that fewer than one hundred people froze to death there that winter, and of those who starved to death, only about fifty died.

And all of this was thanks to Chris.

People freezing to death is unavoidable. Although Chris purchased a large amount of winter clothing and tried his best to distribute it, some people were too weak or sick and died before they could receive the winter clothes.

As for those who starved to death... Chris was even more helpless. He had done his best, because reality is not a game, and it's not like clicking a mouse will automatically send the grain piled up in the warehouse into everyone's hands.

No matter how good your organization is or how comprehensive your social security regulations are, it all needs people to implement it. And the Baojia system that Chris hastily put together is not really perfect.

Village chiefs like Old Jack, who are not very educated but diligently fulfill their responsibilities, are a minority in Walteradnoy. If he were to be evaluated, he would only be considered passable, but compared with other village chiefs, he would be outstanding.

Corruption is everywhere; some village chiefs are even doing gangster work without realizing they are committing crimes... This is what happens when people are uneducated, uneducated, and lack common sense.

Chris was helpless against such an arrogant parent. He could only have his men arrest the idiots, lock them up in jail, and wait for spring to come before putting them on trial, or simply let them freeze to death in prison.

People are starving in Walteradnoi because of idiots like him who are slacking off and engaging in corruption.

In order to minimize the rate of freezing and starvation, Chris has mobilized players to move around in the two cities of Vortradnoy and Oncandra, donating food and clothing to areas that are too poor, in an effort to help more elderly, weak, women and children survive the winter.

That's why Old Jack resorts to "fraud"—to get more food, drink, and winter clothes from the players.

Although it wasn't exactly respectable, Old Jack wasn't a bad person, and in some ways he could even be considered a good official... He was doing his best to seek benefits for the residents under his command.

Therefore, even if Chris knew what Old Jack had done, he would turn a blind eye and pretend he didn't see it as long as things didn't escalate.

Chris did his best.

Just then, a battle report from the front lines in Hegland arrived. It was written by Count Dirac Sisso, an old nobleman who showered Chris with flattery and flowery language in his letter.

Fifty percent of the letter was praising Chris, more than forty percent described the victory and the ferocity of the battle, and claimed credit. The rest revealed the old count's true intentions... He hoped that the expeditionary force could remain in Hegland to guard against the Bohemian Empire.

As soon as Chris saw the letter, he knew that Count Hisoka must have some ulterior motives; he wanted to do something to the expeditionary force.

But it doesn't matter, Chris doesn't mind, because he knows the player's character better than anyone else. No matter what Count Hisoka wants to do, the player will soon make him realize that it's a bad idea.

Therefore, Chris agreed to Count Hisoka's request, but he did not leave a resurrection point in Hegland to prevent the situation from getting out of control.

Winter is almost over, and spring is just around the corner. Compared to spring plowing, the Earl's little schemes are nothing to worry about.

However, just as Chris was trying to get things done, there were always people who didn't want him to have peace and quiet.

……

"May Demeter's mercy nourish this frozen land!"

The crown woven from golden wheat ears trembled in the cold wind, and the priestess Arya raised the bronze chalice high, the clear wine swirling in the glass, symbolizing the nectar of a bountiful harvest.

Her white robes stood out against the snow-covered plains of the King's Plain, while behind her, believers chanted ancient agricultural prayers, attempting to awaken this land cursed by winter with foreign rhythms.

However, the farmers in a nearby village just stared at them blankly, while the old village chief, leaning on his cane and wrapped in a tattered blanket, looked at this group of uninvited guests with suspicion.

"Outsider, your goddess cannot control the wind and snow here. This is the parish of the Earth Mother Goddess."

He coughed forcefully, trying to drive the group away with words.

"We only believe in Gods who can save lives."

When the old village chief said this, he didn't mean any harm; he was simply afraid of change.

Although the priests of the Earth Mother Goddess were strict, at least their rituals ensured that the village's wheat fields grew better each year, and they also received holy water to keep the livestock healthy. But what could these outsiders in white robes bring?
Arya laughed. She took a handful of wheat grains from her bosom and scattered them into the snow in front of everyone.

"Demeter never needs to force anyone to believe."

she said softly.

"We only show the possibilities."

The moment the grains of wheat hit the ground, Arya's bronze chalice glowed with a barely perceptible light—and the snow around those grains visibly melted in a ring. Then the grains burrowed into the soil, and in no time, a seedling stubbornly emerged from the frozen ground.

The lush, vibrant wheat seedlings immediately caught the old village chief's eye.

The old village chief reached out his hand with trembling hands, his withered fingertips almost touching the tender green... He had never seen wheat that could sprout in the cold winter in his entire life.

However, what the old village chief didn't know was that Arya was also secretly relieved. This handful of wheat grains had been soaking in the pure holy water of the goddess of agriculture for at least three days, which filled the wheat grains with the life force bestowed by the goddess.

Even so, of all the wheat grains scattered, only one will successfully germinate.

But regardless, as long as even one wheat seedling sprouts, the performance is a success. The next step is simply to protect that seedling, and…

Just as Arya was fantasizing that the light of the goddess of agriculture could illuminate the entire Bagnia and that she herself would become the high priestess, the next second, an iron arrow suddenly pierced through the air, piercing and severing the wheat seedlings.

Arya abruptly turned her head to look in the direction from which the arrow had come.

"Blasphemy!"

Heavy footsteps crunched through the snow as a man dressed in the robes of a priestess of the Earth Mother ran from the other side of the village. Behind him, a dozen or so villagers, armed with hoes, machetes, and pitchforks, followed menacingly.

The man in the lead was holding a bow, and it was clear that he was the one who had shot the arrow earlier.

"You bunch of swindlers from the South!"

The earth goddess priestess's voice was hoarse and angry.

"Winter is a test for Mother Earth. Any evil magic that violates the laws of nature is a desecration of her will!"

He strode to the wheat seedlings that had been shot down, stomped into the soil, and crushed them several times until the green color completely disappeared.

The surrounding villagers were restless and uneasy. Some whispered among themselves, while others looked fearful. They were both amazed by the miracle of the wheat seedlings and dared not disobey the earth goddess priest who had long protected the village.

The old village chief opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something, but in the end he just sighed and took a few steps back.

Arya's face darkened, but she quickly composed herself, maintaining a gentle smile, and gave a slight bow.

“We are not here to challenge your faith. Goddess Demeter simply hopes that the people of this land can have more choices…”

Arya was not afraid of the Earth Goddess Priest; in fact, his arrival was part of the plan. Her smile widened when she caught a glimpse of a horse at the end of the village road.

Everything is going according to plan, there's nothing to be afraid of.

"There's no other choice... Liars, brothers and sisters, let's go, kill these liars from the South!"

Rather than engaging in debate, the Earth Goddess Priestess clearly preferred to eliminate heresy by force.

The scene quickly descended into chaos at the command of the Earth Goddess Priest.

(End of this chapter)