Mystery: A Spark

“Actually, I know that you’ve always felt that I’m a canary locked in a cage,” Audrey said calmly, looking at the three of them.

"Cough cough cough." Hugh and Fors looked down at the ground and up at the ceiling, respectively. Neither of them dared to reply, because that was indeed what they were thinking.

Meanwhile, Grelint picked up a cup from the table next to him and examined its patterns over and over, as if it held some great secret.

“Actually, I feel the same way, and this feeling is especially strong tonight.” Audrey chuckled self-deprecatingly.

As she sat in the Peace Tavern, while the other workers cheered and roared with excitement at Mr. Heller's speech, she inexplicably felt a sense of alienation.

If I were to describe it in a more accurate way...

That is, "She did not share their joys and sorrows; she only found their noise annoying."

Audrey was not someone who "why not eat meat porridge"; she had some understanding of the suffering of the lower classes.

However, this understanding is very superficial, a kind of condescending pity.

This left Audrey with only the concept that "the people are suffering," but she didn't know why they were suffering or what exactly was causing their suffering.

It wasn't until tonight, when Audrey sat among the workers, feeling their emotions and listening to how their passion was ignited by Arthur's promise to "make bread and milk affordable for everyone," that she finally understood.

She finally understood what her problem was.

She finally understood, "Ah, so this is the kind of life these workers lead."

Heavy workloads, unreasonable working hours, and absolutely no safety guarantees, all in exchange for some nutritious, hard, stick-like black bread that can only be used to fill an empty stomach.

“I really liked what Mr. Heller just said,” Audrey said softly. “When we tear away the obstacles and illusions in front of us, that will be the turning point in our lives.”

She looked at the three people who were somewhat stunned and said seriously:

"So I don't want to be a canary like I was in the past, living in a cage that's been woven together, because no matter how beautiful and gorgeous the cage is, it's still a cage after all."

"I want to see a more authentic side of this society, to see the real world that is hidden by the extravagant lives of the upper class."

"This matter cannot be delegated to others; I can only see it with my own eyes, hear it with my own ears, and experience it with my own body."

“So you want to…” Hugh said, staring blankly at Audrey.

"Yes, I want to ask that Jeston myself, to find out the truth. If everything is as Vina says, then I will personally plunge the dagger into his heart."

“I quite like Vina, so let’s start by removing the shadow from her life,” Audrey said casually.

But don't let her relaxed demeanor fool you; she has never actually killed anyone, not even a small animal, in her entire life.

So it's really hard to say whether she'll be able to make a decisive move at that time.

But regardless, this is ultimately a very important step.

Because Audrey was determined to leave her comfort zone and get closer to understanding the lives of the poor, instead of just looking down from a high place and offering futile pity as before.

Looking at Audrey's resolute expression, Hugh felt a surge of emotion:

Oh dear, Arthur's ability to bewitch—no, to influence people—is truly remarkable. Yet another naive girl has fallen into his trap.

Huh? Why did I say "again"? Xiu frowned, realizing something was wrong.

But before she could think about it, she heard Audrey ask her:

"Well, Hugh, can you grant my request?"

"Uh... since Miss Audrey has said so, then I can only agree." Hugh sighed, his train of thought interrupted.

"But speaking of which, Audrey, do you have any weapons you can use?" Grelint, who was standing to the side, stopped looking at his teacup and joined the conversation again.

“I have a triangular bayonet here. It’s a weapon I used before, and it’s still pretty good.” Hugh pulled a bayonet out of his clothes and handed it to Audrey.

Since Arthur gave the Atlas Gauntlets to Hugh, Hugh has never used her triangular military dagger again.

Compared to the formidable gauntlets in her hands, the triangular bayonet looked like a tiny toothpick.

As we all know, most people prefer big things, and Hugh is no exception, so the triangular bayonet naturally took a backseat.

However, she didn't throw away the military dagger; instead, she kept it with her, just in case the gauntlets broke down one day, so she would have a spare weapon.

"Thank you, Hugh." Audrey took the triangular bayonet and hid it in her clothes.

……

Queens, in the luxurious villa of Earl Hall's family.

Audrey sat on a white napkin, watching the maid serve her attentively as usual, carefully preparing a delicious breakfast and doing things that Audrey could have done herself. Suddenly, she felt a strange mix of emotions.

I don’t actually need anyone to do these things for me, but why have I never felt anything was wrong with it in the past ten years or so… Audrey controlled her expression, not showing any obvious abnormality.

She looked at her father, who was reading a newspaper, and asked:

"Dad, is there any interesting news lately?"

“Yes, a very interesting young man has recently appeared,” Earl Hall replied with a chuckle.

"An interesting young man? Did he do something amazing?" Audrey asked with a curious expression.

“Yes, this young man is named Arthur Heller. He founded an organization called the Workers’ Mutual Aid Society in the East District, dedicated to fighting for the legitimate rights of workers through legal means. Now the Society has grown to more than 300 members, quite a force to be reckoned with,” Earl Hall remarked.

"So...the kingdom's higher-ups haven't reacted to this?" This was what Audrey was really concerned about.

She worried that Mr. Heller's actions would provoke hostility from the kingdom's nobles, or even lead to direct attacks.

“Of course, this matter has caused a debate in Parliament,” Earl Hall replied, putting down his newspaper.

"And the result?" Audrey asked nervously.

"The result is... no result," Earl Hall said, shrugging.

"No results?" Audrey was initially delighted, but then became somewhat puzzled.

"Yes, there was no result, because the only ones truly affected were some minor nobles and factory owners with businesses in the Eastern District, who did not have much power in the council."

“Although some nobles and officials expressed concern about the young man’s actions, feeling that it might affect the kingdom’s order, Duke Negan directly praised the young man, so the matter was eventually dropped,” Earl Hall explained.

"The Duke of Negan is the leader of the Conservative Party and mainly protects the interests of the landed aristocracy. The Commonwealth will not have any influence on him, so it is reasonable for him to express his appreciation."

“But Dad is a member of the New Party. Won’t the New Party have any objections to the actions of the Confederate States of America?” Audrey said after thinking for a moment.

"Haha, my most beautiful little princess has begun to contemplate the kingdom's politics!" Earl Hall laughed heartily.

“Dad…” Audrey looked embarrassed and annoyed.

"Haha, my little princess, although the mutual aid association will indeed affect the interests of some members of the New Party, it will not affect the fundamentals."

"Most importantly, I have been pushing hard for things like increasing factory workers' wages, improving their working hours, and revising the Poor Law."

“So, this young man is essentially helping me, and naturally I won’t object to him,” Earl Hall explained carefully to Audrey.

He and the Duke of Negan were important figures in the New Party and the Conservative Party, respectively. Since neither of them expressed their opinions, others, even if their interests were harmed, could only obediently accept it.

"So it turns out you've been doing things that benefit the people, Dad. You're so good." Audrey praised him sincerely.

"Hehe, as an official of the kingdom, these are all part of my duties," Earl Hall said modestly.

In fact, his motivation for pushing these things forward was not simply to benefit the people.

Another very important reason is that these are things that the Church of the Night wants to promote, so as the Church of the Night's power in the kingdom, he naturally needs to cooperate.

But there was no need to tell his daughter, since Earl Hall still wanted to maintain his glorious image in her eyes.

……

Inside a house near the Peace Tavern.

On the second floor, in an office by the window.

"I didn't expect Duke Negan to praise your decision to form the Mutual Aid Society. Arthur, did you foresee this?" Hugh asked in surprise, holding the newspaper in his hand.

Arthur had previously told her not to worry about the reactions of the kingdom's upper echelons, and she was somewhat worried at the time.

Now it turns out that things really did turn out exactly as Arthur predicted.

Hearing Hugh's question, Arthur pulled a snow-white feather fan from his emblem, brandished it, and said in a showy manner:

"That's the art of struggle, Hugh. Dealing with the right enemy at the right time, instead of blindly pushing everyone to the opposite side, is how we can minimize resistance."

“Hmm, that seems to make sense, but Arthur, I have a question.” Hugh looked at Arthur strangely and said.

"what is the problem?"

"I want to ask, it's winter now, don't you feel cold holding a fan?"

Arthur:......

Sigh, it's impossible to communicate with people who don't understand the jokes... Arthur, having failed to impress, reluctantly put away his feather fan.

"By the way, last night..." Hugh recounted everything that happened with Audrey last night, and then asked:

"Does this mean you've come to some understanding?"

"It's still early. She's currently in a period of inner conflict because the reality she sees clashes with her past experiences, which is why she's like this."

“She needs another dramatic transformation before she can become a true warrior,” Arthur said calmly.

"Oh..." Hugh felt like she didn't understand.

But she didn't care. After chatting with Arthur for a few more minutes, she went to prepare to investigate the Dead Water Gang.

Watching Hugh's departing figure, a smile appeared on Arthur's face.

In fact, there was another very important reason why Duke Negan expressed goodwill, besides the fact that the Mutual Aid Association only affected the interests of some New Party members.

That is, not long ago, the Steam Church and the Storm Church had an exchange.

……

15 Minsk Street, Joewood District.

"Why is the reaction from the higher-ups at Rune so strange? Isn't this like a weasel offering New Year's greetings to a chicken?" Klein looked at the newspaper with a puzzled expression.

Although he didn't know much about the political situation in Rune, he did know that the kingdom's political arena was divided into two factions: the Conservative Party and the New Party.

It's one thing for the Conservative Party not to have any objections to the Confederate States of America, but why does the New Party seem completely indifferent as well?

Didn't they realize that Arthur was trying to destroy them? Watching others prepare their own coffins, instead of picking up a knife and killing them, they were actually cheering from the sidelines. Is this world really that surreal...? Klein felt completely baffled.

Is Arthur's charisma really that terrifying? That he can make others compromise even their fundamental interests?

"Tsk, is this guy a succubus in disguise? I feel like I'm starting to get gay from him..." Klein couldn't help but think to himself.