Timeline Player

Blood tax collector.

Chi Que remembered that the merchant had mentioned it in his notes.

They were the Duchess's direct tax collectors, with the power to enforce the law in towns and even kill those who resisted taxes on the spot.

It can be said that they are one of the most formidable forces in the city.

However, it can also be said to be one of the safest forces, because as long as you pay taxes, they will not make things difficult for you.

Chi Que moved a few steps to the door, sidestepped the door hinge, and peered out through the peephole.

At the same time, Mi'er quietly crept to the other side of the door, holding a small knife in her hand, with an eager expression on her face.

She seemed to intend to stab the Blood Tax Official outside the door the moment Chi Que opened it.

Chi Que gave her a look, signaling her not to act rashly.

Mi'er's lips moved silently a few times, and a voice came to Chi Que's ear: "Weren't you planning to ambush him?"

Chi Que quickly shook his head.

He didn't want to clash with the Duchess so soon!

Mi'er reluctantly put down the knife, seemingly somewhat disappointed.

Through the peephole, Chi Que saw a man in a dark red uniform standing outside the door, with a blood-dripping bat-shaped badge pinned to his chest.

His identity matches the description; he is indeed the Blood Tax Official.

Chi Que took a deep breath and opened the door.

The blood tax collector standing at the door looked like a middle-aged man, but his eyes were full of vicissitudes, as if he had lived for a very long time.

He did not enter the house, but stood outside the door and read aloud as if reciting a script: "By order of Her Excellency the Duchess, the Blood Moon Feast is imminent, and all residents of the city must participate in the celebration for the next six nights to show their joy."

He paused, then continued, "If you do not wish to participate, then pay the celebration tax. Today it is one hundred blood coins per person. Deliver it to the Inner City Tax Office before sunset. Latecomers will not be accepted."

Chi Que was taken aback. Participating in the celebration meant no tax was required, but not participating in the celebration meant paying taxes?

Moreover, one hundred...

He sensed the stench of money being used to buy his life.

"What if we don't have any money?" Mi'er asked, with an innocent and carefree expression.

The tax collector glanced at her, his tone softening slightly: "With the celebration approaching, many places need manpower. You can go around and see if you can find suitable jobs."

After saying that, the blood tax collector did not linger, turned around and left, and then knocked on the door of the next resident.

"What are your thoughts on the celebration tonight?" Chi Que asked, turning around as he watched the Blood Tax Official depart.

"Something's definitely up to no good," Mi'er said shrewdly, her innocent expression completely gone.

What a fickle girl... Chi Que thought to himself, becoming more wary of her.

Who can guarantee that her current way of interacting with him isn't just another form of pretense?

"Let's go look for jobs." On the surface, Chi Que showed no change and even took the initiative to extend an invitation.

"Okay, okay." Mi'er nodded.

The two walked together, with Chi Que deliberately staying a little behind to observe Mi'er's movements.

His every move was natural, without any sign of affectation, but the possibility of it being a performance cannot be ruled out.

Further observation is needed.

He put on that label.

After passing a street selling blood products, Chi Que stopped: "Let's part ways here."

He said to Mi'er.

The girl nodded: "Then be careful."

"I should be the one saying that," Chi Que said.

After bidding farewell to Mi'er, Chi Que stepped into the street. A stench of blood assaulted his senses, and the surrounding buildings took on a dark red hue. The shops also appeared extremely old.

He quickened his pace.

He remembered this street.

In the past timeline, the eatery he patronized for free was located on this very street.

However, times have changed, and I wonder what the situation is like now.

Thinking this, Chi Que stopped at the location of the food stall in his memory.

Eh?

He blinked.

Before him stood a three-story Gothic brick building with a large door made of blood-stained wood. Two beautiful young women stood guard at the door, and the person entering and leaving was dressed elegantly and had an extraordinary air about him.

"Sir, do you have an appointment?" One of the girls asked sweetly as she saw Chi Que stop in front of the door.

He snapped out of his reverie, his mind racing, and quickly came up with a reason: "All the other shops on this street look dilapidated, but this one looks like it's been open for a long time. Is there some story behind it?"

"Of course!" Another maid puffed out her chest proudly and began to recount the story vividly: "Long, long ago, there was a legendary chef on this street. No one knows where he came from, and no one knows where he went."

Another girl chimed in, "The chef's food can make people forget all their troubles. The Duchess heard about him and sent people to look for him, but he has already disappeared without a trace."

"Later," the maid's eyes seemed to sparkle, "someone replicated the flavor, almost identical to that of the legendary chef. The duchess tasted it and praised it highly, and it became the standard for the secret banquet."

Chi Que paused slightly in his breathing.

Has he become the authentic one?

"So your shop..." he asked.

"That's right!" the two maids said in unison. "It's the new shop that opened on the site of that legendary chef's old shop. Even the Duchess often comes to patronize it."

Chi Que nodded slowly, then looked up with a serious expression: "So, are you short-staffed here?"

The two maids were taken aback.

......

Meanwhile, in the quietest private room of the shop.

On the table was an exquisite silver platter.

The dish displayed there is the restaurant's signboard, which is said to be a replica of the legendary chef's secret recipe.

Several distinguished nobles surrounded the lower seat, earnestly urging the elderly man in the main seat, who was wearing a deep red robe.

"Your Excellency, please try this dish," a nobleman said with a fawning smile. "The head chef has boasted that this is the closest he's ever come to the legendary chef's technique, the one he's perfected over many years! Try it and see how much of that legendary dish it captures."

Another nobleman immediately chimed in, flatteringly saying, "Yes, Your Excellency, you were there firsthand, so you have the most authority to speak on this."

The nobles' goals were clear.

The Night of the Hunt is approaching. As the most insane, dangerous, and opportunity-filled part of the Blood Moon Feast, they want to learn some inside information from this high-ranking bishop.

This allows them to plan ahead and seek greater profits or avoid risks on the night of the hunt.

However, the Blood Moon Bishop sat upright in the main seat, completely ignoring the so-called signature dish.

"What makes a legend a legend is its unrepeatable nature," he finally said. "As for the Night of the Hunt, that is the will of the Blood Moon. You all have your own judgment on the necessary preparations. There's no need to ask this old man. The Church... is only responsible for witnessing."