Chapter 7

Chapter 7 The Final Answer

Pulman’s home was in Brownwood Village, a small settlement near the forest of the Dilam Mountain Range, very remote, likely not even recorded on the kingdom’s map.

The village’s sole specialty was the gooseberry, originally from the forest. These crimson berries, similar to grapes, were rare fruits that tasted rather sour. Some nobility enjoyed them, so every year merchants would come to the village to purchase them, which was the largest source of income for the entire village.

This year, when the merchant came to buy the berries, something happened.

The freshness of the fruit was crucial. Lord Moke would always arrive a couple of weeks early to stay in Brownwood Village, dividing this year’s harvest into batches to sell in nearby cities. This fruit had an appealing look that people loved. Those wealthy city dwellers often bought some to entertain guests, showcasing their superiority and wealth.

Moreover, purchasing these berries wasn’t expensive; a basket for one silver coin made the villagers very happy. After washing them and placing them in clean plates, he could sell them for sixty silver coins a basket in the city, making it a significant profit.

In the upscale shops of the noble district in the city, these dusty country bumpkins would never have the chance to enter. They naturally wouldn’t know what price these fruits would fetch. Lord Moke had been doing this business for many years.

Along the way, he happened to meet Pulman’s younger sister, Ashley.

Ashley was 14 years old this year. She had just returned from bathing by the riverside, her youthful beauty immediately catching Lord Moke’s attention.

Pulman’s younger sister caught the eye of the merchant, Lord Moke, who told her parents that she could go to the city to work as a maid for the noble lords.

Working as a servant for the nobility was much better than living as a common villager. It was stable and didn’t risk starvation, a highly coveted profession among commoners in this dangerous world.

Thus, Pulman’s parents happily agreed, and Moke gave them some money. Pulman was also very pleased.

After all, his sister had a good job, and he felt that if he had this money, he could discuss marriage with Jona.

But unexpectedly, after that, he never saw his sister again, the slightly thin but obedient and well-behaved younger sister.

Two months after his sister left, he went to Trin City to inquire about the address of the noble household where she worked, hoping to see her, but was stopped by the guards.

He was just a commoner youth and naturally couldn’t enter the courtyard of the nobility. So he waited across the street, asking the servants coming in and out about news of his sister.

But strangely, no one recognized his sister. Finally, he sensed something was wrong and one night, he sneaked in, only to be quickly caught by the guards due to his unfamiliarity with the terrain.

In the Westwind Kingdom, the lives of commoners weren’t valued. Moreover, he had trespassed, so he was severely tortured. Fortunately, he was indeed a local youth from a nearby village, and many recognized him. After severe warnings, they finally let him go.

But he didn’t give up. Kneeling on the ground with his knees covered in wounds, he kept pleading with the guards to let him see his sister.

Finally, a young guard, unable to bear it any longer, whispered to him as he left, “You can try looking in the southern wasteland.”

When he limped to that wasteland, he saw a series of small mounds of bones exposed.

This was a mass grave.

A terrible premonition arose in his heart. He searched around and eventually found a body similar in size.

But from the tattered clothes, it was clear that this was indeed his sister.

Yes, the noble lord wanted a maid, but not the kind who serves daily life. Instead, she was merely a disposable plaything.

The youth trembled with his hands, unable to accept this reality. He sat beside the corpse for an entire day and night, crying as he dug the soil and buried the slender body.

As he spoke, his voice choked up, filled with regret.

If only he had persuaded his parents at that time, if only he hadn’t been obsessed with fantasies about Joana.

Why, why did it have to be like this? All they wanted was for their family to live a better life! Could such a small wish not be allowed?

“Do you want revenge?”

The clear voice of the silver-haired girl came from across the fire.

“I do, but I don’t have the strength, and my parents wouldn’t allow me to do that.”

Afterwards, the boy’s parents vaguely sensed the truth of the matter. Perhaps considering the huge disparity in strength, the hardships of adult life, or perhaps they simply didn’t care much about their daughter, they did not seek revenge against Moke and decided to let Pualman work quietly at home, forbidding him from going to Tulin City again.

“Why? Why can they remain so indifferent?”

The boy tightly clasped his knees, his voice filled with confusion and anger.

In a child’s eyes, parents were everything; weren’t they supposed to be all-powerful?

Lolan Hill also recalled some past memories. After middle school, her perception of her parents as gods had crumbled; she believed herself to be far smarter than them.

However, after being beaten down by society after graduation and work, she began to understand some of her parents’ choices. Many things couldn’t be helped even if they wished otherwise.

Just as Lolan Hill was about to console the boy, the mechanical voice of the system resurfaced.

New Task: Answer Pualman’s questions and earn rewards based on completion rate, at least 70%. (Current progress: 0%)

Rewards: For every 20% progress achieved, gain one lottery chance; upon reaching 100%, receive a formula for an extraordinary creation.

Well, does this system issue real-time emergency tasks too?

Lolan Hill began carefully recalling the boy’s experiences and possible questions in his heart.

“Perhaps, there are reasons behind what the parents did.”

Lolan Hill started explaining to Pualman the difficulties adults face, not just supporting the family, but also dealing with the powerful nobility and merchants who could render any appeals futile. They also had to consider Pualman’s own survival in the future.

But the boy was still unsatisfied. He couldn’t accept this outcome, and the progress stalled at 26%.

Lolan Hill understood that such gentle explanations were insufficient to convince the other party. She imagined she would find it hard to listen too.

So, tell him the harsh truth then.

“Because you lack power.”

The girl fiddled with the fire, adding a few more sticks, watching the nearly extinguished flames grow larger.

The boy froze for a moment, then lowered his head.

“Yes, I can’t beat that noble.”

“No, I’m not talking about physical strength. That noble doesn’t produce anything; he might not even be as strong as you. One-on-one, you should be stronger.”

“Then what do you mean?”

“Have you ever thought about why some people, doing nothing, can have more wealth, act recklessly, and oppress others?”

“I don’t know.”

A question he had never considered appeared in the boy’s mind.

“Their fields are cultivated by commoners, their clothes woven by commoners, their food prepared by commoners, and their guards are commoners protecting them. Why can they do this?”

“Because they pay them?” The boy hesitated and replied.

“Where do their money come from?” the girl countered.

“Their money…” The boy desperately tried to recall what he had seen in his short life.

“Their money comes from taxes, rents, and your labor,” the girl answered for Pualman.

“Yes.” But something seemed off, and Pualman couldn’t put his finger on it.

“Let’s not talk about taxes and rents. Don’t you find it strange that commoners work for them, and they pay them?”

“Why do they become richer and richer, even without working?”

.”

“Perhaps because working produces more money?” The youth replied doubtfully, and then the progress began to move forward.

Lolan Hill secretly praised him, then started recalling that era where countless people worked hard, even working 996 with no entertainment, yet still couldn’t afford a house.

“This transaction isn’t entirely fair; you produce more money, but they only give you a portion.”

“This…”

“Is it really that simple? Why don’t commoners just produce themselves?”

The youth was completely clueless at this point. Why not?

“Because, they hold resources that commoners don’t have. These resources can be many things: a cow, a shop, a special relationship, or certain rights.”

“These scarce yet necessary things, you don’t have them, so you must rely on them. That’s why they can achieve such an unfair transaction.”

“Yes,” the youth’s voice sounded somewhat downcast.

“Can they continue like this forever? Will poor folk like me always work for them?”

“It’s not always like this. Maintaining such behavior requires good order, under the premise that everyone follows reason.”

“You’ve heard of bandits, right? Those unreasonable people who take everything from you without giving anything.”

“So, they use part of their money to hire guards, even though these guards don’t produce money, they ensure long-term benefits.”

The youth seemed to understand much, yet nothing at all. The world appeared before him in an unprecedented way.

Watching the progress on the system reach 68% and then stop.

Lolan Hill sighed slightly in her heart, it seems she had to finish explaining completely.

“Why do they use 10,000 gold coins to hire guards with just 10 gold coins, why don’t these guards steal the gold?”

Lolan Hill’s voice gradually became formal.

“Why don’t you overthrow the guards hired for 10 gold coins and seize the 10,000 gold coins?”

“Because there’s the Kingdom as the final guardian of order. Those who break laws and systems will be suppressed, exterminated, and executed.”

“Why does the Kingdom protect these people, even if they do wrong, why do they tolerate each other, why doesn’t the law stand on your side?”

“Because they are the masters of this country, the nobles and wealthy merchants, not you commoners.”

“Naturally, they must uphold their own class interests.”

“Even if you kill this noble, as long as this environment exists, this situation will continue to repeat itself.”

At this point, Lolan Hill paused, waiting for the youth to think slowly.

Pulman remained silent for a long time before he slowly asked.

“I still don’t understand, can this unfairness continue, is this how it will always be?”

“The nation, to some extent, embodies justice and order. If justice is lost, the foundation of the nation will crumble.”

“Do you want to ask me how to change this? It is to establish a country where everyone is equal, a fair and just, wise and resolute, prosperous and powerful nation.”

Lolan Hill took the science exam in her previous life, studied engineering, and didn’t perform well in Marxism-Leninism.

But fortunately, this country, which struggled and endured hardships to be established, clearly wrote the dragon-slaying techniques in every middle school textbook. How this country came to be, how it was established, what mistakes we once made, and how to resolve these contradictions, were all clearly told to every citizen.

Perhaps it isn’t perfect, still has many problems, but its greatness cannot be denied. Our warriors, our sacred faith, will never fade away.

New author, new book, please recommend and add to favorites.

(End of Chapter)