amaotonovel Chapter 239 Peninsula Storm
Chapter 239 Peninsula Storm
"On what grounds? On what grounds? What right do you have to arrest us Naples people?"
The Inquisition, the violent institution under the Church, the sword of Damocles hanging over the people of the peninsula, has now truly fallen upon them.
"Shut up! This is the price they pay for refusing to pay taxes! This is disrespect to the Goddess!"
"Didn't you see? Their houses are dilapidated, with only a few broken hoes inside. Their children are barely clothed. Are you still going to arrest them?"
As in previous years, Naples welcomed the inquisitors of the religious court. In previous years, Naples' taxes were already heavy, but now, thanks to the efforts of the "saints" and the Roman Restoration Army, Naples' economy has improved slightly. However, it is precisely because of this slight improvement that the church has raised the tithe in Naples by one level.
Such a heavy tax burden is a mountain on everyone's shoulders. For the citizens of Naples, they work hard, but these true vampires steal the wealth that they should have received.
The silent majority remains silent, but the efforts of the saints and the Roman Restoration Army will not be in vain. Now, standing between the people and the judges is a man.
The people of Naples have a very good impression of Kavli. He is a great man of Naples, a respectable gentleman, and many people in the city have seen his good character. This respectable gentleman has resolved many conflicts and helped many poor people.
He was furious, furious at the sight before him, these fat-headed judges who called themselves messengers of the goddess, but the priest had said that the goddess loved mankind.
If it's not the goddess's fault, then it's theirs. The saints are right; the church has reached an unbearable point.
The Roman Restoration Army is right. If they persecute and exploit even such pitiful people, what is there to protect about the Papacy?
"Are you trying to go against the Goddess? That's none of your business! Before she gets angry..."
"Are you going to arrest a poor, equally devout person in front of so many of the goddess's devout followers, on the grounds of blasphemy?"
“Mr. Cavelli, they are not to be trifled with... I think you should…”
A young man grabbed Cavilli's sleeve and whispered a warning, but Cavilli just smiled and then raised his arms and shouted, "Brothers and sisters, we have all witnessed that the citizens of Napoli have never blasphemed the Goddess. Yet, just because this poor citizen of mine was unable to pay his taxes due to temporary poverty, he was arrested on charges of blasphemy. Tell me, is faith in the Goddess measured in money?"
Kaveli's words swept through the crowd like a storm, and some people clenched their fists. Naples was an important port city, and its increasingly open atmosphere brought new ideas and classics. The people of the peninsula were no longer the same as before.
There are those who are apathetic, indifferent, and subservient, but there are also those who can raise their arms and shout, and those who open their eyes!
A new generation is pondering amidst the influx of ideas, their underground debates sparking with inspiration from the saints, and their thoughts colliding on the peninsula where thought control is most stringent.
And this spark will burn away the darkness.
"Arrest him! He's a heretic who bewitches believers!"
The judge coldly commanded, and his soldiers stepped forward. But suddenly a human wall appeared in the crowd, and someone shouted from within: "No! You will not arrest any of our citizens of Naples today! Whether it is them or Mr. Cavelli, they are all good people! You will not take any good people away!"
The angry citizens roared, and the judge saw that things were not going well, but he had a solution. The magic that the church had used to suppress them for many years still circulated in the courtroom. He only needed to activate it to make the rabble scatter and flee.
"My lord, my lord... I think we should just forget about it."
His subordinate advised him, saying that he could see the current situation was not in their favor, and that it was not worth making enemies of the citizens of Naples for a poor man.
"He's just a poor wretch, not worth it."
The crowd suddenly parted to make way for a young man, who walked out. The judge was taken aback—it was the saint himself.
“Ah, fellow judge, I apologize for being a little late. I think it would be alright to be a little more lenient with the taxes levied on the people of Napoli, after all, for hundreds of years, the people here have never disobeyed the will of the Goddess. But what you have done today is a bit too much, isn’t it?”
"Saint... Hmph, alright, alright, then I, being the magnanimous one, will withdraw."
The judge left indignantly, and the crowd cheered. For the first time, they had awakened their own power. Kavli was praised by the people, and suddenly, remembering something, he began to sing loudly.
"Look at the suffering in the world, can you hear the people crying out?"
"Those who are no longer willing to endure exploitation will overthrow this world!"
"Let the clash of your conscience make the war drums beat louder and louder!"
"Can You Hear the People Sing?" was originally brought to Naples from outside. Among the saints' praises, this song is particularly different, and people describe it as "passionate".
"Let us bravely welcome the dawn of a new life!"
The crowd cheered, the youths sang, and the crowd grew larger and larger. The saints saw this and found that there were many Roman Restoration Army soldiers and saints among them.
"Wasn't this a bit too extreme? We need to understand the power of the Church."
"It doesn't matter, it's only a matter of time. The church will break with us sooner or later, but the people of Naples, it's time to awaken."
The saint seemed to be infected by the cheers of the crowd, and he showed a relaxed smile. They had been working day and night for this very moment.
After traveling through the Church's territory, he witnessed the real suffering there. He wanted to change everything through the Papacy, but all his attempts ended in failure. The information left behind by the former hero he followed, now the Demon King, had already told him that the bishops of the Papacy would not give up their power, nor would they give up the dirty wealth hidden in their wide robes.
The church is the enemy of the people, and the people urgently need to awaken.
Freedom! Equality! Democracy! He gradually understood why she put forward these three principles, regardless of demons, elves, or humans; they were essential for the entire civilized world.
Because the people are calling for it!