Chapter 1927 - 527: The Bell Sound of the Republic Rings in Another Theater_3

Aside from the audience sitting in the back of the public area, a voice full of immersive anger also echoed in the VIP box above the theater.

However, Baron Gess was not putting himself in the shoes of the newlyweds, but rather that of the lord who was still just a shadow.

This is slander!

"Which noble is this? I absolutely refuse to acknowledge such nobility in Campbell!"

"Saint Sis above... I'm a lord too, I have tens of thousands under my hand, how come I've never heard of any rural farmer saving up silver coins?!"

The servant standing next to him didn't dare to make a sound, though he felt like crying and laughing inside.

Master...

It's a stage play.

If you actually brought a farmer from your territory to perform, would you sit here and watch?

Moreover, your subjects are so poor they can't save up any silver coins; they have to leave their homes and go to Thunder City for work... Is that really something to be proud of?

The joys and sorrows of people don't connect; the threads of resonance are evidently different as well.

Baron Gess felt offended, while the citizens present not only felt the real offense, a fire was ignited in their hearts.

Marriage is just an entry point.

The core of resonance is the endless dissatisfaction with the desire for power.

If they have five, the price will become ten. And if they have ten, the price will become twenty... The things on the shelves can be bought with money, but the things in the hands of the lords are like the carrot a donkey can never bite.

The lights focused on Eloise's pale face.

She, like all gentle and understanding Campbell girls, embraced her husband, cradling that drooping head in her arms.

They became each other's support beams.

"...I will think of a way, I will definitely make that bell sound." Matthew seemed to regain courage, lifting his gaze with firmness and hope.

Just like those strong and brave Campbell people.

However, the tick-tock of the bell continued to sound.

The countdown to the trial hadn't ended, and Mignes sitting in the audience felt like his heart was being wrenched out of his chest.

The champagne beside the armrest had already been forgotten by him.

The sound of the pocket watch became the only accompaniment by his ear, pulling everyone's gaze in the theater to the stage on this cold night.

Including Baron Gess sitting in the VIP box.

Furiously, he crossed his arms, coldly watching the stage, tapping his foot under the table, waiting to see how these folks would perform.

When the audience below the stage and the actors on the stage both stood on the stage, regardless of their status, each found their place on stage.

The show—

Finally officially began.

...

Night's cold light turned into spring's sun, as the curtain wall changes scenery, a boy named Matthew ran on the stage.

His trial began.

Fine beads of sweat covered his forehead, his chest heaving like the bellows beside the forge.

The first stop was the lord's accounting room.

On the high stool, the steward leisurely flipped through the ledger, not even lifting an eyelid.

"Borrowing money? No lord ever lends money to peasants. You should go find those loan sharks. You're in the wrong place."

This was the truth.

Gess nodded in satisfaction, although his steward wasn't so crude, wouldn't directly point the way to the loan sharks, and peasants wouldn't have the chance to enter his accounting room.

Changing the steward to an ordinary servant would be closer to reality; someone who could see his steward would have to be at least at the level of Mr. Horace.

"How can you say this? They are all man-eating jackals!" Matthew's voice was full of anger, with a hint of suppressed sobs.

Ladies and noblewomen in the theater all showed sympathetic expressions, some even took out handkerchiefs to cover their mouths, preventing tears from carrying rouge to the corners of their mouths.

The steward's voice was still unfeeling, as cold as the castle's wine cellar.

"Rules are rules. But our baron is currently at war, fighting against the evil Duke and citizens, your body is fairly sturdy."

He took out a piece of parchment, pressing it against Matthew's chest.

"Sign it and sell your time to our lord, pick up a gun and fight those greedy citizens, these five silver coins will be yours."

"How long will this war last?" Matthew took it with trembling hands.

Impersonally, the steward said.

"Maybe it will end next month, but it has nothing to do with you, your service term is five years."

Five years.

It was the most precious time in his life, and also the most precious time in the life of the newlywed her.

Matthew's hand trembled, his eyes struggled, but ultimately he took the feather pen and signed his name on the parchment.

For the happiness of Eloise, he was willing to sell his time. He believed that once the war ended, Saint Sis would let him return home.

"Report to the barracks in three days, you have three days left."

The steward threw the silver coins at him with a gesture of charity, then stuffed the indenture into the drawer casually.

Matthew continued to run, the joyful music now held heavy bass tones, indicating the trial had not ended, fate hadn't let him go.

The backdrop changed to the bell tower.

Matthew grabbed the money bag, reached out his trembling hand, and handed it to the Bell Tower Steward.

But the Bell Tower Steward only glanced disdainfully at the bag of silver coins that carried body warmth.

"Unfortunate."

The steward pointed at the silent giant bell above.

"When testing the bell just now, the rope broke. To replace it with a new one, it costs five more."

There was an uproar in the audience.

Including Mignes, who felt indignant and dissatisfied at that arrogant attitude.