Divine tone of the gods

  Princess Xiaoyan made a gesture, the warrior put down the slide pole, she refused to be supported and walked down, saying to Yuxi'er and others: "If it were just me myself, I could forgive you, but your behavior cannot be tolerated, must accept severe punishment. This princess thinks that you live in high mountains and barbaric lands, have not received education and guidance, want to give you a chance to reform yourself, is also a kind of punishment, if willing to accept, I can not send a large army to destroy you."

  You Si knelt down and replied: "We sincerely repent, willing to accept the punishment and teachings of Your Highness!"

  Princess Akane stood there, her slender figure somehow exuding an indescribable majesty as she slowly declared: "In order to uphold the dignity of the kingdom's laws, you will be banished from the Kish City-State, leave your village and burn down all houses and belongings of the tribe. You shall never again commit such a crime."

  This is a harsh enough condition, but it cannot be refused. The giant tribe itself does not do so, and the city-state's army will also do so. Yuxi'er answered with great pleasure: "All tribes here will burn down the mountain villages and gather their people to migrate far away."

  The princess nodded in satisfaction, one hand on her chest and the other pointing to the clouds, saying: "In the name of the great god Marduk, you and your people must follow the teachings of the Kingdom of Balen, offer sacrifices to the gods and be loyal to the kingdom. No matter where you migrate, establish villages in the places where you settle, and also build temples for Marduk, receiving guidance from the gods."

  Everyone around was stunned when they heard this, building a temple to offer sacrifices to the great god Marduk, no one can refute this. However, doing so in the secular world involves a very practical problem, temples built in any country need official approval and appointment of priests, the temple's priest is also one of the local administrative officials, with the identity of the kingdom's nobility.

  Prince Feng was about to interrupt when Mayor Deqi whispered a few words in his ear, and the prince nodded and remained silent. Yuxi had told Deqi that he was a second-level divine spellcaster and was recorded at the Marduk Main Temple in Balen City, which seemed to be true. If so, it would also meet Princess Xiao's conditions, but the procedure of the kingdom's appointment didn't make sense - could someone who kidnapped a princess receive such an honor?

  Princess Akane seemed to clear up the doubts of Prince Von and others, and continued: "Establishing a formal temple and appointing a priest requires the recognition of the kingdom, which is an honor for you. But don't misunderstand, I have a difficult and dangerous mission to entrust to you, if you can complete it, not only can you atone for your sins, but also get the reward from the kingdom."

  "May I ask, Your Highness, what task do you have for us to complete? My tribe and I have admitted our guilt, and we are willing to accept punishment and serve you and the kingdom with sincerity!"

  Princess Xiao Lian walked straight past, pushing aside the guards who tried to block her way. Her bravery was truly admirable! She walked up to Yuxi'er and handed him a velvet-wrapped scroll from her bosom: "The perilous mission is your punishment, all written here. The pardon and reward after completing the mission are also inside. Take it! ... Before tomorrow's sunrise, take your people to burn down the village and move to a distant place. Not one person is allowed to stay behind!"

  You Xi respectfully raised his hands above his head to receive the scroll, took a step back with his knees bent and stood up, bowing his head and saying: "Yes sir!"

  He took the giants away, and everyone was stunned for a moment. It's clear that as soon as the princess returns to the city-state, there will inevitably be an army coming to exterminate these giant tribes. But they voluntarily escaped and accepted the princess's punishment, which is completely different in meaning. The princess ordered them to burn down the village and move before dawn tomorrow, while the city-state's army cannot arrive so quickly.

  This is the majesty of Princess Xiao Yan, who was surrounded by the giant tribe but relied on her extraordinary courage and charm to make these barbarians surrender and voluntarily accept punishment. What a feat worthy of admiration and worship! It's unknown who started cheering first, then the cheers erupted in unison as people praised the princess.

  Pei Li's expression was very satisfied, this was originally a play, although it did not completely follow the original plan, but the final act was still successful. No one knew what task Princess Xiao Ai had given to the Giant Tribe, but in this situation, it was also not good to ask, and everyone surrounded the princess back to Akkad Town.

  Princess Xiaoyan and Prince Fengyu arrived at the small town of Akatsuki at the same time, while the warriors in the town became heroes of the kingdom. This is an unprecedented honor for Akatsuki Town in a hundred years, and this day will also become a grand festival! People spontaneously celebrated wildly, and in every corner of the town, you could hear excited cheers and songs of praise.

  The town's various living materials were requisitioned overnight, more than half of which would affect the residents' winter if they were not replenished as soon as possible. Those farm tools and livestock must also be fully compensated before spring arrives, otherwise it will affect next year's farming. Princess Xiaoyan generously stated that all this would be borne by her, immediately sending an envoy with a list to Kish City State to purchase and double the compensation to the residents of Akkad Town.

  The things the Giant Tribe wants are numerous, but not precious, and all together they're worth only a few dozen divine stones. If it were in a big city-state, they could be procured quickly. In addition, Princess Xiaoyan will provide the list of names of all brave warriors who participated in the rescue to the Kish City-State, ordering them to be rewarded with two ranks of nobility!

  Deqi Zhou's current position is still the town head, but his identity can be compared to that of a governing official in a city-state. Each city-state, apart from the city lord, has established institutions such as the Financial Bureau, Archives Bureau, Judicial Bureau, Agricultural and Pastoral Bureau... to manage government affairs. The heads of each bureau are called financial officers, secretaries, judicial officers, commodity officers..., while the deputy heads of each bureau are at Deqi Zhou's current level.

  All of this is just beginning, having received the recognition and cultivation of Princess, the future of Emperor Qi Town is bright.

  There are a few heroes in the rescue team who deserve special praise, namely the brave warriors temporarily recruited by Lord Dicky, not to mention Feng Niu and his followers, that's the royal family's own business, but Medanzo and Armon must be thanked again.

  Deqi-Zhou cleaned his own house and let Princess Xiao Ai move in, and asked the town's main god official to clear out his own courtyard to invite Prince Feng Niu to stay. The place where Princess Xiao Ai met and rewarded the two brave warriors was in the temple of the town, which was the side hall with the relief of Mu Yun Goddess.

  They were summoned individually to receive a warm audience with the princess, first of whom was Amun. After bowing, the princess offered him a seat and asked with a smile: "This brave warrior, you are called Amun, right? May I ask where you come from, our kingdom needs people like you, and I also want to thank heroes like you."

  In front of him sat Princess Xiao Yan, beside her stood the divine technique cultivator Pei Li, and behind her was a relief sculpture of the goddess Mu Yun. Ah Meng felt like he was being pierced by various gazes, feeling somewhat uneasy. He bowed his head in response: "I am a hunter from the depths of the mountains, practicing martial arts is also for hunting, I'm used to roaming the wilderness. This time, I responded to Emperor Qi's town long's recruitment to rescue Your Highness, and Your Highness's majesty subdued the giant tribe, I'm ashamed that I didn't exert much strength."

  Princess Xiao Yan waved her hand and said, "Don't say that. Without the protection of all you brave warriors, I wouldn't have returned safely either. Please tell me what kind of reward you hope to receive, as long as it's within my power, I'll definitely grant it to you."

  Pei Lei placed two plates in front of Amun, one plate had two divine stones and the other had forty gold coins. He said calmly: "These are not the princess's rewards, but the gratitude of the city-state. I don't know whether you find the divine stones or the gold coins more convenient, you can take either plate at will."

  Amon didn't hesitate, saying "thank you" as he took the 40 gold coins. Pei Li's eyes were slightly puzzled but she didn't say anything. Princess Xiao Yan still smiled warmly at him and asked intimately: "My brave warrior Amon, haven't you said what reward you hope to get?"

  Amun shook his head and said: "I accepted the mayor's recruitment of my own accord, and I don't need any extra rewards from you, Princess."

  Princess Xiao Yan shook her head and said: "No, you must accept!"

  Pei Li reminded him on the side: "Amon, this is not just your own business. If you don't accept the princess's gratitude, what about other brave warriors? If the princess doesn't thank the brave warriors who rescued her, how do you want the people of the kingdom to discuss it? It concerns the princess's reputation, you must accept."

  Xiao Qian princess smiled and said: "Pei Li, you don't have to be so severe, Ah Meng is just a hunter in the mountains, he doesn't understand many things." And then she turned to Ah Meng with a gentle smile: "My brave warrior, I truly want to thank you, please tell me, what is it that you desire most?"

  "Beautiful princess, thank you for your generosity. If I must answer, I can tell you... Not long ago, I went to the capital and saw your fiancé Gilgamesh bringing gifts into the city, giving you three snake tendons of Humbaba and twelve long teeth. They say those are the best weapons of brave warriors. If someday in the future, I can do more for you, I hope to get one tendon and one tooth."

  Pei Li's face changed, revealing an angry expression. This rustic samurai's demand was too excessive! He rebuked: "That is a gift from the princess's fiancé, how can you ask for it?"

  "I'm not asking you to grant me this now, Your Highness," Ahmon hastened to explain. "It's just that in the future, when I can do more for you and earn your gratitude, I hope you'll consider my request then. Since you asked, this is what I've been thinking in my heart; I don't want anything else."

  Princess Xiaoyan looked at Ah Meng for a while, then smiled and said: "Pei Li, don't be angry, he's speaking from the heart... Ah Meng, I'll grant your request. When the day comes that your actions can earn such gratitude, I'll give you one of Hong BaBa's snake tendons and a long tooth, and explain everything to Gilgamesh... Alright, you may withdraw now, let Medanzo come in."

  Amun was about to leave when Princess Sakuya suddenly stopped him, saying: "Amun, I heard you're a fifth-level warrior. It's a shame I didn't get to see your skills in action. Can you show me?" As she spoke, Pei Li handed over a short knife, an ordinary dinner knife used for cutting meat.

  It's impolite to draw a weapon in front of the princess, and doing so without permission is also an act of offense. Amun took the knife and retreated to the door, making a light swing to the side, and a faint glow appeared on the blade, accompanied by the sound of air bursting in the void. Then he quickly put away the knife and carefully placed it back on the table.

  Pei Lei nodded in satisfaction: "Indeed a 5th-level body technique, thank you, you may withdraw."

  After Amun left, Pei Li said with some doubt: "It seems that he is not the divine technique master. Body technique and divine technique cannot be cultivated at the same level, even if he has experienced the second awakening of power, he can only learn some auxiliary low-level divine techniques. The person who sent a signal in the mountain that night used divine technique so skillfully, at least a sixth-level divine technique master, could it be Meidansuo?"

  Princess Xiao Ai also smiled: "Amon, you really don't resemble him. Haven't you tried already? He took the gold coins but not the divine stone, this isn't a divine technique master's habit... This person is really interesting, when he speaks, he dares to look straight into my eyes, yet doesn't feel unnatural at all, calmly and quietly asking for such things, his tone is like that of a deity."

  Pei Li sneered and said: "A country bumpkin like him has no vision, he dares to say anything, Your Highness doesn't need to be angry with him."

  Princess Xiao Yan smiled and said: "I'm not angry, I just think this person is very interesting."

  When Meitanzo came in, Princess Akane asked him to show off his fourth-level warrior skills. Meitanzo took the dinner knife and made a few cool moves before returning it to Peilei. When the gold coins and divine stones were brought up, Meitanzo didn't think twice about pocketing the divine stone because it was more convenient to carry.

  When Princess Akane asked him what he wanted to thank her for, Maidanzo thought for a long time, got down on his knees and bowed: "I don't dare hide from Your Highness, I am a resident of Balun City. My great-grandfather was a sixth-level divine art master in the Marduk Temple, but over the years, my family lost its glory. By my generation, not only did we lose our territory and hereditary title, but also the identity of the nobility. The wish of our ancestors is that future generations can restore the family's honor, please instruct me, Your Highness, what should I do?"

  The little princess looked at Maidan Zuo and smiled happily: "Although I don't have real power, as a princess of the kingdom, I can grant you a noble status. You have made such achievements, just need me to make a call back in the capital. From today on, you are Lord Maidan Zuo, exempt from civilian taxes, but to formally obtain the register, I still need to go back to the capital. As for your ancestors' hereditary title and territory, it's not that simple to restore, unless you can make real achievements for the kingdom in the future."

  "Yes, I understand. As long as the princess can restore my noble status, that's enough. Everything else will depend on myself from now on."

  Princess Akane asked, "You can either follow my convoy back to Balen City or take the documents I've signed and go directly to the Archival Department's Regent. I won't be staying in this town for long; I'll leave via Kish City-State the day after tomorrow. Brave warrior, are you willing to escort me all the way to the Imperial Capital? You're a witness to what happened here, and I'd like to take you back with me."

  "I'm more than happy to follow you back to the capital, Princess," Mei said, "but I've made a promise with my friends to travel together and we just so happen to be passing through Akkad Town. Leaving without their permission would be breaking my word."

  Princess Xiao Yan blinked and said, "Oh, your friend refers to Ah Mon? Then you can discuss with him, just say it's my intention. I'll set off the day after tomorrow, you decide whether to follow at that time."

  When Lord Medanzzo was about to leave, Princess Xiaoqian stopped him and asked: "My lord, how did you meet Armon and become friends with him? He claims to be a hunter from the deep mountains, how could he have met you?"

  Mai Dianzuo replied with some embarrassment but also caution: "Don't laugh, Princess. I used to come and go in the deep mountains of Yu Di River Valley, trading goods with those skilled dwarves who are good at smelting, earning some money to support my family. That's how I met Ah Mon in the mountains."

  "Is Armon a dwarf too?" Pei Lei asked curiously.

  "He's not," Mei Danzuo replied. "I was attacked by a fierce beast in the mountains and nearly lost my life, but he happened to pass by and saved me, that's how we met."

  Princess Xiao Yan's eyes lit up, and she stood up saying: "My lord, if you have a good relationship with those dwarf tribes, I have a glorious task that I can entrust to you. In the future, there will be an opportunity to restore your family's hereditary title and noble territory."

  Maidanzo excitedly raised his head and said, "The relationship is quite good. I am sworn brothers with the chief of a large dwarf tribe. What glorious task does Your Highness want to entrust me with?"

  Princess Xiao Yan didn't say anything in a hurry, she waved her hand and said: "After you return to the imperial capital, you can come find me directly, just report your name. If you follow me back together, that would be even better... You can withdraw now, first arrange your own affairs."

  After Mei Danzuo left, Pei Li frowned and said: "It seems that he is not the divine master either, but a genuine fourth-level warrior. So someone is secretly spying on us, everything must be done with caution, and returning to the capital immediately is a wise move. Your plan is beneficial to the kingdom, don't worry about being known by the king, but before it's implemented, it can't be known by your political enemies."

  Princess Xiao Yan nodded solemnly: "It's possible that the king sent a court sorcerer to secretly protect me, but it's also surveillance. You be careful for now and see if you can find this person. We'll pretend we don't know for the time being."

  Pei Li asked again, "You sent Yuxi'er to lead the Highland Giant tribe to carry out the plan. Do you also want to borrow the help of the Dwarf tribe with Medanzo? This person we just met, can't be sure if he is reliable."

  Princess Xiao Yan smiled: "So I didn't rush to say anything, but first observe him, win him over, and cultivate him into our own person. In the imperial capital, a noble who has lost his identity wants to investigate his origins very easily. If what he says is true, restoring his noble status and giving him the opportunity to regain his territory and hereditary title, he will definitely be useful to us."

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