Chapter 156 - 156 4th Day of the Rain Moon

156 4th Day of the Rain Moon

During the Bronze Age, the priests living in Kosnia (the present Platinum Province as it was formerly known) divided a year into 12 months according to their astrology and farming calendars, starting the first calendar era for humans.

The Rain Moon was the fourth month of the 12 months. Nonstop rain enveloped most of the central and southern continent this month. Of course, to the North’s Whiteland and Cold Plains, which were constantly enveloped in snow, and the West’s Withering Desert, this month was only a name.

April Fool’s Day on the 4th of the Rain Moon was a statutory festival recognized by most local officials. According to the officials, this wasn’t a good time to deal with government affairs. It was a family holiday where one should stay at home to accompany their family and have a good time together.

However, to the citizens at the bottom, especially the people in the slums who lacked a livelihood, this was an annual “legal begging festival.” Or according to them, this was the only festival where they could turn the tables.

However, Thorn City’s April Fool’s Day this year was a little different from usual in some places.

In the morning, the rag-wearing citizens in the slums wore crowns made of hard paper and bamboo. They congregated in a parade and walked on the streets. They shook the bells in their hands and wore a necklace made of cheap glass beads. They imitated having a companion sword by the nobles’ waist with a wooden sword.

All the mansions in the uptown area had their doors closed. Some of them even lit up with the light of magical protection as a warning.

The taverns, inns, tailors, grocery stores, and other shops on the streets and alleys all had their shutters down. They also placed a small amount of money and food at the door and erected a small sign beside them that said—To My King.

It was very normal up to this point—no different from previous years.

However, there wasn’t a single soul of the relief team sent by the overlord on Rose Street like past April Fool’s Days.

Not only were the people supposed to be giving alms not there, but there weren’t any guards who usually went out to maintain order.

The grand Beggar King’s parade followed the route of the previous years and circled Rose Avenue a few times, but no one was to be seen.

Relying on the charity from those small shops was not living up to their expectations. Therefore, the parade began to stir.

Perhaps it was because this new overlord had completely abandoned the traditions of the past, or perhaps it was the courage given by this special day, but of course, it was more likely that there were no armored guards around to constantly deter them.

In short, a voice appeared in the parade.

“Surround the palace.”

In the beginning, only a few people muttered, but after someone shouted, these words began to gather strength in the crowd. Soon, it turned into a parade slogan with fanaticism.

“Surround the palace! Surround the palace! Surround the palace!”

This team made up of ‘kings’ marched obstreperously in the direction of the Rose Palace.

…

Vincent von Bergman, the guardian of Thorn City, the Blackwater Swamp, and Nakuland, and the First Citizen who had yet to be crowned, was in the Rose Palace’s conference hall.

His fingers tapped the table casually, bringing a hint of anxiety to the already dreary Imperial Council.

It wasn’t surprising. It seemed like centuries had passed since the Rose Palace held an Imperial Council on April Fool’s Day.

On both sides of the conference table sat the court officials of the Rose Palace.

The Imperial Manager, the Minister of Finance, the Minister of Justice, the Minister of Espionage, the Chief of the Mage Hall, the Bramble Guards Captain, and Vincent’s newly established Minister of Food.

Vincent hadn’t said a word since they sat down. He only listened to the court officials present their reports expressionlessly and kept tapping his fingers on the table.

After a long time, the imperial steward sitting beside Vincent finally couldn’t hold it in any longer. He got up and walked to a small window that gave light passage and complained, “Why is it so noisy outside today?”

“It’s April Fool’s Day. It’s normal for the streets to be noisy.”

The Minister of Espionage closest to him turned his head and said, and the person’s voice carried obvious complaints.

The view through the small window was blocked by the tower at the side, so the butler couldn’t see the situation outside the Rose Palace clearly, but he could hear the voices outside getting louder and louder.

The imperial steward listened carefully to the commotion outside the window. After confirming that the sound came from the April Fools’ parade, he asked in confusion, “But I’ve never heard such a hubbub in the past, especially one so near the palace. Aren’t the parade usually stopped by the guards once they reach Rose Avenue?”

Upon hearing this, Vincent turned his gaze to the Minister of Food he had recently promoted.

In the past, the Minister of Finance was in charge of the relief work for the protesters on April Fool’s Day, but now, all matters related to the people’s livelihood had been transferred to his newly established position.

The Minister of Food was a young man with thick black hair. He used to work for Thorn City’s Chamber of Commerce, but he was promoted by Vincent because of his outstanding performance in dealing with the refugees who were escaping the Undead Tide.

He only replied in confusion to Vincent’s questioning gaze, “The work was done a week ago. I even went to the scene last night to check on the preparations. They should be…”

“Surround… surround the palace!”

The slogan that slowly reached a crescendo outside Rose Palace cut short the Minister of Food’s explanation. He frowned and walked to the window, trying to see what was happening outside.

Vincent turned his gaze to the Bramble Guards Captain.

Even if the relief team didn’t comfort them on the spot, the parade could not come so close to the Rose Palace under the guard’s crowd control.

Therefore, the guard captain looked flustered. He hurriedly said, “I’ve already gotten the deputy captain to lead a team to maintain order at the scene. Such a situation cannot happen.”

The Minister of Finance stood up and asked Vincent, “But it has happened. Lord Vincent, do we need to send the Imperial Guards or Battle Mages from the Mage Hall to ward off that mob?”

Vincent shook his head.

“They’re not rioters, and they cannot break through the Rose Palace’s walls. Sending people out now will only cause innocent casualties.”

“But it won’t sound good if word gets out that the mob attacked the Rose Palace—regardless of whether they succeed or not,” the Minister of Espionage reminded.

Vincent didn’t say anything. Instead, he glanced at him coldly.

This glance gave him goosebumps as if a bolt of lightning had exploded not far behind him.

Could the other party have realized something…

Cold sweat broke out on his forehead.

However, this should be impossible. The entire Thorn City’s intelligence system was in his hands, and the information the other party received every day had to go through him. How could Vincent sense anything with his pitiful connections?

The captain stood up and walked to the door of the conference room.

“I’d better bring some people to stabilize the situation outside first. I’ll ask the deputy captain later.”

With that said, he pushed open the door and was surprised to see the deputy captain of the Bramble Guards standing at the door.

Moreover, they were fully armed.

“The situation outside has stabilized. The people are sincerely welcoming the true duke’s return.”

He grinned at him.

Behind him stood a few robed magic chanters holding magical mediums.

…

Moon Realm, Lake of Entropy.

“So, has our Lord Calamity returned to Thorn City?” Valk asked for the umpteenth time.

“No… He’s still guarding the area near Viper Scar… Forget it, let’s not wait. Seal off the surrounding space through those believers,” Camilla said.

“What a pity… After a thousand years, the new friends Calamity made will perish. Cough, cough, Dementia, use those countless crowns to freeze the space around that gorgeous palace!”