Ming Dynasty and New Rome and Infinite Magic Machine

Chapter 1463: Priest of the Forest King
[God's Chosen Hero and God's Chosen Priest, you are planning to put the two Karins together, right? Are you playing some weird collection game? ]

"I didn't collect them together on purpose. It was already there when I came here, wasn't it? It's just a coincidence."

So, what do you think of their future relationship?

"First of all, let me make it clear that I don't like making dumplings. In the final analysis, one of the two Karins was abandoned, and the other was kidnapped. The culprit of both incidents is Irodeasha. This criminal roaming outside the world has organized countless crimes against humans, so as the guardian of the world, we naturally have to deal with it. Because if we don't deal with it, then Irodeasha will have the upper hand."

In fact, according to the current information, Elodiasha has indeed implemented effective rule in Romania and other places. The elves' [Theater] Secret Cult tours the local area and will use witchcraft to make the land fertile. But if you want to make the land fertile, you have to pay a high price to the royal court of Elodiasha - she will demand tribute of people so that she can transform them into elves.

Just as some places worship plague gods because of fear of locust plagues, Elodeasha's rule is based on fear.

Fear in all its forms - fear of the Romans, fear of nature, fear of time, and fear of the spirits - all contributed to this situation. It was a cowardly act to throw away a few children who could not make decisions for themselves every year just to pray for good weather and good harvests, just like the Inspiration King of Tongtian River.

The one who facilitated all this was Elodiasha. She was an elven noble who was conferred a title by the elven High King Oberon and High Queen Titania. She was ranked among the elven kings, commanded the royal court of Changxia, and was the master of the spring elves.

Although Rome did have some cooperation with some elves, such as the many technical exchanges with the Nordic forge elves, there was only war between Rome and the spring elves of Elodeasha. This was because Elodeasha's territory was too close to Rome. Her core territory was located in Hungary and Romania, and the core was the Pannonia Plain, which the Romans had never been able to control. There were dense water systems and rivers crisscrossing there.

She is certainly very powerful. But in Shangluo's view, before she can be a powerful monarch, she is first a prisoner. Even if a jumper is strong, he must be killed. Shangluo will not stop at the war just because Elodeasha is strong. Because the stronger Elodeasha is, the more it shows that she needs to be eliminated.

And Karin, the younger one, is actually Elodiasa's daughter.

"Elodeasha is extremely evil. But what cannot be ignored is that she is the mother of little Karin - I prefer to determine her identity through the soul rather than the body. In theory, although little Karin was also abandoned, she is indeed the daughter of Elodeasha. So, Apollonia, and Phaethon, I have a question for you: Do you think that children should bear the price for their parents' sins?"

"I think this question needs to be analyzed in detail." Phaethon said, "Legally, every criminal is an individual and should not be punished collectively. If children benefit from their parents' crimes, then they should obviously be considered accomplices. If not, then there is no relationship between the two. In other words, the right of inheritance must be accompanied by the repayment of debts. This is the principle of consistency between rights and responsibilities."

[I don't think so.] Apollonia said solemnly, [From the perspective of reason and law, of course it is so. But in this world, not everyone can think about problems from a legal perspective, and not everyone can always use reason to arm their thinking. Regardless of whether they benefit from their parents' sins, in fact, children will inevitably inherit something from their parents - fame, sin, power, these are difficult to distinguish between "inheritance" or "non-inheritance".]

"How could you think so deeply?"

[Because this is my area of ​​expertise - you may not think of where Oracle's main revenue comes from: property division cases caused by divorce and inheritance. ]

"Huh? Why?"

【Because in principle, ancient Greek philosophy generally believed that inheritance of property was not completely reasonable. Because although a person's virtue can help him obtain property, just as virtue itself cannot be inherited, whether property can be inherited is debatable. Plato clearly mentioned in "The Republic" that the ruling class of the city-state must give up their own inheritance and then give up most of their private property. Only in this way can absolute fairness be achieved. Under the influence of this trend of thought, the Roman Empire would levy huge inheritance taxes. Any form of property donation and division must also pay huge taxes. 】

"So they came to the Oracle to sue?"

【Yes. And in theory, the final decision should be made by the gods, and the court only makes decisions on behalf of the gods - this theory is just a theory most of the time, after all, there is a professional institution like the court, and it is not the oracle's turn to judge the case. But if it involves the division of huge assets, most people will tend to solve it through informal channels. The oracle is mainly here to make adjustments. This kind of thing is actually very common in Rome, because the Romans also have to pay for posthumous insurance, and after death they have to renew the insurance to maintain the body for future rebirth. Mixing all kinds of things together, the oracle's business is actually quite good. 】

"That's the case with Karin."

[Karin's case is indeed tricky. I can give you an example of this situation - it is also a case I often see. Let's assume that the owner of Company A knows that he is dying, but the Roman inheritance tax applies the principle of progressive taxation, and the higher the amount, the higher the tax rate. The tax rate for huge assets may be as high as 85%, or even more than 90%, and there is no upper limit. ]

“Is that how it’s calculated?”

【Yes. Therefore, many people do not tend to let their children inherit the actual estate, but rather the inheritance relationship - for example, they split the company's business during their lifetime, splitting the profitable part to their son's independent company, and leaving the part of the business that has not made progress in the company to maintain a framework. After a series of operations, it is possible to empty the entire company before death.

After all, in many cases, a company is just a chaotic combination of income and expenditure. Its tangible assets are not that important. The most important asset is actually relationships. Take away this layer of relationships, and the entire company will become an empty shell that will slowly die.

[In fact, even if he really didn't inherit anything, relying on the identity of "someone's son" would be enough to find an opportunity in front of his former business partners. After all, capital is risk-averse, and the inheritance between parents and children is stable. ]

"So, regardless of whether they actually take over the inheritance or not, the children will inevitably be unable to escape the influence of their parents?"

[Kalin's situation is so complicated. We can't actually draw a clear line between Karin and Elodeasha.]

"Yeah." Shang Luo nodded. "On this point, I think we have reached a consensus to some extent. I think the right and wrong of the whole thing should not be considered by outsiders like us. I am responsible for the trial of Irodeasha, but how the two Karins get along with each other depends entirely on their own wishes. They have a good relationship now, and I support them. If there is a rift between them in the future, although I don't want this to happen, I will not force them to have a happy ending. Everything depends on them. So."

Shang Luo looked at Faerton and said, "You two are both right. On the one hand, we must follow the principle of consistency of power and responsibility to exempt Karin from the crimes she 'inherited' from her mother. Karin should not be tried for her mother's war crimes. After all, she had nothing to do with the war. She was abandoned since she was a child. On the other hand, I will not interfere with their personal relationship. Everything depends on them. If they want to live together like twins, I fully support them. If they want another life, I will also support them."

"So the question is." Phaethon looked at her, "Why are you the one supporting them?"

"Maybe it's because I ate their meal."

"Oh my goodness, you were waiting here. Then I'll eat it too?"

[Eh? I ate it too! I was wondering why you agreed to let me eat. So you know magic, right? You made us all eat Karin's meal, it would be unreasonable if I don't help them.]

"Oh." Shang Luo waved his hand. "It's not like I'm helping you for nothing. Karin is very strong. She will become a qualified warrior. There is another Karin who will become a qualified priest."

"Let's not talk about whether she is a warrior or not. I can have some sword skills exchanges with her later, and then I will naturally understand. The main thing is, how can you ensure that little Karin becomes a qualified priest?"

"Because she wants to be the priestess of the Forest King. Whether she is qualified or not is of course up to me, the Forest King, to decide."

【Good guy】

Phaethon also looked at the ceiling and said, "Sometimes I wonder, Shangluo, if you were born in Rome, your ability to exploit loopholes might make you a great magician. You can choose between the Oracle and the Palace of Muses."

"So, you have no objection?"

[What can we say? I will listen to you, Your Majesty the King of Rome. Arrange jobs for your landlords as soon as possible, and use your power for personal gain to move the night shift office to the doorstep of the small landlords. All arrangements are ready.]

"Don't say that." Phaethon waved his hand, "This is called selecting the best regardless of one's relationship with the person." [How do you say his words?]

"Because I want to see how he speaks when he can't use allusions."

"." Shangluo stood up silently. He picked up the brass teapot in front of Phaethon and poured a cup for Phaethon, "Please have some tea."

"Is there anything I must take care of?"

"Well, although the tactics can be carried out by the two Karins, the strategic planning still depends on you two."

Phaethon looked up and asked, "What allusion is he using?"

[He is talking about the joke of 'Wisdom comes from Kong Ming, and courage comes from the second brother'. He is trying to find a balance between us and Karin. The implication is that he will be like a fish in water if he gets Karin.]

"Oh," Phaethon nodded, "Okay then."

"You don't mind, do you?"

"You know me. I'm just talking, but I can't do anything. I'll do whatever you ask me to do. Where else can you find an assistant as good as me?"

[Wow, I don't even dare to say anything. If I say too much, he will turn off my confinement power. ]

"Well, anyway, we can get started. I'll trouble you, Phaethon, with this matter."

"Understood, I'll do it. Don't worry." Phaethon looked out the window. "After all, I also drank their tea."

[She is angry.] Apollonia whispered.

"Ah? Why is she angry?"

[She didn't say she ate Karin's meal, she said she drank Karin's tea. The implication is that he would help even if you didn't mention it, and you coaxing him to eat makes her look petty. She got angry.]

Phaethon was always like this, keeping her personal and professional lives separate. She was like dealing with two people: her friends and her boss. She treated her friends the way she treated her friends—she would never give up a grudge. She treated her boss the way she treated her boss—she would complete the work without compromise.

She did both, but her friend and her boss happened to be the same person. Phaethon was able to adjust well to this kind of shock, but Shangluo didn't know what to do.

"Then what should I do?" he asked in a low voice.

[Hehehe, you ask me now, right? Humph, I am Phaethon's elder after all, so let me tell you how to comfort her. You just need to do this.]

"Huh?" Shang Luo was stunned for a moment, "Are you sure?"

[Yes, you can do that. ]

"Uh" Shangluo stretched out his hand doubtfully, reached for Phaethon's whip, and then pulled the hair rope untied.

The ponytail spread out like a waterfall and fell on the shoulders.

Without any wind, Phaethon's hair actually floated up, and even had a tendency to rush upwards.

When he turned around again, Phaethon looked at Shangluo with unprecedented anger: "Why did you undo my braids? Do you know how long it will take me to fix the whip? Are you an elementary school student?"

"No. I didn't mean to do that! Apollonia told me to do it!"

[Hehehe! Do you think I won't be angry? Of course, what I taught you is the easiest way to anger her! She is the worst at taking care of her hairstyle! But what she cares about most is her hair! ]

“Ahhhhh!” Shang Luo stepped back violently, “I didn’t mean to do that! I really didn’t!”

"Give me the hair rope."

"for you."

Silently, Phaethon took the hair tie and sat down in her seat. She reached behind her back, trying to put her hair back in place. But she was never good at this. However, this time there was someone ready to help her.

"Come here. Help me hold up the hair tie."

"Oh"

five minutes later.

"How come you are good at combing hair?"

“I take care of my hair myself every day.”

"Okay. Then I'll leave my hair to you from now on. Just give it a hairstyle like Yanqiu's."

(End of this chapter)