The First Order

Chapter 1182: A different kind of happiness

The House of Berkeley seemed prepared for everything that might happen at today’s memorial service. When the patriarch gave the order to search for the culprit, the Knights of the Inferno immediately surrounded the crowd.

The soldiers were armed with pikes and had split themselves into hundreds of smaller groups to seal off all the intersections near the cathedral.

There were tens of thousands of residents who came to attend the memorial service. This was an extremely large-scale event, and the long lines of red even extended several streets away.

The people crowded together in the streets and watched in panic as the knights surrounded them.

Surprisingly, the Knights of the Inferno who had surrounded them had also brought many city census officials with them.

They set up exits on both the east and west ends while keeping the other areas surrounded. No one was allowed to enter or leave the encirclement.

Meanwhile, every resident who wanted to leave from the east and west exits would have to pass the census officers’ checks.

Although technology in the Kingdom of Sorcerers was backward, the census system was still very strict even in the ancient times before The Cataclysm. This was the foundation of a backward system for managing citizens.

For example, if a trade caravan wanted to head north, they would have to bring along documents signed by the census officer. Only then could they successfully check into relay stations or hotels.

Of course, that was the rule, but the executors might not necessarily follow it so strictly.

In the early years, when the census system was first perfected, everyone was quite meticulous about the process. Decades on, people started turning a blind eye whenever such checks were not carried out. No one took it seriously.

“Name, address, and citizen registration number!” A census officer checked them one by one. After the residents gave their details, another census officer behind would immediately flip through the register and search for the information.

But the ideal, while commendable, had harsh uses in reality. The Berkeley family’s patriarch had brought these census officers over because he wanted to screen for those with ulterior motives.

In the end, the census officers were embarrassed to discover they had neglected their responsibilities too much in recent years. Six out of ten of the residents were not on the register.

The decline of a nation was definitely not as simple as technology waning. For example, the issues that existed in the Kingdom of Sorcerers were: cumbersome bureaucracy, negligent and lazy administrative bodies, a backward production system, and an out-of-date regulatory system.

When the Berkeley family’s patriarch realized this problem, he sneered at the Winston family’s patriarch, “In the past, I thought you were a talented leader who could take charge of things on your own. But now, I realize you’re actually an idiot who can’t even handle administration. It’s no wonder your House of Winston’s Knights of the Hymn are lacking in combat readiness. I don’t think you’re only weak in politics, but you also fail at organizing military matters.”

Disregarding everything else, the six counties in the south controlled by the House of Berkeley were truly much better than the other counties. At the very least, the census officers would definitely not dare to muddle through their work like this!

The Winston family’s patriarch said as he continued crying, “Patriarch, I’ll definitely sort out our political and military affairs from now on….”

The Berkeley family’s patriarch was extremely frustrated by the other party’s crying. He said coldly, “As the head of the House of Winston, how can you cry like this when you were just slapped? What use do I have for you?”

“Patriarch, I don’t wish to cry either,” the Winston family’s patriarch said sadly.

The Berkeley family’s patriarch was so angry he laughed. “How can a man be successful in this world when he’s so fragile? As the head of the house, how shameful are you to be crying like that? Even your Knights of the Hymn are better than you!”

With that, the Berkeley family’s patriarch called over a member of the Knights of the Hymn and made him take off his helmet. Then he slapped the soldier across the face, bringing the knight to tears.

The Berkeley family’s patriarch was speechless.

The Winston family’s patriarch was speechless.

At this moment, Ren Xiaosu was staring intently at the Berkeley family’s patriarch. To be precise, he was staring at his palm. Whoever the other party slapped would definitely end up “happy”!

The process might be different, but each had its own kind of happiness!

Meanwhile, the Winston family’s patriarch felt a little comforted when he saw the knight with tears streaming down his face. At least, he wasn’t the only one crying.

The Berkeley family’s patriarch looked at the knight in front of him with a livid expression. “Trash! An incompetent soldier is just one soldier, but an incompetent commander would raise a group of incompetent soldiers. That’s what your Knights of the Hymn are! You, come here!”

The Berkeley family’s patriarch looked at his Knights of the Inferno. It seemed like he wanted to use them to set an example for the Knights of the Hymn.

Nearby, the soldier from the Knights of the Inferno who was singled out took a step forward determinedly. He even cast a disdainful look at the crying soldier from the Knights of the Hymn and the Winston family’s patriarch. It was as though he refused to be associated with such fragile people.

When the Berkeley family’s patriarch saw this, he was comforted. He said to the Winston family’s patriarch, “Let me show you what my Knights of the Inferno are like.”

After that, the Berkeley family’s patriarch gave the knight a slap. Then the knight who had just walked up also burst into tears.

The Berkeley family’s patriarch was speechless.

The Winston family’s patriarch was speechless.

The Winston family’s patriarch furtively looked up at the tear-streaked Knights of the Inferno soldier. It was as though he were thinking, ‘Is that it?‘

Many of the residents who had gathered nearby and were unable to leave became worried for their own safety. Meanwhile, they secretly observed what was happening at the entrance of the cathedral.

Someone even muttered, “The Berkeley family’s patriarch has quite a strong slap too….”

“Didn’t they say the Knights of the Inferno are extremely fearsome? Why are they so weak as well?”

“Shh, watch your tongue, or you’ll be hanged!”

The Berkeley family’s patriarch flew into a rage. “Are the Knights of the Inferno under my command also a bunch of weaklings?”

Everyone around them kept quiet out of fear. The Winston family’s patriarch hung his head so low it almost reached his own crotch.

The Berkeley family’s patriarch looked around and said angrily to the Winston family’s patriarch, “Come here, slap me… never mind!”

The Berkeley family’s patriarch wanted to ask the Winston family’s patriarch to slap him to see if he would cry as well. But he managed to salvage his rationality in the end.

He saw himself as a lord of his generation. Therefore, no matter how angry he might be, he knew he shouldn’t do something that might end up damaging his own reputation.

Moreover, the Berkeley family’s patriarch also felt a little worried. What if he got slapped and started crying as well?

In the crowd, Ren Xiaosu, who was watching the commotion, felt a tinge of regret. If a slap really landed on the face of the Berkeley family’s patriarch, it would be super interesting.

Next to him, Qian Weining was also watching the happenings. He felt like laughing and crying at the same time.

He wanted to laugh because this steward was way too wicked. Qian Weining was a member of the Knights of the Inferno himself, so he knew full well those soldiers trained hard all year round. Even if their skin peeled from getting sunburnt, of them would cry from the pain. In that case, Ren Xiaosu must be the one responsible for it.

To be honest, when Qian Weining recalled his pathetic state previously and looked at his former colleagues at the entrance of the cathedral, he felt that he had never met anyone more despicable than Ren Xiaosu in his life.

As for wanting to cry, it was because Qian Weining was in a state of panic now. He really wanted to persuade Ren Xiaosu to stop messing around. If he kept it up, there could be big trouble.

Qian Weining sneaked a peek at Ren Xiaosu and realized he was smiling at him.

Ren Xiaosu asked in a whisper, “Aren’t you going to step forward and report me?”

Qian Weining clenched his teeth. “I’ve already pledged my loyalty to you, sir. You don’t have to test me anymore. Let’s leave already….”

“Alright then.” Ren Xiaosu squeezed his way towards the east exit. “Did you bring your Knights of the Inferno ID with you? If you didn’t, we can’t leave.”

“Yes, yes, I brought it!”