063, Aesop's Fable

There was nothing to say all the way, and at dusk, we came to the place where Siou's caravan was attacked. The camel was tied to the car. Not far away, there were horses running scattered. More than ten corpses were undulating among the dunes, including several bodyguards with weapons. Yelang and the others killed so many people, which was indeed extremely fierce. Perhaps because the caravan was not large, Yelang did not lead a large group of troops, but unfortunately bumped into Amon.

Amon ordered Aesop to stop the carriage and sighed, "What a unfortunate experience. If you can't bring all their bodies back this time, then you will be buried first."

That night, the victims were buried and took the camels and horses away, but another car was left behind. Amon split the car into many long strips and inserted it on the dune where the corpse was buried like a grove, leaving a identifiable mark. When he and Aesop did all this, Sio was watching from the side, not wanting to destroy a car, but he didn't stop it.

Amon made a very strange discovery. The ability he gained from the underworld did not disappear. He could sense the emotional changes such as the joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness of the master and servant, but he had to enter a state of deep meditation. What's going on? Could it be that he "bringed out" this special ability from the underworld, or that some ability he originally possessed happened to be awakened?

If there is, there is, Amon didn't think much about it. The various magical techniques he practiced are incredible magical powers for ordinary people, and it is better to have more than one.

This time, Sio was transporting goods to Uruk City State. He didn't bring much stuff on his way back, and he was selling the recovered cash with him, so Ye Lang chased him closely. He had a bulging purse in his arms, and he had carefully never taken it out all the way, and even held his arms when he was sleeping.

In the early morning of the next day, the three of them continued to set off, with a carriage with a tent, and they could change horses all the way, which was indeed much more convenient and comfortable. At noon, Amon carried Schrödinger into his arms, took out a water bag and fed it water, and dripped his lips and gently moistened it. His movements were as gentle as feeding a baby.

Sio said without saying a word: "You must be a Eju. Only our Eju people will love cats so much. Cats are symbols of gods and are worshipped and loved. I have several cats in my family. If you like it, I can give you the best, and it can catch mice!"

Amon smiled and shook his head: "You keep it yourself, how can I take away the benefits? This cat is not a pet, it is my friend, and I have been sick recently." Then he asked a question that made Sio very nervous: "How much did you bring this time to the target of the robber?"

Sio subconsciously hugged her arms with both hands, shrank back and replied, "Not many, it's just worth more than ten divine stones."

There are more than ten divine stones, only a few hundred gold coins, but Amon knew that he was lying. Even if he didn't need to detect divine magic to spy on anything, he could tell from Siou's reaction and tone that the merchant was not telling the truth. In fact, Siou's money on him exceeded twenty-five divine stones. In desperation, he made the same promise as a robber yesterday and paid Amon three times the reward. Then at least seventy-five divine stones are huge money that ordinary people can't imagine!

When he came to his senses, how could Sio not have a pain in his flesh? So he spoke in a big ambush. He was worried that Amon would see through something or have to check his wallet. Fortunately, Amon just asked casually and had no intention of exploring it. Sio then breathed a sigh of relief and felt that his back was sweating.

Siou's reaction was clear and he couldn't help but feel a little funny. Siou was just saving people, and he didn't want to ask for the huge reward, nor did he want to blackmail the businessman. He was just teasing Siou. This man was timid and stingy, and always sweating was very fun. Most of the men in Duke Town were burly and strong, and rarely encountered such people.

At this time, Amon had just turned sixteen and looked very mature, but he still had the heart of a young man. Amon's next move surprised Sio again. He took out an exquisite copper bottle from his leather pocket, opened the stopper, held the cat with one hand, and handed the bottle mouth to the cat's mouth with the other, feeding it little by little.

The tempting aroma of wine floated in the carriage, and even the driver Aesop in front of me couldn't help but sniff deeply. This was obviously a fine wine. Amon bought this bottle of wine in Sumer town, and was originally prepared for Schrödinger. He bought two bottles at that time and left after drinking one. The remaining bottle of wine Amon never moved, and kept it in his pocket waiting for Schrödinger to come back and continue drinking.

There was no wine in the carriage, and Sio, who had just been rushing to the desert, was also a little greedy. She licked her lips and said in surprise and pity: "You actually use such a good wine to feed the cat!"

Amon explained: "This cat is my friend, and I know it likes drinking, the better it likes it."

Sio: "We are friends, too."

Amon raised his eyes and looked at him: "I saved you. Are you heartbroken about the huge reward you are about to pay? Are you complaining in your heart that I feed the cat with fine wine but didn't invite you to drink?"

The child Amon spoke so directly, as if he could see through Siou's little thoughts at a glance. Siou avoided his eyes and dared not look at Amon, and replied in a panic: "No, of course not! As soon as I arrive at the Cape City State, I will pay you thirty divine stones. Thank you for not having time!"

Amon smiled, knowing that his words just now were a bit cramped, which made Siou very uneasy. He lowered his head and continued to feed the cat. Schrödinger seemed not really unconscious, he was too lazy to move or open his eyes. When the wine was handed to his lips, it actually stretched out its pink tongue and licked its lips, looking very enjoyable. He drank half a bottle of wine before burping slightly, and then drilled his head into Amon's arms and rubbed it, as if he was asleep.

It was the first time Amon saw the cat moving in two days. It seemed that it was recovering and couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. He took the remaining half bottle of wine back into his skin pocket and kept it for Schrödinger to continue drinking tomorrow. Since Schrödinger can drink, he can also feed some broth tonight.

At dusk, Amon ordered the carriage to stop and rest. He got out of the car and placed a pot of fragrant meat soup among the dunes. After drying it, he carried the cat over and fed it a little. Schrödinger ate not much, but he also drank half a pot with his eyes closed, and then fell asleep. This time, Amon was not stingy and made a full pot of thick meat soup, and asked Sio and Aesop, the driver.

Aesop was a slave and could not sit with them and eat with them. After Amon and Siou had finished eating, he would have ate it with great gratitude. The meat soup made by Amon was much more delicious than the dry food brought by the caravan, and Siou also ate with relish and praise it. It may not be as good as the food in the city-state, but how could you eat better things in the desert?

It was already dark after meals, and the starry sky in the desert was particularly beautiful and bright. Amon found a gentle dune, sat down quietly and began to practice divine arts and meditation again. After experiencing so many things these days, even though he had walked in the underworld, he had never stopped practicing basic divine arts and meditation in practice for a day.

When it was dawn in the early morning, I continued to set off for the road. Sio looked curious at Amon and asked carefully: "My benefactor, are you a magician?"

Amon asked calmly: "Why do you ask that?"

Siou explained: "I saw you sitting upright under the starry sky in the middle of the night. Only the noble magician would meditate like this, so I took the initiative to ask. If you are a magician, please forgive Siou's offense and rudeness."

Amon shook his head and said, "No, I'm not a magician."

At this time, Aesop sat on the shaft of the car and explained: "Master, in my hometown and more distant places, many people like to meditate like this, think about life, exist and other profound problems. They are not magicians... Sometimes I also like to sit under the stars, feel everything with my heart, and think about the various stories of the world."

His words saved Amon, and there was no need to explain more. They also met other caravans coming and going. After a few days of trekking, the dunes gradually disappeared into the Gobi, and shrubs and weeds grew on the Gobi, and finally arrived at the border of the cape city-state of the Eju Empire.

Amon wanted to take out the clearance document, but unexpectedly, entering Eju was smoother than originally thought. Sio had been on this business road many times, and was very familiar with the tax collectors and soldiers guarding the checkpoints. He paid the fee and entered directly. Aesop was his slave, and Amon was his bodyguard. He said hello and entered the country without undergoing the inspection. The prepared documents were useless.

After entering the country, Sio said to Amon in a little embarrassed manner: "This place is already within the territory of Eju, but I will not have a business name when I go to Cape City, and I can pay you the reward there." The implication is that I hope Amon will continue to escort him until I reach the main city of Cape City.

Amon smiled and said, "It just so happens that I'm going to go to Cape Town, and continue walking together. I heard that you plan to go back to Meng Feisi directly. I want to do something in Cape Town, and we'll break up there."

There is still a long way from the border checkpoint to the main city. The official road along the way passes through many villages and towns. The largest town is a port near the sea to the north. There are tens of thousands of residents, which looks very prosperous, just like a small city-state. Sio explained to Amon that since the land transportation with the Syrian city-state of Hati Kingdom was cut off by floods, trade and trade between the two city-states have relied on sea transportation, so this port town has become prosperous.

However, the entire city-state's commerce has been affected, and most of the three important trade roads have been lost.

The sea transportation transaction between the Eju Empire and the Kingdom of Hati is more convenient to depart at the various ports of the city-state of Mengfeis at the mouth of the Ronnie God River, and there is no need to go to the Cape City-state. The Cape City-state is currently a transit station for goods trade between the Barron Kingdom and the Kingdom of Hati, and the land transportation between the Eju Empire and the Kingdom of Barron still needs to pass through the Cape City-state.

A few days later, they finally entered Cape City, and Amon witnessed the prosperity of this city-state with his own eyes. He has been to the capital of Barron. If he said it was prosperous, he would certainly have seen everything, but the people in different places are different. Most of the Cape City-states are barren, and the agricultural and animal husbandry products are not rich, but the trade is quite developed. Therefore, there are countless shops and shops in the city-state, where you can see specialties, food, wine, and performing artists from various countries in the streets and alleys, which is dazzling.

This is a city-state full of vitality, with a very lifelike atmosphere in the chaos. Walking through the streets and alleys here, smelling the atmosphere of various delicacies, looking at the dazzling array of goods, and those who enjoy fine wine and food, enjoying artists' performances, or are bargaining, have a sense of vividness.

If there is a person who is tired of worldly life and wants to commit suicide, he should take him to such a place for a walk, take a walk, feel and feel, which may very likely dispel the idea of ​​seeking death. Amon, who just escaped from the gloomy underworld not long ago, came here very well. He has a tough temperament, but for a teenager, what he has experienced is a bit too heavy. He needs to relax in such a place, which should be at a lively and cheerful age.

Sio was very proud of his life-saving benefactor. Not only did he arrange an inn for Amon, but he also asked Aesop to take Aesop to play in the city-state for two days to go to various lively places. Although Aesop was a slave, he had a lot of experiences and had endless stories to tell. It was interesting to have him as a guide.

On the third day, Sio asked Amon to come to the shop he opened in the Cape City State, and asked Humbert, the shopkeeper, to order thirty divine stones in person, put them on the counter and said, "My benefactor, this is the reward I paid to you. Please don't be polite, you must accept it."

Sio's expression and tone were as sincere as possible, but Amon could feel his body tense a little tight, just like he was trying to get back and forth with force, and his heart felt like he was being held tight. - no matter who took out such a large amount of wealth, he would feel distressed.

Amon didn't want to make things difficult for him, so why did he save someone and make a grudge? He waved his hand and said in a calm and firm tone: "Xio, you should be glad that you are still alive, so you can continue to enjoy these, but don't forget that the bodyguards you hired and those guys are dead. I only took ten of these divine stones, thank you for your repayment! The remaining money will be used as a pension for the families of the deceased."

Xio's tears were almost shed when she heard this. She stepped forward and grabbed Amon's arm and said, "Thank you, my benefactor! If you have time to pass by Meng Feisi, please be sure to visit my mansion. I will give you the best hospitality!"

Aesop was also very moved. He picked up ten divine stones from the counter, knelt on the ground and handed them to Amon and said, "This hero, I thank you for your bravery, integrity, generosity and kindness for those unfortunate people!"

Amon took the divine stone and put it in his pocket. Aesop was excited but forgot something. The laws of the Aju Empire also stipulated that the slave's hands should not touch the divine stone. If they violated it once, a finger would be cut off. He picked up ten divine stones at the same time!

Without anyone realizing it, Humbert, the shopkeeper of the shop, suddenly shouted: "Master Sio, the slave Aesop touched ten divine stones, which is a serious violation of the imperial decree!... He relied on his eloquence and had said things that exceeded the rules many times and did things that exceeded the rules, which is intolerable!"

No one expected that something like this suddenly happened in this seemingly touching scene. Humbert's voice was very loud and all the guys heard it, while Aesop's face turned pale, but he bit his lips and didn't say anything. Amon was shocked and looked at the slave and suddenly remembered the scene when he was questioned by Priest Xiao Gu in Duke Town.

Sio was obviously angry in his heart, and was very dissatisfied with Schubert saying Aesop's fault loudly, pretending not to see it, wouldn't it be over? Aesop is a very capable slave, good-speaking and knowledgeable, and is highly valued by Sio. If Aesop hadn't reacted quickly this time, he would have driven him to escape to the depths of the desert in time, Sio would have died at this time.

But in full view of everyone, everyone saw it, Humbert said it loudly, and Sio was not good at blatantly violating the imperial decree.

Amon glanced at Humbert and found that the shopkeeper of the shop looked at Aesop, and he was clearly angry and hatred, as well as gloating. Why is this? This mentality may not be difficult to understand, just like Xiao Gu wanted to punish the innocent Amon, out of a deep jealousy from the bottom of his heart.

Sio suffered a lot this time. Although it was all the money of this master, it was also the loss of the shops in Cape City State when it was kept. The thirty divine stones just now were taken from the shops here. As a slave, Aesop has been increasingly valued by the master in recent years, and his status is even higher than that of the shopkeeper. Humbert has long disliked him, and Aesop has mocked him several times.

This time Aesop saved the master again, wouldn’t he be even more restless in the future? Humbert happened to catch him at a mistake, and of course he had to mess with him!

Sio was embarrassed in front of the clerk and looked at Amon with help and said, "Benefactor, what should this slave do?" He clearly didn't want to cut Aesop's fingers, otherwise there was no need to ask more. Slaves are also his wealth. Abolishing a slave, especially the most capable slave, is also a loss, and he can't bear to leave it alone.

Amon asked himself that there was no such eloquence as Aristotle, and the situation was completely different, so he asked Aesop with a pleasant look: "What kind of reason do you need to leave your finger?" He wanted to hear how the slave defended himself? If it really didn't work, he would spend a lot of money to buy the slave and take it away on the spot, so as to save him any more verbose.

Aesop knelt on the ground and raised his head, trying to calm his voice and not tremble: "Master Sio, this hero, the imperial decree does stipulate that the slave's hands cannot touch the divine stone, but the empire also has another decree. Slaves belong to the master's property. As long as there is no dispute with others, how to deal with it and when it is disposed of is decided by the master."

Siou nodded and said, "Yes, it's up to me to deal with it, but I can't violate the imperial decree. Everyone has seen you touch the divine stone. Amon asked you what reason you need to leave your fingers, can you tell me a legitimate reason?"
Chapter completed!