Chapter 1325: Chapter 1324: Time for Reasoning
"What is happiness?"
This question has no standard answer. You might believe gathering is happiness, but some think that separation is happiness.
Everyone has a different definition of happiness and pain. We cannot simply assume that what makes us happy will definitely make others feel happy too!
A salary increase is definitely not a happy thing for the boss!
In Nagariel, a young man named Akken might find happiness in sitting with his family and watching television.
This is happiness.
The room is filled with various brand-new household appliances. The first thing the people of the Federation did after arriving was to reorganize ordinary people’s housing issues.
They destroyed the "Old Town," which was actually a shantytown, and forced everyone to live in houses.
Initially, people were not quite used to it, but it has gotten better now.
At least a space that seems enclosed can provide families with a lot of sense of security.
The family sits by the television, watching a host they seem to have heard of, talking about work concerning the new laws of the New Federation in Nagariel.
Then there’s drama, a Federation drama.
Fresh things have given this poor family a different enjoyment process. Humans, as animals, seem to have an indescribable transcendent talent.
If a person wants to learn self-discipline and control their desires, it might be difficult.
But to make a person do what they love, to enjoy, does not even need teaching; they know how to make themselves happier.
These things have always existed within people, always there, never lost.
This family, who had never watched a Federation drama at this time before, quickly learned how to properly enjoy the fun brought by television dramas.
The light radiating from the television’s tubes illuminated their faces, and everyone was laughing...
From the beginning when people protested because it was rumored that Saint Sage Master Akumali might have been harmed by assassins hired by Federation people, to people simply looting roadside stores, "falling" is actually just a momentary thing.
Yes, these people killed our spiritual leader; we have to retaliate!
We can’t directly do anything to them, but we can take away their property, make them suffer!
In a week’s time, Akken’s family had some new acquisitions.
During this time, through Akken and his father’s "efforts," they had started to live a pretty good life.
The house was filled with new appliances, and for the first time, they thanked the city planners for leaving them with electrical wires, allowing these appliances in their room to run at least, not just for show.
There were also many new clothes, things they hadn’t even considered before.
But now, they own them!
At night, father and son took a stroll outside and returned empty-handed.
Stores that could be looted had already been looted in the past two days, and some remaining stores had guards.
Especially those stores with Darkstone Security signs, which were guarded by Federation people holding guns.
These people and their weapons weren’t messing around; as soon as someone tried anything, they would pull the trigger without hesitation.
When the first shooting incident happened, it didn’t completely scare off the Nagariel people.
Akken was there at the time, remembering clearly that when one person threw a stone at a very upscale store, a gunshot rang out.
That guy seemed like he had been hit with some witchcraft magic and immediately collapsed on the ground.
Those around didn’t become frightened; instead, they grew angrier, a crowd of people charged towards the store.
In their view, this behavior was like a provocation to the enraged people of Nagariel!
They actually rejected the revenge of the Nagariel people!
Then...
Every time Akken recalled the events of that day, it was like a nightmare.
The Federation people began shooting without hesitation; no one knew how many people from the Federation were there. The gunshots kept coming.
People fell like wheat being harvested, in large numbers. It only took seconds for dozens of bodies to be scattered outside the store!
Blood flowed on the tiles everywhere, terrifying everyone, making them realize that stores with Darkstone Security signs were "forbidden zones!"
In the city, there were not many places left to loot.
At night, the family ate a delicious dinner and gathered again in front of the TV.
This TV had become the family’s treasure; they never imagined that life could be so beautiful, and all they added was a TV!
If a Federation person were here, they would share some tips with these people—
"If you also have a plush sofa, a bag of cheap popcorn filled with butter and sugar, and a can of juice..."
"You will feel a stronger happiness, so much so that everything you suffered in society during the day becomes unimportant at this moment!"
Well, now no one from the Federation is teaching them this, but if they want to figure it out themselves, it probably won’t take too long.
The television started, it was the news.
"...After the Speaker and legislators of the United Parliament unanimously passed the abolition of the Divine Authority laws, they also agreed to trial the new Nagariel New Federation Code."
"Considering some issues currently existing in Nagariel New Federation society, the Ministry of Justice requires intensified efforts to combat criminal activities, particularly serious crimes, in all areas."
"Since most provisions of the new code had already been implemented in the past, this trial only modifies part of the content, so it will retain the right to prosecute all past cases."
"The Ministry of Justice is asking all Nagariel New Federation citizens involved in smashing, looting, and arson activities in society to surrender to the nearest Police Station as soon as possible, to obtain partial exemption from responsibility..."
The family was still having dinner, Aken and his father were discussing this news.
"Do you think anyone would voluntarily tell the police they committed a crime?" Aken’s father asked him.
Aken shook his head, "I don’t know, but at least I wouldn’t do it."
He shook his head with a smile, none of what was said on TV had the slightest deterrent effect on him.
Because Nagariel’s laws have always been this way, Nagariel people never believed that "going to jail or getting punished was because they committed a crime", they didn’t have this perception.
They only believed that "only when God punishes me will I go to jail or be punished", so Aken didn’t think there was anything wrong with his actions.
Now that the Divine Authority laws have been abolished, not even gods can punish him, why should he surrender?
How foolish would that be?
Aken’s father said nothing, and the two continued eating and watching TV, the whole family was laughing at the plot on TV.
When sleeping at night, Aken lay on the floor, looking at the wooden ceiling, thinking.
He wanted to make money well, and in the future, have the chance to take the whole family to the Federation, where they would live a happy and joyful life!
The next day when he woke up, it was already past nine in the morning; they had stayed up late watching TV last night, now they always wake up a bit late every day.
After getting up, he used a stolen toothbrush to deal with oral issues and then walked into the living room somewhat curiously.
What they called the living room was actually just the room with the door leading outside.
Aken’s mother stood outside the door, his sister squatted on the ground playing with those cheap stuffed dolls; he glanced at the table, there was no breakfast.
"I’m hungry," he said.
Aken’s mother returned from outside, looking a bit worried, "Your father wants to eat a pancake, he went to buy it, but he hasn’t come back yet."
Her eyes showed a kind of sorrow as she spoke, hoping Aken would go look for his father because he had been gone for a long time.
But in Nagariel, women’s status is very low; even after the Federation people came and did a lot of work, liberating women’s labor, adult women, especially those with families and children, still didn’t see much positive change in social status.
She couldn’t command the important male members of the family to do anything, it wasn’t allowed!
Aken seemed to perceive what she wanted to express and walked towards the door, "How long has he been gone?"
"An hour..."
"Maybe he’s just chatting with someone; recently he always loves to brag to others about how our life has changed."
"Relax, I’ll go find him," he comforted his mother and then headed towards the door.
Aken carried a bag on his back, inside was a dagger, also stolen, for self-defense if necessary.
The pancake place was only about a ten-minute walk from his house, run by an old man.
He had a great recipe, where pancake soaked thoroughly in beef broth tasted like meat, then cut and mixed with minced beef.
With delicious various vegetables, it was a very popular food around here.
Aken used to have no chance to eat it because he was very poor, even if it was cheap he couldn’t afford it.
Now he often eats it, though.
Just past one intersection, he saw the crossroad ahead crowded with people.
Curious, he began paying attention; someone on the roadside said they were catching some criminal.
Aken recalled the news they watched last night, something gripped his heart tightly.
He took a deep breath, leaned against the wall, and ran forward.
Squeezing into the crowd with effort, he saw the police.
No, not all of them could be called police.
Some were police officers, some were uniformed Federation soldiers, and some were Federation people in Darkstone Security uniforms.
He saw his father, handcuffed, tied with a steel cable, like those beasts people lead at the market.
Aken’s mind buzzed, completely blank.
