"I'm just here to make a living." Verak stopped him quickly, "I'm not a big shot, so there's no need to engage in such a big battle."
"It's okay, I just asked everyone to come over for dinner and get to know each other." Monroe put his arm around Verak's shoulders, his body smelling of alcohol, "It will also make it easier for you to hang out in Manchester City in the future."
Mentioning Manchester City, Verak took advantage of the situation and asked what he was concerned about: "I heard Fisher said that the current situation is not optimistic. What do you think?"
"You must stay!" Monroe said firmly and called Fisher to arrange dinner.
Verak didn't understand why Monroe was so confident to stay, and why he insisted on staying.
"I think people should be equal. Rich people shouldn't have to serve as soldiers, while poor people should have to send their children, husbands, and fathers to the battlefield. Nor should they be hostile to each other and exclude each other..."
Hearing Monroe's explanation, Verak felt a little funny. What qualifications does a gang-like organization have to talk about equality: "But we are a gang, collecting protection fees, and using violent means to solve all problems. What do you think of us?"
Are you not oppressing others?"
"Are you oppressing anyone? For example?"
"The shops in Manchester City are basically paying protection fees to the Sea Rat Gang." Verak gave an example.
Instead, Monroe smiled: "They give money, and we are responsible for protecting them. Everyone gets what they need. What kind of oppression is this? And our violent methods are only used to protect ourselves against the real threats that local gangs and local people inflict on us.
of oppression.”
"So, you feel that all you did was protect yourself and did not harm others."
"Why should I hurt others?" Monroe said, "The Dunman people have always said that we are usurping their public resources, usurping their jobs, saying that we are foreign predators and parasites. But we are also paying taxes.
, why can’t we enjoy the benefits of public resources? We do our own business and have created many jobs for Dunman, why don’t they mention this?”
It’s the word ‘parasite’ again.
Munro represents the outsiders of Dunman, or the Bresci people. Although his words are highly subjective, they are not completely unreasonable.
At least from their point of view, they got things and gave things, and they were not like parasites or vampires that only knew how to plunder the locals, as the locals claimed.
So why did things develop to the current situation? There seems to be an irreconcilable conflict between outsiders and locals.
Obviously we are all human beings and can live a better life together, but we must distinguish ourselves from enemies.
"This matter is very complicated." Verak hopes that he can stand at a higher position, see clearly the crux of the matter, and stop the unnecessary confrontation between civilians on both sides.
"It's very complicated. There are hundreds of thousands of outsiders in the Old South and there are hundreds of thousands and millions of outsiders in Dunman. It's not easy to sort out the matter." Monroe knew the complexity of the matter very well.
"Then have you decided how to stay? Or do you want to wait for the day after tomorrow to discuss it with representatives of outsiders from other countries?" Verak asked.
Monroe had some ideas in his mind, and he shared them with Verak without any scruples: "As long as the government is tough, we should also be tough. Let's see if they dare to keep hundreds of thousands of people in the capital and millions of people across the country.
In the eyes."
"They will definitely not take strong measures. With so many people being pushed to the edge, who knows what will happen." Verak is very confident about this.
"So they boil the frogs in warm water." Monroe knew it well.
"More than that, I think the government will not just watch our major gangs meet and the outsiders become one. Please be more careful about the day after tomorrow, lest they find a reason to kill you all, leaving the outsiders without a leader.
If you are in chaos, you will no longer be a threat." Having dealt with the Bressey government a lot, Verak guessed that the Tunman government should be about the same.
"Thanks for the reminder." Monroe drank some more wine, "Of course we won't meet in a big way the day after tomorrow."
Verak thought for a moment and realized that his words were indeed a bit redundant. If these people could become the leaders of gangs and representatives of outsiders, they must be outstanding and would not be stupid enough to leave risks at such a critical time.
.
"Are you interested in attending this meeting the day after tomorrow?" Monroe held a cigarette in his mouth and looked directly into Verak's eyes.
"Who is going?" Verak also looked directly at Monroe.
"The only ones tentatively decided are me and Fisher."
"You two are the gossips of the Sea Rat Gang. What's wrong with calling me a newcomer?" Verak vaguely felt that this was a test by Monroe, and he was thinking about how to deal with it skillfully.
Monroe has a strong affinity, and when he stared at Verak like this, he didn't feel any hostility: "Who cares whether you are a newcomer or not, and whether you have any status, as long as you are concerned about our safety and have a brain."
"You mean we are the only three people in the huge Sea Rat Gang who have brains?"
"Maybe this is really the case." Monroe said seriously.
"Stop joking."
"Just tell me if you want to come together."
"Do you really want me to come too?" This time it was Verak who asked seriously.
Monroe said "Yeah": "I actually don't like joking."
"No one would refuse the favor of the boss. If you invite me, of course I am willing to go there." Seeing that Monroe really wanted him to go there, Verak agreed directly regardless of whether they had any other thoughts.
"Then let's go over and talk together the day after tomorrow." Monroe stretched.
Verak took advantage of the pause in chat to carefully look at the interior of Mink's Tavern: "Everyone just drinks and chats every day, nothing else?"
"Isn't this good?" Monroe asked, "Just eat, drink and have fun."
"If this means nothing happened to Manchester City, that's good," Verak said.
With that said, the door of the tavern was pushed open, and Fisher walked in with a new group of people. The originally half-empty tavern immediately became full and many times more lively.
"The people are here, I'm going to arrange dinner." Fisher, Monroe and Verak said hello and entered the back door of the tavern.
"Drink well tonight." Monroe stood up and put a hand on Verak's shoulder.
"I'm not a good drinker, so you drink." Today, I sat in the pub for less than an hour and already drank more than ten times. Verak didn't want to eat and drink until he fell unconscious.
Monroe pretended not to hear and asked everyone to be quiet: "Everyone, be quiet. Today we have a new member of the Sea Rat Gang who is very skilled and has a good mind. Let's get to know each other."
Everyone present had basically witnessed and heard about Verak knocking out Hywel in the morning, and seeing how close old Monroe was to him now, they no longer looked at him with disdain or wanted to show off to the newcomer.
"Hello everyone, my name is Most Verak, from Zvod, County Bressie." Verak stood up and introduced himself loudly to the 100th person.
"Don't be stunned, introduce yourself to me one by one." Monroe asked everyone to introduce themselves to Verak, "Dick, you go first."
"My name is Dick. I come from Pusiga City. I have been in Dunman for seven years. I am responsible for running the tavern." The bald man closest to them introduced first.
Then each of the 100 people briefly explained their identity.
Verak kept nodding his head openly, but secretly he didn't remember most of the names.
After they got to know each other, dinner was ready.
"Okay, the welcome party has officially begun! Verak just told me that he is a good drinker. Whoever can drink him down today, I will give 10,000 pounds!" Monroe used money to stimulate his men.
"good!"
The reward of 10,000 pounds made everyone burst into cheers. Each of them was a better drinker than the other, and they rushed to compete with Verak.
Verak knew that he would probably get drunk today, so he said to Monroe with a smile: "If I am really good at drinking, sooner or later I will drink you down one day."
"Okay! I'm looking forward to that day!" Monroe laughed loudly, not taking it too seriously to watch the excitement, and took the initiative to pour wine for Verak.
——
January 30, afternoon
The severe headache from the inside out made Verak frown and groan in pain.
He held his head in his hands to relieve the pain that seemed to be about to explode. He slowly opened his eyes and looked around, and found that he had returned to the Essen Hotel arranged by Monroe.
"hiss……"
After a long time, the pain subsided a little, and Verak, who was thirsty, was able to concentrate on pouring a glass of water to drink.
After drinking the water, Verak thought about what happened yesterday. He probably drank dozens of glasses of wine last night, and he actually knocked down two people.
"You are so powerful and you say you can't drink well?! I have to drink you down today!"
Monroe's words still echoed in my ears.
Verak shook his head slightly and smiled bitterly. After making sure that he didn't talk nonsense when he was drunk yesterday, he went to wash up to make himself more awake.
Then because he almost vomited out the bile after drinking too much last night, he didn't eat this morning or noon. He went out to find a restaurant to eat something casually, and then went to Mink's Tavern to find Monroe.
Sher.
But surprisingly, neither Monroe nor Fisher were in the tavern this afternoon, and the people in the tavern didn't know where they had gone.
With nothing to do, Verak could only wander around Manchester City to pass the time.
At seven o'clock in the evening, he returned to Mink's Tavern. This time Monroe and Fisher were there.
"What did you do this afternoon?" Verak smelled the smell of alcohol in the tavern, and his stomach churned again.
"We went to resolve some disputes. How are you? Are you feeling better?" Monroe and Fisher were still drinking.
"The wound is much better, and the wine is still awake." Verak replied cautiously, for fear that Monroe would ask him to drink again.
Monroe happened to finish a glass of wine, picked up the bottle and shook it in front of Verak: "You really don't want some?"
"Unless you want me to vomit again in front of so many people." Verak said.
"Forget it." Monroe poured himself a glass.
"But your trick is very effective. They all took the initiative to say hello to me when they came to see you in the afternoon, and the relationship has become closer to the naked eye." Although Verak does not like drinking as a means of getting closer, he still cannot deny the benefits it brings.
Effect.
Fisher said: "Drinking to get closer is just a matter of course. They accepted you mainly because you performed very well yesterday and beat Hywell down."
"How about Hywell?" Verak almost forgot about this person.
"I'm awake, but still lying in bed." Fisher smiled.
"Do I need to go see him?" Now that he has been accepted, Verak doesn't mind taking the initiative to resolve the conflict with Hywell.
Monroe was bored and was playing cards: "No need, he will come to you when he gets better. You don't have to worry about any revenge. We all came here at the end of our rope and are struggling to survive here."
.You were the one who knocked him down yesterday, and you might be the one who saves his life tomorrow."
"I understand." After hearing what Monroe said, Verak had a deeper understanding of the situation of outsiders and the atmosphere of the Sea Rat Gang.
"Do you know why you are asked to attend tomorrow's meeting between all parties?" Monroe suddenly mentioned this incident that still makes Verak feel sudden.
"Didn't you say yesterday that you have a brain?" Verak replied.
Monroe laughed and said, "You really think you are smart enough to be the only one with brains in the Sea Rat Gang? You are good at skills and have brains, but this is actually just the foundation. What really made me want to ask you to come with me.
The reason for this is that during our conversation yesterday, I discovered that you are not very selfish, and when you think about problems, you also stand from our overall perspective."
"Because of this?" Verak really didn't expect this to be the reason. His heartfelt performance was uneventful and left a good impression on Monroe.
"Now the Sea Rat Gang, Manchester City, and the entire outsider community are all panic-stricken. After all, it is the government that has intervened. It cannot be settled with just fists in the past. I don't know how many people there are, and I don't dare to think how many people are there.
Secretly preparing a retreat. In short, the most important thing now is that we unite together. If we are not defeated by the government one by one, if we do not fall apart on our own, there will be room for mediation and a chance to reverse things." Monroe said, "So I appreciate you very much.
After learning about the situation, he did not leave immediately, but discussed countermeasures with me."
"Probably because I really don't want to run away anymore." While Verak lied, he also thought about why he behaved like this instinctively.
Is it because I am a Bressi, so I don’t want to see my compatriots expelled and trampled on when they are isolated and helpless?
It shouldn't just be for this.
What's more, the philosophy of the Equality Society affects Verak. He doesn't just don't want to see his compatriots suffer, he doesn't want all civilians to let the powerful influence their lives and live their lives without dignity.
"I'm very good at reading people." Monroe spoke without staring at Verak. This was completely different from staring directly at the test before. It was a signal to release trust. "I know you have your own secrets, but I don't care. As long as you
Just be willing to make suggestions for the people of Manchester City and solve the crisis. The Sea Rat Gang lacks people like you, and the entire outsider group also lacks people like you."
After hearing this, Verak was silent for a long time before saying: "Now that I'm here, I will definitely not sit idly by - regardless of whether I have the ability to change everything."