After breakfast, Howard left home and walked along the rugged road to the tree-shaded hill.
When he was an ignorant child, he often sneaked here and played hide and seek with his younger brothers and sisters, as well as several children of the Federman family.
At that time, he ate very little, was thin and small, and was as light as a monkey. He could climb up the tree in a few clicks, climb very high, and hide his whole body in the dense canopy, letting his friends
Can't find it.
However, at this moment, the laughter of children in the past is no longer in this forest.
There was silence.
Howard stood in the middle of the road with his hands behind his back.
Just now, as he walked all the way here, he struggled in his heart countless times. Indignation, hesitation, hesitation, fear, and various emotions appeared alternately in his mind, making him stop and go, and his steps were fast and slow.
.
He remembered that Allen had said to him more than once: "Howard, sometimes you are just too kind, and you can't stand the suffering of others, and you can't see the dark side of the world. Do you know? You will be very tired living like this.
.
"The existence of anything must have a reason for its existence. It is difficult to change all this by yourself."
Howard knew what he said was right.
Because that day, they saw an orphan begging at the door of the Wizard's Tower. Howard felt pity and gave the orphan a ten-pound note. In Howard's opinion, this money was a huge sum of money, enough to
He found a good school and paid tuition for six years.
But the next day, the orphan once again appeared outside the wizard's tower in ragged clothes, claiming that he had lost all ten pounds in the casino, and hoped that Howard would give him another sum of money to help him go to school.
Hearing his words, Howard looked stunned, while Allen showed a joking smile on his face, teasing him: "Howard, do you think every child from a poor family is as diligent and studious as you?"
"Why?" Howard was puzzled by this at first, "Don't he want to live a better life?"
"Of course he wants to," Allen said with a meaningful smile, "but he doesn't want to work hard, he just wants to have pie in the sky. If you give him more money, it will only hurt him."
"Then what should I do?" Howard asked humbly, "What should I do to help a poor kid like him?"
Allen pointed to his eyebrows and replied: "You have to change the deep-rooted ideas in his mind. Of course, this is an almost impossible thing.
"My father once ran several charity schools in the territory, which were open to poor children free of charge and provided with room and board. Looking across the country, these conditions are extremely generous.
“But very few people signed up.
"This surprised my father.
"The reason is that I found out that the parents of those children would rather send their children to work as child labor in factories to make money than to let them go to school. They think it is a waste of time."
Howard sighed and was very fortunate that although his mother was poor, she attached great importance to his going to school and instilled in him the concept of "finding a way to enter the upper class" from an early age.
Although today it seems that this concept is ridiculously naive, it was the spiritual support for Howard's diligent study.
"Then how should such a problem be solved?" Howard continued to ask humbly.
"When you become the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Braden, or the Archbishop of the Church of Light, standing at the top of the pyramid of the entire kingdom, with a group of subordinates who can command you, and a group of executioners who are willing to shed blood for you. When then, you
You can pick up the scalpel and try to sort out the context of this kingdom and cure its diseases." Allen said with a smile.
After hearing this, Howard sighed helplessly, feeling that this was too far away for him, and he might not be able to realize it in his lifetime.
So, from that day on, he tried to "reconcile with himself" as Allen said, making himself more confused and happier.
Until today.
When he discovered the plight of his neighbors in his hometown, he realized that it was impossible for him to remain indifferent.
What he has seen so far is just the tip of the iceberg.
Outside his hometown, there are thousands of people suffering from the same torture.
Howard laughed to himself.
He understands that, just as the "Father of Steam" Mr. Walder said to him during the admissions examination of the Mage Tower, he is a naive idealist; otherwise, he would not use "the "Storm" containing light elements and dark elements.
"Magic Box of Elements", designed a "light that never goes out", and is eager to use it to illuminate thousands of poor children who cannot afford kerosene lamps.
And he also knew very well that he did not have Allen's vision, and it was difficult for him to stay rational like Allen at all times.
But he didn't want to go against his true intentions.
So at this moment, he chose to be alone and stand in the middle of the road.
The cool breeze rustled the leaves and ruffled his chestnut hair.
He looked ahead calmly.
Accompanied by the sound of horse hoofbeats, a group of cavalry appeared in his field of vision.
The leading priest rides a tall horse, wears white clothes, and holds the "Lighting Scripture" in his hand. He looks majestic and majestic, like a messenger from heaven to the world.
Behind him were a dozen cavalrymen wearing silver armor. Under the blazing sun, the weapons on their hands reflected dazzling light.
"Sir, please give way and don't block me in the middle of the road." When he arrived in front of Howard, the leading priest reined in his mount in time and said to him, "My name is Eliza, I am from Alexandria Church.
The priest who presides over the affairs is responsible for the collection of taxes in the town of Colne by order of Archbishop Nerga.
"If this work is delayed because of you, you can't afford it."
Howard raised his head and asked him sincerely and politely: "Father Eliza, I don't want to delay you, but I just want to ask, have you done any detailed surveys on the wealthy people in this town before?
"
Perhaps because of a guilty conscience, Father Eliza's face immediately turned gloomy after hearing Howard's words: "Boy, this matter has nothing to do with you. If you don't want to be recorded as 'disrespecting God and disrespecting clergy'
If you are guilty of the crime, you better get out of my way."
"Father Eliza, I don't mean any disrespect to God," Howard continued politely but stubbornly, "I just want a promise from you. I hope you can only levy taxes on people with income as the law says."
, without involving other people.
"As long as you agree, I will give way immediately."