The tone of a deity
Princess Sissila made a gesture, and the warrior put down the pole. She walked down and said to Ussir and the others, "I can forgive you if it's just for myself. But you must be punished severely for what you've done. I'd like to give you a chance to turn over a new leaf. It's also a punishment. If you're willing to accept it, I won't send an army to annihilate you. "
Ussir knelt down and answered, "We sincerely repent. We're willing to accept your punishment and teachings, Your Highness."
Princess Sissila stood there, her frail figure exuding an indescribable majesty. She said slowly, "In order to uphold the law of the kingdom, you will be banished from the city of Kish. You will have to leave your villages and burn down your houses and everything in your tribe. You will never commit the same crime again."
This was a harsh condition, but it could not be refused. Even if the giants refused to do it themselves, the army of the city would do it. Ussir answered without hesitation, "All the tribes here will burn down their villages in the mountains and move to a faraway place."
The princess nodded with satisfaction. She pressed one hand on her chest and pointed to the clouds with the other, "In the name of Marduc, you and your people will follow the teachings of the kingdom of Bablon. You will offer sacrifices to the god and pledge loyalty to the kingdom. No matter where you move to, you will build a temple of Marduc at the place where you stay. You will receive guidance from the god. "
Hearing this, everyone next to them was stunned. Building a shrine as a sacrifice to the great Marduc was something no one could refute. However, there was a practical problem in the secular world. No matter which kingdom a temple was built in, it had to be approved by the government and appointed a priest. The priest of the temple was also one of the local governors and had the status of a noble of the kingdom.
Prince Benut was about to interrupt, but Mayor Tich whispered something in his ear. The prince nodded and said nothing more. Ussir had told Tich that he was a second-level mage and that there was a record in the main Marduc shrine in Bablon City. It seemed that it was true. If that was the case, it was in line with the conditions the princess had mentioned. However, the appointment of a priest of the kingdom was a bit unreasonable. How could he get such a reward for kidnapping a princess?
Princess Sissila seemed to be aware of Prince Benut's doubts. She continued, "To build an official shrine and appoint priests, you need the kingdom's approval. This is a reward for you. But do not misunderstand, I have a difficult and dangerous mission for you. If you can complete it, not only will you atone for your sins, but you will also be rewarded by the kingdom. "
Ussir raised his head and said, "May I ask what mission Your Highness wants us to complete? Since my clansmen and I have confessed, we will sincerely accept our punishment and serve you and the kingdom. "
Princess Sissila walked up to Ussir and pushed aside the warriors who tried to block her way. Her bravery was admirable. She took out a scroll wrapped in velvet from her bosom and handed it to Ussir. "The dangerous mission is your punishment. Everything is written in this scroll. You will be forgiven and rewarded after you complete the mission. Take it … Bring your people and burn down the villages before sunrise tomorrow. Leave no one behind."
Ussir respectfully raised his hands above his head to receive the scroll. He then stood up and lowered his head. "Yes, sir!"
He led the giants away, leaving the crowd dumbfounded. Everyone knew that as soon as the princess returned to the city, the army would come to annihilate the giants. But running away on their own was completely different from accepting the princess's punishment. The princess had ordered them to burn down the villages and move before sunrise tomorrow, but the army would not arrive so soon.
This was the majesty of Princess Sissila. She was besieged by the giants, but with her courage and charm, she made the barbarians obey her orders and accept their punishment willingly. This was an achievement worthy of admiration and worship. It was unknown who was the first to start cheering, but soon after, the cheers became one. Everyone was praising the princess.
Peri was very satisfied. This was supposed to be a play. Although it did not go according to plan, the last scene was a success. No one knew what mission Princess Sissila had given to the giants, but it was not appropriate to ask. The crowd escorted the princess back to the town of Arcade.
Princess Sissila and Prince Benut had come to the small town at the same time, and the warriors of the town had become the heroes of the kingdom. This was a glory that had never been seen in Arcade for a hundred years. This day was destined to be a grand festival. People celebrated spontaneously. Excited cheers and songs could be heard in every corner of the town.
More than half of the daily necessities in the town had been collected overnight. If they were not replenished as soon as possible, it would affect the residents' ability to survive the winter. As for the farm tools and livestock, they had to be compensated before spring. Otherwise, it would affect the next year's farming. Princess Sissila generously expressed that she would take care of everything. She immediately sent an envoy to the city of Kish with a list of necessities and returned them to the residents of Arcade.
Although the necessities of the giants were numerous, they were not expensive. They were only worth a few dozen parangons. If they were in a big city, they would be able to purchase them in no time. In addition, Princess Sissila provided the list of all the warriors who had participated in the rescue to the city of Kish. Mayor Tich was promoted to two ranks.
Although Tich was still the mayor, his position was already comparable to that of an official in a city-state. Apart from the lord of the city, each city-state also had its own financial department, archives department, justice department, agriculture department, and other departments to manage the government affairs. The officers of each department were called financial officer, clerk, justice officer, property officer, etc. The deputy officers of each department were at the same level as Tich.
This was just the beginning. With Princess Sissila's appreciation and support, Mayor Tich had a bright future ahead of him.
There were a few heroes in the rescue team who deserved special rewards. Benut and his entourage did not need to be rewarded, as that was the business of the royal family. However, Medanzo and Amon had to be rewarded handsomely.
Tich cleaned up his house for Princess Sissila, and asked the chief priest to clean up his courtyard for Prince Benut's stay. The place where Princess Sissila would meet and reward the two brave warriors was in the shrine of the town, in the side hall with the relief of Goddess Mourrin.
They were called in alone for a cordial audience with Her Highness. First, Amon. After the salute, Princess Sissila gave him a seat. She smiled at him and asked, "My hero, you are Amon, right? May I ask where you are from? The kingdom needs talents like you, and I would like to thank a hero like you. "
In front of Princess Sissila, beside her stood the mage Peri, and behind him was the sculpture of Mourin. Amon felt a little uncomfortable, as if he was being pierced by all kinds of eyes. He bowed and answered, "I'm a hunter from the deep mountains. I practice body arts to catch prey, so I'm used to traversing the wilderness. This time, Mayor Tich recruited me to rescue Her Highness, and the giants were convinced by your majesty. I'm ashamed that I didn't do much. "
Princess Sissila waved her hand, "Don't say that. I wouldn't have come back safe and sound without your protection. What kind of reward do you want? As long as it's within my power, I'll try my best to grant it. "
Peri placed two plates in front of Amon, one with two parangons and the other with forty gold coins. He said calmly, "These are not your reward, but the gratitude of the city. I don't know if it's more convenient for you to use parangons or gold coins. You can take any plate you like."
Amon did not stand on ceremony. After thanking him, he reached out and took the forty gold coins. Peri looked a little confused, but he didn't say anything. Princess Sissila was still looking at him with a smile, "My brave warrior Amon, you haven't told me what you want."
Amon shook his head, "I accepted the mayor's offer of my own free will. I don't need any extra reward from you."
Princess Sissila shook her head, "No, you must accept it."
Peri reminded him, "Amon, this isn't just about you. If you don't accept the princess's gratitude, what will happen to the other warriors? If the princess doesn't thank the brave warrior who saved her, what will the people of the kingdom say? It's about the princess's reputation. You must accept it. "
Princess Sissila smiled, "You don't have to be so strict, Peri. Amon is just a hunter in the mountains. He doesn't know many things." Then he said to Amon with a pleasant expression, "My brave warrior, I sincerely want to thank you. Please tell me, what is it that you want the most in your heart?"
Amon raised his head and looked into her eyes, "Thank you for your generosity, my beautiful princess. If you must, I can tell you. Not long ago, I went to the capital and saw your fiancé, Gilgamesh, entering the city with gifts. He gave you three tendons and twelve tusks of Humbaba. It's said that they are the best weapons for warriors. If I can do more for you in the future, I'd like to receive one tendon and one tusk. "
Peri's face turned angry. This bumpkin warrior's request was too much. He scolded, "That's a gift from the princess's fiancé. How can you ask for it?"
Amon quickly explained, "I don't want the princess to give it to me now. I want to wait until the day I can do more for you in the future. When I can do more for you and earn your gratitude, I hope you will accept my request. Since you have asked, this is what I want. I don't want anything else. "
Princess Sissila stared at Amon blankly for a while. Finally, she waved her hand and smiled, "Peri, don't be angry. He's telling the truth. Amon, I promise you that one day in the future, when you deserve this kind of gratitude for what you have done, I will give you one of Humbaba's tendons and one of his tusks, and I will also explain to Gilgamesh what happened. You may leave now. Let Medanzo come in. "
Amon bowed and was about to leave when the princess called him again, "Amon, I've heard that you're a fifth-level warrior. It's a pity that I didn't get to see you in action. Can you show me?" As she spoke, Peri handed him a short knife. It was an ordinary table knife used to cut meat.
It was rude to use a weapon in front of the princess. It was also offensive to use a weapon without her permission. Amon took the knife and retreated to the door. He swung it sideways. The knife glowed with a faint light and the sound of air exploding came from the void. Then, he quickly put away the knife and carefully placed it back on the table.
Peri nodded with satisfaction, "It's indeed fifth-level body arts. Thank you. You may leave now."
After Amon left, Peri said doubtfully, "It seems that he's not that mage. Body arts and magic can't be practiced at the same level. Even if he has experienced the Second Awakening, he can only learn some low-level auxiliary magic. The one who sent the signal in the mountains that night must be at least a sixth-level mage. Could it be Medanzo? "
Princess Sissila also smiled, "It doesn't look like Amon. Didn't you test him? He took the gold instead of the parangons. That's not the habit of a mage. What an interesting man. He dared to look me in the eye when he spoke, but he didn't feel uncomfortable at all. He asked for the parangons in such a calm manner, just like a god. "
Peri sneered, "He's just a country bumpkin. You don't have to be angry with him, Your Highness."
Princess Sissila smiled, "I'm not angry. I just think he's an interesting man."
When Medanzo came in, Princess Sissila straightforwardly asked him to show off his skills as a fourth-level warrior. Medanzo took the knife, waved it in the air, and handed it back to Peri. When the gold and parangons were served, Medanzo took the parangons without hesitation, for it was more convenient to carry them around.
When Princess Sissila asked him what he wanted most, Medanzo thought for a long while and then knelt down, "To tell you the truth, Your Highness, I am a resident of Bablon City. My great-grandfather was a sixth-level mage in Marduc's Shrine. But over the years, my family has lost its glory. In my generation, we have not only lost our territory and hereditary titles, but also lost our noble status. The last wish of our ancestors is that our descendants can reclaim our family's glory. Please tell me what I should do, Your Highness. "
Princess Sissila looked at Medanzo and smiled happily, "Although I don't have any real power, as a princess of the kingdom, I can bestow upon you the status of a noble. You have made such a great contribution. All you need to do is to inform me when I return to the capital. From now on, you are Lord Medanzo. You can be exempted from taxes. But you will have to wait until I return to the capital to officially become a noble. As for the hereditary titles and territories of your ancestors, it won't be easy to restore them, unless you can make real contributions to the kingdom in the future. "
Medanzo said gratefully, "Yes, I understand. As long as my noble status can be restored, Your Highness, it will be enough. From now on, I will have to rely on myself."
Princess Sissila asked again, "You can follow my caravan back to Bablon City, or you can take the document I signed to the governor of the archives department. I won't be staying in this town for long. I will leave by the city of Kish the day after tomorrow. Brave warrior, will you escort me all the way to the capital? You are the witness of this incident. I wish to bring you back to the capital. "
Medanzo answered, "I am very willing to follow you back to the capital, Your Highness. But I have an appointment with a friend, and we happen to pass by the town of Arcade. I need my friend's permission to leave without permission, or I will be breaking my promise."
Princess Sissila blinked her eyes and said, "Oh, your friend is Amon? Then you can discuss it with him and tell him it is my idea. I will leave the day after tomorrow. You can follow me when you decide. "
When Medanzo was about to leave, Princess Sissila stopped him again and asked, "My lord, how did you meet Amon? And how did you become friends? He claimed to be a hunter in the mountains. How did he meet you? "
Medanzo was a little embarrassed, but he answered cautiously, "I don't mind if you laugh at me, Your Highness. I used to travel to the mountains in the Euphrate Valley, trading with the dwarfs who are good at smelting. I earned some money to support my family. That's where I met Amon."
Peri was interested, "Is Amon a dwarf too?"
Medanzo answered, "No. I was attacked by a wild beast in the mountains and almost lost my life. He happened to pass by and saved me. That's how we met."
Princess Sissila's eyes lit up. She rose to her feet and said, "My lord, if you're on good terms with the dwarves, I have a glorious mission for you. You may even have the chance to restore your family's title and territory."
Medanzo raised his head excitedly, "Yes, I am. I'm sworn friends with the chieftain of a large dwarf tribe. What glorious mission would you like to give me, Your Highness?"
Princess Sissila was not in a hurry to answer. She waved her hand and said, "When you return to the capital, you can come to me directly and tell me your name. It would be even better if you could come with me. … You can leave now and settle your own affairs first. "
After Medanzo left, Peri frowned and said, "It seems that he is not the mage. He is indeed a fourth-level warrior. Someone is spying on us in the dark. We must be careful and return to the capital as soon as possible. Your plan is beneficial to the kingdom. Don't worry about the King finding out about it. But before the plan is carried out, your political enemies must not know about it. "
Princess Sissila nodded solemnly, "Maybe he's a court mage sent by the king to protect me in secret. He's both a guard and a supervisor. Pay attention to him and see if you can find him. We'll pretend we don't know anything for now."
Peri asked again, "You sent Ussir to lead the giants to carry out the plan. Are you also planning to use this Medanzo to mobilize the dwarfs? We've just met him. I'm not sure if he's reliable. "
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