Free Web NovelChapter 1188: Chapter 1120: 10.6 Capitol Hill Riot (Double-Length Chapter)
Reverse the time by two hours.
Artisan Street at Longbow Castle.
Dusk, like a water-soaked rag, weighed heavily on the workshops’ square, where people gathered beside the guild chapel at the center of the square.
Helpers, apprentices, and hired laborers, despite the fact that the first two have a place, still stood together with the hired laborers.
And at this moment, what they were most anxiously concerned about was the situation on Parliament Hill.
They had already clearly sided with the Holy Alliance. If the Holy Alliance faction lost, wouldn’t they face retribution?
"What’s happening on Parliament Hill?" A helper in a patched apron rubbed his hands, his voice trembling either from the cold or fear.
"No idea, but neither we nor the farmers are a match for those armies."
This remark was like a pebble tossed into water, immediately triggering a chorus of responses.
As if sensing something, several people in the crowd suddenly exchanged looks.
One of them, an old, crippled helper, muttered in a voice loud enough for those around to hear, "I just saw a steward from one of the oligarchs jotting down names. When the time comes, won’t they just throw us into the river to fill it?"
The alley was silent for a moment, only the creaking sound of the wind blowing against the sign of the blacksmith shop could be heard.
Whether helper or laborer, they all knew that they were no longer neutral.
When the Holy Alliance implemented lunch breaks, raised wages, and banned child labor, they were the first to wave the black-and-red flags in support.
When the Committee for Mutual Devotion secured worker injury compensation for them, they likewise aided each other in proving the injuries.
Now that the Holy Alliance faction and the Falan faction were at a stalemate, they felt like they were standing on the edge of a cliff.
Moving forward means the path offered by the Holy Alliance; retreat means retribution by the oligarchs.
The former is bright, while if resigned to the latter, it’s still a relief.
It’s the prolonged lack of outcome that’s so agonizing.
"Just wait a little longer, maybe the Holy Alliance faction will win..." someone whispered reassuringly, though without any confidence.
Just at this moment, a crisp gunshot suddenly rang out in the distance.
"Bang!"
Then came a wafting scent of blood and torch resin, accompanied by faint shouting.
Even though the sound was indistinct, it caused the helpers and laborers present to crane their necks and peer into the distance in horror.
"Where’s that gunshot from? Is it from Parliament Hill? Are farmers being killed?"
"Not sure, seems like it’s coming from the South City gate..."
Before the discussion was over, a burly craftsman in a gray robe suddenly rushed into the alley.
With a look of panic, he shouted as he ran, "Not good! The Falan faction is going to settle scores with us!
The steward of Gadsa said if the bill passes, all helpers belonging to the Saint Father’s Association will be taken as contract slaves!"
"What?!"
"I knew those dogs were up to no good!"
"Don’t get agitated just yet, it might be rumors."
But before everyone’s anger fully ignited, a drunkard stumbled in.
Holding an empty wine bottle, he shouted, "We’ve won! The Holy Alliance faction has won! The Committee for Mutual Devotion won’t be dissolved! Farmers have rushed into Parliament Hill!"
The helpers’ anger extinguished, bewildered, when suddenly another woman came running over crying.
"Don’t believe it! My man works at Parliament Hill; he says the Holy Alliance faction bowed down and will share power with the Falan faction! Our benefits are gone!"
Seeing the citizen’s confused and agonizing expressions, the hidden Cheka agents exchanged understanding smiles.
In terms of stirring emotions, whether the Secret Party or Horn himself has given them rich teachings.
In summary, it’s all about continuously manipulating emotions.
Raise emotions then break them, and as they falter to the bottom, elevate them again, alternating this way, allowing good news and bad news to swap places.
In these persistent alternations, the psychological defenses of the populace will begin to crumble bit by bit.
They’ll become unbalanced and impulsive, and then a notion will arise within everyone’s minds.
"Regardless of the outcome, please let there be a quick result!"
Uncertainty is the greatest fear, and when fear reaches its peak, it either numbs or drives people insane!
People ran along alleys and streets, recounting the news they heard embellished.
Rumors were like wild grass growing rampantly, spreading across several artisan street districts.
The fear of stalemate felt like the Sword of Damocles hanging overhead, making everyone restless and sleepless.
But none noticed that the few drunkards and the woman had quietly disappeared from sight.
Finally, someone couldn’t stand it anymore and went mad.
"Enough!" someone in the crowd suddenly roared, "Whether winning or losing, let’s go to Parliament Hill and get clarity! We can’t just wait here to be slaughtered!"
"Right! To Parliament Hill!" someone promptly responded, grabbing hammers, chisels, even saws from the ground and charging out of the alley.
Torches lit up the night sky of Longbow Castle, illuminated the stars, and awakened the dreams of guild masters and citizens.
More and more helpers came along, the alleys converging into streets, the streets converging into the main road.
The crowd surged like a murky flood along the streets toward Parliament Hill.
Among the helpers, some were shoved down, climbing back up and running again, while others lost their shoes and sprinted barefoot on the cobbled road.
No matter how disheveled, their goal was unmistakably clear—Parliament Hill!
Not long after, the torch-holding crowd reached the outskirts of Parliament Hill.
They were tattered, pale and thin, yet their presence startled the citizens surrounding and the council members within Parliament Hill.
However, they quickly regained composure, as it wasn’t the first time helpers and laborers had caused trouble.
Their strategy merely involved hosting and appeasing, beheading the leaders, and recruiting the remaining troublemakers as minions.
It didn’t take much time for an elderly Priest, once specialized in mediating labor disputes, to step out.
