Extraordinary Voyage-Chapter 781 - 672 [Secret Association · Eye of Wealth]

Chapter 781: Chapter 672 [Secret Association · Eye of Wealth]

"I just happened to remember clearing out the spoils from those Silver Knights in the Two-dimensional World, thinking that since they could reach the fifth level, each of them should have gained something worthwhile, no matter how weak they might be.

Then I found this, and it seems to be quite effective indeed."

Aiven explained as he pulled an oval-shaped black seed from the pocket of his loose-fitting home clothes and casually tossed it into the freshly dug hole in the ground.

Pa—!

The shell cracked open, and the seed quickly took root and sprouted. In no time at all, it grew into a lush, towering tree over ten meters tall, its branches and leaves dense, and its white flowers as pure as snow. The gentle breeze carried the fragrant scent of flowers throughout half of the courtyard.

In nature, many plants have antiseptic or insecticidal properties to protect themselves, but this, called the ’Tree of Rest,’ is actually a kind of lower-level demonized plant akin to a wild Jasmine and possesses an extraordinary ability — Absolute Spirit.

Not just getting close, but merely inhaling the fragrance of the flowers can ’kill’ weak nascent spirit bodies much like antiseptics kill germs. More accurately, it accelerates their disintegration, rapidly returning them to the Sea of World Consciousness, leaving them no time to absorb the dissipated Spiritual Origin for growth.

However, it is very beneficial for living creatures, calming agitation, soothing the mind, and aiding sleep.

"Sigh, today the Hurons, Sioux... these aboriginals living in the core areas are being forced to leave their homes. And tomorrow, as the Spirit Tide intensifies, more places on the New Continent will become hunting grounds for ghosts and even Evil Spirits.

The living space for humans and the Material World’s creatures will also become increasingly smaller. Thinking about this future... it pains me!

But as long as we cut off the source, we can prevent the Spirit Tide from continuing to expand, and restore peace and harmony to the countless living beings that inhabit this continent!"

Standing under a snow-white wild Jasmine tree, the impeccably presentable Aiven placed a hand on his chest and spoke these words with a deeply compassionate expression.

The most audacious part was that he even used his ’Saint’ ability to add a halo effect around his head. Anyone who didn’t bow in reverence would be doing a disservice to this special effect.

The two girls, however, weren’t swayed by his act at all.

"Tch~"

Olivia, wearing a light red dress, made a little jump, and very unladylike, she hooked her fair arm around Aiven’s neck, interrupting his pretense, and leaned cheek-to-cheek with a mischievous grin:

"Hehe, be honest, did you really just discover this?"

Find it neither early nor late, just after assimilating over ten thousand Hurons, you bring out such a treasure. Only a fool would believe this guy’s nonsense.

Carefully glancing around, Aiven put a finger to his lips:

Shhh—!

"Hehehe..."

"Hehehe..."

Olivia and Angie exchanged a glance, their eyes curving like two little foxes that had eaten sweet grapes as they covered their mouths and giggled softly. In their hearts, they wholeheartedly agreed with Aiven’s actions. Although their relationship with the Hurons was pretty good, they wouldn’t get involved in a losing business deal!

Looking at the two girls who were even more stunning than flowers, Aiven’s lips couldn’t help but curl up slightly.

Starting from now, by planting this ornamental tree on a large scale, they could prevent the birth of weak spirit bodies, effectively curbing the continuous expansion of the Spirit Tide from the source.

Perhaps it won’t even take decades before the demigod divine position on the New Continent is decided, and the disastrous Spirit Tide will come to an end.

And they... by then, all they would need to do is be responsible for harvesting the Spiritual Origin. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

...

Across the sea.

Since spring of the Sea Origin Calendar year 186, when Philip II completed his marriage alliance and was crowned Emperor, three years have passed since the Zealous religious reform in the Hilus Empire.

Of course, the so-called religious ’reform’ is just a polite term.

Because there’s only one way to reform, and that is—kill! As long as you cleanse your own territory of heretics, the reform will be naturally complete.

In these past three plus years, the sharp confrontation between the old and new religions of the Eternal Flame, combined with the blended faiths of the Primordial God Tirentius in the former Holy Rosar Empire, has resulted in bloodshed and chaos.

Philip II established the Flame Court and issued the Bloody Decree. The traditional Eternal Flame sect set up the Inquisition, and both parties waged extremely brutal persecution across the vast territories of the Hilus Empire and the entire sphere of influence of the Eternal Flame belief.

Truth be told, in the eyes of many believers of the Eternal Flame, the ghost-ridden New Continent might be seen as a divine Eden of sorts.

Because, in under four short years, the death toll on both sides due to religious persecution has already exceeded one million! Surpassing even the class conflicts that once occurred in Ilya.

It must be known that in the current Hilus Empire, including all the territories it continuously conquered over two hundred years, the total population barely exceeds fifty million, and the pure-blooded original Hilus population on the Alfonso Peninsula is less than ten million.

All of this can only be described as horrific!

Among them, the Frisia Kingdom, where most people worship the non-personal God, the Primordial God Tirentius, is the most heavily affected by the faith conflict.

And these Frisians, renowned for their business acumen, not only endure continuous attacks from the Eternal Flame’s Inquisition but also shoulder more than half of the massive Empire’s heavy tax burden.

Under the intertwining pressures from internal and external sources, certain clandestine changes have already begun to quietly unfold on this land.

As for whether the wheels of history have begun to turn? No one knows for sure for the time being...

Frisia Kingdom, Antwerp City.

In a certain hidden and luxurious venue, the bright whale oil candles illuminate the room, and a spirited speech continuously reverberates inside.

"What about the ’Eternal Flame’? What about the ’Tinder Sect’? What about the ’Primordial God’ Tirentius? In reality, there is only one belief in the world, and that is money!!!"

William Orange, the chairman of the Netherlands Bank Group Executive Committee, stood at the podium, looking at the well-dressed gentlemen and ladies below, clenched his fists tightly, almost shouting out the voice that had been repressed in his heart for a long time:

"Gentlemen! When money speaks, truth has to remain silent!"

"The future of the world belongs to the ’Eye of Wealth’!"

At this moment, the influential commercial magnates from the Kingdom of Frisia and many surrounding countries were also infected by his words, and they all stood up to give him the warmest applause.

Clap clap clap...

"Well said, the future of the world belongs to the ’Eye of Wealth’!"

"The future of the world belongs to the ’Eye of Wealth’!"

Half an hour later, club members attending the meeting had already left in batches for safety reasons, as no one dared to linger under the current grim circumstances.

William Orange watched the last guest leave and murmured to himself:

"With this step forward, we have no chance to retreat anymore. Just waiting for... the weakest moment of Hilus."

The candlelight flickered.

On the wall behind him, an eye of pure gold was encircled by a pair of compasses with legs spread and an open upward square, which was the emblem and code name of the secret society—’Eye of Wealth.’

It was also a powerful financial system spanning many nations, formed by a union of super capitalists with banking as a link.

And their union was clearly not for the sake of fostering relations but to tell the rulers with the wealth in their hands: No!

In this ’Eye of Wealth’ secret society, which gathered the major asset holders of the Kingdom of Frisia and many surrounding countries, not everyone was necessarily a follower of the ’Master of Gold,’ but they were all believers in gold.

Everyone sincerely agreed that "the bustling world is all for profit, and the bustling world is all for gain," and even more believed that "money" is the greatest power in the world!

However, the asset class is currently at a distinct disadvantage in terms of military strength compared to the inherent royal authority class, even with the help of the ’Wealth Church.’

To fight against the royal autocracy that holds violence, and replicate [Capital] like fission across nations, another stronger, simpler, and more efficient system must be found and then forcefully push the trend.

Harness the power of the trend to rapidly grow oneself!

Although not everyone has Aiven’s insight beyond the times, there are born tide riders in the torrent of the era, and the 40-year-old Mr. William Orange, who took charge of the Netherlands Bank Group, is clearly one of the outstanding ones.

What happens if you can’t mass-produce that many Titled Knights?

Then gather the crowd, you have the ’Tyrant’ I have the ’Mob’!

An ancient system blossomed anew: ’Democracy,’ ’personal freedom, rights equality,’ this time it is not merely talking like Ilya but truly implementing it.

The theoretical foundation is very beautiful: ’natural rights’ and separation of powers.

In the increasingly prosperous modern era of private ownership, the vast populace can of course voluntarily relinquish power, establish contracts, and form a state to protect their lives, freedom, and property.

But sovereignty belongs to everyone, and if the state’s representative violates the contract, the people can overthrow it, further deriving the principle of ’sovereignty of the people,’ which is ’democracy’!

And ’democracy’ in essence is the will of the majority, or directly satisfying the private desires of the majority, in line with ’money first,’ which is exactly what the super capitalists need.

Once adapted to this system, ’It’s so good to be a parasite!’ ’No one can make me go back to the past!’ will become the people’s voice. Then, they will become the pioneers against royal autocracy, whether providing belief or driving the trend they are excellent carriers.

On the surface, everyone has a sacred vote to choose their favored democratic leader, thereby deciding the country’s destiny. And for votes, democratic leaders, after assuming power, naturally need to desperately improve national welfare and seek benefits for every voter.

It’s simply a winning model for everyone from all sides! Only the feudal royal authority loses.

But is this really the case?

The answer is clearly negative.

First, democratic leaders have no countermeasures against public opinion, nor can they prevent openly opposing political enemies, relying firmly only on the asset class holding the capital behind them.

Second, while emphasizing everyone’s responsibility to the state, the flip side is no one is responsible. A one-person-one-vote system is easiest to exploit, then divide and bribe.

Lastly, the country is highly susceptible to populism, truly elite opinions get ignored and drowned in overwhelming public opinion. Large groups of ignorant people are easiest for those in power to control, and the tool of public opinion necessarily becomes a weapon.

In an egalitarian system, a lazy loafer and a diligent worker ironically have the same decision-making power over the nation’s future? Ridiculous, aren’t they fools?

Naive!

The ’Eye of Wealth’ does not want [royal authority] nor a strong state, they just want money, and [capital] is always strengthening.

Under their rules, wealth is the greatest power!

The beautiful external beast named ’democracy’ is [capital]’s strongest weapon to devour the world.

It is indeed with this theory basis and political system tailored for [capital] that William Orange has directly been initiated as a ’Saint’ by the True God, to become the ’God of Capital and Wealth.’

The ’God of Black Wings’ will gain this tailored political system, and as long as it gets the support and sincere endorsement of the most vibrant part of this world’s capital, the time to coalesce the [Capital Divine Position] will not be long.

This alliance of the super capitalists, the ’Eye of Wealth,’ might indeed be able to fundamentally devour an entire world.