A mage's journey begins with a battle mage.

Chapter 273 Welcome Performance

Following Andonev, Jiang Shuzhou and others entered the Alliance of Saints.

Upon entering the Alliance of Saints, Jiang Shuzhou frowned immediately.

The elements were filled with inertia, and the ever-flowing network of elements that he was accustomed to became a magic network.

Fortunately, Jiang Shuzhou and the others all knew how to cast spells offline. Even though they were restricted by the magic net, they could still release spells, although the magic power and mental energy required increased significantly.

In the game "Magic Net Mage," the magic net is like a fish out of water; it will die sooner or later.

Jiang Shuzhou and the others are evolved humans who can swim in the water, but they find it very uncomfortable.

No wonder the Mage Alliance burned all the remaining magic nets.

This feeling of being restricted is so uncomfortable.

It took Jiang Shuzhou a long time to adjust himself before he was finally in a good state.

He could sense that he could access the magic network and use it to cast spells, but Jiang Shuzhou had no intention of doing so.

I don't know if this thing has any hidden features. Besides, don't use such a stupid tool; it'll make you stupid.

Taking a few deep breaths, Jiang Shuzhou suppressed his discomfort and looked around, almost bursting out laughing.

Golden wheat swayed in the wind, forming waves, as strong old farmers wielded their sickles to harvest the crops.

It looks perfectly normal.

But the old farmers Jiang Shuzhou saw were so strong they could participate in bodybuilding competitions, and Jiang Shuzhou didn't believe that this was possible without technology.

Of course, that's not the point. The point is that these muscular men were actually pretending to be farmers harvesting wheat.

Is this a normal person?

"Bishop Andonev, what is this?"

"These are the followers of our Mother Earth Goddess. They are reaping the blessings of the Mother Goddess. Judging from the growth, this year will be another bumper harvest."

"Then your farmers are eating quite well."

Looking at the farmers, who were as strong as oxen, Jiang Shuzhou was speechless. These people couldn't even act properly. Who would use these guys, who were obviously elite soldiers, to farm?

Do you really think I'm stupid?

"Doesn't this happen in the Mage Alliance?"

Andonev was very curious.

"Yes, but the farmers in our area aren't as robust as those here."

Jiang Shuzhou responded with high emotional intelligence.

Andonev fell silent upon hearing this. Who on earth came up with this idea?

It's one thing to do some image-building projects, but why choose such outrageous people?

"Ahem, it's normal for our farmers to be a bit robust, blessed by the Mother Goddess."

That's all Andonev could say.

"I understand, I understand."

Jiang Shuzhou said with a smile, and then, as if he saw something, his eyes widened.

Following Jiang Shuzhou's gaze, Andonev saw some people dressed as fishermen fishing.

"Is something wrong?"

"Bishop Andonev, look what that is!"

Jiang Shuzhou suppressed a laugh and casually pointed.

Andonev's face darkened when he saw it.

On the fisherman's net, a golden marlin was clearly visible.

This type of fish is found in stormy seas and is not found inland, let alone one this big.

"Ahem, it's all thanks to the Mother Goddess's divine power."

Do you even believe what you're saying?

Morris and Trunk had long been unable to hold back, but because their puppets had no faces and could not make expressions, Andonev did not notice anything.

However, Jiang Shuzhou knew this because their original bodies were together.

"Hahaha, that's hilarious! Making soldiers farmers and nobles fishermen, catching golden marlin from freshwater lakes, hahaha."

"It seems the Alliance of Saints is facing another food shortage this year."

"I guess so, it seems there were indeed reports about it at the beginning of the year."

"That wheat is way too small, is that all?"

Compared to the modified wheat in the Mage Alliance, the wheat in the Saints Alliance retains its original, authentic appearance.

Low yield, troublesome harvesting, and long growing period.

Among the three major factions, the Mage Alliance has the lowest cost of living, requiring only about 8 copper coins per day.

The cost of living in the Alliance of Saints is about 10 copper coins, while the highest is the Ovi Empire, which costs about 12 copper coins.

Different regions may have different values, but this is the median.

This shows that the Mage Alliance has the highest food production, mainly because mages have very little need for worldly wealth.

Priests don't really need worldly wealth, but nobles do.

The tax system adopted by the Alliance of Saints is the tax farming system. The Alliance of Saints will make an estimate based on the taxes usually paid by these territories. The tax farmers designated by the Alliance of Saints only need to pay this amount, and the rest is theirs.

Shouldn't we impose heavy taxes?

The Mage Alliance's taxes are entirely arbitrary; they are collected occasionally, and when they are too lazy to collect them, taxes are waived.

After all, taxes are actually insignificant to mages; it's only alchemists who pay attention to taxes because their territories belong entirely to them.

In summary, the Mage Alliance's tax revenue is only about 10%, which is calculated by adding all taxes together.

The Alliance of Saints is completely different; they will only leave these people with enough food to barely keep them from starving. Even in a bumper harvest, these farmers will not be able to save much.

Therefore, farmers are unlikely to be tall and strong; they are all dark-skinned and thin.

"It seems that the Earth Mother Goddess's divine power is indeed very strong."

Jiang Shuzhou made a pointed remark.

"Ahem, let's go."

Andonev remained silent, simply leading the way.

After the performance, Jiang Shuzhou and the others arrived in the city.

The road was wide, bright, and spotless, surrounded by well-dressed ordinary people, all strolling leisurely.

Clearly, this is another performance venue.

Jiang Shuzhou was too lazy to say anything more.

"There are beggars there!"

"You filthy beggar, don't get my clothes dirty!"

"Get lost, is this a place for you?"

Amidst a commotion, a disheveled beggar was being brutally beaten by a group of people.

"Bishop Andonev, what's going on here now?"

Andonev's face turned as black as the bottom of a pot; he had completely lost his temper.

They performed quite well in previous years, so why did things go wrong this year?

Who exactly is in charge of this area?

Does that person in charge even understand the lives of ordinary people?

"I'll go ask."

Andonev only had time to say that one sentence before he rushed into the crowd.

"What are you doing! What kind of behavior is this?"

"You dare call yourselves nobles...commoners!"

Did you let it slip?

Jiang Shuzhou watched the farce with great interest.

This is hilarious! I never imagined there were such amazing pranksters within the Alliance of Saints.

A moment later, the crowd dispersed, leaving behind only a beggar who had already died.

"Andonev, aren't you going to do anything about it?"

Jiang Shuzhou pointed at the beggar and said.

"It's such an eyesore to leave it here. Let's return it to Mother Earth's embrace as soon as possible."

Andonev had nothing to say.

Soon, the group arrived at the teleportation array.

Unlike the mage's rune teleportation array, the Alliance of Saints' teleportation array uses divine runes, which are essentially another version of runes.

Guess what? It's like taking off your pants to fart—completely unnecessary.

In order to highlight the differences between the two sides, they had to find more things to do.

Stepping onto the teleportation array, Jiang Shuzhou and the others finally arrived at their destination: the eternal city, blessed by the gods—Geddes.