Humbert interjected: "Sir, do you still want to hear his sophistry? Hurry up and punish this slave who violated the law. This is to maintain the dignity of the master. Otherwise, more and more slaves will follow his example and overstep the rules. Don't take your master seriously."
Before Xiou could speak, Amon raised his head and scolded, "Shut up and listen to Aesop's story!" There was a strange majestic force in his voice, which rushed into his mind and made Humbert almost lose his footing , It's like being suppressed by some kind and can't speak anymore. And Aesop began to tell the story of Pythagoras—
Pythagoras was a mysterious sage. He was the son of a great nobleman and was very rich, but he led his disciples to establish a group and collectively lived an ascetic life. He is also a very clever doctor, and it is said that he is also a great magician. Some people even say that he has seen the gods and knows the secrets of the gods.
Once Pythagoras went out to buy the daily necessities of this group. Due to the large quantity, he paid for one sacred stone at a time. When he opened the purse, he accidentally dropped the sacred stone on the ground, and a slave beside him picked it up. It was also the owner of the shop who shouted loudly: "Pythagoras, look at your slave, his hand touched the sacred stone, and a finger should be cut off! I have a knife here, and I can lend it to you." .”
Pythagoras took the Sacred Stone and scolded the slave: "Copernicus, why did you accidentally touch the Sacred Stone? Including this finger, how much do you already owe me?"
The slave named Copernicus replied: "Dear Mr. Pythagoras, plus this time, I already owe you thirteen fingers."
Pythagoras waved his hand and called his followers: "Remember, Copernicus already owes me thirteen fingers."
The shop owner asked in surprise: "Pythagoras, don't you want to cut off his fingers?"
Pythagoras replied lightly: "According to the decree, he should have his fingers cut off, but also according to the decree, he is my property and has no disputes with others. I can decide when to cut off his fingers, you Didn't you see that I've written it down?"
The shop owner said loudly: "But how can a person have thirteen fingers, he only has ten fingers, and you have already recorded thirteen fingers."
Pythagoras sneered and said: "You ignorant and cruel man, you are greedy for the tyranny of others. This greed blinds your true knowledge. There is nothing wrong with mathematics. He has ten fingers. Cut off ten fingers." Three, and minus three, it’s just a negative number... If you don’t understand, Copernicus, please explain.”
Copernicus explained: "The shopkeeper, if you have ten gold coins but bought something worth thirteen gold coins, how many gold coins do you have left? Not at all, but mathematically speaking, it is negative three. Me, do you understand?"
This is the end of Aesop's story. The last sentence is: "Do you understand?" I don't know if others understood it, but Amon understood it anyway, and he couldn't help smiling. And Xiou blinked his eyes and thought for a long time, and suddenly realized: "Remember, Aesop owes a finger, and I can decide when to chop it off!"
At the same time, according to the provisions of the two laws, this is just a simple evasion technique for the master to let the slave go, but the first person to come up with it is a genius, and the one who imitates it is Xiou. Aesop saluted and said: "Thank you for your kindness, master. Aesop is your property, and the finger growing on Aesop's body is also the master's."
The shopkeeper's face turned dark, and he wanted to refute but couldn't say anything. Amon has already received the reward, and Xiou has dealt with the aftermath and is about to return to Mengfeisi, and the two parted ways here. When he was leaving, Amon saw Aesop harnessing the car outside, walked over to greet him alone, thanked him for accompanying him to play the city-state these two days, and finally asked: "Aesop, the story you just told, Claiming to be an early experience, have you really met that distant sage Pythagoras?"
Aesop nodded respectfully and said: "Yes, I really saw it. I was still very young at that time, and I was not Master Xiou's slave."
Amon: "You said that Pythagoras had seen the gods, and even knew the secrets of the gods. Is this true?"
Aesop quickly explained: "How can I know these things? It's just people's legends. The sage is very mysterious, and there are many people around him who follow him. There are also rumors that he is the son of the gods, but the legends are just legends."
Amon snorted, and asked with great interest: "So this person, where is he now?"
Aesop pointed north with his hand: "Start from here to the sea, cross the ocean and go north. After seeing the coast, go west. There is a peninsula surrounded by archipelagos. There are many city-states there, called the United Kingdom of Heaton. The last time I Hearing the news of Pythagoras, he led his disciples to establish a secluded manor on the outskirts of the Croton city-state, which is called the Pythagoras Manor."
Amon remembered this place in his heart, and if he had the opportunity to travel far in the future, he could go there and try to ask Pythagoras for advice. I remember that Aristotle, who rescued himself in Duke Town, was also from the Kingdom of Heaton, and that place is really worth a visit.
He said thank you to Aesop. Aesop asked back: "Benefactor, you just asked me a word, why do you want to say thank you?"
Amon: "Because the news you said may be very useful to me."
Aesop said curiously: "Are you interested in the secrets of the gods? If so, I have a suggestion."
Amon was a little surprised: "Oh, do you have any suggestions?"
Aesop pointed to the steeple of the temple in the distance and said: "These are all illusory legends, including the gods themselves. In this case, you might as well ask the gods themselves if they really appeared in the world... In the legend, the gods He will also walk in the world in various identities, and even stand in front of you and talk to you."
Amon smiled, and suddenly thought of Yin Nanna, the shepherdess slave incarnated by Mu Yun, he smiled and said to Aesop: "Thank you for your suggestion, I will consider it."
Aesop bowed deeply and said: "You saved my life, and you gave me the opportunity to explain myself just now. I haven't expressed my gratitude yet, why do you want to say thank you to me?"
Amon: "The first time I saw you, you yelled at me in the carriage, reminding me to hide quickly. If I was just an ordinary passerby, your yell would have saved my life. In that case, no I saved you and you saved me. When your own life was at stake, but you didn't forget to save the life of an innocent passerby, so I want to say thank you!… Aesop, can I ask you one more question, please What is the deepest desire in your heart?"
Aesop answered two words seriously: "Freedom."
Amon: "Freedom, do you want to get rid of slavery?"
Aesop: "That's not exactly the case. Although I am a slave, when I look up at the starry sky, my soul can fly freely with wings... The body is not encumbered by objects, the heart is not bound by desires, and it is me who is detached from existence. longing for freedom."
Unexpectedly, a slave would say such a thing, Amon was slightly taken aback, smiled and said: "I am afraid that only gods can understand the kind of freedom you mentioned, and I want to thank you again! … Aesop, take care, maybe one day you will reach the shore of freedom."
Amon originally wanted to buy this slave, maybe he could try to give him the status of a freeman, but on the one hand, Xiou may not be willing to sell it, on the other hand, it is really inconvenient for him to walk with a slave in Eju, so he had to cancel it temporarily Thoughts, let's talk about it later when I have a chance.
After saying goodbye, Amon went back to the inn to pack up his things, went straight to the mansion of Rod Dick in the east of the city, came to the gate of the luxurious city lord's mansion, and said to the gatekeeper with his chest up and his head high: "I come from afar, and I have something important to see Rhodes. -Master Dick."
There were four men who looked like gatekeepers standing in front of the mansion, and there were six guards in bright armor beside them. Amon didn't know who to look for, so he asked the one who was closest to him. The man lowered his head and gave Amon a sideways glance: "If you have something to do, you can go to the various departments of the city to apply for it. Don't hang around here at will. If you have something to do, come to see the Lord City Lord. Do you want to do anything else?"
This is the truth, if you have anything to do, you can find a place to do it. If they all come to see Rod Dick directly, even if the Lord City Lord is not bored to death, he may be busy to death. Amon explained very politely: "My business is both public and private. I'm afraid the city-state departments can't handle it. I have to see City Lord Dick himself. It's very important. Please let me know."
The other three gatekeepers also came over and said: "Outsider, do you understand the rules? Is the city lord the one who you can meet as soon as you say you see him? Mr. Dick is not at home! Even if you are at home, you have to inform the concierge to let you wait." Wait. If you really have something very important, we don't dare to delay it, please explain clearly and show us the proof."
Another person reminded in a low voice: "We can ask you to wait outside the door. After the adults return home, let the second housekeeper of the concierge inform you. If the adults are willing to see you, they will let you in... But if something trivial disturbs the adults to rest , if the adults are angry, we will all be reprimanded, so we must comfort the hard work, right?"
Amon has no experience in seeking to meet a big man like Rod Dick, so of course it is not something you can meet when you come to someone's house. If it is a distinguished guest, generally please go to the special waiting room to rest first, and Master Dick will receive it after the notification. Ordinary strangers come to visit, if they really have something to do, they have to wait outside the door and let the concierge report. If there is nothing to disturb the rest of the adults, the concierge will also be reprimanded, so the man suggested that Amon give some bribes so that they can accommodate.
I don't know if Amon understood, but the man was about to reach out his hand after saying this, but found that Amon had turned around and left, so he couldn't help but cursed from behind: "Where is the wild boy? He ran to make trouble in front of the city lord's door , have fun!"
It's not that Amon was reluctant to bribe the gatekeeper, but what happened in front of the mansion made him change his mind. This mansion is deep, and once you walk in, the consequences are unpredictable. He was not sure whether Rod Dick was trustworthy or not, and Nero's relics were quite precious. If the lord of the city had other thoughts, wouldn't it be troublesome to detain him on the spot
It's not like he hasn't suffered this kind of loss before, and Amon can deal with several accidents, but in Rod Dick's mansion, he can't get away with his ability.
Amon turned around and went to the Temple of Horus in the center of the city-state. He had inquired clearly in the past few days. Citizens can visit and worship outside the temple hall, just in time for today. He originally wanted to wait for Rod Dick to come home outside the gate of the mansion, but now he planned to go directly to the temple square and take out Nero's staff in public.
When Amon rushed to the square, the sacrificial activity had already ended. Several priests were standing on the steps, and a crowd like a tide was coming out from between the spacious and tall stone pillars in front of the temple. Rod Dick boarded the carriage with his entourage. There were guards of honor in front of him. The crowd retreated automatically to make way for the city lord. He was already planning to return home.
At this moment, a voice shouted: "Lord Rod Dick, according to the last words of Lord Nero, the former chief priest of the cape city-state, I come to return the staff and relics of the great magician Nero!"
The sound was so loud that even the priests standing on the high steps heard it. Everyone was taken aback and looked in the direction of the sound curiously. Some people whispered to the onlookers: "Nero who is it?"
Someone else explained: "Nero was the chief priest of the city-state more than 30 years ago, a great magician, who is said to have died for the country... What's the matter, after so many years, someone actually sent back Lord Nero's law?" Staff!"
Before Lord Rod Dick's guard of honor, there was a young man standing still at the place where the crowd parted, holding a staff high in his hand. He was the one who shouted just now. Someone stopped the convoy from raising their staffs, and the guarding warriors pulled out their weapons to be on guard. If it weren't for what Amon yelled just now, the guards would have taken him down by now.
Rod Dick's carriage stopped, and he walked down through the curtain, followed by two people who Amon had seen before, the clerk Fayol Judah and the staff Aristotle. When Amon saw Rod Dick come out, he saluted on one knee, and raised the staff with flat ends above his head in a gesture of dedication, and the guards breathed a sigh of relief.
The crowd separated to form a circular open space, enclosing Rod Dick's convoy and Amon in the middle, and several high-ranking temple priests hurried over.
Aristotle felt familiar when he saw Amon, but he couldn't remember where he had seen it. It's not that this young sage has a bad memory. Amon's appearance has changed too much in the past two years, and the edges and corners of his facial features still vaguely reflect the original shadows, but he has fully grown up.
Rod Dick was about to go over and ask, but Fayol Judah pulled him back and said, "Be careful, my lord. Find out the situation first. What if it's an assassin?"
Aristotle pulled the hem of his robe, separated the guards and walked up to Amon, and asked with a pleasant face, "Young man, what's the matter with you holding up your staff in front of the city lord's motorcade?"
Amon replied loudly: "As I said just now, according to the last words of Nero, the former chief priest of the city-state, I am here to return his staff and relics. It is said that Master Nero left behind this staff. The information, please check the city lord Dick!"
Aristotle reached for the staff and asked, "What's your name, and how did you get Lord Nero's relic?"
Amon: "I am a hunter in the deep mountains. My name is Amon. When I was chasing the prey, I found the handwriting written in the cave. It was left by Nero, the former chief priest of the cape city-state. He hoped that someone would find his relics. And sent it back to the cape city-state, returned the staff to the temple, returned the relics to the family, and promised a reward. I traveled thousands of miles across the mountains and deserts to fulfill the last wish of the deceased!"
"Amon? Your name is Amon?" Aristotle was slightly startled, as if thinking of something, but didn't say much, turned around and walked back with his staff.
Several temple priests had already run down the long steps to Rod Dick's side. An elderly priest looked at the staff in Aristotle's hand, his voice trembling with excitement: "This, this, this is really The staff of the head priest of the cape city! Thirty years ago, Master Nero took it and never came back. I never thought we would see each other again!"
This staff uses yellow-brown wood as the handle, which is very strong and durable, without any sign of decay. Inlaid on the top is a pupil of the earth, and it is unknown how it was made. This pupil of the earth seems to be naturally grown and wrapped in the wood grain, with only a few sharp corners exposed.
The crowd of onlookers could see it very clearly. Anyone who had seen it would be able to recognize it at a glance as the staff that Nero had used. The foreigner who came all the way did not lie. Rod Dick took the staff, and his hands trembled with excitement. This staff belongs to the Temple of the Cape City-State, and only the previous chief priests are eligible to hold it.
After Nero disappeared, the staff was also lost. The next chief priest was Rod Dick's father, Old Dick. A few years ago, Rod Dick succeeded as the chief priest. The magic staff that has been passed down is precious. I never expected it to come back today. Could it be a gift from the gods
It was sent back to the city-state of the Cape by a foreigner, and Rod Dick took it in front of the crowd, right in front of the temple, and its symbolic meaning is extremely important!
Rod Dick has been in the officialdom for a long time, and he reacted very quickly. He took the staff and raised his hands above his head, turned around and knelt in the direction of the temple and saluted: "Thank you Horus! Thanks to the great gods! Under your guidance, all ages The chief priest's staff has returned to the city-state!"
As soon as the city lord knelt down, everyone turned around and knelt down. In a moment, there was no one standing in the huge square. People are thanking the gods, and the voices of thousands of people are like a mountain roaring and a tsunami. Seeing this scene, Amon knew that he had done the right thing, and it was the best choice to return the staff in public on this occasion.
But hearing the voices of all the people thanking the gods, he couldn't help but feel a little funny. Are these people thanking Horus or Amon