Blood tax

Chapter 78 Erza's Letter and the Possibility of Horror
Every important town and port in Bayeran has an echo hub for its message.Originally, the communication of various regions had to rely on the slow postal system or the familiars or animals such as ravens and owls. Over the years, the echo crystals that rely on magical power have played an increasingly important role in communication.

Although the echo node erected on the tower cannot transmit goods, it can transmit text or sound over a distance of hundreds of miles in a very short time, and its significance in trade and futures trading is self-evident.Of course, the price is also terrifyingly expensive.

This service belonged to the work scope of the resident mages a long time ago. After the commercial value was gradually discovered in practice, the operation of the echo crystal was moved to a special tower, and the courier letter and the magic communication were placed on different floors. Become the regional communications center.

Personal echo crystals designed for small-scale communications are also gaining popularity, with the potential to revolutionize the way we connect and communicate.

Griffith found the local Echo Nexus not far from the garrisoned mage tower.It is really busy here, and a large number of parcels and letters are unloaded from the ship and sorted and delivered on the first floor here.

The second floor is an area dedicated to small animals such as familiars and delivery pigeons.There are special personnel to take care of and arrange delivery and reception.

The third layer is the true echo hub.It is said that extraordinary people with high inspiration will hear noisy and ethereal voices here, Griffith tried it, but heard nothing.

"I want to check if there is a communication from Erza Valkyrie to Griffith Brandon." Griffith sat down at a counter and asked.

"I suggest you go to the mail center on the first floor first," the little girl across from the counter replied without looking up. "Letters are generally not delivered by echo."

Her hand tapped frequently on a crystal, pausing every once in a while to write a few words.Although she doesn't have the aura of a Beyonder, there seems to be some way for her to hear the echo in the crystal.

"How did you hear the echo?" Griffith asked curiously.

"You can hear it when you touch it. Get closer," the little girl still didn't look up. "Go to the first floor, you are interfering with me."

Griffith hurriedly stepped back and returned to the noisy first floor hall.There, as expected, the letters and packages from Erza could be found.

"Letter from Erza Valkyrie

"Dear Griffith, my little brother, are you still adapting to life at Homonwarts? Have you been promoted to knight or third-level assault squadron commander? I don't think so, so you are still my little brother!"

Griffith couldn't help laughing.Erza refers to the apprentice knights in the squadron with words such as younger brother, minion, and minion, and often gets along with everyone.

It really fits together.

"I am writing to ask for the help of my minions.

"You returned to the rear before the end of the battle, so you may not know that the idiots of the Eastern Legion lost many files and letters after the battle. Either the transport ship sank or the warehouse caught fire, and everyone lost a lot of luggage.

"The guys in the squadron have sent letters recently, asking me to provide relevant certification materials to help them return to their hometowns for work or school. The Reserve Army Command also needs relevant certification and auxiliary file registration. After I issued the certification, the local idiots felt a sense of strangeness. The certificate is not enough, so I have to get another one. So, I thought of you.

"The attachment is a document that the guys need to sign. You need to check their information separately, the battle situation and the latest situation as far as you know, it's not complicated, fill it out carefully and send it to my sister, be quick!
"If there is an emergency, you can contact me through the Echo Hub, and the Beacon Academy will convey it in time. However, don't use that, each word costs 10 Su, why don't Kingdom Communications and Echo Corporation directly rob the central bank's vault.

"good luck,
"Oh yes, Amber is my new minion, she's amazing. You have to get along well."

A thick stack of paper was attached to the back of the letter, all of which required proofs and forms from Griffith.

Erza had already carefully written down the situation, classified and filed it, and even filled out the statement of the situation with the time when Griffith left the army, as long as he checked and signed it.

as always.

Griffith remembered that the [-]nd Assault Squadron leader carefully arranged for everyone to camp and eat when they were not fighting.Although the food on the Eastern Front was poor and the accommodation was not good, Erza always made everyone feel more comfortable than other squadrons.When she doesn't call everyone's minions and minions, she still remembers everyone's birthdays and training progress, and enlightens and comforts those frightened companions.

If you haven't seen Ersha doing it, you will definitely think that she is a caring, gentle and considerate wife who takes care of more than 100 young children every day. Everyone in the 502nd said so.As long as she doesn't do it.

This is not the point!

Griffith hurriedly flipped through the documents about the squadron, almost heading straight for the information he wanted to see.

Transport and Logistics Squad, no.

Groom and weapons maintenance squad, no.

Assault infantry squads, no.

Armored Assault Cavalry, this is it!
The core of the squadron, the armored assault cavalry should have 17 people. Except for the chief officer Erza Valkyrie, there are 16 other officers and sergeants, and Christa's file should be among them.

Griffith flipped through the file with trembling hands, counting the names. 13, 14...

The file was terminated at the 14th man's place and there was no further follow-up.Except for his own information which is not necessary to be listed, it is Krista who is missing.

Griffith's forehead began to sweat, and he quickly checked the other squads' files and squadron compilations.

No, there is no information about Krista at all. The rest of the entire squadron is recorded whether they are killed, injured or alive in the final stage, but Krista is the only one.

The armored assault cavalry group is so short of one person!
Griffith almost rushed to the third floor with hands and feet, and came to the service center of Echo Crystal Communications.

"Quick, I need to send a message to Beacon Academy!" Griffith shouted in a voice that startled the waitress.

The few minutes after the message was sent out were almost like years.Generally speaking, the reply to the letter during working hours is very fast. As long as Erza does not go out to perform the task, the echo hub specially set up by the higher education institute like the beacon will reply immediately.

Sure enough, 15 minutes later, Erza's reply came.

There are only a few words on the small note.

"who is she".

……

Neopolis is the largest island in the Broken Sea.

When explorers first landed on this beautiful island, these northern guests were warmly welcomed by the hot winds of the south, the lush forests and the sweet fruits of the mountain springs.

Since then, groups of immigrants have migrated from all directions to settle on the island.

Griffith's childhood was spent here.He finished the basic school here and received the basic training on the road of knighthood. Every day before dawn, he would practice martial arts with his brother.However, the only relatives still on the island are the uncle's family.

The feudal knight of Brandon was recently awarded a territory in the southern province for his outstanding achievements in the war, and has left for the fief with his family.He owns his own estate and manor, and is a very rare treat among many formal knights.

According to the succession laws of the kingdom, territories and titles can only be inherited by one person.While other heirs have no right to inherit, they also have to pay a special tax for the family - to fight for the king.Therefore, after graduating from the Junior Sergeant School, Griffith was immediately sent to the far east to fight the orcs.

Griffith's heart was very heavy.He thought Galadia, Aaron, and the Whispering Forest had been the most puzzling experience of his life, but he was stunned by the strange clues about Krista.

There are two possibilities, neither of which is a good thing.

First, Griffith suspected that he had contracted Battlefield Syndrome in the East. This disease is very insidious, but once it occurs, it will bring madness and confusion, and even accumulate false memories and cognitions. Suicide is a patient common fate.

If it was another possibility, it would be terrifyingly terrifying.

Someone tampered with Griffith's memory, or simply tampered with the memory of other people in the squadron or even the entire wing, destroyed documents and materials, and completely erased Krista's existence.What would those people do if they found out that Griffith still had memories?
too frightening.

The warm sea breeze from the sea blows the lush vineyards and farmland, and small groups of children with their dogs run on the shade and ridges of the trees.Griffith, who was cold all over, walked along the sunny path, trying to recall the memories of the past and divert his attention.

All he could do was try not to think about it.Wait until you get a chance to see the powerful and mature Erza again and ask her for her opinion.Hope she is all right.

……

It's been four years since Griffith was last seen here.The childhood home full of memories has been sold and become the property of someone else's family.

However, there is a saying on Neopolis - leave your hometown when you are young, and the memories of living on Neopolis will bring you back here.It may be so different because of living here, or it may be living here because it is different.

Griffith's destination, Hepu Town, was indeed different.The residents of Hepu have brown pupils and black hair, and their faces are soft and graceful, with fortitude and wit in their eyes.Griffith's appearance combines the characteristics of both parents, with black hair and brown eyes, but the edges and corners of his face are more distinct, and his eyes are as sharp as blades.

His uncle Zion was a respected medical doctor who used to teach at Homonwatts but had been away for some years.

The apprentice knight carried a small package and came to the station side of the market square with a weapon, waiting for the public carriage to Tsurupo.Before long a two-horse horse-drawn stagecoach rattled along the gravel path, turned a corner, and stopped on the curb beside him.

(End of this chapter)