Chapter 14 : Cruel Nobles

The Nobles of the Purple Thorn Kingdom imposed heavy taxes on its citizens, which was one of the factors that made life difficult for the commoners.

They even allowed thieves and other criminals into the Kingdom as long as they paid a certain amount of money. Unscrupulous merchants also took advantage of this situation to increase the prices of foodstuffs, further pushing the commoners into a precarious situation.

In a world where the survival of the fittest prevails, what can mere mortals do in the face of immense power? Within just five years, the Purple Thorn Kingdom fell from a Level Three Kingdom to a Level One Kingdom. With the strength of the Kingdom weakened, all sorts of people swarmed into the Kingdom. The Nobles even welcomed them with open arms, supporting their activities in the Kingdom and treating the people as disposable beings.

A few years later, the Kingdom completely fell out of the rankings of Kingdoms. This downfall serves as a cautionary tale of the consequences of greed and corruption within a society. The once prosperous and powerful Kingdom crumbled due to the exploitation of its citizens and the lack of moral integrity among its leaders.

It is a stark reminder that power must be wielded responsibly and with the well-being of all in mind, lest a Kingdom meet its demise.

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Nexus sighed and shook his head at the dire situation plaguing the Purple Thorn Kingdom.

As he pondered the current state of the kingdom, he realized that it was no longer deserving of the title "kingdom." The nobles had transformed it into a nightmare for the commoners and a safe haven for criminals.

Nexus's striking red eyes gleamed beneath his hood as he navigated through the ruins of the slums. Twenty minutes later, he emerged onto a wide street that was eerily devoid of people.

Dilapidated buildings, pothole-ridden roads, and scattered garbage painted a picture of desolation. Nexus couldn't help but wonder if he had stumbled into the wrong city. It was baffling to think that a refugee camp could be more aesthetically pleasing than the capital of a once-prosperous kingdom.

After walking for five minutes without encountering a single soul, Nexus began to question if he had entered a ghost town. It wasn't until ten minutes later that he finally spotted a living person. The sight sent a shiver down his spine. The individual was scantily clad, with a pallid complexion and a skeletal frame.

Their vacant eyes mirrored a lifeless gaze, akin to that of a walking corpse. As Nexus continued his journey, he encountered more individuals in a similar state, resembling the zombies he had seen on television back on Earth. His heart grew heavy with sorrow.

"Makes you wonder how heartless some can be," Nexus muttered under his breath. The residents paid him no mind, their focus consumed by their own struggles.

It dawned on him why Kassius had advised him to conceal his appearance before venturing out – he would undoubtedly stand out in this desolate city.

The scene that Nexus is currently witnessing is truly chilling. These Nobles are not mere humans; they are beasts in human skin. Along the way, Nexus could see dead bodies, emitting an unbearable stench, with no one paying them any mind.

As he walked the streets for nearly an hour, he was deeply shocked by the situation, realizing that the Purple Thorn Kingdom is no more. The Nobles' greed has led them to lose all moral integrity, turning the once prosperous Kingdom into a living hell.

Nexus observed that the Nobles had divided the city into two distinct areas - the outer area where he currently is, and the inner area where the Nobles resided in the heart of the city.

The Nobles indulged in lavish feasts, fine wines, exquisite clothing, and luxurious living arrangements, creating a paradise within the inner area.

Shaking his head in disbelief, Nexus continued to explore the outer area.

After half an hour, he came upon a plaza where hundreds of commoners stood with lifeless eyes and emaciated figures, gazing numbly at an elevated platform.

On the platform, a group of finely dressed young people, exuding arrogance and bloodthirsty smiles, looked down upon two kneeling commoners with frail bodies and pale faces, covered in wounds.

Without warning, a young man with blond hair stepped forward and callously kicked one of the kneeling men to the ground, followed by another brutal kick to the other man.

The man with blond hair lifted his head and gazed down at the people below, his voice tinged with disdain as he spoke, " Listen up you filthy animals these two filthy animals didn't kneel down when they saw us coming. So I'm going to kill them to serve as a warning for all of you. When you see us Nobles coming you have to kneel down and call us master"

With a confident gesture, the Young Noble drew forth a magnificent sword embellished with precious jewels. In one swift motion, he severed the heads of the people kneeling on the platform.

The young nobles behind the blond-haired man chuckled with disdain in their eyes as they departed from the platform. Below, the onlookers wore numb expressions, having witnessed this scene countless times before.

The nobles callously took lives at their whim, showing no regard for human life and treating the people as mere animals to be slaughtered at their convenience.

Nexus observed from the rear, his heart filled with shock as he witnessed the unfolding events. These Nobles before him displayed a level of insanity that surpassed comprehension.

Merely because these people failed to kneel upon their arrival, they were condemned to death. Even the most powerful kings in renowned kingdoms did not exhibit such arrogance.

Nexus shook his head in disbelief and regarded the scene before him with a mixture of pity and sympathy.

He understood that he was no longer on Earth, where human rights reigned supreme. This was Astheria World, a realm where the law of survival of the fittest prevailed.

In this harsh reality, one's strength determined their fate. Without power, life in this world was destined to be bleak, and the concept of tomorrow was a luxury reserved only for the privileged few.

Unless you are a member of a powerful Kingdom that commands respect and fear that others do not dare to provoke.

Nexus observed as the crowd slowly dispersed, each person returning to their lives filled with misery and suffering.

Turning on his heel, Nexus continued his exploration of the city.

After nearly five hours of wandering through the dilapidated streets, he found nothing but despair. The city was a bleak landscape of crumbling buildings, beggars, and commoners clad in tattered garments, their faces drained of color like walking corpses.

Standing atop a collapsed structure, Nexus gazed towards the inner area in the distance. The walls of the inner city gleamed with luxury, a stark contrast to the outer region.

He watched as a few privileged individuals in opulent attire rode in carriages pulled by massive horses, while guards in shining armor stood watch at the entrance.

Nexus quickly assessed the guards, noting their weak and unstable foundations, likely a result of hastily acquired power through pills to boost their Cultivation levels.

Even the guard with the highest Cultivation level, at the Ninth Layer of the Essence Meridian Realm, displayed signs of instability.

Disappointed by what he saw, Nexus redirected his focus to the outer area, a stark juxtaposition to the inner city. Without hesitation, Nexus left the building, intent on returning to the courtyard.