High Above

The mayor's family does not have many people. His wife passed away a few years ago. His two sons and one daughter all work in the imperial capital. It is rare for them to leave the city and come back. For the sake of the whole town, the old man has no time to go to the city for reunion.

The two-story mansion houses the mayor, the cook's aunt, the groom's uncle, and their gardener son's family, totaling four people in total.

However, although there are relatively few people, the spacious house is kept quite neatly. It is said that the diligent cook from the northwest is also responsible for cleaning on weekdays. She keeps the entire mansion spotless, warm and pleasant.

"Cute little knight, what do you like to eat? Strawberry pie or apple pie?"

After taking off his helmet, Ian successfully dispelled most of the potential hostility of the mayor named Yemer with his young and inexperienced appearance. He invited Ian to his home for dinner, and Ian naturally agreed.

The chubby aunt was carrying a jar of jam, passing through the restaurant like the wind, entering the kitchen, and asked with concern: "Or do you prefer to eat meat? No matter how big or small, the knight likes to eat meat..."

"Julia, be polite, this is not your relative from the country!"

The mayor patted the table and reprimanded 'sternly', but Ian could tell that this was just a warning for fear of getting angry, so the young man smiled and shook his head: "No need." Then he raised his voice: "Aunt Julia , I like eating apple pie!”

He personally prefers strawberry pie, but Frost Butterfly and Hua An both voted for apple pie, so it’s apple. He likes them all anyway.

Before getting ‘Okay! ’ After this response, Ian looked at Mayor Yemer, who was still looking sad: “I am really from the countryside, I’m not lying to you guys. Who would come to the imperial capital on horseback?”

"And why are you so afraid of me?"

"How should I put it, Sir Knight..."

The mayor touched the armrest of his seat. He seemed to want to say something, but looking at Ian's appearance, he found it difficult to speak: "If it's normal, everyone is willing to entertain guests like you... But the middle of the new year is coming soon, and the semi-annual review is about to begin again..."

After saying this, he sighed and confessed everything: "Well, judging from your appearance, even if you come from the countryside, you are still a serious genius. The focus of everyone's attention should not be related to the censorship team. relation."

"It's all caused by the temporary residence permit - I'm afraid you also know that it is very difficult to get a permanent qualification certificate around the imperial capital, and the temporary residence permit is not easy either. Many people in this town don't have time to deal with this thing... ...Everyone was still waiting for the news to be hidden. You arrived suddenly, but the person who warned you in advance did not show up. We thought it was a sudden attack, and of course we were a little scared."

"That's it."

Ian nodded slightly, knowing that what the mayor said was true... the other party did not have the courage to deceive him.

But... what is a temporary residence permit?

Ian's status as a knight can prevent him from a lot of troubles. Many problems for ordinary people can be passed smoothly by just showing proof.

In the final analysis, compared to ordinary people, the first level can almost be said to have completed a class jump. As long as you don't think about becoming stronger and better, you can be comfortable and happy as a high-level wage earner, and even have some small luxuries. Lived a lifetime.

However, even if Ian doesn't know what the Imperial City Temporary Residence Certificate is, he can still understand the meaning of this certificate as the name suggests.

"I remember……"

Ian took a sip of tea and spoke slowly: "It shouldn't be difficult to get a temporary residence permit, right? The town doesn't look poor. Although there are a lot of people, everyone should be able to get it..."

He didn't know the conditions of the temporary residence permit and just used such words to induce him.

The mayor raised his head and glanced at Ian with a complicated expression. But after noticing Ian's age, he shook his head helplessly: "Knight... you... alas, you think too simply..."

"It's really not difficult to get a temporary residence permit. Once you have stable housing and a job, you just need to apply. The problem is, it's really difficult to enter the imperial capital."

The old man also picked up the tea cup and took a sip. He turned his head and looked out the window, where he could vaguely see the imperial capital's skylight pillars. He murmured to himself: "I gave birth to several promising children, and then I got the permanent residence permit." ...But most people need to go through all the layers before entering the imperial capital, which is not a small sum of money... It only needs to be done once in a while during a major review, once every six months..."

"It is said that during the time of the late Emperor... Black King, everyone could freely enter and leave the imperial capital. However, after the Wuyue turmoil, the big shots above were probably afraid of another surprise attack by unknown troops, so the policy was much stricter, and it was more than ten times more troublesome to apply for a permit. …”

The old mayor was talking nonchalantly, and Ian responded with approval from time to time.

He also gradually understood what the temporary residence permit was all about.

After the Dark Moon turmoil, when the defender Axel settled in the imperial capital, more than half of the imperial capital was damaged and the defensive perimeter had not been completely repaired. Therefore, a large number of people from surrounding provinces and cities were gathered around the imperial capital to repair the city. At the same time, it also replenishes the population lost due to the civil war in the towns surrounding the imperial capital.

Due to a large number of population additions from other places, as well as the forcibly relocated descendants of the great nobles and their vassals, the population of the imperial capital has become a mixed bag. There have also been many espionage activities carried out by spies and saboteurs from other countries, resulting in A considerable loss.

At the same time, because the power of the old central aristocracy headed by the Black King was basically wiped out, the local aristocrats on all sides began to gradually disobey orders, and it became the norm to obey orders and disobey orders, and the situation gradually became out of control.

Therefore, under the command of Axel, the imperial capital took two different measures towards ordinary people and nobles.

For the general public, there are two sets of standard identification. The permanent residence permit and the temporary residence permit represent the right to live around the imperial capital and enjoy relevant policy benefits... If nothing else, at least the weather around the imperial capital is good. Occasionally, there will be artificial rainfall for a few days of drought.

Being able to become a resident of the imperial capital, even residents of the villages and towns surrounding the imperial capital, do not have to worry about harvests and food and clothing.

For nobles, a 'residence permit' is sent.

In other words, forced relocation.

Nobles who have obtained a residence permit can move their family members and even relevant retainers to or around the imperial capital, enjoying the privileges of the imperial capital and the absolute guarantee of 'safety'.

At the same time, the relevant nobles must also contribute their own strength as a nail to protect the imperial capital and resist the Feiyan Land army that may invade at any time.

The Imperial Capital is located in a plain area not far to the northeast of the Great Flame Desert to build the mobility of knights and sublimates. If they cross the border fortress, it won't take long to invade the central area.

Of course, the nobles don't have to come...but if you don't come, there will be consequences. Axel took over an empire that was almost paralyzed and was still able to defend the country. He was not a gentle and kind person. This man back then He led the Eastern Territory Iron Cavalry to confront the Cangtian Royal Court. The emperor who was born in a military group did not mind having their heads buried in the imperial capital.

If you don't come, there will be consequences. If you come, there will be benefits.

Currently, the city owners of the fifteen large satellite cities surrounding the imperial capital are all nobles who have moved to the vicinity of the imperial capital or their descendants...compared to their emperor-like rights in the local area, there are many more people who can control them. Big people are indeed not adapted to this place.

But precisely because they are close to the imperial capital, they can also slightly touch the true essence and center of Terran civilization.

"It's actually like this..."

Ian nodded slightly and said thoughtfully: "The clan relocation system is actually quite good... Groups of new wealth and population were gathered around the imperial capital for digestion and transformation, and the local powerful were also eliminated. Eliminate and calm conflicts... Although it only treats the symptoms and not the root cause, it is very effective."

——Compared to an emperor like Axel who forcefully seizes nobles to cut leeks, how can the Black King be considered a tyrant?

"This is the truth. It is said that back then... the Black King also planned to do this. Your Majesty modified it slightly and used it, but it is just a folk rumor."

The old mayor nodded, and said with a frown: "I know these policies must have their purpose, and they must be good at the beginning, but... the imperial capital has been peaceful for so long, and the temporary residence permit should have been abolished long ago. ah."

"It's been decades, why are we still going on..."

——Because the relevant vested interest groups have not yet been eliminated.

Ian did not say these words, he just stared at the clean wooden table in front of him.

Once a policy is proposed, it must have its reason. In order to ensure the safety of the imperial capital, the two identity review systems of permanent residence permit and temporary residence permit can indeed eliminate most foreign spies and spies.

But how the implementers later distorted it, transformed it, or forcibly maintained a policy that should have been banned long ago... That has nothing to do with the policy itself. It also caused great trouble to people's livelihood, and is even more related to certain interests. The person's madness.

He knew it, and Ian knew it. But now... is not the time to talk about this.

Almost half an hour later, Aunt Julia came over with a smile and a large plate of apple pie. The grid-shaped light golden fruit pie exuded a fragrant aroma and was so bulging that it looked very real.

There is even a layer of translucent amber-colored jam on the outside, which is particularly attractive in terms of color and fragrance.

"It looks very delicious, thank you very much!"

Ian smiled and thanked him without being polite. At the invitation of the mayor, he picked up a piece of already cut apple pie and ate it.

After taking a bite, Ian raised his eyebrows slightly, then separated it and handed it to Hua An and Shuangdie.

The two goblins took a bite and both smiled.

The pie is soft and hard, and the inside is soft and delicious. The sweetness and fruity flavor are all just right, which is enough to be called a gourmet.

It seems that Aunt Julia is really good at being a cook!

Seeing Ian eating seriously, even the old mayor, who had always been frowning, couldn't help but smile, and Aunt Julia even laughed.

But at this moment, a slightly frantic knock on the door interrupted the peaceful atmosphere.