Sheriff Candidates Step Forward
1032 Words
Satan faced the direction of the Saintlight Tree, spread his arms wide, and declared loudly: "Great God of the Holy Light! The people of Snow Valley beseech you to temporarily grant us wisdom, that we may elect a worthy leader to guide your faithful in uprooting the weeds of heresy, dispelling the fear in our hearts, and basking without obstruction in your pure, holy radiance."Satan bowed deeply towards the Saintlight Divine Tree. The other Saintlight villagers—Ba Diyou, Lei Meng, Kashan, Amu—followed suit, bowing in unison. The morning sunlight, filtered through the branches and vines of the Saintlight Tree, cast scattered golden specks of light onto the front part of the hall. Satan raised his head, his face illuminated by the fragmented sunlight, taking on a mottled pattern of light and shadow.Watching the Snow Valley villagers bow to the Saintlight Tree, a sense of reverence and solemnity arose spontaneously in Ming Yue's heart. She took out a leaf from her bosom—the very leaf that had fallen onto her face last night as she meditated beneath the Saintlight Tree. Gazing at the leaf, she seemed to hear her mother's exhortation echoing in her ears once more: "Yue'er, you must always remember the duty and honor of the Clear Spring princess..." Since learning of the Village Chief's murder that morning, Ming Yue naturally knew she had become the prime suspect in everyone's eyes. As for how to explain to everyone that she wasn't the true culprit, she was utterly lost. Thus, her heart had been in a state of anxious uncertainty. It wasn't until this moment, holding the Saintlight leaf in silent reflection, that her mind gradually settled. And as her fear receded, courage grew in its place.Fei Tuo noticed Ming Yue's strange demeanor and couldn't help but ask, "What are you doing?"Ming Yue gave Fei Tuo a slight smile: "I'm going to run for Sheriff."Ming Yue's mood had shifted from panic to optimism. This complete about-face surprised Fei Tuo considerably. In that fleeting moment, he seemed to see a shadow of her mother within Ming Yue. Fei Tuo paused briefly, then said, "Mm. I support you."Satan finished his bow to the Saintlight Tree, turned around, and said, "Let us now begin the Sheriff election. Anyone who wishes to sign up, please raise your hand voluntarily."As soon as he finished speaking, Ming Yue, Bizeros, Xia Na, Lu Ou, and Lei Yi all raised their hands. Everyone present was somewhat surprised to see Ming Yue raise her hand. Foxiu said angrily, "You wolf-kin! Such outrageous audacity! The reason we've gathered here is precisely to discuss how to deal with wolf-kin, and you still dare to run for Sheriff? You are utterly and insufferably arrogant!"Fei Tuo said, "You spew slander from a bloodied mouth! The Holy Light's judgment hasn't been carried out yet. What gives you the right to call her a wolf-kin?"Foxiu said, "Hmph! Even if the judgment hasn't happened yet, she's the one about to be tested. What right does she have to run for Sheriff?"Fei Tuo said, "Just now, the villagers of Saintlight Village made it very clear: anyone who has the will to contribute to Saintlight Village can run for Sheriff. Did I misstate anyone's words?"Satan nodded: "Correct.""Very well. Now, aside from this little brother here..." Fei Tuo pointed at Lei Yi, "all the other candidates are people from outside the valley. Before my sister is judged a wolf-kin by the Holy Light, why can't she participate in the election?"Foxiu, left without a rebuttal, could only repeat: "This... this... in short, she can't! She absolutely cannot!"Satan looked at Ba Diyou, seeking his opinion. Ba Diyou said, "The rules are set, and everyone must follow them. The little girl has the courage to run. That's certainly good. But signing up is one thing; winning the election is another. The Sheriff is decided by the votes of those who aren't running, with the minority obeying the majority. The little girl can run, but if she can't win a majority of votes, it will be useless in the end."With the hunter having spoken, Foxiu was helpless. He shot a venomous glare at Ming Yue and fell silent.Lei Meng pushed down Lei Yi's raised hand and scolded, "What are you causing trouble for!"Lei Yi shouted, "I'm a seer! I want to run for Sheriff! I want to run for Sheriff!"Lei Meng raised his hand in a threatening gesture: "You little i***t, what Sheriff are you running for? Stop this nonsense!"Lei Yi quickly ducked behind Kashan, still yelling, "I'm a seer! I will run for Sheriff! I will run for Sheriff!"Kashan interceded: "If the child wants to run, let him run. It doesn't violate any rules. Besides, he's the only person from our valley who signed up. Why are you making him back down?"Lei Meng lowered his hand and shook his head: "None of you are stepping forward to run? g*n, not even you?"Ba Diyou said, "I already said I have no interest in being a leader. If you all don't want to run for Sheriff, I don't either. Sitting down here and voting suits me just fine."Satan said, "In that case, let the five candidates take turns presenting their campaign speeches. After all candidates have spoken, those of us not running will vote to decide who becomes Sheriff. To add a sense of ritual and solemnity to this election, I have specially prepared a Sheriff's badge." Satan pulled a badge from his pocket. The badge was crafted from a leaf, in a hexagonal shape, with a hollow center for wearing. He said, "This badge is made from the leaves of the Saintlight Tree. Let us call it the Saintlight Sheriff's Badge."Ba Diyou clapped and laughed: "Good, good, good. Just like three years ago, that same old leaf badge."Satan pulled over several wooden chairs and arranged them into a platform at the center of the hall. He placed the badge on the platform: "Whose speech earns everyone's trust shall receive the Saintlight Sheriff's Badge. Let's begin immediately. Sir Knight, shall we start with you?" After receiving a nod of agreement from Lu Ou, Satan stepped back, leaving the center stage to him.
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