Struggle in the Steam Age

"The situation turned out to be like this. No wonder the church didn't find this batch of materials back then. They focused all their attention on those people with relatively high professional levels, and indeed ignored the extraordinary people with ordinary levels." After listening After Lawrence's report and checking the pile of spoils harvested tonight that Lawrence handed him, High Priest Arthur shook his head and sighed.

"My teacher's grandson died in a terrorist attack organized by the remnants of the Scarlet Sky, and the teacher himself died in the final encirclement and suppression battle. I remember very clearly that he was at the last moment before going to the Kingdom of God, the Kingdom of Our Lord. He kept holding my hand and asking me, 'Little Arthur, have we wiped out those villains completely?'"

"But—but I couldn't say anything at the time." Arthur, with gray beard and hair, sobbed like a child when he said this, covering his face and shaking his shoulders. "Now, when I am called by the Lord myself, I can finally tell him that we have done it. We have really wiped out that group of evil people completely."

Lawrence understood High Priest Arthur's current mentality very well. After all, the reason why Scarlet Sky was hunted down by so many churches was directly related to their love of death. And now that this batch of materials has been found, it can be said that the existence of that evil organization has ended in a sense, so people who were related to the victims back then will naturally feel a sense of relief.

As for the fact that priests have grandchildren, it is very common. Lawrence's adoptive father was unmarried when his lover died young when he was young. This does not mean that the priests of the Church of Knowledge cannot marry.

Or to be precise, so many churches allow clergy to marry except for a very small number. Even churches like the Earth Mother Church or the Agricultural Church stipulate that priests must be married and have children to obtain high priesthood.

After all, in this world where the extraordinary walks in the world, and the gods also perform miracles from time to time. Churches also don’t have to worry about clerics engaging in nepotism in the church after they have descendants. And the gods also found that after having a happy family, the amount of faith provided by the believers is indeed not as good as those in suffering, but the quality is much better, and the whole is better.

"So I really want to thank you this time. If these things are spread, I don't know how many people will be victimized later." After adjusting his mood, High Priest Arthur said. "By the way, since you can find someone with the tailband, you can take it back. After all, I am not familiar with the Ratman. I can send this sword to the Demon Hunters Guild in your name. I will get your reward as soon as possible." -"

Just when High Priest Arthur started nagging and arranging various matters, the door of the Ministry of Faith and Doctrine suddenly opened. An old man with a long beard and a silver pattern embroidered on his shoulders walked in, wearing a blue robe. It seemed that he got out of bed and came in a hurry after getting the news, because Lawrence noticed that he was wearing a purple pajamas under his priestly robes.

"Your Excellency Julius, why are you here? I obviously just informed Brother Russell." Hearing High Priest Arthur's words, Lawrence suddenly realized that the old man in front of him was the High Priest of the Staff of the Northeast Diocese of the Church of Knowledge.

Unlike some churches, the dresses of the clerics of the Church of Knowledge are similar in style and texture, whether it is the lowest apprentice priest or this kind of scepter priest. It is only through the silver patterns on the shoulders of different sizes and areas to distinguish everyone's identity. On the shoulder of the old man in front of him was a pattern of crossing scrolls and quills with the size of a palm.

"Brother Russell woke me up immediately after receiving your report, because this matter is really important to us." Julius Scepter Priest said with a smile, and then he took the hand Ring checked and raised his head. "I think we should hold a sacrificial ceremony overnight tonight, my lord, to offer these things, and avoid any problems if the time is too long."

Having said that, he turned to Lawrence: "You are Lawrence, you did a good job. Come to the sacrificial ceremony later, I believe that this time the Lord will give you the reward you deserve."

Lawrence's eyes widened suddenly. In his impression, the Church of Knowledge always made plans before acting, and it was rare for them to be so reckless. Not to mention listening to the current Julius scepter priest, this sacrifice is likely to be blessed by the gods.

Because the ordinary sacrifice ceremonies of various churches do not attract the attention of the gods, it is for efficiency and various other reasons. Ordinary sacrifices only require the clergy to put everything on the altar to sacrifice together, and non-clergy are not required to participate. Only when the sacrificial offerings can attract the eyes of the gods, the church will let the sacrificers participate in the sacrificial ceremony together in order to obtain the blessings of the gods.

Lawrence felt a little excited, because this was the first time he had come into contact with the top extraordinary power in this world: the power that belonged to the gods.

It took a while to sort out the clothes, and then everyone walked to the sacrifice hall behind the chapel. Because the Church of Knowledge believes that what is sacrificed is the communication between the sacrificer and the gods, and it does not need to be made public. So unlike most churches, their sacrifice and worship are not in the same hall.

Lawrence had never been here before, so when he entered the sacrificial hall, he looked at everything in this room with curious eyes.

The Church of Knowledge does not advocate luxury, so even if it is the main church of the Northeast Diocese of the Federation, the overall decoration is the same as other parts of the church, and there is no luxurious decoration. However, this did not detract from the solemn atmosphere of the hall.

The surroundings of the hall are carved with reliefs. If you look clockwise from the entrance, you can see that the carvings are the entire history of human development. From the beginning of human beings using the first tool, lighting the first flame, manipulating the first ray of magical energy, and finally the image of the steam engine difference engine. After the final image, there is a large blank space on the wall, which means that the pursuit of knowledge will not stop.

On the pillars of the hall are carved a person who contributed to the Church of Knowledge, including some very famous saints. And in the center of the hall is a square altar made of large blocks of blue marble. On the high platform is a five or six meter high statue carved from multi-colored marble.

This is the statue of Oghma, the god of knowledge, in the form of a handsome middle-aged man wearing a blue robe. On his head is a silver crown inlaid with large sapphires. Among them, the most vividly carved is the face of the statue. Anyone who sees this statue will be attracted by the wise eyes of the gods.

After walking to the designated position under the altar, Lawrence suddenly felt that the faint aura emanating from the statue in front of him was very similar to the aura of Julius the scepter priest. After thinking about it for a while, he immediately remembered that he had read an ancient book in the library that mentioned this kind of phenomenon.

As priests, the promotion of level is also a process of getting closer to the gods they believe in. When they break through to the gold level and become sanctuary priests, these changes can even be seen by ordinary people. It can make everyone who sees them have a feeling: yes, they are the earthly incarnations of gods.

After everyone walked into the sacrificial hall, the heavy bronze door of the hall was closed, and then the Julius scepter priest held the space bracelet in both hands at the height of his chest and climbed onto the altar, then respectfully It was respectfully placed on the altar carved from a whole piece of blue marble in front of the statue.

"Okay, now the ceremony has begun. Please join me to welcome the arrival of the gods." After lighting a few balls of spices and a few candles on the altar, the priest with the Julius scepter clasped his hands together in front of his lower abdomen, Then he bowed his head deeply and recited the eulogy.

At the same time, all the other people in the hall, including Lawrence, made the same movements in their positions and chanted the praises of the God of Knowledge in unison.