Chapter 219: Poor Gregor
The three and the monks dispersed, some going to congratulate the three who had just become priests, while those three were also going back to bid farewell to their families.
When only Marl and Alice were left on the first floor of the Clock Tower, Agamemnon let out a sigh and said, “They are all good children.”
Marl glanced at the not-yet-ten-year-old Agamemnon, thinking that the youngest of those three was already sixteen. He remained silent, not answering.
Alice also sighed and said, “Yes, they are all good children. I cannot understand why you would send such good children to the land of sin. Rather than spreading the Lord’s teachings, it is no different from sending them to their deaths.”
Marl cast a glance at the fifteen-year-old Alice, then looked again at her belly, already showing signs of pregnancy.
In a sense, he could understand why Alice would say this.
Agamemnon said, “This is their choice, and it is their destined vocation. I should support them.”
He then turned to Marl and said, “Even so, once you arrive, I ask you, Priest Marl, to look after them as much as possible.”
Marl said, “I will naturally look after Priest Weil who travels with me. But Priest Landon, who is heading to Viscount Youn’s territory, and Priest Jeremiah, who is going to Earl Gregor’s territory, will be difficult for me to take care of. Still, with Councilor Julian and Councilor Bevan there, if it is within their power, they will also look after the two priests.”
Marl’s task was to lead the warriors to Earl Raul’s territory to help him resist the fishmen, while Priest Weil was to establish a church there and spread the Lord’s faith.
In order for Marl to speak on equal terms with Earl Raul, Corleon gave him a Holy Relic, and the monastery also hinted for Julian to construct a great fortress-town.
Of course, once this fortress-town was built, it would also serve to intimidate Viscount Youn and Earl Gregor. But in reality, its effect would clearly not compare to Marl and the warriors he led.
When Marl heard that the three priests were heading south to spread the faith, he deeply missed Knight Wolf.
Riding freely with knights through the nobles’ lands, holding friendly talks with those lords and gentry—after that, the priests’ preaching would surely be much smoother.
Though Councilor Julian had done well, compared to Knight Wolf, he was still too conservative.
Alice offered comfort, saying, “You should believe that the Lord will protect them.”
Marl and Agamemnon both looked at her, feeling a sense of wonder. Was this the wisdom of the Theocracy’s Saintess?
They both knew Alice’s identity, and so found it hard to believe that such a young girl could be the Theocracy’s Saintess.
They were people of the Church of the Sanctuary, priests regarded by outsiders as the most devout believers of the Lord.
Indeed, they were devout, but since Corleon had placed them in important positions, and they had more frequent contact with him, they had gained a faint understanding of the relationship between the Lord, the Bishop, and faith. At the same time, they also clearly understood the faith they themselves upheld.
They were rational, and they were devout. They believed they were walking the right path, but rationally they also knew they could not place all hope upon the Lord.
They had once confessed to the Bishop that they harbored such unfaithful thoughts, but the Bishop had only said that even George would not trouble himself to confess for such matters.
It was for this reason that they now looked at the Theocracy’s Saintess with such eyes.
Especially since she carried within her the future of the Theocracy.
Marl coughed and said, “Alice, is it not time for your afternoon lesson to begin?”
Alice was taken aback, then quickly stood up and said, “It seems so. Then I will take my leave.”
She gave a slight bow, then hurried off toward the monastery with her pregnant belly.
Alice had only the physical strength of an ordinary person, so running from the Clock Tower to the monastery would still take her more than ten minutes.
Agamemnon looked at Marl and said, “You lied.”
Marl shrugged and said, “I only said it was about to begin, but I never mentioned the exact time.”
It was close to noon now, still more than an hour before the monastery’s afternoon lessons began.
Agamemnon shook his head and said, “Once you go to Earl Raul’s territory, after building the church there, you will remain as the bishop, right?”
Marl leaned back on the bench and said, “The Bishop only told me to build the church there. As for what comes afterward, he did not say.”
Even so, Marl could more or less guess.
Agamemnon said, “Since the Bishop has already decided, then this is your mission. You should not avoid it.”
Marl said, “But that is the position of a bishop, the one presiding over the church affairs of a whole region. Can I really do it well?”
His voice carried a trace of confusion.
Agamemnon jumped down from the stepping box behind the wooden platform, walked up to Marl, and said, “You must believe in the Bishop, believe in yourself, and believe in the Lord.”
Marl sighed and said, “Agamemnon, can you not remain in the church?”
Agamemnon shook his head. “Just as becoming a bishop is your mission, returning to my family and inheriting the position of family head is my mission.”
Marl said no more. A man with firm faith would not change his decision because of his words.
As silence fell, a childish voice called out somewhat foolishly, “Agamemnon! That idiot Gregor has caused trouble again! We can beat him up once more. This time you must join in! Otherwise, once you leave the church, I will not be able to protect you!”
Olivia appeared at the entrance of the Clock Tower, looking at Agamemnon.
Agamemnon’s eye twitched. He took a deep breath and said through gritted teeth, “Gregor has not even recovered from the third beating he took from his father. He is still lying in a hospital bed. How could he possibly cause trouble?”
Olivia shook her head vigorously and said, “He can get out of bed today, so of course he is fine! If he can get out of bed, then he will definitely cause trouble. And if he can talk, then he will surely sneak off to cause trouble!”
Agamemnon felt weary and asked, “So, what trouble did he cause? Is it because you think that once he can walk, he will definitely cause trouble? Or is it because you believe he has already gone behind your back to cause trouble?”
Olivia, full of confidence, said, “Either way, he will always make mistakes. So he needs to be punished. Punishment is punishment no matter who gives it, and if you beat him up, that can count as punishment. You are a priest after all!”
“And his father also said, as long as you do not kill him or beat him so badly he cannot have children, it is fine.”
Agamemnon sighed. “All right, all right. I still have some matters to finish. Once I am done, I will go. Is it at the monastery?”
“No, it is at the hospital. I tied him to the bed.” Olivia added, “So once you are finished, hurry over.”
Then she turned and left, as though afraid Gregor might break free.
Marl felt some sympathy for Gregor.
He knew that after Puniel returned, he had remarried and taken several mistresses. Moreover, most of the finest werewolf bone powder from the northern territories was stockpiled in Puniel’s house.
Gregor’s trouble had only been among the apprentices, but their families had instead used the incident to build connections with Puniel. For those in power, it had actually been a good thing.
But to show loyalty to the monastery, Puniel had broken Gregor’s limbs on the spot and thrown him into the hospital to lie with Belair.
And every time Gregor recovered, Puniel would find some excuse to beat him back into the hospital.
It was only this third time, when Scholar Dennis could no longer stand by and intervened, that Gregor finally had the chance to leave the hospital after recovering.
Yet the unlucky Gregor was now targeted by Olivia.
Agamemnon said helplessly, “Sigh, they found out about Ando, and Olivia also learned that I will leave the church once I come of age. So she insists I train my body, lest I end up like Ando—killed by some insignificant assassin.”
Marl suppressed a laugh and said, “She cares for you as a friend.” His earlier worries had now faded away.
Agamemnon shook his head. “I would rather she grew up sooner. Though Cicero is also wild, when it comes to serious matters, he is still dependable.”
“And Olivia is the Bishop’s goddaughter. You know the situation outside. Once she comes of age, she will surely have a mission of her own.”
Even though no one said it openly, neither of them were fools. Just from the look Knight Wolf occasionally gave Cicero, and from the fanatical loyalty Knight Wolf displayed toward the church, they could tell Cicero’s true identity.
Especially after they had become priests themselves, they could sense the concealment magic on Cicero.
Even now, the Holy Relic in Cicero’s hands had yet to be reclaimed by the Bishop.
As for Olivia, her uniqueness was also clear. Though still a child, her body was in no way inferior to that of a knight. Naturally, they could imagine her future—wearing armor and wielding a greatsword.
Marl’s smile slowly softened as he said, “But she is still a child now, and childhood is a gift from the Lord. Before she comes of age, she should naturally enjoy it well.”
“Moreover, is it not beautiful that she can enjoy a carefree childhood? If one day, every child could live like her, would that not be the Heavenly Kingdom on Earth we long for?”
Even in York Territory now, many children of three or five years old had to work in the fields, something even the stationed priests could not prevent, for the lack of labor was real.
Because of this, these powerless priests often confessed for their helplessness.
Agamemnon’s expression finally brightened, showing age-appropriate disdain. “If every child were like her, the entire York Territory would not withstand their mischief.”
Marl thought about Olivia’s destructive ability and laughed. “Then let them study at the monastery. The scholars will surely leave them no energy for mischief.”
Agamemnon said, “Conditions do not allow that now. We cannot send all the children to study under scholars. Besides, I heard from Oscar that the monastery plans to expand and extend the apprentices’ training by another year.”
Marl was startled. “Then Administrator Piero will have a headache. He is waiting for this class of apprentices to graduate and fill the gap in officials.”
Next month was the graduation of the second batch of apprentices. With family backing, even Piero would not dare toss them around like the first batch.
Agamemnon shook his head. “Oscar only mentioned it casually. If any changes are made, they will likely come only after the new city is built.”
“That will take two more years,” Marl said. Naturally, they had the construction schedule of the new city.
Agamemnon said, “By then, the shortage of officials should no longer be so severe, right?”
Marl shook his head. “That is hard to say.”
Then, after hesitating, he asked, “How many years does Administrator Piero have left to live?”
Piero’s health was no secret, nor was the church’s indifference toward it.
Agamemnon’s reply carried a complex tone. “Six more years.”
The words were certain.