Chapter 1345: Chapter 856: So It Was You?!

After leaving the Eternal Church, Frank led his trusted aides to the slums to visit the Divine Favored John of the Life Church.

The Divine Favored John seemed to be quite famous locally; everyone showed expressions of respect whenever Frank inquired about him.

This made him even more curious about the Divine Favored John.

Frank was not unfamiliar with the Life Church. When eliminating the Demons entrenched in the Southern Territory, he often fought alongside the elves who believed in the Life Church.

Those elves were not like the descriptions he had read in books from childhood; they were brave and fearless, loved fighting and adventure, and each one was a natural warrior.

However, despite their love for battle, they surprisingly had warm and kind hearts.

Frank often saw them enthusiastically helping civilians and being particularly friendly to the mercenaries fighting alongside them.

Also because of this, coupled with various rumors about Fengyue Free Territory, Frank became curious about the Life Church and naturally developed a strong affection for it.

He even specifically asked the elves for a copy of the “Life Scripture” and read some of its doctrines.

Of course, affection is one thing, politics is another.

Even though he was very curious about the Life Church, Frank kept the two clearly separated in his mind.

He always believed that to change everything, one must still start with the Eternal Church rooted in the Human World.

However, after being refused by the Divine Favored Adam, and witnessing the inaction of the Eternal Church and the collusion between fallen nobles and the church along the way… his heart finally began to waver.

Even the church’s Divine Favored no longer cared about the civilians; only nobles could visit. He truly didn’t know whether this once symbol of light and justice, the Eternal Church, could still bring hope to the world…

With a somewhat disheartened mood, Frank was led by a guide into the slums.

However, as he entered the slums, he was slightly stunned.

Frank had not never entered the slums before.

In his impression, slums often represented filth and disorder.

Reeking, chaotic, with people staring vacantly, dressed in rags…

Yet, the scene before him greatly exceeded his expectations.

“Is this really the slums?”

Looking at the renovated buildings and the well-maintained, clean streets, Frank couldn’t help but ask.

“Lord Knight, this is indeed Larona’s slums.”

The guide answered proudly.

“Nonsense! We’re not those nobles who’ve never seen a slum; it might be plausible if you said this is the inner city’s civilian area, but it’s too clean to be a slum!”

Personal Guard Roland frowned, speaking displeased.

“No… Lord Knight, Larona’s slums weren’t like this a few months ago; this is all due to Lord John and the elf friends…”

The guide hurriedly explained.

“John? Elf?”

Frank raised his eyebrows.

“Yes, Lord John said change must start from the nearby, from the little things, just as stated in the preface of the ’Life, Rights and Struggle’ in the ’Life Scripture’: How can one manage the world if one can’t even manage their own home!”

“If one can’t change the environment they are in, how can they talk about changing the world, or pursuing hope?”

“Opportunities are always left for those who prepare; light and hope won’t come by themselves but must be pursued through action and will…”

“And first and foremost, it’s about changing one’s mindset! Letting one’s life regain vitality and energy!”

“Because of this… Lord John led everyone to refurbish the slums…”

“Ah… We must also thank the elves. Many of them are admirers of Lord John, following him, preaching the life faith. It is indeed them, under the guidance of Lord John, who used magic to improve everyone’s living environment.”

The guide spoke animatedly, full of respect for the Divine Favored John and admiration for the teachings of life.

Seeing him like this, Frank couldn’t help but ask:

“Are you a believer in life?”

The guide nodded and said proudly:

“Replying to Lord Knight, I became a life believer on the very first day Lord John came to Larona, and not only me, but our entire family also became life believers!”

Upon hearing this, Frank was moved:

“Do you also live in the slums?”

“Yes.”

The guide nodded.

Frank’s expression completely changed.

Now, he was truly surprised.

If he remembered correctly, most of the residents of the slums lived in a daze, forgotten by the city, by the nobility, their status barely higher than the slaves in the black market.

Without hope, without a future, at any moment, they could be killed by venting guards, invading bandits, or dragged into gang fights and die unjustly…

Even Frank didn’t have much hope for them.

He knows the empire is sick now; to overthrow this rotten nation, gaining the support of the populace is necessary.

However, the populace he considers hopeful refers to the somewhat educated civilians…

This relates to the fact, while Segis World resembles the late medieval period of Blue Star, due to magic’s existence, this world’s knowledge dissemination, literacy rate, etc., far surpasses Blue Star’s equivalent period.

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