Chapter 235: Two Years

Hailson Village was a settlement near the Northwind Mountains. A trade route passed through the village, extending into the mountains, where two years ago, a mercenary gathering ground had formed because of the discovery of the underground city.

It was said that some mercenaries became rich overnight from the underground city, while others died tragically inside. Over the past two years, the various legends surrounding the underground city had turned it into a holy land for mercenaries.

Continuing westward along this trade route, through the Northwind Mountains, one would reach the Northern Kingdom.

Because of the underground city’s prosperity, this trade route had been opened more rapidly. Over the past year, quite a few merchants had already made fortunes by trading with the Northern Kingdom along this road.

The passage of mercenaries and merchants also brought restlessness and greed to Hailson Village. Therefore, Jeven, a priest firm in Faith and rich in experience, was assigned here.

“Priest Jeven, you have served here for a year now, haven’t you?” The newly arrived priest asked Jeven.

“Yes, but from now on, this small church will be under your care, Priest Harrison.” Jeven replied.

He had once again received a transfer order from the Church. He was to go to Rod City, newly built in the northern territory of York, to serve as a priest.

Since there was the precedent of Marl, who had presided over the construction of a city in Earl Richard’s southern domain and, once it was completed, was appointed as a bishop, Jeven could not help but wonder when he received his transfer order—could he become the fourth bishop of the Church of the Sanctuary?

Aside from the First Bishop Corleon, who had not been seen for two years within the Clock Tower, the Church of the Sanctuary currently only had two bishops.

Bishop Marl in Earl Richard’s territory, and Bishop Claudy Newman at the Church headquarters.

Now, perhaps Jeven had the opportunity to become the fourth bishop.

He felt somewhat uneasy. The title of bishop weighed heavily on him.

Bishop Claudy only needed to maintain the operations of the Church headquarters and guide the pilgrims who came to the Sanctuary to worship. But Bishop Marl, when serving in Earl Richard’s domain, not only had to manage the cathedral and all the smaller churches, but also had to act as the earl’s administrative adviser, assisting the earl in handling affairs of state.

Jeven had heard more than once that Bishop Marl, when dealing with politics, would curse and call Earl Richard “a brute whose muscles grew into his brain.”

Jeven had also seen how Bishop Marl, though younger in years, already looked as if he were middle-aged.

That exhaustion, visible at a glance from his appearance, made the pressure of being a bishop all the clearer.

Jeven could only comfort himself that he was merely going to Rod City to serve as a priest, not to act as a bishop. Perhaps after some time, the Church would send a newly appointed bishop there.

“You must pay more attention to those merchants. Compared to the mercenaries, they will use money to corrupt Faith.” Jeven reminded.

The mercenaries, at most, got drunk and argued, sometimes escalating into brawls. But the merchants’ goods and their glittering gold coins easily stirred greed in the villagers.

Jeven had already seen more than once devout believers, who prayed at the church daily, fall into the sin of theft.

According to the law, stealing a copper coin meant losing a finger. Stealing a silver coin meant losing a hand. Stealing a gold coin meant paying with one’s life.

Jeven thought such punishments were too severe. He had reported his view to the Senate, but the Senate forwarded his letter to the Monastery. Only after a long time did he receive a reply, sealed with the Monastery’s wax.

“These gold coins are wealth blessed by the Lord. To steal them is not merely to steal money, but to steal the Lord’s Blessing. Thus, the thief is not only a criminal but also a sinner who robs the Lord’s Blessing.”

Even so, Jeven believed such punishments should not be so harsh. After all, the Lord loved the world, and surely the Lord should show mercy to the poor.

This time, when Jeven sent another letter to the Monastery, the reply came with a Monastery apprentice.

The apprentice was well-dressed, courteous, and spoke gently. He explained the matter to Jeven and continuously gave examples proving the law was reasonable and aligned with current society.

Jeven argued only three times before he was left speechless.

In the end, the apprentice spoke with Jeven for an entire afternoon before leaving, finally satisfied.

Though Jeven still felt the punishment was harsh, he found no counterargument against the apprentice’s reasoning.

After that, Jeven no longer wrote to the Monastery about the matter of law.

“You must guide the believers here to follow the Lord’s Teachings, and not to steal.” Jeven continued to remind his successor, when suddenly a childish voice interrupted.

“Priest Jeven, are you leaving? We don’t want you to go!” A dirt-faced child said, looking about four or five years old.

“I’m only going to a place where I am needed more. I will come back to visit when I can.” Jeven replied with a smile to the child.

Two years ago, all small churches had received letters sent by white doves, instructing them to establish church-affiliated orphanages, adopt abandoned children, and teach them basic literacy.

This child, along with the tear-stained children behind him, were among the seven orphans adopted by Hailson Church. The middle-aged woman, hired to take care of them and now standing to one side, looked both awkward and reluctant.

A priest needed to lead believers in prayer, administer the Sacrament, listen to confessions, liaise with the village’s administrator, tax official, and guard captain, and sometimes even preside over trials by explaining, according to law, the sins committed by the punished.

He was very busy. Since his accompanying monk had been recommended by him to study at the Monastery, he could only hire someone to watch over the orphans.

After greeting the orphans and quietly informing Priest Harrison of some matters concerning Hailson Village, Jeven departed.

York Town was fertile grassland. The vast plains were suited for horse breeding, and after restrictions on raising horses had been lifted, York Territory’s horses had steadily increased. Still, compared to demand, they were too few. Thus, Hailson Church had no horse, and Jeven had to travel on foot to the Church headquarters.

Fortunately, just as he left Hailson Village, he happened upon a merchant returning to York City, who invited Jeven to ride in his carriage.

Jeven accepted. Walking to headquarters from Hailson would take until nightfall, but with a carriage, he might arrive by dusk.

On the carriage, Jeven chatted with the merchant.

The merchant’s name was Aen Collins. He had once served a gentry family but, after they fell from power, moved to York Town and became a free merchant.

Aen told Jeven he had originally planned to trade southward through the port, but the southern territories were too chaotic. He chose instead to trade with the relatively peaceful Northern Kingdom.

The Northern Kingdom had a harsh climate and many ferocious beasts. Its people mainly ate meat. Though they also liked wheat, their land was poorly suited for it, much of it being frozen tundra.

Thus, wheat from York Territory was very popular.

Of course, most lucrative luxury imports were monopolized by the gentry, leaving Aen little chance to acquire them.

Instead, he brought back ores and gemstones from the Northern Kingdom, where mineral resources were abundant—commodities scarce in York’s fertile lands.

However, Aen also told Jeven that the Senate had recently tripled the trade tax on grain, forcing him, whose capital came mostly from wheat trade, to seek other goods.

He shared his suspicions as well.

“The Senate controls and stockpiles grain. Perhaps it is preparing for war. After all, the southern lords who reject the Lord’s Teachings and Protection are far too many.”

Merchants were always keenly sensitive to profits, and war was the fastest road to wealth.

Aen talked endlessly, from the strange customs of the Northern Kingdom to the chaotic private lives of the southern lords, as if topics would never run out.

Jeven was not unskilled with words, but he was ill-suited for this double-edged small talk. He mostly listened in silence, occasionally responding briefly.

By dusk, when they finally saw the new city from afar, Aen reluctantly stopped. Looking at the new York City, he sighed. “What a beautiful city. I believe, in this land of Greenwood, York City will surely become the foremost city.”

“A main avenue wide enough for eight carriages side by side, shops lined neatly along the street, flowers and greenery in every detail… Just walking into York City, one can breathe in fragrances that immerse the soul.”

“If only I could own one shop along this street, I wouldn’t need to exhaust myself as a traveling merchant anymore.”

Aen’s praise was endless. Yet Jeven thought Aen was more concerned with business opportunities. To him, it was the city’s order and structure that were most beautiful.

After this, Aen bid Jeven farewell.

His home was still in York Town.

Although York City had been completed, the Senate had not yet relocated York Town’s residents. Migration was being carried out in phases.

First senators, then officials, followed by great merchants, then small merchants, and finally commoners.

Currently, only officials had begun moving. By the Senate’s schedule, it would take about four more months—after the new year—before Aen could move into York City.

Everyone knew that the earlier one relocated, the better land one received. The last to move would be left only the edges.

Of course, Aen longed to move early. He was even willing to part with ninety percent of his fortune, but at such times, money could not outweigh power.

So Aen could only continue enduring the foul air of York Town.

“I will be serving in Rod City. If you pass by, Mr. Aen, you may come to the church there for worship, and perhaps share some of your merchant tales with me.” At parting, Jeven said to him.

Aen suppressed the ecstasy in his heart.

Selling the ores and gemstones he had bought on this trip was worth it for this one sentence.

For merchants like him knew well: following Senate policies could earn them wealth, but if they managed to gain the Church’s favor, they would gain not only wealth, but also power.

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