Dusk in the western city, at the Royal Printing House.
Emerson picked up a newly printed book from the table, opened it, and began to examine its contents while inhaling the pungent smell of ink.
Terence stood beside him, wearing crystal glasses, carefully comparing the passages of the Bible with a one-armed priest beside him.
Emerson glanced through the entire book, put it down, and asked the one-armed priest, "Moore, is this printed edition completely error-free?"
Moore nodded: "The differences in Bible translations, all the references, and the analysis of the saints' words are all in this book. And I've read it all; there are no errors."
Emerson glanced back at the still bewildered Huggins and explained, "Do you remember more than half a month ago, His Majesty proposed in a meeting to curb the Church's influence in order to facilitate the future development of Muxi City? Based on this strategic direction, the Cabinet studied a large number of documents and consulted countless scholars. Finally, they found a breakthrough. The Cabinet issued an order that when the Muxi City's merchant fleet went to the Southern Empire to purchase goods, they should specifically buy an ancient version of the Bible."
Huggins recalled the incident and nodded in agreement.
“We spent gold, which was ten times the weight of the book, to buy an Eastern manuscript from the library of the Abbasid Empire. It contained a copy of the original Bible from 1,800 years ago.” Emerson pointed to a tattered book written on parchment on the table: “This book was originally kept in the Orthodox Church in the Eastern Holy City, but it ended up in the Southern Empire during the war.”
Huggins was puzzled: "I know about this, but what does it have to do with the printed book?"
Emerson picked up the newly printed book, pointed to the name on the cover—"Justification by Faith"—and said to Huggins, "As we all know, the Bible translation used by the church comes from the Romanization version from seven hundred years ago. It has undergone seven revisions before being translated into the common language version we use today."
"However, the church's translation has some changes compared to the original from the East."
Emerson pointed to Father Moore, the one-armed priest, and said to Hudgens, “Moore Rupert, formerly the priest of Thousand Wood Village and an expert in biblical doctrine, is now the executive priest of Muxi Cathedral. He was also the first person to raise these differences with the Cabinet. I will now have him explain them.”
Moore opened the original Bible, pointed to a sentence inside, and read in ancient language: "Δίκαίων?μαστεμετηνπ?στη, μ?σωτουΚυρ?ουμα?Ιησο?Χριστο?, μετονΘε?και."
Huggins' eyes widened: "What does this mean?"
Moore first opened the church version of the Bible and said to Hudgens, "In the church's Bible, this sentence is roughly translated as: 'Believers must rely on their own good works and rituals to obtain salvation.'"
He then opened the newly printed book and continued, "But according to the ancient texts I consulted, the interpretation of this sentence is more inclined to be: 'Believers must rely on their piety toward God to obtain salvation.'"
Huggins thought for a moment and then tentatively asked, "So, the church's translation of the original text is more beneficial to themselves?"
Emerson continued, "That's right. According to the church's version of the Bible, believers who want to be saved must rely on the church's guidance and complete reasonable and effective good works and rituals in order to receive God's salvation..."
Terence took off his glasses and added, "But according to the interpretations of the classics we found, believers, as long as they have a devout heart, can approach God and ultimately be saved, regardless of their words, actions, or rituals."
Huggins exclaimed incredulously, "So, the original Bible says the church had no reason to exist at all?!"
Moore nodded: "Judging from the original text, believers establish a relationship with the Father through faith. The salvation of the soul is not the work of the church, but a gift from God to His believers. Therefore, believers do not need to rely on the church's extremely complicated religious rituals; they can be saved simply by having a devout faith in God."
Huggins reached out a trembling hand, picked up a book from the table, and said softly, "If we were to publish such a book to the public, have you considered what the consequences would be?"
Moore said: "The greatest doctrinal debate in history."
Terence said, "A religious reformation unlike any other in history."
Emerson sighed: "A bloody religious war."
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Todd, who was slowly waking up in bed, shook his groggy head, trying his best to shake off the discomfort of his hangover.
When he got up and looked out the window, Todd realized that the sun was high in the sky and it was already noon.
After slowly getting dressed, Todd went to the church chapel, intending to look for Tristan.
An elderly nobleman, sitting in the front row, immediately sat up with a smile when he saw Todd appear.
“Mr. Filichard, I have been waiting for you for a long time.”
Todd looked at him suspiciously: "Who are you?"
"Who I am is not important; His Majesty wishes to see you."
"Your Majesty?" Todd's dazed mind took a while to realize that the person he wanted to see was the King of Holy Guard City.
Looking at the royal knights standing on either side of the entrance, Todd shook his head helplessly at the old nobleman: "I guess I don't have the right to refuse, do I?"
The visitor smiled and shook his head: "Don't worry, His Majesty means no harm."
Todd turned and pointed to his room: "I want to go back and get a few things."
The old nobleman stepped sideways, blocking Todd's path, his smile softening further: "His Majesty wishes to see you immediately."
After muttering a few complaints to himself, Todd spoke to Rachel in the soul space, instructing her to immediately initiate the evacuation plan if she could not contact him after a period of time.
Escorted by a troop of knights, Todd rode in the royal carriage and once again entered the royal palace of Saint Guard.
After traversing countless corridors and passing numerous sentry posts, Todd finally arrived at a shady pavilion.
The old man who played chess with him last night had set up the chessboard and was sitting in front of it, quietly waiting for Todd to arrive.
When the latter appeared, the old man waved happily, signaling everyone to step back.
Todd looked at the tall, imposing, yet frail old man before him and tentatively asked, "Are you the King of Holy Guard City, Leoric the Lion of the Father?"
Yes, child.
Todd glanced at the backgammon board in front of him: "I guess you didn't summon me here just to play chess, did you?"
Leoric smiled and nodded: "You guessed right, I was stopped by someone else."
"who?"
Leoric turned halfway to the side and pointed behind him.
Mary's radiant smile, as beautiful as a flower, came into Todd's view.
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