March 17, 1174, 7:30 a.m., chapel behind the Cathedral of Musi.
Having shed his usual formal attire and donned his old knight's armor—a rare occurrence—Huggins straightened his back, walked to the entrance of the auditorium, and gently knocked on the door.
"Your Majesty, it is time."
With a creaking sound from the hinges, two guard knights pushed open the door from the inside, and a group of monks dressed in white robes filed out carrying scriptures.
Dressed in a moon-white holy robe, Todd, holding the scepter that signifies his status as patriarch, slowly walked out of the hall.
Looking at the calm-faced king, Huggins himself became a little nervous: "Your Majesty, everything is ready."
Todd nodded and, under the protection of his guards, walked toward the main hall of the cathedral.
The construction of the Musi Cathedral took two and a half years from the beginning to the completion of the first phase.
Although only the main hall and two secondary towers were completed here, those who have visited unanimously agree that, in terms of both architectural style and interior decoration, no other church on the entire continent can compare with it.
The smooth, mirror-like marble floor reflects one's face; the exquisite religious murals make one feel as if they are actually there; the expensive and luxurious tables, chairs, and utensils make one marvel at the wealth of Muxi City.
When the holy King of Muxi appeared beside the temple, thousands of people in the cathedral's main hall stood up.
Among them were kings who had traveled from afar, renowned nobles, respected scholars, and wealthy merchants.
As everyone looked at the man surrounded by knights, they were amazed by the youth of the King of Twilight City, but they were also wondering what the so-called Protestant Church would actually be like.
Speaking of the two major denominations that continued from the time of Taylor, the Church of the Father and the Orthodox Church, their internal structures were both modeled after monarchies, with many levels, and the Pope at the top.
This setup is beneficial for religious development, but it passively concentrates power in one person, which can easily breed corruption and abuse of power.
Therefore, most of the people who came to witness the establishment of the new religion in Muxi City had doubts in their hearts: could this king of Muxi City, who was called the Holy Son, really push the religious reform to proceed smoothly?
Todd stood on the pulpit, with the towering cross in front of him. Following the pre-rehearsed procedure, he recited the prayer aloud and meticulously performed the prayer.
The entire ceremony lasted an hour and a half, during which the Umbrella Cross, the symbol of Protestantism, was raised atop the cathedral, and thunderous cheers erupted from outside the square. Only then did the audience realize that the ceremony was over.
After handing the scepter and holy medal to Brother Joe, Todd stood before the pulpit table and nodded to the crowd in the church.
Realizing that he was about to deliver his inaugural address, everyone present immediately perked up and listened intently.
"The Bible says that people are born with sin. As we walk with sin, our sins will continue to increase, and only through piety and confession can we be redeemed."
Todd paused for a moment, then held up a piece of paper on the table and asked everyone, "Does anyone recognize what this is?"
Everyone looked closely and saw that it was an indulgence from the Church of the Father.
“A piece of paper made of straw ash and wood pulp, with two sacred verses written on it and a seal stamped on it, has the power to cleanse all sins. Compared to this, don’t you think that the original sin that God gave to mankind has become a complete joke?”
Todd put down the piece of paper and continued, "Whether it's tithes or church taxes, isn't it the greatest sin for clergy to use snippets of the Bible, taking them out of context, to extort money from believers?"
Todd's words elicited nods of agreement from everyone, and while people were delighted, they also vaguely understood the new pope's deeper meaning.
Todd's next remarks were even more direct, so direct that everyone was somewhat taken aback.
"The church is not a superior entity. Even without the guidance of clergy, believers can communicate with the highest through their sincere hearts as long as they have God in their hearts. In my view, what are popes, bishops, and priests? They are not God's spokespeople, but rather servants of believers."
Todd's words shocked everyone present.
The church's duty is not to speak for God, but to serve believers. This theory may have been circulated by others, but it has never come from the mouth of a clergyman.
Today, someone has said this, and that person is none other than the Pope of Protestantism.
“A farmer’s job is to cultivate the land, and a knight’s duty is to defend honor. The same is true for the clergy of the church; our purpose is to bring more believers closer to God. This profession should not be tainted by any utilitarian motives, much less be linked to money.” Todd held up a Bible in one hand and a cross to his chest in the other, and said firmly, “Faith in God should be the most beautiful and purest thing in the world; any worldly impurities will only defile this sacredness.”
Todd's words deeply moved everyone present. The monks in white robes made the sign of the cross and sang hymns in unison, while the audience stood up and praised God's blessings.
Seeing this scene, Todd smiled and waited for people to calm down before speaking: "As the Pope of Protestantism, I hereby announce three major tenets for this denomination."
"First, Protestants will not threaten or entice believers to pay money or gifts in any way."
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