A trend has swept through the Silver Ring Royal City.
"Sacred Items Appraisal Meeting".
The nobles distributed invitations in the name of their families, organized gatherings, and placed their treasured (looted) crystal relics in the most prominent position in the banquet hall. They then invited friends and colleagues to enjoy fine food and wine while admiring the sparkling treasures.
This may sound unbelievable, but it actually happens in high society.
Gradually, this trend spread to the royal family. King Guy VI and Queen Mary, following the example of their acquaintances, began to hold lavish banquets in the palace, using their treasured (yes, stolen) crystal relics as the theme, inviting the nobles and dignitaries of the Silver Ring Kingdom to gather together.
This move completely propelled the popularity of crystal artifacts to its peak.
In the days that followed, in taverns, inns, merchant guild stations, and rural towns, commoners gathered together and talked mostly about the topic of "treasures from the North."
People praised it to each other with great enthusiasm.
Children love to hear the adventure stories of treasure hunts; young people love to talk about the priceless value of treasures; and the elderly are interested in the mysterious effects and sacred radiance of holy objects.
In the vast city of Silver Ring, there was only one person who did not participate in this popular feast, but instead fell into great anxiety.
Bishop Fabian touched the top of his head, intently reading the report about the sacred objects that his subordinates had compiled for him.
Relics intended for the Pope have instead ended up in the hands of secular royalty and nobility. While the primary responsibility doesn't lie with him, he'll be the first to suffer once the archbishop and the cardinal order learn of this. His immediate priority is to find a way to remedy the situation as quickly as possible.
A sudden knock on the door made him look up unhappily: "Come in."
The deacon opened the door, glanced at his superior's face, and said in a low voice, "Father Paul is here and requests to see you."
The bishop frowned and waved his hand impatiently: "It's him again? I'm not seeing him!"
Watching his subordinates leave the room, the old man turned his attention back to the report.
The events of the Northern Islands, repelling the pirates, capturing ships, and returning laden with spoils made him realize that the fastest way to obtain the Crystal Relic was to persuade Todd to head north. After some thought, the bishop picked up a pen and paper, quickly wrote a letter, removed his monocle, rang the communication bell, and said to his subordinate who entered the room, "Give this letter to Father Rupert and tell him to do it as soon as possible."
Three days later, in the monastery's library, Todd met the priest who had once performed exorcisms alongside him.
Father Rupert didn't make a good first impression on Todd, but after an exorcism, his attitude changed dramatically upon their next meeting. His arrogance turned into warmth, and his hostility into respect.
The two sat down at the table and exchanged a few words. The monk immediately understood the other party's purpose.
The church hopes he will travel north again and bring back more crystal artifacts.
He was secretly delighted, thinking that the opportunity he had been waiting for had finally arrived, but he couldn't show any sign of it on his face.
Todd touched the cross on his chest, shook his head, and his trembling hands, combined with his lingering fear, made the other person feel immense guilt for forcing him to go north.
As if chatting with an old friend, the monk first avoided discussing his willingness to go to sea. Instead, he began by recounting his "encounters in the North" to Father Rupert: towering waves, torrential rain, raging hurricanes, and the pursuit of barbarians. The plot was as exciting as a Hollywood blockbuster from his previous life, told off the cuff, leaving Father Rupert breathless with his (fabricated) adventures.
"It is already a blessing from the Father that I can return to my homeland. How dare I hope to receive the Holy Spirit's protection again?"
Todd's words resonated deeply with Father Rupert, leaving him deeply moved.
The priest, who was devoted to theology and not good at scheming, immediately patted his chest and loudly promised the monks, "Don't worry, Brother Todd! I'll write to Bishop Fabian right away and persuade him to find someone else to carry out such a dangerous mission! Leave it to me!"
Upon hearing this, Todd's eyes widened in surprise, and he thought to himself.
Why don't you always do things the way people do?
According to the usual procedure, you should persuade me again, I should propose conditions again, we should bargain, and then the matter can be settled.
How come you're only halfway through the game, and you're already pulling up your pants and saying you're quitting?
Todd smoothly steered the conversation back to the original topic, expressing his devotion to God and gratitude to the church. He subtly hinted that if the conditions were right, he would consider going to sea again to travel north for the sake of the church.
Under Father Rupert's persistent questioning, Todd slowly revealed his conditions.
Three days later, at St. Co's Cathedral, in the bishop's chapel.
Bishop Fabian looked at the letter from Father Rupert, touched his forehead, and said with a headache: "First, he hopes to establish a church in Muxi Harbor so that he can preach to the north; second, he hopes the church will provide him with supplies, ships and weapons; third, he hopes the church will send a knightly order of no less than three hundred men as his guards to resist the pirates?"
The subordinates in the room exchanged glances.
One of the former members of the delegation, grateful for Todd's kindness, mustered his courage and carefully phrased, "Your Excellency, the northern pirates are not to be underestimated. Our men once fought them eight to one and nearly lost. The journey to the north, as the letter says, is fraught with danger and a near-death experience, which is not an exaggeration..."
The bishop tossed the letter onto the table, his tone tinged with displeasure: "The first two conditions are manageable, but the last one—the western coastal region—where am I supposed to find a church knightly order to protect him? Even if I could, who would be willing to take on such a mission to the barbarian lands to the north?"
Sitting back in his chair, Fabian propped his forehead with his palm: "He returned safely from his first voyage, but the second time he's become so cowardly. It's necessary to teach this kid a lesson..."
Just then, there was a knock on the door.
After receiving permission, the deacon entered the room, looking at the bishop with a pained expression.
The latter sighed: "It's that Paul guy again?"
The officiant nodded.
The bishop shook his head, and asked helplessly, "Speak, Father Paul, what is it?"
The reporter glanced around at the other people in the room, a troubled look on his face.
Fabian waved for the others to leave temporarily, then picked up the letters on the table and opened the drawer.
The deacon approached the bishop and whispered, "Father Paul said that Todd is a heretic and that he should be put on trial for heresy!"
Bishop Fabian froze, turned around in disbelief, and dropped the letter in his hand to the ground.
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