Old Aiden, who was rushing all the way, saw a group of people gathered in front of his cottage before he even reached his doorstep, shouting something.
Aiden, who had quietly slipped past the crowd at the front door and climbed into his living room through the back window, saw his children blocking the front door with their bodies.
The old craftsman's appearance made the family's eyes light up. His elderly wife rushed up and immediately asked, "Where are the sacred relics? You didn't agree to sell them, did you?!"
Seeing Aiden shake his head, everyone finally breathed a sigh of relief.
The eldest son, who worked odd jobs in the workshop, said with a smile, "I have a friend who works in Silver Ring City. He said that a few days ago, an auction was held in the city, and even the King and Queen attended. What was auctioned off were the things that were shipped out of our town! The flowers grown by those farmers who borrowed 'Twilight Mutual Aid Fund'!"
Aiden's wife blinked and added, "I heard they made a lot of money from it!"
The old craftsman gasped, muttering, "That means..."
A voice suddenly came from outside the door: "The Holy Son has returned!"
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No matter how luxurious a place is, it can never compare to your own doghouse.
Todd now understood the meaning of that sentence deeply. The moment he stepped into Twilight Town, he suddenly felt completely relaxed, like a homebody who had been away for many days returning to his cottage filled with the scent of chestnut blossoms.
The convoy stopped in the square in front of the church.
After his request to stay the night with the royal guards who were escorting him was politely declined, Todd watched the hardworking guards embark on their journey home. Turning his gaze to the wooden crates filled with coins in the convoy, he gestured for people to inform all the townspeople to gather in the square.
In fact, there was no need for any notification. Todd had bestowed God's blessings upon those farmers, causing their flowers to fetch a high price in Silver Ring City. This news had already spread throughout the streets and alleys of Twilight Town. The men put down their work, the women abandoned the laundry they were washing, and the children gathered early in the square to secure a good spot with a good view for their families.
When Todd finished washing up, changed into clean clothes, and walked out of the church, the catechumens had already set up a simple round wooden platform, on which three heavy wooden boxes were placed in a triangular arrangement.
Todd asked Huggins in a low voice, "How is it? Is everyone here?"
The man looked at the crowd that had packed the square and nodded to the priest: "I've checked the church register; everyone who has a relic is here."
Todd nodded and, under the watchful eyes of the residents, stepped onto the wooden platform.
The clamor gradually subsided, and everyone waited for the priest to say something.
However, Todd didn't seem to have any intention of speaking. He had Huggins stand on the wooden platform and whispered something in his ear.
After listening to the priest's whisper, Huggins opened his eyes wide, straightened up, looked at the sea of people below the stage, swallowed hard, and said with difficulty, "My lord, are you sure? Isn't this a bad idea? There are so many people here, what if something happens?"
Todd gave him a reassuring look.
Huggins gritted his teeth and nodded. Under the astonished gazes of the crowd in the square, he drew his longsword from his waist and slashed fiercely at the wooden planks of the box.
Amidst flying sawdust and a screeching sound, the contents of the wooden box gradually revealed themselves under the sunlight.
The silver light pierced the eyes of the audience.
As the box shattered, the silver coins surged onto the wooden platform like 'seawater' breaking through a dam, instantly forming a silver 'ocean'.
The screams and exclamations of praise blended together as everyone pushed forward. To Huggins' relief, people simply crowded to the front to watch, and there was no sign of a riot.
Harkins pulled a document from his waist and read aloud the words on it: "Thanks be to God the Father for His grace! Thanks be to the miracle town of Twilight for His blessing! And thanks to the residents who have contributed to the 'Twilight Mutual Aid Fund'! The farmers of Twilight Town have earned a total of 2,070 Silver Moons from the sale of their goods in Silver Ring City!"
Another gasp of surprise rippled through the crowd.
The man continued, “To give thanks for God’s blessings, one-tenth of the proceeds from the sales will first be set aside as sacred management funds, temporarily held in the church, totaling 207 silver moons; next, priority will be given to paying the labor wages of the farmers in Muxi Town, at a rate of 30 copper stars per household per day, amounting to 384 silver moons; finally, the remaining 1479 silver moons will be distributed according to the proportion of sacred relics held. That is, for each sacred relic held, 14 silver moons and 79 copper stars will be distributed.”
The crowd was astonished. An investment of one silver month could yield a return of about 15 times in just one and a half months!
Watching Huggins lead his men, they first took some coins from the "sea of silver coins" in front of them and put them into the church, then took some more and handed them to the tearful Sassoon, and finally divided the remaining coins into one hundred equal parts.
At this moment, some people in the audience were overjoyed, some were filled with regret, and some were envious and jealous...
The distribution of the money took more than half an hour. Just as nothing remained on the wooden platform except for the dust stirred up by the breeze, Huggins once again stood on the platform and announced three new decisions to the people:
I. Father Todd plans to establish an organization called the "Muxi Mutual Aid Society" based on the "Muxi Mutual Aid Fund".
Second, the purpose of the "Muxi Mutual Aid Society" is to help Muxi Town develop its industries and improve people's livelihoods.
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