Chapter 60: Digging into Saint Sis's corner (asking for monthly tickets!)

At dusk, the sun sets.

The three rings of the bell of the Silver Pine Town Church ended the prayers before nightfall. The afterglow of the setting sun sprinkled on the red brick and bright tile roof, slowly lengthening the reflection of the cross on the spire on the ground.

Standing under the colorful stained windows, Father Matt quietly watched the believers walk away, and then, under the adoring gazes of a group of young monks and nuns, he turned and went to the cellar in the backyard of the church.

This is where the church stores red wine. The area is quite spacious, about 50 to 60 square meters.

Ever since the cemetery took over the church, the Demon King had his minions dig a secret passage from the first floor of the maze directly to this cellar, and designated it as the place for secret meetings.

Every evening, Matt would come here under the pretext of studying scriptures, lock the door and wait for a candle.

The same is true today.

What was different from the past was that as soon as he pushed open the shabby wooden door, he saw a young man sitting at a wooden table in the cellar, flipping through a scripture with a cross on it.

Matt put the candlestick in his hand aside, nodded slightly, and spoke respectfully.

"Respected Demon King, what instructions do you have?"

If the residents of Silver Pine Town saw this scene, I'm afraid everyone would be so shocked that their jaws would drop, and they wouldn't be able to believe their eyes, ears, and mouths.

Such a handsome guy is actually the devil? Priest Matt must have made a mistake! Luo Yan said in a chatty tone while flipping through the Holy Word Book of Saint Sis Church with great interest.

"Did a fellow named Jack come in here and see you?"

Father Matt nodded.

"I received him at the chapel."

Luo Yan turned a page of the book.

"How do you feel about him?"

Matt thought for a moment and answered meticulously.

"That man's eyes were filled with worldly desires. I couldn't see the word piety. He respected me very much, but what he respected was not me, but my status and you who stood behind me."

"That guy is indeed such a person, but there is nothing wrong with this."

What Luo Yan wanted to examine was not Jack's character, but to see how Matt's mind had formed.

Now it seems that this priest has developed quite well. Although he inherited some of the personality of the original owner, he did not get stuck in theological research like the latter, but was able to think about problems from a secular perspective.

This is important.

Luo Yan closed the book in his hand, then took out two round-bottom flasks and a note from his arms, placed them on the pine table, and then gave instructions in a very soft voice.

"The green potion is a potion to relieve decay. Three drops a day is enough. The transparent bottle is a pinewood-scented perfume that can cover up some bad odors. You can decide the dosage yourself."

"As for this note, it's a new batch of goods that I need you to purchase. Once you're done, move them to the cellar and make sure the door is closed at night. I'll take care of the rest."

The goods that need to be purchased are mainly some food, such as grains and bread.

These goods are common in Silverpine.

Especially during the harvest season, food prices are often kept very low.

"clear."

Matt nodded respectfully, took the potion and the note, and put them in his arms.

"Do you have any other instructions?"

"One more thing."

Luo Yan nodded and then pointed to the wooden box behind him.

"Open it."

Matt quickly did as he pleased and opened the wooden box, only to find a bundle of silk inside.

He was slightly stunned, a surprised expression appeared on his face, and he looked up at the Demon King.

"This is……"

"You can think of it as a special and expensive silk that can be used to make clothes," Luo Yan said casually, "I want you to help me find out if anyone is interested in this thing."

Despite several twists and turns, the first textile factory in the cemetery was finally established, and this bundle of silk was the first product to come off the production line.

It is said that in order to make the product achieve the ideal effect, the three little players squeezed a crypt spider dry and almost broke their waists from exhaustion.

Although Luo Yan only provided a bottle of potion and opened his mouth, and did not actually put in much effort, he was quite supportive of the entrepreneurial plans of the three little players.

It is true that there is money in the account books of the Silver Pine Town Church, but most of the assets are fields and real estate in Thunder City, and liquid funds only account for a small part.

In order to avoid spending all the money, a large cemetery must also establish a few profitable businesses.

It is not very convenient to sell coal directly.

Let's start with high-net-worth products! Staring at the silk in his hand and thinking for a moment, Father Matt said thoughtfully.

"...I heard that Baron Gus of Silverpine Town is keen on attending high-society dinners. That gentleman should be interested in something that would allow him to stand out at the banquet. If Sheriff Adlai presents it to the baron as a gift...what do you think?"

Luo Yan did not give a positive or negative answer, but returned the question to him.

"I've already handed this thing over to you. It's up to you to decide how to use it. Of course, I suggest you discuss it with Sheriff Adlai, including Jack from Thunder City... They are more familiar with the local situation than you and I."

After this period of adaptation, Matt, as a zombie, has gradually integrated into his current identity and can even think about problems from the perspective of "Father Matt" without the guidance of others.

This is a good start.

Luo Yan planned to let him continue to do so and further delegate the specific matters to him.

Matt nodded slightly in response to the Demon Lord's trust.

"Understood... I will do my best to make this matter satisfactory to you."

"I believe you won't let me down," Luo Yan smiled faintly and continued, "I have finished talking about my business. How about you? Is there anything you need to report... or do you need my help?"

Matt nodded and spoke truthfully.

"The church is on the right track now, and Sheriff Adlai has taken care of the minor details. The only problem is that as a ghoul, I cannot use sacred spells. I can only perfunctorily respond to the believers' prayers with the teachings of Saint Sith... but I'm afraid this is not a long-term solution."

Having said this, he paused and continued with some embarrassment.

"There is also the issue of holy water... The production of holy water also relies on the power of holy light."

This wasn't just his problem.

It is also Sheriff Adlai's problem.

In this world, the Church of Saint Sith is not only a church, but also plays the role of a hospital to a certain extent, responsible for treating fatal injuries that herbalists cannot cure.

Although the vast majority of the poor do not have the money to purchase church services, Silverpine also has some wealthy freemen and gentry.

Another one is the adventurer.

When they are injured, those with high income and high risk will also give priority to purchasing church services in order to recover to their best condition as soon as possible and get rid of physical pain.

Although Luo Yan has proved that devout faith is not the only way to use magic, it still cannot change the fact that holy spells can restrain the undead.

This is part of the rules.

Just like the flame formed by the fire element can ignite objects and produce real flames.

Even if he taught Matt how to use the holy light, the latter would reveal his true colors when actually using it... like accelerating the decay of his body or something.

Luo Yan thought for a moment and then spoke.

"Holy light is not the only healing spell. I can teach you how to use healing spells. As for holy water...how much does it usually cost?"

Matt answered truthfully.

"Five hundred silver coins."

500 silver coins! Luo Yan couldn't help but take a breath when he heard this number.

500 silver coins can buy a set of swords and shields at the weapon shop in Thunder City. If exchanged for copper coins of the same value, you can buy more than 5,000 pieces of bread - a big piece of bread that is big enough for a family to share!

This amount of money was almost equivalent to the total income of a tenant farmer working on the lord's land for a whole year.

Taking into account the cost of renting land, daily living expenses, various taxes and fluctuations in food prices, most farmers cannot save much money throughout the year.

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No wonder Chris always harbored a bit of hostility towards the nobles, and even wanted to rob and rape them and kill them because she misunderstood that they were nobles.

Although this guy deserves sympathy, Luo Yan still couldn't help but complain. It was Saint Sith who made the rules, and it was the church who collected the money... Not to mention whether hatred is useful, what's the point of just hating the nobles?

You should choose the softer of two persimmons, right? This kind of thinking will be criticized wherever it is.

"It's too expensive," Luo Yan shook his head and continued, "Tell the believers who need to hold a funeral that... Lord Saint Sis appreciates their kindness, but they should keep the money for themselves."

"As for those who have too much money and have nowhere to spend it, just go get some water from the well and use it as holy water. Then use the 'Soul Release Technique' to release the soul of the deceased from the body."

Anyway, the holy water was sprinkled on the corpse. Whether it was holy water or not, the dead person couldn't sit up and speak.

In addition to Holy Light, the elementary spells of the Undead Order can also free a person's soul from a body that has just begun to decay, allowing it to go where it should go according to its own beliefs... although it is based on a completely different principle from the Holy Order spells.

Considering that undead spells are not suitable to be cast in public.

Father Matt will make it up to them after the "ritual" is over.

As for whether this is considered cheating? Of course it is!

However, these people even dared to believe that "500 silver coins can lead to a good birth". Luo Yan felt that they might as well believe that he was Qin Shihuang. After all, he could really make them ghost soldiers.

Reality is so cruel.

Holy water can only prevent a corpse from turning into a ghost, but it cannot help the soul of the deceased to be reborn into a good life!

This is not Luo Yan's subjective speculation, but it is written in the "Book of Holy Words" -

"The water blessed by the gods can bring eternal peace to the dead."

As for being born into a good family or something like that...that is purely a misunderstanding of people, or an unrealistic wish.

Whether on the surface or in hell, reincarnation is based on the level of the soul.

If you want to improve your soul level without taking evil paths, you can only please the gods you believe in.

On the side of the demon god Bayeli, it is enough to become an acolyte who preaches and contributes faith.

Most humans living in hell take this path, dedicating their lives to the devil. After death, they do not have to be resurrected as undead. Their souls enter the reincarnation pool and become high-level demons in the next life.

Luo Yan was not very clear about the situation on the surface.

But if we refer to hell, the high-level demons should be the counterparts of the knights or nobles? The counterparts of the acolytes are the priests.

I think as long as you devote your life to Saint Sith, there is still a great hope of being reborn into a noble family in the next life.

As for wanting to buy a rich second-generation start with 500 silver coins, it is still a bit of a pipe dream.

Even players of "Disaster OL" know that soul levels cannot be purchased with ghost money.

Want to upgrade?

That requires a "contribution"! Hearing the Demon King's order, Matt was slightly stunned, with a hesitant expression on his face.

Using well water instead of holy water is a bit too much.

"Is this... possible?"

Luo Yan smiled faintly.

"Holy water is water that has been blessed by the gods. As for whether it has been blessed or not... who can tell the difference except yourself?"

After a pause, he continued.

"Also... you can spread the news that there is a saint in Silver Pine Town who is favored by Saint Sith. The amulet he made can also ensure that the corpse will not turn into the undead."

"As long as the dead person is willing, it can sleep in the coffin until it turns into ashes. This amulet is very cheap, only 10 silver coins are needed, and it can be worn not only by the dead but also by the living. It is highly recommended for adventurers..."

"Of course, it only works on dead people."

Rather than being a talisman, this thing is just a stone with a magic circle of "Soul Release" engraved on it.

After the wearer dies, the soul will naturally be freed from the body unless there is a strong obsession.

As for being awakened as a skeleton soldier by the Necromancer, that was none of his business.

This thing is actually the same as holy water, except that one is sprinkled and the other is used.

The little devil is very good at this stuff.

I said I would help them solve the food crisis, and in a sense this is fulfilling my promise.

Matt carefully noted the Demon Lord's instructions and continued.

"This 'saint'...what is his name?"

Luo Yan considered his wording for a long time and spent two minutes to compile the outline of the entire story.

"He is an orphan who lost his parents at birth."

"He was born in the hottest cave in the Wanren Mountains. Only the gushing magma witnessed the baby's cry."

"Thanks to the protection of the gods, he was lucky enough to survive."

"An old priest took him home and raised him..."

There is no need for too much preface to a story, as too much would be superfluous and would not be conducive to word-of-mouth transmission. As for omissions in details, there will naturally be bards to fill them in.

All he had to do was give the story a start and make sure the amulet actually worked.

"He has no name."

"People who know him affectionately call him——"

"Flame King."

(End of this chapter)