Domoksálamo, domoksálamo … "
* * * In a basement beneath the Brilliant White Church in Lancaster, a group of men wearing white priest robes were sitting around a circular divine circle, chanting cryptic incantations without stopping.
At the center of the circle was a white gem the size of a pigeon egg.
A moment later, a dazzling white light shone from the divine formation, and the gemstone placed in the center of the formation began to melt. When it completely disappeared, several figures gradually emerged from the center of the formation.
They were reinforcements from the Holy City of Istan.
Although Monan was a captain among the elites of the royal army and had a better sense of politics than the other knights, his knowledge and experience were still there. He could not jump out of that frame to view the overall situation. Therefore, the conjectures he made based on his own knowledge were not accurate.
Back when Mayor Corinne of Lancaster announced the Twin City Cup, the bishop of the Brilliant White Church in Lancaster had contacted the Holy City through a secret spell.
On the other hand, the cardinal who was in charge of diplomatic affairs in the Holy City believed that they could use the tournament to probe the Silver Eagle Duchy's bottom line. After all, the Church of Games had only made an appearance in Tunaya, which was the other city in the Twin City Cup aside from Lancaster.
Still, the Brilliant White Church's size did not care about a small church that had just revealed a little of its existence, even if they were inextricably linked to the destruction of the church's predecessor.
Still, out of professional habit and the need to spend the money as soon as possible, the bishop decided to send a group of reinforcements to check out the situation.
The figures of the reinforcements in the divine circle slowly became clear, although most of them did not have the elegance of their clothes. Instead, they appeared ragged.
It was not just their clothes either — the hair and beards of the Holy City of Istan were kept mostly clean, appearing messy and unkempt.
The tanned skin that was exposed from the clothes that did not fit well was also different from the pampered and tender skin of the bishops. It looked very rough, and one could vaguely see the twisted markings that looked like whip marks.
If one had to describe them, apart from being cleaner and having no odor, they would not look out of place even if they were placed in the slums.
Be that as it may, none of the clerics present dared to underestimate these seemingly poor people, much less act rudely towards them.
After all, they were ascetics.
They were willing to live and cultivate in poverty and hardship, refining their spirit, body, and even soul, offering everything to their faith. In return, their pure heart earned them the attention of the gods and power that far surpassed ordinary believers.
Even if most churches were structured differently, the title of ascetic held the same important meaning.
Regardless of the church, only zealots and above had the right to become ascetics.
It was an indescribable honor to become an ascetic in a behemoth like the Brilliant White Church. In fact, many clerics believed that becoming an ascetic was more difficult than becoming a bishop in a field mission.
At the same time, the monks themselves were the cornerstone of the Brilliant White Church's high-end combat force. Leaving aside the Pope, Holy Children, Holy Maidens, and various Chosen Ones, the members of the two most fearsome secret organizations of the Brilliant White Church — the White Court Obliteration Mechanism and the Heretical Tribunal on the thirteenth floor of the Underground Sanctuary — were all chosen from the monks.
"Apologies for interrupting your cultivation, masters." The bishop who led the clerics rose and bowed slightly. "We'll be troubling you for the tournament."
"It's fine. It's necessary, and a part of our cultivation."
The leader of the ascetics accepted his bow calmly and nodded.
"Men, bring the masters to rest." The bishop called out to the other clerics.
"No need. Just give us an empty room. We can solve our own problems." The leader of the ascetics stopped the other party from entertaining them properly and only made a simple request.
"You really don't need food or anything? Alright … "
In the end, the bishop relented and had the clerics lead the ascetics to an empty room in the backyard of the cathedral.
After the ascetics left, one of the clerics asked the bishop quietly, "Sir, is it really worth it to call them here? That Graylight Crystal is very pure, and could sell for more than three Abbys on the black market! "
"You're shortsighted. Asking for help from Stein is a must." The bishop of the Lancaster Brilliant White Church replied sullenly. "There's no telling what those warmongering gorillas from the Temple of Glory said, but Mayor Corinth has suddenly become a lot colder towards us, and even the nobles of his faction are paying less tribute than usual …"
"But didn't the Temple of Glory say that they didn't know anything about it when you went there?" The cleric asked in confusion.
"Do you believe them just because they say so? Moreover, it's a fact that our influence is weakening whether they did it or not. "
The bishop shook his head and spoke as he walked, leaving the basement together with the priest.
Although the new emperor was trying to interfere with Lancaster's affairs and had extended an olive branch to many nobles in the city, some of whom were even tempted and secretly working with him, the Atherton family had been the ruler of Lancaster for generations. Corinth alone had been mayor for over forty years, and his influence was so great that the new emperor's minions and some benefits wouldn't be able to shake him easily.
With Corinth's stance, the other nobles naturally followed suit and became less enthusiastic about the Brilliant White Church's monthly tithe and other tributes.
"This can't go on! We must let the world know once more that the Brilliant White Church is the number one church in the world! We are the strongest! "The bishop said solemnly as he landed on the ground." And the Twin City Cup is the best chance! I don't know what Mayor Corinth's goal is in holding this tournament, nor am I interested. Still, there's no doubt that the name of the Brilliant White Church would be revived if these monks could take the first few places in the tournament! It would make the nobles remember that the Brilliant White Church isn't some small fry. Behind us stands the holy city of Stein! Above the God of Light, the head of the Seven Divine Fathers! "
"As expected of my lord bishop! You've thought of something we would never have imagined so easily! "The cleric was smart enough to flatter his leader.
That was when an unusual whistling could be heard from outside the window. The bishop turned to find several draconic beasts gliding over the skies of Lancaster.
It was the Temple of Glory's elite combat force, the wyvern knights!
The Brilliant White Church's bishop scowled at the sight, and he hissed through clenched teeth, "You've even summoned something like that, and you're still denying that it wasn't the Temple of Glory?"
* * * As the Twin City Cup approached, an unseen undercurrent was surging within Lancaster.
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Chapter 284:
The Movements of Various Factions
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