Chapter 520: Stigmata
Lisa looked at Ace and smiled faintly. She recalled the fear when she was betrayed, the despair when she was humiliated, and then the disbelief, surprise, and grievance at the moment she saw Ace. She said softly: “I can’t go back, Mr. Cat. I can never go back. Apart from you, I’m afraid there is no place for me. Only where you are can I see a hope.”
Ace heard that there seemed to be a deeper meaning in Lisa’s words. Seeing that Lisa didn’t want to explain in detail, he didn’t force it. He smiled and said: “In that case, do a good job, Nun Lisa. This will always be your home.”
Lisa nodded and said with a smile: “Yes, Your Excellency.”
Half a month passed quickly. Ace had recruited a group of literate and kind-hearted people in the Old Street to serve as monks and nuns.
After advancing to a Level 1 Life through the Path of Heart Fire, his spirit achieved overdrive. He could use various magical means, and distinguishing people’s hearts was even easier.
To gather people’s hearts, Ace quietly used the magic “Transmute Mud to Rock” at night to accelerate the construction of the church. In just half a month, a four-story simple church had taken shape. In addition to the main body of the church, the row of single-story houses in the backyard of the church had also been repaired.
After recovering his magical ability, every late night, Ace used Threads of Fate as casting materials in the church to arrange a complex magic circle. This magic circle covered the entire church. Its function was to gather the Power of Fate and condense it onto the church altar.
Under that altar, Ace buried a scroll of fate script. The entire Old Street was the stage for this fate act, and all the people of the Old Street were actors on the stage. They would slowly reform under Ace’s guidance and finally complete this complex magic circle.
“Late night is the best time. We will eventually complete this act, and the gathered Power of Fate will complete the summoning magic circle.”
His eyes were deep, looking up at the dome of the church. His gaze seemed to penetrate the dome, penetrate the night sky, penetrate the world, and cast towards the upper layer of the Astral Plane.
Early the next morning, Ace was leading the monks, nuns, and orphans to perform Mass when a fully armored knight riding a white horse appeared at the church entrance. The monks hurriedly reported to Ace.
Ace walked out of the main gate. The knight had just taken off the helmet, revealing golden hair tied high—it was none other than Yamila.
She was wearing a full set of Holy Light Armor, holding a canister-shaped helmet under her arm, with a long sword hanging at her waist, looking majestic and heroic.
Seeing Ace wearing a black priest robe and a round white cap, Yamila’s eyes lit up. She performed a knight’s salute and said: “Star Radiance Knight Yamila, by order of the Deacon Bishop of St. Ivan Cathedral, has come to assist the Priest of the Old Street Branch Diocese.”
Ace smiled and stepped forward, gave Yamila a hug, and led her into the domed hall of the church.
The Holy Light Church prohibited idol worship. Their common sacred representation was a relief of the sun. Ace led everyone in the church to continue the Mass. After the entire ceremony ended, he said in front of the sun relief:
“Today is the day our church is officially completed. Our church is the church of the Old Street Branch, but we are not only the spiritual leaders of the Old Street, but also the guardians and operators of the Old Street.”
Ace showed an appointment document from St. Ivan Cathedral and two royal authorization documents to everyone, then continued: “Our church also shoulders the responsibility of leading the residents of the Old Street to material and spiritual wealth, and protecting their lives and property safety. All of this points to one goal, which is to make the residents happy. Therefore, I propose that our new church should be called Lafmai Church.”
Many people were confused, seeming not to know what Lafmai meant. Only Lisa explained in a low voice: “Lafmai is the legendary Kingdom of Happiness in the clouds. Legend has it that people living there have no strife, have endless bread and cheese, and rivers flow with sweet wine.”
Everyone gasped, unable to help envying this fairy-tale kingdom.
Ace continued: “Lisa is right. Our church is named this because we want to build the Old Street into a Lafmai on earth. I have always believed in one thing: only clean souls, only pure righteous individual, can build a truly happy kingdom, allowing people to have a sense of security, faith, and prosperity.
“Our Old Street should be such a district. Everyone can get rich through moral and legal means using their wisdom and diligence, help each other for mutual benefit, and build a beautiful community.
“I have always had such a dream: everyone can obtain a better life through unremitting efforts and struggle. People must move towards prosperity through their own hard work, courage, creativity, and determination, rather than relying on privilege and the aid of privilege.
“Our Lafmai Church possesses the missionary right granted by the Holy Light in the Old Street community, and the tax farming right and jurisdiction granted by the royal family. I am the Priest of Lafmai Church. Now I announce the internal organizational structure and future goals of our church.
“Under the Priest, three Deaconries are established: the Administrative Deaconry, the Hall Deaconry, and the Judgment Deaconry. The Administrative Deaconry is responsible for managing all government affairs of the entire Old Street, including public security; the Hall Deaconry will train thirty Templars, also known as the Templar Knights, responsible for guarding the safety of the entire Old Street; the Judgment Deaconry is the Religious Court, which will judge all cases, big and small, according to the Old Street Branch Diocese Covenant…”
Ace then appointed Lisa as the temporary Administrative Deacon, Yamila as the Hall Deacon and concurrently the Commander of the Templar Knights, and he personally served concurrently as the Judgment Deacon.
That afternoon, all the believers in the Old Street were gathered at the church. Almost everyone came because Ace promised that everyone who came could receive a bag of barley. Facing the believers, Ace still read out his governance philosophy for the Old Street, but the residents just watched coldly.
They had experienced too much. Many rulers spoke nicely on the surface, but in reality, there would be no change. It wasn’t until the barley was distributed that people truly smiled. Along with the barley was the Old Street Branch Diocese Covenant. Everyone listened to the covenant once and pressed their handprints before receiving a bag of barley.
Yamila looked at the crowd, frowning slightly. She saw people’s distrust and found Ace at dusk to express her worries.
Ace looked at Yamila and said: “You are destined to be a qualified king. You will become a true righteous king because you truly noticed the people’s real thoughts and didn’t immerse yourself in illusions.
“We destroyed the Maine Gang and obtained the ruling power of the Old Street through legal means, but for the residents of the Old Street, it doesn’t mean we are much better than the Maine Gang.
“Because all we’ve done is talk. apart from distributing a bag of barley to each person, we haven’t done more beneficial things for the people. Naturally, people are watching. We need to do more to make the residents of the Old Street trust us and stop watching.”
Yamila’s beautiful blue eyes were somewhat confused. She sighed and said: “I really want to make all the residents happy, but I know that merely maintaining good order cannot make every resident happy. That only guarantees their safety. What method should we use to make them feel happy?”
Wearing a black priest robe and a black round cap, Ace stood and touched Yamila’s head, saying solemnly: “My future king, you have begun to think, begun to learn how to rule. The Old Street is your best training ground. Let us find the answer together.
“In the Kingdom of Hill and even the entire continent, ensuring the safety of residents is not easy. If we can ensure safety and act justly and fairly, creating an environment where kind, diligent, and intelligent people can rise, while evil, lazy, and opportunistic people are punished, we don’t need to do other things. In this good social environment, capable people will constantly create wealth, and society will prosper rapidly.
“What we need to do is create a fair and just social environment and guarantee the people’s right to life, property, and education.”
Hearing this theory for the first time, Yamila was greatly amazed. She keenly sensed Ace’s unfinished words and humbly asked Ace for advice. The two talked until the moon hung high before dining together and separating.
After Yamila fell asleep, Ace, wearing a cloak, quietly appeared in the church. Standing silently in the center of the church, he carefully manipulated the Threads of Fate to outline the magic circle.
This magic circle was extremely complex. For Ace, a Level 1 Life, it was very strenuous. He could only complete a small part every day.
The script scroll buried under the altar had gradually gathered the Power of Fate. Ace whispered: “The die is cast, waiting for the chess pieces to move. When I can call the main body, it will be the time for the curtain to rise.”
Time passed quickly. After selecting the Templars and getting the Hall Deaconry on track, under Ace’s instruction, Yamila followed Ace to judge disputes in the territory, big and small. Whether it was neighborhood disputes, brawls, merchants passing off shoddy goods as good ones, or even malicious robbery and murder, Yamila gradually became familiar with how to judge.
Not for her own likes and dislikes, but purely based on law and evidence. She would rather let a bad person go than wrong a good person.
All these principles made Yamila treasure them. Under Ace’s influence, she gradually developed her own governance logic and principles. Later, Ace had Yamila assist Lisa in handling administrative affairs and learning how to manage subordinates. Her governing experience and ability improved rapidly.
Although the Old Street was small, it had everything. Even due to the tax farming right, the governance of the entire Old Street was self-contained, which was more suitable for Yamila’s training. This allowed her to transform rapidly and mature quickly while participating in administrative constructions like the Old Street church school and the Old Street market.
Ace did not use his knowledge to invent and create. He just quietly built a safe, stable, fair, and fluid social environment, waiting quietly for the transformation of the Old Street and Yamila.
…
Half a year passed in the blink of an eye. When the two were alone, Yamila looked at Ace with reverence and said admiringly:
“Mr. Cat, you are truly a rare talent in a century. In just half a year, the social atmosphere of the entire Old Street has greatly reversed. Various unhealthy trends of the past have all been eliminated. Many habitual offenders have also turned over a new leaf under labor reform and the preaching of monks and nuns. We have really created a kind, upright, and mutually helpful social atmosphere.
“Moreover, the residents gradually trust us bit by bit. Our Lafmai Church judges fairly and governs strictly. After the establishment of the Old Street market, the residents gradually have more than enough food and clothing. In a few years, the residents here will surely be able to eat white bread for every meal and occasionally eat meat.
“All this is thanks to you. I have decided to participate in the King Selection War. Tomorrow I will pray for the Holy Sword Blessing. If I can become the king, I will definitely implement your governance philosophy, let clean souls rule this country, and create a safe, just, and kind social environment for the people with all my might.”
Ace smiled and nodded to Yamila. He had already heard the music of fate, felt Yamila’s heart, and even saw the surging Power of Fate on Yamila. That power was even stronger. Without a doubt, Yamila’s half-year in the Old Street had given her a stronger Authority of Fate.
“I cannot prophesy, but I believe you are a true Righteous Person. Seeing your growth in the Old Street over the past half year, you will become a true Righteous King, bringing reform to the entire Kingdom of Hill.
Rest well. Go to the palace tomorrow. I await your good news.”
Nothing was said overnight. Early the next morning, Ace stood on top of the church spire, watching Yamila’s receding figure. Leaping down, his black priest robe fluttering loudly, he landed gently and walked to the people seeing her off: “Lisa, notify all residents of the Old Street. The church will hold a Grand Mass to pray for Yamila.”
The efficiency of the Administrative Deaconry was very high. In less than an hour, nearly three thousand residents of the Old Street almost all arrived. Looking at the crowd in the large square in front of the church, Ace held the Grand Mass ceremony with a solemn expression.
The altar in the church was slowly carried out. At this moment, the magic circle composed of dense Threads of Fate was activated by Ace. Mana pulsed slowly. Accompanied by people’s devout prayers to the altar, the script under the altar had reached the last line.
Ace bowed and prayed, reciting the words of calling, waiting for the completion of the act.
If someone could see the scroll under the altar, they would find the last sentence written: “Everyone in the Old Street performs a Grand Mass in the square. Yamila receives the Holy Sword Blessing and officially joins the King Selection War. Priest Klan’s calling magic circle is finally activated.”
Rich Power of Fate and Power of Faith gathered along the Threads of Fate to the altar modified by Ace. The faith had been intercepted, becoming a signal amplifier, trying to link with the main body in the Kaya World.
In the Royal Palace of Hill, Yamila successfully had an audience with the Holy Sword. It was a sword of pure light inserted into a withered giant tree, its light soft and bright.
Yamila knelt slowly, clasped her hands tightly, and prayed softly.
The brilliance of the Holy Sword slowly bloomed. A dazzling brilliance flew out of the Holy Sword, turning into a sword-shaped Stigmata engraved on Yamila’s left hand. Without a doubt, she became a participant in the King Selection War. Grand Duke Minster recorded Yamila’s information in the file, frowning tightly.
“A King Candidate from the church? Truly a headache”
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