Twilight City, Holy Order Arbitration Tribunal, Resident Registry.

"Hello, sir. I have heard that a new king's decree has been issued in the city. Can immigrants earn residency in the kingdom by paying taxes through farming?"

Monk Joe, who was busy checking the registration of the farmland and the distribution of farm tools, said without raising his head: "That's right, the decree just issued two days ago, if necessary, you can go to the office......

Monk Joe suddenly stopped talking, turned his gaze to the questioner, and after a moment exclaimed in disbelief, "I know you! You are the priest of that Chigi village near the monastery, your name is ......"

"Moore Rupert. ”

Joe put down the book in his hand and nodded repeatedly: "That's right, that's right! That's the name! I still remember that when the Holy Son was studying in the monastery, he went to your village to exorcise demons!"

"That's right, the Holy Son performed a miracle there, saving the two evil ones from the demons. Talking about the past, Father Moore's eyes twinkled, as if that scene was still in front of him.

Joe laughed happily as he stretched out his right palm to pat the other man's arm.

After touching Moore's cuffs, his palms stayed in the air, and the smile froze on his face.

"Where's your left hand?!"

In response to the monk's question, Moore pursed his lips and lowered his head, and said slowly: "It's a long story. ”

Joe, who was a little nervous, only then did he realize that the young priest in front of him. Wheel age, but only in his twenties, wheel identity, in the past, can be regarded as a celebrity in the Western diocese.

But now, wearing a sackcloth gown full of chicken manure and pig urine, his long dark brown hair is covered with silver threads, the wrinkles on his face are as dense as the dry earth, and the original position of his left hand has been replaced by an empty sleeve.

It seemed that only the clergyman's cross on his chest was still well preserved.

Tucking the book under his arm, Joe gestured for Father Moore to follow him.

The two walked through the busy and noisy office hall and into a relatively quiet reception room.

Instructed his subordinates to prepare two cups of fruit tea and a plate of snacks, Jo asked Moore to sit down, and he spread out the books on the table and chatted casually with them.

"I think when I was in the monastery of San Sidro, I was an ordinary scribe. I was hungry at night, thanks to the bran you sent. Jo touched the top of his bare head, and laughed first: "At that time, the rats that were caught, cleaned of the meat, and sandwiched them in the bran cakes, were called 'heavenly delicacies' in the scripture copying room." ”

Moore hid his left sleeve behind his back and laughed along.

Looking at the other party's face of deference and respect, Joe stopped laughing and shook his head without a trace: "Moore, tell me your story during this time." ”

At the mention of the past, Moore's eyes were filled with pain and struggle.

"When the Silver Ring and the barbarians first ally ally, letters were constantly flowing between each church. There was only one thing to discuss, what to do in the future?" Moore's eyes were out of focus, looking into the void above the floor: "After repeated discussions, there are three paths in front of everyone. ”

"One, stay. After all, the Kingdom of the Silver Ring was once a parish of the Heavenly Father, and the kingdom had an obligation to protect its subjects and faith. Besides, the business that has been run in the village for generations is not something that can be simply abandoned......"

Moore closed his eyes and trembled slightly: "You should also know what happened to these people." ”

Joe sighed, nodded and said, "Well, it's not too good. ”

"2. Go west and join the Kingdom of the Twilight. Of course, at that time, the Kingdom of Duxi had not yet been established, and it was still called Duxi Town. The reason given by those who proposed this solution was that the Knights of the Twilight West was the last military force in the Western Diocese, and that the Holy Son could perform miracles and naturally protect the faithful. However, those who oppose it emphasize that the Knights of the Twilight West cannot protect themselves, and there is no way out to escape if they flee to the seaside. ”

Qiao straightened his body: "It turns out that this path is the right one." ”

"That's right, but it's a pity that most people at that time were not optimistic about the Knights of the Twilight West, and there were very few people who were really willing to go west......"

"And the last way?"

After a pause, Moore grabbed his pants with his only remaining right hand, and spoke in a low and terrifying voice: "Go east, go and ask for help from the Church reinforcements." ”

Joe swallowed and asked in a low voice, "The group of people who went east didn't meet the church army in the end?"

"No, we found them. Moore said with a stunned look in his eyes: "There are thousands of large and small villages on the Yuexi Plain, and the people all have the same idea - to seek help from the church. At first, the Church army did promise that they would send us to the territory of the Holy Acropolis. ”

With such assurances, tens of thousands of civilians accepted the reception of the church army and began to move east...... However, the good times were short-lived, and in the Overwatch Canyon, the barbarian coalition discovered our tracks and sent a large number of troops to follow and attack the migrating people. ”

"After discovering traces of the enemy, a dispute arose within the coalition of churches and divided into two factions. The army, led by the church, left behind its baggage, used civilians as shields, and fled the battlefield. Most of the Acropolis' army remained, distributing weapons and shields to the populace. ”

His nails were digging deep into his skin, and Moore spoke in an unusually calm tone of a massacre of terrible proportions: "It was the longest day in my memory. Tens of thousands of civilians and soldiers huddled in the open area in the middle of the canyon, desperately facing the enemy in front, behind and even overhead. Arrows and stones rained down on the crowd, and the blood pooled into lakes, turning the hard soil under their feet into bloody mud......"

Monk Joe's body trembled slightly, and he made a cross on his chest, crossing his fingers: "God, ......"

Moore struggled to squeeze a smile out of his mouth, and he pointed to the top of his head as he said, "After that day, I learned a truth. ”

"What's the truth?"

At least one sentence in the Bible is wrong. ”

"Which one?"

"God is both all-powerful and loving. ”

Monk Joe's eyes widened in bewilderment.

Moore said, word for word: "If God is omnipotent, then he must have the power to prevent the pagans from slaughtering God's people, but if he does not do so, then it proves that he must not be merciful to his own people;

"Therefore, one of God's omnipotence and love must be a lie...... Or are they both lies......"

Hearing this, Joe was stunned.

He wanted to refute this idea, but logically, he didn't know how to say it.

At this time, he remembered that the priest in front of him had relied on biblical debate and preaching in the past, and had even won the Pope's personal appreciation.

"In that massacre, dozens of villagers from Chiki Village who followed me died and fled. The village chief, Ackerman Shokola, was captured by barbarian soldiers and turned into a slave. I'm ......lucky to have lost my left hand," Moore said, clutching his empty left sleeve, in despair.

Qiao let out a long sigh: "In order to cover the retreating people, Lord Holy Son was willing to risk his life and stay to fight against the strong enemy. At this point, I don't know how many times stronger than those in the church...... By the way, you said at the beginning, you want to apply for farmland?"

Moore nodded: "I don't want to go back to the church anymore, and I don't have the face to face the villagers of Chiki Village. Being a farmer is probably my best choice. ”

"You have studied at the Metropolitan Theological Seminary, and you can read and write four languages, whether it is theological theory or braided eloquence, you are a rare talent. What a waste to be a farmer!Let me think about it......" Joe touched the top of his bare head, thought for a moment, and then said, "The Twilight West College has been planning to establish a theology department, and in addition, the Twilight West Cathedral will be officially completed in the spring of next year, and the assistant priests, master of ceremonies, and stewards will all need to recruit people. I can help you write a testimonial to find you a good spot. ”

For the first time, a sincere smile appeared on Moore's face: "That's great!"

Later, he saw a trace of embarrassment on Joe's face again, and couldn't help but ask worriedly, "What's the matter?"

The monk waved his hand and smiled reluctantly, "It's not difficult, but the king has been a bit 'busy' lately, and I haven't seen him for a few days." The list and the hiring may be a little later......"