Father Miller's church is located on a hillside,

The church is made of green bricks, covering an area of just over 200 square meters, which is not as large as the prayer hall of an ordinary church, but it is much more magnificent than the cabin of a few months ago.

Although the church is small, it has a prayer hall, a confessional room, a storeroom, and a priest's bedroom. The blue bricks and black tiles, the high spires, and the thick walls are not shabby, but exquisite.

This church was actually built with the help of Victor. In addition to building the church, Victor donated five wild boars and a small amount of black bread to Father Miller every month, and provided him with a church attendant. Victor's kindness not only won Father Miller's gratitude, but also earned him the respect of tens of thousands of laborers. This was something that Victor had not anticipated, and he had only wanted to curry favor with Father Miller. This also shows from the side that the prestige of the church among the people is so high and the foundation is so thick that it is almost unshakable. In this regard, Victor was faintly worried, without the approval of the church, his battle plan for the large army would only be in vain. Fortunately, Victor's imaginary enemy is the overwhelming Ant-Man, and the Church has always spared no effort to support the lord when it comes to defending against alien invasions.

On the left and right sides of the church, there are many sheds that are used by Father Miller to administer alms. It was near evening, when the young laborers were about to finish their meals, dozens of young attendants lit a bonfire outside the shed, and threw the pork bones and minced meat, together with the wild celery, soldier beans, and round melons, into the cauldron to cook, and Victor could smell the broth from a distance.

These broths are not distributed to everyone, but are only available to young children, pregnant women and the sick. Although the church has a great family, it is not stupid enough to give food to everyone. In fact, the church has a strict system of almsgiving, and the church does not care about people who have reached the age of 12 in the absence of disasters. But if many people really starved to death, the church would be arrogant and accountable to the lords. As a last resort, the lord often donated food to the presiding priest while driving the lazy people away. And the presiding priest will also give the lord some convenience in return.

It is common sense that the church's alms should be borne by the church, but Fr. Miller was able to apply for supplies, and his alms work was supported by Victor. When the young attendants saw the "big gold lord" Victor coming with his guards, they stepped forward to salute one after another.

"Where is Father Miller?" asked Victor to one of the young squires.

"My lord, the priest is making potions in the back, and I'll go find him. The young squire said respectfully.

"No need, you take me there. Victor commanded.

Seeing his companion leading the way for Viscount Randall, the other young squires all showed envious expressions. These teenagers were chosen by Victor from among the children of the freedmen to serve as church attendants to Father Miller.

Church attendants are the assistants recruited by the presiding priest among the children of the faithful, mostly young girls over the age of 12 and under the age of 16.

It is the duty of the church attendants to assist the priests in keeping the church running, and they usually do some chores such as cleaning, repairing the church, maintaining order, giving food and medicine, etc. These attendants were not paid, but they received free food and clothing, and the priest would teach them to read, at least be able to read the canon, copy the scriptures, and act as the priest's assistant in treating the sick, so they also learned about herbal medicine and medicine.

The presiding priest can recommend two chapel attendants to study at the monastery each year, and once they pass the monastery examination, they become true clergy. Poor people are keen to send their children to church and serve as church attendants, even if they do not have a letter of recommendation from a priest, they can learn valuable knowledge, and it is easy to find a good job in the future.

Father Miller took up the post alone, doing everything himself, and for a whole month he did not recruit any assistants. When Victor learns that Father Miller is unable to support his attendants, he recruits men for him in his domain. The freedmen rushed to tell each other and cheered, but the members of the division of work were indifferent. Most of the children of vassal families do not serve as church attendants, even if they are freedmen. In fact, vassals and church attendants were two different options for commoners, one leading straight to the nobility and the other to the clergy.

Church attendants, although the starting point for becoming a clergyman, also depend on the energy of the presiding priest. The Church has been in existence for more than 7,000 years, and there are many internal factions, and the relatives and children of the clergy, teachers and students have long formed various intricate relationships, which have made the church organization bloated. If it weren't for the Shining Code established by the first pope, Victor suspects that the church would have collapsed long ago. As unbreakable as the Radiant Code is, any clergy who dares to step on the red line will be swept to the dust. But it is also extremely difficult for a civilian priest like Miller, who has no background and no connections, to recommend a few attendants to study the clergy.

These young squires were well aware of their situation, and although they could not become vassals, with the knowledge they had learned, it was also a good way out to open a herb shop in Randall and treat people's injuries, so they all wanted to make a good impression in front of Victor.

The attendant cautiously led Victor to the back of the church, and was about to greet Father Miller, but was stopped by Victor.

"You go down first. ”

The squire bowed back, and Victor walked over to Father Miller, who was concentrating on making the potion.

At the back of the chapel there was also a shed, under which several acolytes were busy sorting, grinding, squeezing the juice and putting it into different containers, and an old man in a coarse linen robe mixed the juice into smaller pottery. The old man was Father Miller.

Father Miller was not good-looking, short and thin, with a wrinkled face, and an old farmer in appearance, but his method of dispensing medicine was awe-inspiring. Father Miller brushed his hand over the mouth of each small jar of medicine, and the white-gold light reflected through his fingers into the jar, and then he went to dispense another jar of medicine, while the maiden attendant next to him sealed the jar with a wooden cork in a reverent manner.

The alchemy humans under Victor's command can recognize nearly 3,000 kinds of plants, and can dispense hundreds of potions with different functions, and their effects are far stronger than ordinary potions, but they are much worse than the potions configured by Father Miller. In addition, alchemy humans will not prepare drugs to treat diseases, because alchemy humans will not need them at all. Father Miller, on the other hand, uses only the most common herbs in his potions, but the effect is almost omnipotent. The gap lies in the application of divine magic.

Victor stood outside the shed for a moment, and several of the attendants who dispensed the medicine saluted him, but Father Miller was unaware. Victor coughed dryly and was the first to beckon, "Good day, Father Miller." ”

Father Miller raised his head blankly, and when he saw that it was Victor, the old priest said with a hint of surprise and embarrassment: "Lord Randall, you are here." Oh, Lord Randall, good day. ”

Miller was originally an honest farmer, and he was not as free as other clergy when facing the nobility, but rather a little submissive, and would not talk about the Lord of Radiance. Victor had been dating Miller for a while, and it was no surprise that he had some knowledge of his temperament.

"Father Miller, I haven't seen you for a few days, and you've made a lot of potions. ”

In the corner of the shed, there were more than a hundred small clay pots with seals, all of which were made potions. Father Miller looked at the clay pot, then at the herbs on the other side, and said embarrassedly: "My lord, it is true that I have done a bit too much recently, but I promise that the herbs are collected separately, and the number of herbs can be restored next year." ”

"It doesn't matter, the herbs you use are not as much as the wild boars, and now the number of wild boars has decreased a lot, and collecting this herb will not affect the territory. Victor smiled comfortingly, and then asked, "Father, there are still a lot of potions left from the last batch, why do you still make so many of them?"

"That's good, that's good. ”

The old priest breathed a sigh of relief and explained: "It is time to harvest the crops, and the cold season of water is not far away, so I will make more potions to help those who are weak to survive the difficult season of water." ”

More than 10,000 people gather here to engage in hard labor, and it is inevitable that there will be deaths and injuries, not to mention that they lack food and clothing, and in the face of the season when everything is withering, those old and weak will be the first to be eliminated. In this regard, Victor is helpless, he must first ensure the safety and security of his people, as for the survival of these people, Victor has also done his best. But the old priest seemed to have the intention of leaving, which was not what Victor wanted to see, and Miller was his predestined presiding priest.

"Father Miller, Lord Randall is going to have a great harvest, and I would like to invite you to preside over Lord Randall's harvest celebration, what do you think?" asked Victor tentatively.

It is the responsibility of the Chief Priest of the Territory to preside over the harvest celebration, and the priest will guide the people to thank the Lord of Light for his blessings, so as to believe in the Lord of Light more devoutly, which is also an important achievement of the presiding priest. Miller had never presided over a harvest celebration, and Victor's invitation made him a little excited, but he said dejectedly: "This, I'm afraid I can't be the master, I'm just here to preside over the teaching affairs here, and the church will soon send siblings to take over my work." ”

And so it was!

Victor frowned and said, "The people here need you, and the other priests don't use magic...... Hmm."

The church prohibits priests from abusing divine magic, which means that they are not allowed to treat them for free, but Victor often sees Miller using divine magic to heal people's injuries, and he even uses divine magic to enhance the effect of potions, which is definitely a serious violation.

Miller smiled awkwardly, and Victor simply said: "The population of Randall Territory is about to exceed 7,000, according to the usual practice, I can apply to the church for the presiding priest of the territory, and I want to ask you to be the presiding priest of Randall Collar." I'll try to convince the church to agree, what do you think?"

Miller was silent for a moment, shook his head, and said, "Forget it, I'm just a second-level priest, with limited abilities, and I can't exercise the duty of salvation." And these believers need a competent presiding priest who can apply for more assistance. You and Baron Fenices also need the support of the Church. ”

Victor originally wanted to talk to Miller about the wizard, but he didn't expect Father Miller to leave. Seeing that the scheduled duck was about to fly away from the table, Victor was also a little anxious.

"Father Miller, with all due respect. You have a noble soul, and if you want to help more people, you should try to fight for a higher position than let other priests take your fruit. ”

"Your Excellency has a point. Miller nodded in agreement, but before Victor could rejoice, he added, "But I still can't promise you." ”

What is a sage, regardless of personal gains and losses, if you insist on the belief in your heart you are a sage, and Miller is a sage! Victor understands that no matter how many people are good, Miller will eventually say goodbye to Randall. But what if there was a different priest? The priest is not a commoner without knowledge and no backing, they are scholars and transcendents, and there is a powerful force behind them. Those alchemy humans who have no father, no mother, no wife and no children, no desires, and extraordinary strength will inevitably attract the attention of the priest. Unless Randall's territory is large enough to cover up the traces of alchemical creatures, there will be big trouble.

Miller was born as a farmer, with limited knowledge and a low status in the church, and his reports to his superiors were either shelved or thrown into the trash, and he was the best person to preside over Randall's teachings!

I'm afraid it won't work if I don't get some blood!

Victor touched the purple gold coin that had not yet been hot, gritted his teeth and said: "These people are also the children of Baron Finicos, I am an ally of the York family, and I will never sit idly by and watch the people of my allies run out of food and clothing." That's all right!"

"My lord, I have heard that you and the House of York are poor...... What are you going to do?" asked the old priest in a whisper.

"I have private money!" Victor said with a bitter face, but he put on a cool look.

"Your Excellency, you are a generous and merciful lord, and the Lord of Light will protect you!"

"Shouldn't you say, may the great Lord of Radiance bless you?"

"Uh...... I think the Lord of Light will surely protect the benevolent and generous lords!"

Victor sighed and decided to talk to Father Miller about the wizard.

"Father, have you ever seen a wizard?"

"No!" Miller said categorically.

"I've seen wizards purified in Blackcastle, and I'm worried that these devil's children will harm my people, does the church have any precautions against this?" asked Victor expectantly.

Miller said, "You can hold a prayer to discern the wizard. ”

"Can you have this kind of ceremony?"

"Yes, but it costs a lot of white crystals to hold a demon prayer, and wizards don't use witchcraft, so the magic prayer can't find them among ordinary people. Therefore, it is only after the discovery of traces of witchcraft that we perform a prayer ritual for the identification of demons. ”

Victor was disappointed and asked reluctantly, "Isn't there any other way to identify it?"

"There really isn't any other way to identify it, at least I don't know. Miller shook his head, thought for a moment, and continued: "But ......"

Victor hurriedly asked, "But what?"

"However, there is a way to defend against witchcraft!"

Victor was overjoyed, and he didn't care about complaining about the old priest's big gasp, and asked eagerly, "What way?"

"My lord, do you have purple gold coins?" asked Miller, looking to the left and right, mysteriously.

Is this blackmail? Victor was guilty in his heart, but he honestly handed over a purple gold coin.

The old priest took the purple gold coin, wiped it back and forth with his sleeve, looked at it carefully, put it in his mouth and bit it, and finally asked, "Is it true?" ”

"Really!" Victor said with a blank face.

"It's really good. With that, Miller returned the purple gold coins to Victor.

"My lord, as long as you carry this purple gold coin with you, the wizard can't do anything about you!"

"Why?" asked Victor, stunned.

"Your Excellency, there is a high mountain on the obverse of the purple gold coin, and there is a sun in the upper right corner of the mountain. This mountain is the mountain of light, and the sun is the kingdom of God. The Purple Gold Coin is the emblem of our master, and it can defend against the damage of wizards. Miller explained.

"It turns out that the purple gold coin is still a talisman?! I thought the front side represented the supremacy of the divine right, and the back side represented the power of the kingdom. Victor muttered, "Is this the Church's secret method of dealing with wizards?"

"Of course it's not a secret trick! I've known it since I was a child, my parents know it, and everyone in our village knows it. Sir, you can ask any farmer, and I'm sure he'll know!" said Father Miller, swearing.

Victor: "......"

After a long time, it turned out to be a farmer's rumor! Nima's, an old god. Victor wanted to cry without tears, but he asked relentlessly, "Are you sure this is not what the church told you?"

"Do you need the church to tell me what everyone knows?" said Father Miller, looking at Victor in bewilderment.

The corners of Victor's mouth twitched, and he handed the purple gold coin in his hand to Father Miller again, and said, "Please cast a magic spell on the purple gold coin." ”

"Why?"

Why else should a dead horse be a live horse doctor! Victor pondered for a moment, and then said hesitantly, "I admire the great Lord of Radiance, but I am a nobleman after all...... You also know that most of the nobles are not religious, I think...... If there's a magic spell on this, maybe ...... It worked......"

Father Miller's face straightened, and he became holy and solemn.

"Child, believe it or not, He is there. ”