The wind was fierce, and on deck, Goncharov stood on the side of the ship looking out at the horizon in the distance, his face a little worried.

"Bishop, Captain Wolf said, we've sailed to the east coast of the Aztec Empire, and we'll be in port tomorrow."

Evgeny, who had been promoted to priest, stepped out of the cabin and came up behind Goncharov and said.

During these days, Evgeny, though still nervous, had adapted to life on board, and at first he would complain in the dead of night that he had hurt himself by letting himself go, but now he saw it.

Togancharov's blessing, Evgeny was promoted from the lowest priest to the deputy secretary of the church, and also became a priest, as long as he can successfully return to the Romanov kingdom, he is qualified to run a church alone!

If it weren't for this mission, how could he have become a priest in such a short period of time?

There are both opportunities and risks, and that's true.

After the message, Evgeny wanted to go back to the cabin and continue to play cards with the sailors, life on the ship was too boring, and he always had some fun.

But Yevgeny noticed Goncharov's slightly frown and worried gaze, as if he was worried about something.

"Bishop, is something happening?"

"Just now, I received an oracle from the goddess."

Goncharov did not hide the truth: "The Doomsday Party approached Pope Mavi to ask for cooperation but was refused, this is the result of the discussion at the meeting, and the envoys of the Doomsday Party are very angry, I am afraid that something will happen"

Evgeny still thought that he didn't care about it at all: "The Church is completely hostile to the Doomsday Party, and it is right to refuse to cooperate with them, Pope Mavi did the right thing!" Bishop, haven't you always agreed with Pope Mavi's decision? ”

"Of course I agree, it's just."

Glancing at Evgeny, Goncharov suddenly asked, "Why do you think the goddess specifically informed me about this?" ”

“？”

Evgeny was stunned for a moment, and a bad premonition rose in his heart: "Isn't it because Pope Mavi respects you?" ”

Goncharov shook his head: "It's because the royal family of the Aztec Empire has long joined the Doomsday Party, and the Doomsday Party will fully withdraw into the Aztec Empire after the defeat of the United States of Citi. ”

“.”

The sea breeze was strong, but a cold sweat broke out on Yevgeny's head.

He understood, understood completely

If the church agrees to cooperate with the Doomsday, then their trip will be smooth sailing.

contrarily

Double the danger!

How could the Doomsday Party let them go?

The situation is like this, what kind of judgment are you talking about!

With a glimmer of hope, Evgeny's voice trembled and said, "Goddess. Did the goddess call us back? ”

"No, the goddess tells us to be careful."

Poof!

Evgeny sat down on the deck, his face pale.

If the other day the Aztec Empire was still a sleeping tiger, then at this moment. It's like they've just plucked a few tiger whiskers and they're going to run back to provoke!

It's all about looking for death!

Now Yevgeny understood why Goncharov's face was not good, his face was now even more ugly than Goncharov's.

Mission impossible

"Pope Mavi. Right! Is Pope Mavi going to increase the number of people? Evgeny remembered something: "As long as the Church increases its support and declares war on the Doomsday Party, it will not be difficult to defeat them!" ”

"Unfortunately, the Church will not declare war on the Aztec Empire at this time." "Once the Church declares war on the Aztec Empire, it will face the threat of the United States of Citi and the Apocalypse, not to mention that it is an unjust war," Goncharov said. ”

"There can be no justice in war!" Evgeny despaired: "Without the support of the church, just a few of us. Dead! ”

Looking at Evgeny, Goncharov asked: "Are you afraid?" ”

"Me"

"If you are afraid, frightened, go back with this ship, back to the Romanov Kingdom."

Goncharov turned around and stopped looking at Evgeny, he originally wanted to cultivate the other party, but now that the situation has changed, it is too dangerous.

What's more, judging from Evgeny's performance, whether it is his heart or will, he is not the best person to carry out the mission, and forcibly taking him to the Aztec Empire will not end very well.

Rather than let Evgeny die in a foreign land, it is better to let him go back as soon as possible.

"Tell everyone else the truth, and everyone should convey it to them, and tell them that whoever wants to leave, the church will not blame, let alone punish them."

"What about you, Bishop?"

"I will go to the Aztec Empire and continue the mission entrusted by Pope Mavi."

"Bishop, I."

Evgeny wanted to say something, but was interrupted by Goncharov: "No need to say more, let's go." ”

With his head down, Evgeny walked into the cabin in a gloomy manner, he didn't know what to say, and when Goncharov allowed him to return home, he breathed a sigh of relief, but he was nervous, afraid of being punished when he returned home, and he was not completely relieved until Goncharov made a promise.

But instead of being relieved, he became even more uncomfortable, like he couldn't spit out because he was holding a breath.

In the cabin, hearing the news of the church's refusal to cooperate with the Doomsday Party, everyone in the mission was a little nervous, but only a few members of the Aurora Society who accompanied them immediately said that they would continue to carry out the mission.

"What's the difficulty? How disadvantaged were we in the decisive battle between Tver and London? In the end, it's not a victory! ”

Ulmit scoffed at the fear of the crowd: "How can the Doomsday Party be compared to the Church of the Goddess of Fate and the Cult of the God of Wisdom? They don't even have God! ”

"They can control the alchemy monsters!" Ivor said, "Even Pope Mavi has given a high opinion to those alchemy monsters, and it is up to us to recognize their strength."

"If you're afraid, you'll just go back!" Ulmit sneered: "Why make so many excuses! You all joined the church after the founding of the country, and you don't understand how difficult it was in the early days of the church. Those who have strong beliefs joined at the beginning, and who will wait until after the founding of the country to join? ”

"Who do you say is not firm in faith?!"

"Whoever is afraid to say is who!"

Ulmit threw the poker in his hand on the table, spat fiercely, looked around at everyone, and said with a disdainful face: "A little difficulty scares you, how can you be entrusted with a heavy task?" It's also a lag to go! It's better to go back as soon as possible! ”

With their fists clenched, Ivor's faces turned red, they had the heart to refute but couldn't find a breakthrough, they were really scared, they didn't want to be caught doing live experiments, they didn't want to die.

Ulmit left with the members of the Aurora Society who were willing to stay, and the room that was still lively and cheerful suddenly became deserted, and the table was littered with pokers, and no one had the heart to continue playing.

In the middle of the night, the warship sailed slowly on the sea, the white moon was like day, the sea was sparkling, and in the cabin, Yevgeny couldn't fall asleep tossing and turning, and finally stopped sleeping at all, sat up and smoked.

"You can't sleep?"

Ivor, who was in the next bed, rolled over.

"You too?"

"Alas"

Ivor sat up, took the cigarette handed by Evgeny and lit it, took a puff and said, "Annoying." ”

"I'm annoyed too."

Evgeny exhaled smoke and asked quietly, "Are you going back?" ”

"I still have children, and I can't die in the Aztec Empire." Ivor's eyes widened and stared at the cigarette in his hand: "I'm dead, who will raise them?" ”

"If you're afraid of death, why did you take on this mission?" Evgeny was curious, and before leaving, Goncharov asked everyone if they would like to, except that he was all voluntary.

In the moonlight, Ivor, looking into Evgeny's eyes, said, "Because I want to climb up." ”

"There are many opportunities for the Church of Truth now, if you seize it, you can quickly climb to a high position, and going to the Aztec Empire to preach is an opportunity, as long as it goes well, at least you can mix a bishop."

Evgeny was very strange: "In addition to scientific research positions, no matter how high the position, the salary is not much different, what is there to climb up?" ”

Hearing this, Ivor smiled: "What is the salary, if I can become the pope, I don't want a ruble salary, power is the key." ”

"You want to be the Pope?!"

"Don't you want to be pope? Look at the power of Pope Mavi, whoever he wants to die will not survive the next day! Those nobles, those kings are as good as rabbits in front of him! Money is just a number to him! ”

Evgeny stared blankly at Ivor, as if it was only tonight, in this quiet and melancholy environment, that he spoke his heart.

"I'm talking to you about this because I treat you as a friend."

Realizing that he was talking too much, Ivor immediately reminded: "Don't tell anyone else, even if you tell others, I won't admit it." ”

"Don't you believe in the truth?"

"Of course I believe in the truth! I truly believe in the Goddess of Truth! Ivor's shoulders shrugged: "My loyalty to the truth does not affect my pursuit of power, the two are not in conflict!" ”

Evgeny nodded, a tuft of ash fell from the cigarette between his fingers, and the silent red light brightened again.

"Come back with me." Ivor persuaded: "Originally, I wanted to go to the Aztec Empire to establish merit, but now it seems that it is no longer suitable for us, there are still many opportunities, and living is the most important thing." ”

Evgeny was silent, he had not yet made a decision.

"Do you want to stay?"

With a raised eyebrow, Ivor's tone became unkind: "Don't pretend to be high, you were forced to come, and it was not voluntary from the beginning!" Stay and die? ”

Hearing death, Evgeny shuddered: "Maybe you're right. I was forced to come, and it's okay to go back."

Ivor's eyes suddenly softened a lot, and his tone relaxed: "That's right, it's not good for anyone to hold on, it's better to give up as soon as possible." ”

After speaking, Ivor snuffed out his cigarette and lay down again: "Hurry up and go to bed, I will arrive in the Aztec Empire early tomorrow morning, and I have to get up early." ”

"Hmm"

As the cigarette burned out, Evgeny threw it into the bottle and lay on his side, his annoyance not diminished in the slightest, but deepened as time passed. Ivor's already snoring and sleeping soundly.

The next day, the seagulls soared in the blue sky, the whistle woke everyone up, and through the window, you could already see the nearby port.

After getting dressed, Evgeny walked out of the cabin, and on the deck, Goncharov, Ulmit and others were ready to disembark.

Without asking anyone, Goncharov stood straight on the side of the ship, his clothes blown by the cold wind, and he was silent and silent.

Those who go will follow, and those who do not go will be useless to persuade them.

Seeing Goncharov's back, Evgeny became even more anxious, as if there were ants crawling all over his body, scratching his ears and cheeks, he couldn't settle down, and finally simply walked up to Goncharov and whispered: "Bishop."

"Huh?"

Goncharov glanced back at him: "Is there something wrong?" ”

"No, no"

Evgeny shrunk his neck and left, seeing this scene, Ulmit couldn't help but say: "Bishop Goncharov, why did you take him on the ship in the first place?" Look at his cowardly appearance, it is difficult to become a big weapon! ”

"He's a kind-hearted kid."

Goncharov said softly: "Pope Mavi once told me that kindness is the most difficult cloak to wear, every action comes from the heart, this kind of person may not be able to do anything, but at least it will not hurt others." ”

"The ship is about to dock, but he hasn't even packed his luggage, it looks like you're going to be disappointed in him." Ulmit sighed.

"As long as he can keep his original intention, I won't be disappointed in him." Goncharov said: "Cowardice is not terrible, what is terrible is to lose oneself, and one day, he will take the initiative to stand up." ”

Ulmit laughed at himself: "Initiative. How long will it take? ”

"When the things he cherishes are threatened, when the people who protect him die one by one, maybe he will be willing to raise his head, the firefighter, always shining at the last moment."

"I see."

Ulmit grinned, "He's hope." If one day the church is threatened and invaded, and those of us who rushed to the front line fall, that is the moment when he wakes up. ”

"Yes, it's like two legs, if you want to move forward, you have to step one out first, and then follow the other."

Nervous, Evgeny kept backing and crashed into someone else, and when he looked back, it was Ivor.

There were not many people who were willing to follow Goncharov to the Aztec Empire, except for Ulmit and other members of the Aurora Society, there were only four or five people left, and the remaining dozens of people all wanted to return to the safe Romanov Kingdom.

Now, they are gathered around Ivor.

"Come on, Evgeny, breakfast is ready."

Wrapping his shoulders, Ivor took Evgeny into the cabin, came to the dining room, personally smeared a slice of jam bread on him, and said with a smile: "If you don't look at it, you won't be annoyed, and when the ship docks, it will soon set off again." ”

Evgeny took the bread and took a small bite, he loved jam the most, but it tasted nothing today, like chewing wax.

The people around were talking and laughing, and they were all looking forward to returning to China after relieving the pressure, and Yevgeny was in a trance.

Boom!

The hull of the ship lightly hit the shore with a muffled sound, the anchor was lowered, and the boarding board was slowly lowered.

Goncharov strode off the boat with Ulmit and the others, and walked towards the pier without looking back.

In the restaurant, Yevgeny, who noticed Goncharov drifting away, stood up sharply.

(End of chapter)