Lynn inspected the village.

Everyone was diligently working at their respective posts, shining and radiating warmth.

There was no need for the guard's whip.

After all, the treatment Lynn provided for them was simply too good.

Lynn wanted to increase the armed forces of the territory and expand the salt factory.

However, there was simply too much labor shortage.

One could only hope that George or Grayson would bring back more slaves.

A series of somewhat immature voices reached Lynn's ears.

Lynn raised an eyebrow and followed the source of the sound.

Inside a semi-open wooden house.

Old John was standing in front of a patched-up template, teaching the children how to read.

Perhaps because he saw Lynn, Old John stopped.

He said to the children 'take a ten-minute break' and came over to Lynn.

Old John bowed deeply to Lynn, "Thank you, Master Lynn!"

"It is you who have helped me find a purpose to live for."

Lynn looked at Old John in confusion.

Old John began to explain, "Master Lynn, do you know? Their thirst for knowledge is like a drought-cracked land, eagerly needing knowledge to irrigate!"

"In teaching them to acquire knowledge, I've felt the value of life…"

Lynn felt that Old John's emotions were a bit excited today.

"Then shine and radiate here, these children just happen to need you."

Old John's white eyebrows raised, "Of course, Master Lynn."

Lynn changed the subject, "But there's one thing, I must warn you, you can only teach knowledge. If I catch you spreading Church doctrines…"

"Death will drag you into the abyss!"

Old John's eyes widened, "Master Lynn, what do you mean? Can I interpret your words as blasphemy against God!"

Lynn said indifferently, "You can choose to interpret it like that!"

"But Old John…this world has no God."

"If God existed, why would you, as a Priest, become a slave?"

In Lynn's view, no matter what Church doctrine, they were merely ideological shackles used by the Empire to assist in governance.

To tame them, make them obedient and afraid to resist.

And then gloriously proclaim: from God's decree.

There is no need for such Church doctrines in Lynn's territory.

He only wants those children to learn to read and understand meaning, that's enough.

If he must instill a spiritual deity in them…

It can only be Lynn!

He is the one who allows these people to eat well and live in wooden houses.

If he must impart doctrine to them…

It would be absolute obedience to Lynn!

Old John fell into silence.

It's not that he recognizes Master Lynn as offending God.

But because, Lynn's words made him understand what took him half a lifetime!

His original name was John Ralph.

From the Silver Moon Church in Silver Moon City, in the Red Dragon Duke's Territory of the Karedi Empire.

As a youth, he was the eldest son of Baron Ralph of Silver Moon City.

He was brave and fearless, and fair and just.

As long as nothing unexpected happened, inheriting the baron title was just a matter of time.

But at the age of eight, John met a Priest.

Under the guidance of the Priest, he joined the Church, becoming the Priest's assistant.

It was normal for John, a noble, to join the Church and become a follower of God.

But John's obsession with the Church and God far exceeded that of ordinary nobility.

He read and memorized the 'Oath of Light', voraciously reading all Church-related literature.

Obsession.

Sown in his mind, taking root and growing.

God!

Sacred and inviolable!

Five years later.

As he reached adulthood, John inherited the title of Baron Ralph, taking control of all power of the Ralph Clan.

To express his devotion to God, John offered everything he had.

The gold and silver treasures of the Ralph Clan, land, servants, even John himself.

The Priest who introduced John to the Church was promoted to Bishop.

With the Bishop's recommendation, John became a Priest of the Silver Moon Church.

John knew.

It was his devotion that moved God, which allowed him to become a Priest.

Thus, to be closer to God, to listen to God's instructions and teachings.

John thought that all believers in the Church should be like him.

To offer everything for the Church, for the God they worshiped.

However.

One day.

John saw a scene he could not believe for a lifetime.

Behind the main hall of the Church.

The Bishop entangled with two nuns.

Unbearable and nauseating.

The Bishop told him: the two nuns were lost and he was conducting a teaching ceremony.

Having never experienced such things, John believed the Bishop's words.

But gradually, he fell into confusion.

Some noblewomen coming to the Church to confess, some lost girls in their adolescence…

The confession room…

The prayer room…

The baptismal pool room…

All stained with their sweat.

After that.

John realized that not everyone was as devout in worshiping God as he was.

John knew these believers had long been occupied by demons.

John knew it was time to act…

On a stormy night!

John walked into the Bishop's bedroom and inserted a silver dagger into the Bishop's heart.

John walked into the Priest's bedroom, ending the Priest with a silver dagger…

Finally, the Church's three nuns.

Blood stained the entire Silver Moon Church red, flowing across the marble floor.

Scarlet, glaring.

The filth within the Church was finally cleaned away by him.

But John fell into confusion.

The Silver Moon Church had existed since the victory in the Battle of Light and Darkness.

It had existed for hundreds of years!

If…God truly existed, why would God allow these demons to occupy the Church?

John did not understand.

He left the Silver Moon Church, walked out of Silver Moon City, and left the Karedi Empire.

He wanted to find the truth…

John traveled to many places and met many people.

For a piece of barley bread, sacrificing his companion into death.

For a few pence, drawing a dagger into a stranger's body.

For a piece of land, blood brothers turned to blades and swords…

John knew.

The world was bitter for everyone.

Despite everyone kneeling in prayer to the deity, God still did not bestow any miracle.

The drought-cracked land remained dry.

The land barren of crops remained barren…

Gradually.

John no longer prayed to God.

But his words remained untouched by those of God.

By chance.

A child of seven or eight was trampled by a soldier's warhorse, left bloody and mangled!

John instinctively knelt before the child and began to pray.

Pure radiance appeared in his palm.

The child's wounds instantly healed, miraculously revived!

John felt as though he possessed the power of God!

The cost was…his life energy!

John felt his body become weak and aged.

Until finally.

John finally understood.

God.

Had never existed.

If a miracle occurred, it would never come from God.

But from…equal exchange!

He could not save all.

If people wished to survive, they could only rely on their efforts.

John understood this principle.

But he was once again caught in bewilderment.

His all, his former life, had been devoted to the Church.

As John pondered on what to live for in the future…

He was captured by slave traders!

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.