Chapter 204

Chapter 204

As the Pope was going mad with the sudden news and determined to initiate the Holy Feast, in the depths of the Church, within the chambers belonging to the Saint Son.

Ever since Lane had left without a word, Amos had locked himself up in his room, refusing food or drink. Neither the nuns nor the believers could persuade him to change his mind. They were unsure what had happened to the Saint Son and reported the situation to the Pope. However, the Pope merely told them to "mind their own business."

"A friend, perhaps?" A newly arrived nun replaced the untouched food outside the Saint Son's door with fresh dishes, then carried the old plates to the kitchen. Curiously, she inquired about the matter with the other nuns who were busy with their chores. "In my family, when my relative's child argues with a friend, they would lock themselves in their room just like this. It's because they can't bring themselves to apologize to their friends."

"Stop your nonsense!" The elder nun, more knowledgeable about the Church's secrets, immediately turned stern. She pulled the younger nun aside and spoke loudly, "The Saint Son has no friends, and no one is worthy enough to be his friend."

"How could a child not have friends?" the young nun wondered, surprised. "Children need friends, don't they?"

"Never speak of this here!" the elder nun warned sternly. "There are no friends within the Church for the Holy Son."

Startled, the young nun muttered, "Alright, alright... But I did see the Holy Son laughing and talking in the corridor last time, as if he was speaking to someone. Wasn't that a friend of his?"

As soon as she finished, the elder nun recalled the last time they had fetched the Holy Son for a banquet, how he had conversed with thin air...

No, she couldn't allow herself to think about it.

The elderly nun shook her head vigorously. The most effective way to survive here was to simply ignore and not inquire.

...

Footsteps echoed outside the room, then ceased.

Amos sat by the bed, gazing blankly at the floor. His room was filled with diagrams for summoning demons, yet the figure he longed to see the most did not appear.

Didn't she promise to stay by his side and watch over him?

Feeling utterly wronged, Amos lost his appetite and buried his head under the covers.

Then, a whisper reached his ear.

"Who?!" Amos snapped open his eyes, sitting up alertly on the bed as he scanned his surroundings.

Of course, the room was empty, but Amos was certain he had heard something.

"I'm here..."

Amos turned his gaze back to the statue of Christ on the cross within the room. The tenets of the Order of the Redeemer were rooted in the belief that "the Holy Son suffered for the sins of humanity, saving all." Thus, images of the crucifixion were omnipresent in the church.

"I believe... you've sensed my presence," the statue, which should have been lifeless, spoke, its eyes opening under Amos's astonished stare.

How could any changes within the church, especially those involving the Pope, escape Amos's notice? Still, he wasn't certain what had caused the shift, leaving a lurking devil to coil and observe from the shadows.

Little did he expect that before he sought out the source of the change, it would come to him.

"Did you make that man apologize to me?" Amos narrowed his eyes.

"That was but a small token of my capabilities," Judas replied softly, his gaze subtly assessing Amos.

If other Dream Foundations influenced this dream with a force of 1, Amos exerted a power of 10.

The reason was twofold: not only had Amos and Lane intentionally conjured this dream, but all the believers, every foundation, feared Amos. He was the heart of the nightmare, the central figure in everyone's subconscious, not to mention his significance within the church and his connection to Lane.

All of this held an irresistible allure for Judas, who had been observing Amos closely, even aware that Lane had previously infiltrated the man's inner circle.

In simple terms, he was attempting to poach.

"Very well, then what brings you here now?" Amos inquired.

Judas chuckled softly. "Do you wish for your so-called 'Mr. Devil' to remain by your side forever?"

Upon noticing Amos's pupils constrict involuntarily, the statue's smile deepened.

Human beings, their greed knew no bounds. He had witnessed countless examples of this in the Dream World during the ancient era.

This time would be no different.

...

Under the cloak of night, even Lann and Judas temporarily chose to cease hostilities. Both sides held a certain unspoken understanding that the outcome of their rivalry would soon be revealed at the upcoming Holy Feast.

Judas hoped to reap a substantial harvest of faith in this battle, thereby suppressing Lann all at once. Meanwhile, Lann awaited this opportunity, biding his time to topple Judas when he was at his most confident.

He knew that Judas wouldn't be satisfied with merely sabotaging the dream world and foiling Lann's plan to reap faith through it. There must be a grander scheme at play, such as fixing the dream in place, altering the past, and making the capture of Lann an immutable fact within this timeline.

In full view of Lann, a player named 'Mad Scientist' stealthily navigated the unobserved streets under the cover of darkness, knocking on the door of a certain engineer NPC.

Everything was in place.

...

On the day of the Holy Feast.

Due to the players' relentless spreading of rumors, coupled with the Church's questionable history, people, who generally relished in seeing the mighty fall, embraced various rumors that swept across the city. Some claimed that the Church had colluded with the government to sell medicine, explaining the previous scarcity within the city. Others accused the Church of fraud – there were all sorts of imaginative stories, each vividly spun.

The faithful and the believers held their breath, awaiting the commencement of the Holy Feast to refute these rumors.

The Pope did not disappoint them.

The Holy Feast took place in the largest square within the city, capable of accommodating over ten thousand people at once. The event was broadcasted via audio equipment and even allowed photography and videography, showcasing the Pope's immense confidence in the 'Holy Feast.' With divine protection, he had no fear of any mishaps. He even spent the night studying the Bible, finalizing the content for the miracle performance.

On that day, enthusiastic believers instantly filled the front rows of the square. Not only were there members of the Salvation Society, but also those opposed to the Church, disguised in cloaks among the crowd.

Dignified and solemn, the clergy ascended the steps with smiles on their faces. The Pope, in particular, donned a pristine white robe reserved for formal occasions, adorned with a golden stole bearing the symbol of the cross. His smile radiated warmth and affection.

"Beloved believers, how are you all doing?"

The crowd erupted into an uproar. Ever since the Pope announced that the Holy Feast would be held publicly, the faithful had rushed to secure front-row spots through the night. The Savior Congregation's efforts in recent days had not been in vain. The grim circumstances of the Black Death had bred many fervent devotees. Even when rumors about the Church's darker side surfaced, they refused to believe them and instead viewed them as attempts to undermine their 'Savior.'

The responsive cheers further widened the Pope's smile. The sensation of being adored made him feel almost weightless.

Recalling the upcoming proceedings, he reluctantly steered back to the main topic: "I believe everyone is here for the Holy Feast. Typically, only a select few within the Church have the privilege to attend. However, I've also heard the rumors circulating about the Savior Congregation. I want to assure you that our God is merciful and forgiving. He would not punish His flock because of mere hearsay. Yet, His existence cannot be doubted. Today, you shall witness this truth!"

The crowd erupted into another round of cheers, and then the Pope began his performance.

The Church's Eucharist ritual was indeed a classic ceremony. Present-day orthodox religions also observed Communion Day, usually with bread or wafers symbolizing Jesus' body and red wine representing His blood. In contrast, the so-called rituals within the Savior Congregation were seen as the epitome of heresy by outsiders. They were well aware of this perception, and with the entire city watching, they couldn't possibly proceed with such practices.

Their aim was to gather faith, not drive people away. Even if true believers accepted these acts, it wouldn't be acceptable.

Under countless watchful eyes, the Pope signaled for a cart filled with bread and wine to be brought forward. The food piled up like a small hill. With an apologetic expression, he addressed the crowd, "My apologies, but due to the desire to bless as many as possible, we couldn't prepare enough long tables. I must ask you all to come forward and partake."

The crowd stirred, for it was clear that the single cart on stage, though substantial, wouldn't suffice for the multitude in the square.

However, those well-versed in the Bible quickly grasped the Pope's intention, their eyes sparkling with understanding.

In no time, the believers lined up orderly to ascend the stage and receive their bread.

The Pope merely watched with a smile. As wave after wave of people collected their bread and wine, the food on the carts showed no sign of dwindling. Even the slowest of observers could now grasp the extraordinary scene unfolding before them, their eyes burning with fervor.

They had witnessed a miracle!

Anyone familiar with the Bible would recall the miracle of the "five loaves and two fish." It was one of the most publicized miracles in the scriptures, where a mere five loaves and two fish were enough to feed everyone present without running short.

A murmur rose from the crowd below. Those who followed suit inspected the carts meticulously but found no trickery. The food remained stacked, yet it seemed inexhaustible.

By the time everyone present had received their bread and water, the believers were utterly convinced. They looked at the Pope with rapturous devotion. To have participated in a miracle firsthand was a sensation that made them feel their lives were complete, so much so that they hesitated to consume the food in their hands.

"Patience, my friends, the miracle is not over yet," the Pope continued. He even arranged for a few frail patients to be brought onto the stage. After consuming the food, they appeared revitalized, as if their illnesses had vanished instantly.

The crowd erupted in awe, and the believers promptly consumed their portions without reservation. Gasps and exclamations filled the air as some claimed their plague had been cured, while others declared themselves stronger and more invigorated after eating.

"I believe there should be no further doubts now," the Pope said with a warm smile, his grin widening at the enthusiastic response. "It's time to address the issue that has been looming: why we had to lock down the city."

Silence fell, and all eyes were fixed on the Pope.