Chapter 25

Chapter 25

To attract more nobles and wealthy merchants and to elevate the reputation of Lis Church, Ning Chan devised a three-month-long plan.

The auction was scheduled for August, so while gathering materials for glass production, Ning Chan made sure to include saltpeter as well.

Although the church’s cellar had ice, the existing stock was barely enough for the bishops’ usual needs. Once the auction began and the crowd swelled, that small amount of ice wouldn’t even make a dent.

Moreover, Ning Chan found those ice blocks unclean—passable at best for cooling rooms but certainly not for consumption unless one wanted a one-way ticket to diarrhea.

These ice blocks were hauled in by slaves from distant regions in the winter months.

From the original host’s memories, this city received snow, but it never accumulated thickly. The nearby rivers yielded only thin sheets of floating ice, unsuitable for storage. To obtain large blocks of ice, ice merchants had to transport them from the north with slaves.

These slaves would not return with the merchants but would instead be sold locally.

The ice merchants considered themselves to have way more heart than slave traders. In winter, many people sold themselves for food, but slave traders refused to buy them, deeming them worthless and leaving them to starve.

At least the ice merchants offered some food, allowing these people to survive the winter.

Besides, the wealthy households in the south had abundant food. Being sold there would be like falling into a land of plenty.

As for the less-than-ideal living conditions or outdated fashion trends—what did that matter to slaves? A full stomach was enough.

Lis Church usually didn’t buy ice from merchants. They had an agreement with churches near icy rivers: slaves would bring ice in winter, endure the cold season and busy spring planting here, then return to their original lands for autumn harvest.

These rotating slaves were called "migrant slaves," always either working or in transit.

Those chosen as migrant slaves were typically in poor health. If they died along the way, the church saved one less mouth to feed.

When hunger and cold struck again, the church could acquire ‘young’ and ‘strong’ new slaves at minimal cost.

Ning Chan was eager to accumulate more money and food now to save more people in winter.

Though this might encourage more slave traders to capture slaves, disrupting their peaceful lives.

It completely violated the principle of *"no demand, no harm,"* but in the short term, Ning Chan couldn’t think of a safer alternative.

He did possess otherworldly powers, but he wasn’t a true god—he couldn’t simply wave his hand and guide everyone to the right path.

If someone else had his powers, they might have already secured their divine status or met an early grave.

Most people in this era were ignorant and chaotic. With good guidance, they could move toward light; with bad influence, they would fall into hell.

Unfortunately, there were far too many wicked people here.

One villain spawned a whole chain of evils, spreading like a virus endlessly.

Ning Chan "dared not" test the minds of amoral lunatics with normal reasoning. What if the bishops and nobles believed eating his flesh granted immortality and sent slaves at him like a horde?

Then, would he kill or not? And when would it end?

As the saying goes, *"Revenge is a dish best served cold."* For now, he would avoid confrontation and jot down problematic individuals in his little black book.

Given the chance, he’d deal with them one by one. After all, they were like grasshoppers in late autumn—dead men walking.

Of course, this might also stem from Ning Chan’s experience in taking out zombie warlords.

Right now, the ice merchants remained unaware they were under scrutiny, with the fires of judgment poised to descend. They were still lost in pipe dreams of summer profits.

In addition to preparing saltpeter, Ning Chan also had the entire church, inside and out, whitewashed. The pure white walls with their smooth texture shone brilliantly under the sunlight, as if layers of fresh snow had been piled upon them.

He then had some pigments prepared—ones with strong coloring power, non-polluting, and highly durable, won’t blur even if rained on.

Ning Chan instructed Keladi to find a few skilled painters to create his desired designs on the designated walls and domes.

Given that these painters were accustomed to creating murals for the church, the final results, though stylistically different from what he had envisioned, nailed the concept. These individuals could form a dedicated team in the future, specializing in various designs—be it clothing, interior decoration, or architectural renovations. With proper training, wouldn’t they become perfect candidates?

Ning Chan, who constantly felt short on people, was always eager to retain talented individuals.

Perhaps the recent renovations and modifications had got him hooked on construction projects.

His ideas for rebuilding the church, the city, the nation, and even the continent sprawled across thick stacks of paper, just waiting for someone to execute them.

After three months of hard work, Lis Church welcomed a wave of "high-profile" guests.

"I heard Lis Church received divine guidance and created treasures unlike anything the world has seen. At this charity auction, they will bestow these items upon His most devout followers," whispered the wealthy merchant Bonnie to the viscount beside him. He had only taken notice after learning that his old rival, Lang Erya, had been frequenting Lis Church and making a killing from the "divine medicine."

Though a step behind Lang Erya, Bonnie had still managed to rack up a fortune through Lis Church’s offerings.

Moreover, Bonnie believed there was something downright magical about the church’s products. Once, his eldest son suffered from severe diarrhea, leaving him weak and nearly unconscious.

Bonnie had summoned a priest from the Third Church to pray and perform exorcisms for his son. The priest immediately suggested sprinkling holy water and bloodletting.

His son, already frail from premature birth and pale-faced, grew even worse after the bloodletting, almost meeting his maker.

Fortunately, a maid accompanying Bonnie recalled that among the goods he had brought back were antidiarrheal pills and asked if they could try them.

In his desperation, Bonnie slapped his forehead and shoved a handful at the maid. "You’re right—let’s try their holy medicine."

After two pills, his son no longer stopped running to the bathroom. Though he eventually recovered, his health took a turn for the worse, leaving him constantly coming down with fevers and coughs. Had it not been for the church’s remedies, his son would have been bedridden long ago.

Thus, Bonnie had not only come to Lis Church himself but also brought his eldest son, hoping to find a solution to restore his health.

Having personally experienced the efficacy of the church’s products, he had also heard about the upcoming auction. Partly out of curiosity about the items listed in the catalog, and partly to rack up some good karma for his son’s recovery, he decided to attend.

Whether or not he secured any items, he intended to make a donation to Lis Church.

As for Viscount Dalun beside him, it was only after Bonnie presented him with the catalog during a gift exchange and mentioned a few words about it that the viscount grew interested enough to accompany him.

"Indeed, I’ve seen their illustrated catalog and the descriptions beside them. If what’s written is true, how could they not be treasures? Ah, they emerge from flames yet possess the touch of ice—they are molten rock, flowing water, vessels of the gods, clearer than the purest crystal in this world."

Viscount Dalun sighed in admiration as he pulled out the booklet from his pocket, gently stroking its smooth, immaculate pages, already sold.

He marveled at how they were made—so spotlessly white, making one eager to copy their prized books onto these pages.

And every page’s text and illustrations were perfectly identical. He wondered who could have crafted such a booklet—someone must’ve been a real perfectionist.

While Bonnie was lost in thought, Ning Chan sneezed, sending wood shavings flying everywhere.

Frowning, Ning Chan rubbed his nose, thinking he ought to make a mask. But since it was only a quick thing, he dismissed the thought.

Waving away the wood dust, he picked up another blank board. Holding one corner, he focused his will, and parts of the board began to loosen. From the outlines of the shavings, a faint design took shape.

When he flipped the board over, the loose shavings scattered to the ground, revealing an inverted river with twisting flowered vines along its banks.

After admiring his work for a while, Ning Chan set the board aside and got started on the next piece.

If Ning Chan lived in an equal and harmonious era, he might have been content to plant some plants and do woodwork every day, living a simple life.

Unfortunately, there were too many things in this world that he couldn’t stand, forcing him to transform from a laid-back idler into a round-the-clock workaholic.

The workaholic Ning handed the carved plates he had finished to Harry, instructing him to deliver them to the print shop, then began preparing the items to be showcased three days later.

The Charity Sale would officially begin in three days, but in the meantime, high-profile visitors from out of town had already arrived early.

Outside the city, they saw signposts marked "Lis Church Charity Sale," and as they approached, they spotted a large canopy at the city gate with a sign that read "Lis Church Welcome Station."

Bonnie, hearing his steward’s voice, leaned out of the carriage to look at the sign and the people waiting under the canopy. After a moment’s thought, he told his steward to check about the situation.

"Hello, are you here to attend the first Charity Sale hosted by Lis Church?" The man with a red cloth tied around his arm showed no fear or fluster despite seeing the steward emerge from the luxurious carriage procession.

They were all trained volunteers, doing their part to help others in the name of faith.

The Archbishop had said that they now acted as representatives of the divine. No matter whom they encountered, they were to treat everyone with the same gentle attitude, showing the kindness and openness of their faith.

Perhaps at the beginning, they had felt nervous and uneasy, but after several days of interacting with more and more people, they had gained confidence to the level the Archbishop had described.

Still, first-timers were bound to be a little clumsy. Next time such an event occurred, Eugene believed he could present his best self right from the start.

The steward looked the man over. Though his clothes were old, they weren’t patched up, and his face and hair were clean and well-groomed. Up close, he could even detect a light floral scent on the man.

Compared to him, the steward, who had been traveling for days, looked a bit scruffy.

He wondered how the man carried such a pleasant scent. He didn’t seem wealthy—was he using perfume?

Hmm, perhaps his wife had picked wildflowers from the mountains and used them in his bath.

"Yes, we’re here for the Charity Sale at the church. I’m just not sure what this place is for. My master saw it and sent me to ask. If there’s nothing important, we’ll head into town." The steward had accompanied Bonnie here before but had never encountered such a setup.

"Your master’s got a sharp eye. It’s good that you came to ask. If you had gone straight to the city gate, the guards would have stopped you, and you’d have had to come back here anyway.

Since many nobles and wealthy merchants are arriving, the church has organized personnel to check IDs for everyone’s safety. There are also patrols inside the city, keeping watch on the streets to prevent thieves or bandits from disturbing our distinguished guests.

Additionally, you can choose your accommodations here in advance.

This area is for group quarters—if you have many attendants, they can be arranged here.

Here’s the farmstay—if you prefer a relaxed atmosphere where you can fish or pick vegetables, this is the place for you.

Or there are homestays near the church. The locals here are friendly and welcoming, doing their best to provide the finest experience.

If your master thinks these places are too plain, he can apply to stay in the wooden lodges built by the church. Those are spacious and well-designed, though the prices are higher.

But there’s no helping it—with so many distinguished guests arriving, we had to put some limits, or the best lodgings would have been taken by the firstcomers.

Otherwise, someone of your master’s wealth and status might find themselves in an awkward position.

Fighting for a spot would be undignified, but giving up might leave them annoyed.

So, we simply set the prices higher. After all, the extra money goes, along with the proceeds from the Charity Sale, to aid those in need.

Your master is kind-hearted. If he’s willing to pay, I’ll thank you on behalf of the less fortunate."

Eugene flipped open the large ledger on his desk and pointed to the illustrations as he explained to the steward. In his words, no matter where they stayed, it would surely be a great time.

Although their master is wealthy, there must be many VIPs arriving this time, and he might not measure up.

Seeing the torn look on his face, Eugene just gave a small smile. There was actually one more thing he hadn’t mentioned—if none of these places suited their status, they could also stay in the church’s guest quarters. However, that would require spending even more money.

But since the deity preferred tranquility and disliked too much disruptive energy, only a limited number of servants could be brought there—at most, just a butler to attend to their needs.

Moreover, every move made within the church would be observed by the deity. If one accidentally offended Him, well… apologies, but the rest of their life might be cursed with bad luck.

The butler wiped his face, brushing off the sweat on his hand, and picked up the catalog. "Alright, may I take this to show my master? Which place to stay depends on his preference."

Since there were other people waiting in line, Eugene agreed to let the butler take the catalog, only asking him to return it once a decision was made.

The butler hurried back to his master with the catalog and relayed everything he had learned.

Bonnie carefully flipped through the catalog and ultimately decided on the guesthouse.

Though the wooden lodges were nice, he couldn’t risk others trying to pull rank. If that happened, he’d spend a fortune and gain nothing in return. Better to choose the guesthouse—it was also closer to Lis Church.

He sighed. If only he had bought a property here earlier—it would've gone up in value by now.

In the end, Bonnie chose the guesthouse, while Darren opted for the wooden lodge.

Seeing their decisions, Eugene began making notes in his notebook. Then, from the group of children in the guidance area, he randomly picked one and gave him directions, instructing him to lead the group to their respective accommodations.

As luck would have it, the one assigned to guide Bonnie’s party was Nuosa, the boy who had almost burned himself to death a few months prior.

These days, young Nuosa’s parents were working in the city, and since he got restless staying home, he had his older brother bring him along to visit them. While wandering around, he discovered that Lis Church was recruiting volunteers. Even children like him could find work there, as long as they were careful and spoke clearly.

For every guest he guided, he earned a copper coin. Larger groups like this one, with many people, would earn him ten coppers.

Of course, this payment came from the lodging fees paid by the wealthy guests. If they hadn’t booked accommodations here, they would have had to hire a guide themselves.

But everything here was upfront about costs—no hidden fees. Those who didn’t want to pay could simply wander the city on their own.

Since it was just a matter of a few coppers, even those who hadn’t booked lodgings usually didn’t mind shelling out a little to hire a guide—at least they could gather more information along the way.

Young Nuosa followed the butler to the carriage and gave a respectful bow to Bonnie and Darren before explaining the current situation in the city.

According to the guiding rules, the first stop for those attending the charity sale wasn’t their chosen lodging but Lis Church itself. They had to show reverence to the god and receive the bishop’s holy water blessing before going anywhere else.

"Honorable sirs, you will need to visit the church to cleanse the dust and weariness of your journey. To show sincerity, you must walk there. Please leave your carriages at the carriage depot—there are dedicated guards there, and some of your attendants may stay behind to ensure your goods remain secure."

Though Darren and Bonnie found the back-and-forth rather troublesome, since it was the church’s directive, they went along with it.

With only a few servants and guards in tow, they followed young Nuosa toward the church.

As they passed the low-rise houses and the sacred hall of Lis Church came into view, their jaws dropped at the sight before them.

Were they still in the mortal world, or had they stepped into the divine realm?

Yet, as they marveled at the scenery, they didn’t realize they had also become part of someone else’s "view."

Ning Chan leaned against the windowsill, watching the people below with a faint smile.

With so many merchants and nobles attending the charity sale this time, he was curious whether the group of "black-robed believers" he had encountered before would be among them.