Tome of Blood

Chapter 596 95 The Clergy Brothers and Sisters

Chapter 596-95- Clergy Brothers and Sisters

The outer city of the Holy City, the ninth district.

This is the largest urban area in the Holy City and the main area where the poor live.

In the southern part of the city, in front of a three-story building with a gray roof, a group of ragged children were gathered in front of the alms stand in front of the building, eagerly waiting for the young female priest to distribute today's black bread.

The female priest looked to be about eighteen or nineteen years old, with a delicate and tender face that showed a maturity and steadiness that was inconsistent with her age.

She was seen calling on a few little adult-like boys and girls to maintain order at the scene, while distributing black bread to the children who came to receive it in order:

"Don't fight or grab. There is enough bread for today. Everyone can get some. Line up and get two each. Remember to finish eating here before going back."

The skinny and pale children gathered around the young priest.

As they took the black bread and devoured it, they chattered:

"Thank you, Sister Susan!"

"It's my turn! It's my turn!"

"Wow! There are raisins in today's bread! So delicious!"

"Sister Susan, two loaves of bread are not enough for me. Can I...can I get two more?"

"Me too, me too, I want to take two more black breads home too!"

"..."

While the priest Susan was organizing the boys and girls to distribute bread, she patiently answered the children's questions:

"You're welcome. Eat slowly and don't choke. Jason has some water. Go drink some if you're thirsty."

"Don't worry, don't worry, everyone has it."

"Two more? Peter, you want to get one for Rachel who is sick, right? Don't worry, I will make arrangements for Rachel later. Just finish your bread here."

"I'm sorry, Oliver. The bread of Grey Swan is only provided to children in this neighborhood. The rules cannot be broken. You want to bring it to your mother, right? I heard that your mother was injured while working some time ago. After the donation is over, I will go to your house to check on the situation."

"Everyone must finish eating here before leaving! If you don't want your black bread to be taken away!"

Priest Susan distributed bread to the children while giving them instructions in a serious manner.

A little further away, some pale-looking homeless people were also looking eagerly at the charity booth where black bread was being distributed.

Of course, they did not come forward, but waited patiently. Even if some of them could not help but come forward to ask for bread, when their eyes fell on the pretty young priestess, they endured it obediently.

All the homeless people in District 9 know that the charity rules of the Gray Swan Orphanage cannot be broken.

Only children can receive the black bread donated here, and the children who receive the black bread must eat the bread before they can go back.

This rule was set by the Russo brothers and sisters in the orphanage.

The Russo brothers and sisters are both clergymen of the church and are quite famous in this neighborhood.

Among them, sister Susan Russo is a first-level priest of the church, while brother Daniel Russo is a second-level trial knight of the church.

Ever since the two orphans took over the Grey Swan Orphanage, it has become the main charity point for helping children in District 9. Thanks to their church identities, there are usually no blind hooligans who dare to cause trouble for the orphanage.

It took almost an hour to distribute the bread.

And when the last child received the bread, Susan's eyes finally fell on the wanderer who was looking at her eagerly in the distance.

She looked at the remaining quarter of the brown bread, sighed, and said:

"You... come over too. The old rules still apply. The elderly, women, and the sick and disabled are given priority."

The wanderers' eyes lit up.

They soon flocked in, praising the girl and the Holy Royal Court while excitedly queuing up to receive the remaining black bread.

It was busy again.

By the time all the bread was distributed, Priest Susan and the boys and girls in the orphanage were exhausted.

Although no one around here dared to cause trouble for them thanks to their background as clergymen, maintaining order still took a lot of energy.

However, the boys and girls were very excited. Being able to help other people in District 9 was a very happy thing for them who had received church education since childhood.

Only Susan looked worried, with a hint of sadness between her brows.

After finishing the charity, Susan took the boys and girls back to the yard.

After settling the orphans, she returned to her room and looked through the accounts.

"You seem to be worried, sister. Did you encounter any trouble with today's alms?"

A steady voice was heard, and a Judgement Knight in a red robe entered the room at some point.

"elder brother!"

Susan's face was filled with joy.

But soon, worry appeared on her face again, and she sighed:

"It's a bit troublesome indeed. There seem to be more homeless people in the neighborhood recently than before. Even with the temple offerings from the two of us, the orphanage is having trouble making ends meet."

"I've said it before, you don't have to take care of everyone. We just need to take good care of the children. As for the rest, we don't have the energy to do anything else."

The Judge Knight said.

"But now that we have seen them, let's help as much as we can. The Lord God taught us to be kind, selfless, and dedicated. If we can help them a little more, more people will be able to survive in this world."

Susan said.

The Judge Knight was silent for a moment, then said:

"Next month, there will be more offerings to my temple, which should be able to ease the financial pressure on the orphanage."

Susan hesitated.

After hesitating for a moment, she looked at her brother seriously:

"Brother, tell me the truth, have you taken on some 'private work' from the Inquisition?"

"The financial pressure in the orphanage is indeed great, but if you take those 'private jobs', I will be angry."

"I know you don't have much faith in the royal court, but there are some things we can't do. The Lord God taught us to be an upright person. We..."

"Susan, I know you are a devout believer, but you have not seen the dark side of the royal court. There are some things... you will not understand."

The Judge Knight interrupted the young priestess and said:

"You can rest assured that I didn't do the things you were worried about. In a sense, I was also doing this for the future of the children."

"The Holy Royal Court is rotten to the core. Otherwise, there wouldn't be more and more wanderers in the Holy City over the years. But soon, it won't be long, everything will be fine."

After saying this, he put on a black cloak and turned to leave.

Susan's expression changed slightly:

"elder brother!"

She took a step forward, stood in front of the knight, and said seriously:

"Tell me the truth, have you ever been involved in any bad organization? I've already made inquiries. The offerings you bring back every month are already twice as much as those of a Judgment Knight of the same level."

The Judgement Knight was silent.

He reached out and stroked the girl's hair, his voice softened:

"Don't worry, I was just chosen to serve as a guard in the Judgment Dungeon. You know, the offerings there are higher than those outside."

"But I'm really worried, brother. Since you were promoted to the second-level Judgment Knight, you seem to have changed. You've become silent and taciturn. Even your aura has become cold and unfamiliar."

Susan said.

After saying this, she and the knight looked into each other's eyes, staring into each other's eyes:

"Brother, I haven't seen you use your divine power for a long time. I hope you can tell me the truth. Have you... abandoned the faith of the Holy Royal Court? Are you unable to use your divine power?"

The Judge Knight sighed:

"Is this...important?"

"Of course this is important! You are a Knight of Judgment! A clergyman of the church! You are not really a heretic, are you?!"

Susan said worriedly:

"I've been having nightmares every night lately. I dreamed of a sea of ​​blood, and you were covered in blood, sinking in it, and being devoured by a terrifying monster..."

"I dreamed that District 9 was engulfed in flames. I dreamed that the streets were filled with countless monsters, and they were slaughtering the residents..."

"I dreamed that... everyone was dead."

"I'm worried, I'm really worried, brother. I hope you won't hide it from me. What are you doing? What is the Inquisition doing?"

The Judge Knight softened.

"Susan..."

"Don't be afraid, nothing will happen to me. I am not a heretic. I just found the right path and the true faith..."

"No! All heretics would say that! You really believe in heresy! You really have abandoned your faith! You can't do that! You will be tried for heresy! You will be burned at the stake!"

Susan said anxiously.

"Don't worry, sister. I won't be judged. I am on the right path. This is true faith that even the Grand Inquisitor recognizes."

The Judge Knight said.

As he spoke, his expression gradually became solemn, and his eyes became firm and fanatical:

"I have not abandoned justice and kindness. On the contrary, I just want to change and save this gradually degenerating church."

"I have found the true light, the true sun, the true holiness."

"I know you don't understand me now, but please don't panic, change is coming soon, and when that time comes, the divine will come, everything will be fine, and you will understand everything..."

"I'm leaving now. The so-called 'Saint' from the Falling Star Kingdom is coming to the Theocracy soon. I've received a secret mission from the Inquisition. The next few days will be very busy, and I may not be able to return to the orphanage for a long time."

"Of course, I will deliver the monthly offerings in time."

"If you encounter any difficulties, come to the Ninth District's Court to find me. Even if I'm not here, I will arrange everything. My Judgment Knight Squad will handle everything for you."

The Judge Knight said.

After saying that, he turned and left the orphanage.