"God loves me, and I love God too. Kindness comes from my heart, and my light spreads throughout the world..."
A melodious and clear sound of chanting circulated in Kate's hotel, and Kate and her other guests couldn't help but look at the monk who was chanting.
The monk was wearing a worn-out monk's robe, and he was holding a classic in his hand that although the spine was old, the paper was very neat.
Judging from his age, he should be around 40 or 50 years old. But just paying attention to this person's shining eyes, you will feel that the look between his eyebrows is as smart as a newborn baby getting its most satisfying toy.
.
Kate felt that her emotions were also infected by the monk, and couldn't help walking from the counter to the monk's table.
"This, this guest?"
Kate's throat was dry and she was very nervous.
But this kind of tension shouldn't happen to Kate, a tavern owner who has been running a shop for more than ten years and has seen a lot of the world.
It seems that the source of Kate's nervousness is not just this monk. In addition to a young man at the monk's table, there are also several companions who came in at the same time as the monk and are sitting nearby.
As soon as Kate approached them, he suddenly felt an inexplicable sense of oppression, as if something was holding his heart.
"What's wrong? Did my reading disturb everyone's rest? Then please let me apologize to everyone."
The monk closed the page and gave Kate a friendly smile. The oppressive feeling Kate felt immediately disappeared, as if the previous feeling was just an illusion.
"No, no, how could it be?"
Kate wiped the sweat from her forehead and said quickly:
"Praise the great God of Light! Your recitation is so good, it seems to be able to influence my soul. I want to know where you are a monk from."
Indeed, this was the first time Kate had seen a monk with such a demeanor. He wanted to know where such a pious monk came from.
"I am from Santogo, and I wonder if I can do my little bit for the suffering people of Camode when I come here."
The monk did not hesitate to tell where he was from, and after hearing the name of the place mentioned by the monk, there was an immediate commotion among the other guests.
San Diego.
The most well-known holy place among the three holy cities of the Church of Light. I heard that only monks who not only have a high religious rank, but also have morals recognized by the Holy See can live there for a long time. Ordinary believers can only stay in the holy city for a week, and then
You will have to wait until next year's pilgrimage month to visit again.
Santogo has produced many saints and saints, and it is a well-deserved holy city. In addition to worshiping the Lord God of Light, the "sacred remains" left by bishops who have made great achievements and the pope after his death will also be placed in Santogo.
Nogo's cathedral accepts worship from the world.
"Your status is so noble, I would like to advise you to go back as soon as possible..."
Kate sighed. This was not the first time he had seen someone with a similar purpose. But the situation in Camode was not that simple. How many of these people who came with great ambitions lost their lives on the front line?
Now he doesn't think that the sacred light scripture can really make the stubborn orcs retreat.
"What? Do you think this gentleman can't do it?"
The young man sitting next to the monk looked sulky and expressed dissatisfaction with Kate's words.
"No, it's just that the orcs are coming now."
Kate glanced at the young man and saw that he was dressed as a farmer and concluded that he was the monk's follower, so she didn't pay attention.
The young man noticed Kate's contemptuous look. He immediately wanted to get angry, but with the distinguished monk by his side, he had to suppress the anger in his heart for the time being.
The monk's other companions were all wearing simple cloth with a lot of dust on them. It seemed that these people had indeed come from afar. He told the monk what he knew:
"It is said that not long after the Fengya Fortress was breached, the Badafener Army was also defeated, and even Lord 'Golden Lion' died for his country."
He paused when he talked about the "Golden Lion". After all, this was a quite famous figure. But Kate didn't know whether this reclusive monk knew the name of the "Golden Lion".
When she saw the monk, she didn't say anything. Kate thought that this man probably didn't know.
Kate couldn't help but feel a little depressed, but he continued talking.
"The group of orcs has been advancing towards the Ghost Mountain Fortress, and most of the defenders around the Stone Fortress have been defeated."
He heard these things from the travelers passing by. Everyone said so, and he thought that the situation there was really the same.
"And even a small place like ours is not safe. It is said that there are wolf-headed men nearby who are killing people and looting everywhere. Several villages have been destroyed by them, and the higher-ups can't send anyone to deal with those beasts."
"You mean we came at the wrong time?"
The monk heard what Kate meant.
"Yes, you shouldn't take risks in our place. In the hands of orcs, these followers of yours are useless."
Kate felt that he seemed to be a bit nosy, but it was better to advise these outsiders to retreat. Of course, his unintentional comments also made some people dissatisfied.
"you!"
The young man couldn't help but slap the table, and the people sitting nearby also looked displeased.
"Thank you for your kindness, we will pay attention to our own safety."
The monk waved his hand to suppress the angry and dissatisfied young man's outburst of words.
"Well, the food is here, please take your time."
Kate took the dishes from other clerks, served them to the monk herself, and then returned to the counter.
"Sir, the stupid people here are really unreasonable."
Dolonka, who was in disguise, complained to Steele. Although this showed that their disguise was successful, Dolonka was very dissatisfied with the feeling of being treated as a subordinate.
At the same time, the food Kate served was hard for Doronka to swallow, which made him want to complain even more.
Most of the coins they carry are holy gold coins and holy silver coins. These currencies are generally only widely used within the Holy See, but they cannot be taken out in such a remote place.
But if we only count the common currency issued by the empire - Osadin, then the number they have is relatively limited.
Naturally, the food and clothing expenses must be kept simple. The dishes ordered in this store are all cheap things. In Dolonka's view, these are just enough to satisfy the hunger.
Of course, this store is not capable of making delicious food that would impress Dolonka, who is tired of eating delicacies from the mountains and seas.
"Oh? Do you think so?"
Bishop Steele picked up the old tea cup on the table and drank the inferior tea in it without appearing to feel any discomfort.
Steele and his group now have to hide their identities. After all, their mission is not ordinary. At this time, they must guard against others following their route to get there first.
It's okay to just expose Brother Steele's identity. As long as no one recognizes him as the Archbishop of the Temple, there will be no problem.
On the contrary, using the name of the church makes it easier for them to do things.
As the saying goes, the trees are hidden in the forest.
There are many monks going to Carmode now. As long as they pretend that they are just one of them, it will be easy for them to escape the eyes of other competitors.
"Yes, the monks who saw 'Sheng Dino Brother' didn't even bow down and said we were incompetent? How arrogant."
Dolonka picked up the long loaf of bread on the plate and took a hard bite, resisting the nausea in her stomach and letting the hard crumbs in her mouth wriggle between her teeth.
"This is Kamode, not a holy land. The people here lack respect for the God of Light. We don't have to expect anything."
Steele understood that there were not many churches and monks in this border area of the empire. It could be said that this was also a border area of the Light Church, and its influence was relatively weak.
It was good enough for the people here to show respect for the identity they presented themselves. As for Dolonka's complaints, he was also used to it.
Steele picked up the knife and fork and started cutting the lettuce. He was not worried that there would be poison in the food. After all, their whereabouts were still confidential and there was no possibility of leakage.
Even if there is, there is no poison that they can't detect.
Steele's movements were like a command, and the knights in plain clothes also started to eat.
Even these people from the Holy Mountain are hungry and thirsty and need food.
After all, if you don't eat or drink, you will die. This is a basic characteristic of human beings.
Of course, the dry food carried by Steele and his party was still enough. They went to this small town to purchase supplies, one of which was to rest, and the other of which was to obtain intelligence.
What Kate said about Camode's current situation was exactly what Steele wanted.
Not only that, Steele also sent others to inquire about information among other stores and residents.
Steele has always liked listening to all kinds of rumors told by these ordinary people. Although the truth and falsehood of the contents cannot be used as the standard of truth, there are always unexpected contents in them.
After a while, these extremely efficient people filled their stomachs immediately, confirming that their physical condition was ready for the next journey.
"Guests, please walk slowly."
At Kate's greeting, Steele and his group left the tavern.
Parked outside this tavern were two cargo carriages and a well-decorated passenger carriage.
Because these carriages had been parked for a while, the roads began to be blocked, and some of the surrounding residents wanted to say something.
There was no cloth shed on the carriage's pallet, and you could directly see the boxes of goods on it. The carriage drivers were a few middle-aged men with sallow complexions. When they saw Steele, they quickly stood up and saluted.
"Sir, have you finished your business?"
A carriage driver lowered his head and asked.
These plain-looking coachmen have thick sword calluses on their palms. Like the porters around Steele, they are all knights in disguise.
"Well, it's done, let's go."
Steele patted the dust on the classics in his hands, and then got into the carriage with Dolonka and the others.
Dang! Dang! Dang!
Just as the coachman was about to raise his whip, the town's bell tower suddenly rang a rapid alarm bell.
"Um?"
Steele frowned, he knew the meaning of the bell.
The enemy is coming.
"Sir, they should be those wolf-headed men."
Dolonka closed his eyes and concentrated, the triangular mark on his forehead glowing faintly.
He sensed that among the destructive auras in the distance, there was an object marked by them.
"There are about fifty of them. The strange thing is that only one was marked, and the others are not here."
Doronka opened his eyes and reported to Steele.
"Oh? I thought we were following the right place, but I didn't expect that those 'puppies' really loved to give us problems."
Steele smiled and looked up in the direction of the town's alarm, without any plans.
As the rumors said, there was a group of wolf-headed men plundering nearby, and this small town was unfortunately spotted by that group of beasts.
"Evacuate! All civilians evacuate! The orcs are coming."
Several town guards were shouting on the streets with long guns. These nervous-looking soldiers maintained order in the town that had begun to become chaotic.
Just the sounds of howling wolves and the clashing of weapons coming closer and closer from the street immediately caused this fragile order to collapse again.
People began to trample on each other, and Steele's carriages also encountered unfriendly collisions one after another.
Due to the tight front line, there are not many guards in the town. It is not difficult for the fierce wolf-headed man to break through the town's fragile defense line.
In order to reduce unnecessary casualties, it is better for ordinary people to leave as soon as possible.
"Sir, should we...?"
Dolonka asked.
The other plainclothes knights also looked at Steele, waiting for his orders.
The boxes on these pallets contain their equipment. As long as Steele gives an order, they will be fully armed immediately.
Besides them, there is also a team of knights in shining armor standing by in the fields outside the town. If there is any problem, they can immediately send a signal for help.
"We have nothing to do here, let's go with them."
Steele opened the curtain on the car window and looked at the panicked and desperate people on the street.
The cries of children and the lamentations of women did not move the man.