Chapter 18: You Are a Kind Person
“Your Excellency, the Administrator, is also a kind person.” Corleon did not refuse but spoke earnestly, “The Lord will bless the Administrator.”
“……” The Administrator was stunned.
He knew that Corleon was a smart person; those who had interacted with him said so.
Some even speculated, in jest, that he might be an illegitimate child of a great noble, with the boldest suggesting he was an offspring left behind by Lord Helvin.
Of course, that person was sent to prison and spent a night with Randall.
After that, no one dared to spread such rumors again.
However, one thing was certain: Corleon was intelligent and should have understood the implications of his words.
Yet, Corleon not only did not get angry but also thanked him and said he was a kind person.
Kind? That virtue was not something the Administrator was born with.
The Administrator lost interest in the conversation.
Even if Corleon was smart, making foolish choices would diminish his value.
Moreover, he might be killed by those necromancers tonight.
And the dead held no value.
“I don't need the Lord's blessing; the Noble House of the Twin Lions is the true protector of mine.” With that, he turned and waved his hand, returning to the shed.
“……” Corleon did not say more and turned to return to the church.
However, upon turning around, he saw a long line of people approaching.
Unlike other refugees, this group showed no fear; they were energetic and orderly, numbering over a hundred.
Corleon saw the recently returned Administrator quickly run over and converse with the leading blonde woman.
Perhaps that woman also belonged to a family of status.
Beyond nobles and knights, these families serving the lord interacted with each other, forming a close yet distant network of relationships.
……
Back at the church, the remaining refugees visibly relaxed, and Corleon spotted George.
Compared to when he left yesterday, George now had more equipment.
“Priest Corleon.” George bowed his head slightly, gripping the cross at his collar and pressing it to his chest.
“Monk George.” Corleon nodded slightly and then said, “Judging by your appearance, did a battle occur after you returned home yesterday?”
“Yes, Priest. Last night, some corpses attacked Lori. I assisted the villagers in defending against them.”
“It seems you did well.” Corleon thought of the group of over a hundred people.
“But many still died.” George lowered his head.
“This is not your fault. I saw people from other attacked villages; they were terrified, fleeing in scattered groups to the stone walls of York Town, seeking shelter.” Corleon said.
“With your help, the village had many survivors.”
“I only did a trivial thing,” George said. “It was the Daniels Family of Lori; they sheltered many civilians.”
“Indeed, they are a kind family. The Lord will bless them.”
“The eldest daughter of the Daniels Family, Yara Daniels, promised to donate a sum of money to the church. I did not refuse.” George lowered his head.
“You did the right thing, George.” Corleon noticed George's unease.
“You are a servant of the Lord. The Lord guided you to help them, and they accepted the Lord's protection; this is a manifestation of the Lord's love.”
“Those protected by the Lord, in gratitude, offer what they can to the Lord, which pleases Him.”
“Wiping the Lord's Throne and offering money are ways people express gratitude to the Lord.”
“The Lord does not disdain the wiping of His Throne, nor is He pleased by the offering of money.”
“These are manifestations of people's inclination toward goodness, reflecting the Lord's teachings.”
Corleon patted George's shoulder.
“So you did very well, George. The Lord watches over you and cares for you.”
“Praise the Lord. May all glory be to the Lord. May the Lord's teachings be heard by all.” George closed his eyes in excitement, reciting prayers, tears streaming down.
Watching George's emotional state, Corleon thought of his pale golden threads.
If Bede could be considered a true believer, then what about George?
A devout believer? A fanatic? Or perhaps a saint?
But more importantly, he needed to consider how to get through tonight.
The church was not far from the town, and Corleon did not believe the lord would allow necromancers to launch a massive attack here, but a small group sneaking into the church was possible.
Just like last night.
Although it was said that corpses from the church cemetery crawled out and passed by the church.
But precautions were still necessary, and if abandoned refugees were guided to seek refuge in the church, what then?
The small Flower Church could accommodate at most twenty people.
After explaining the severity of the situation to George, George immediately became solemn, took off his leather armor, gathered wooden planks, and reinforced the church's fence.
To gather more materials, George even dismantled his own shelter.
However, despite the two of them and the remaining refugees working until the afternoon, not only did no new refugees arrive, but a few of the original refugees at the church also sneaked away.
Upon learning this, Corleon was momentarily stunned, then realized.
If necromancers truly drove an army of the dead here, this small church would be easily crushed.
Rather than living in fear here, it was better to hide in a corner outside the town's stone walls.
At least if the army of the dead truly charged to the town's stone walls, the lord would not sit idly by.
Comparatively, relying solely on the uncertain protection of the Lord in the church was less reassuring than taking a chance near the town.
Moreover, perhaps they could sneak into the town under the cover of darkness.
After understanding this, Corleon took time to check the threads connected to the light orb.
Besides George's thread, only six refugees remained, including Bede, but all had reached the standard of true believers.
Although only eight people remained, they could completely hide in the church overnight. Still, Corleon thought to take advantage of the numbers to further reinforce and expand the church's outer fence.
As faith gradually spread, the Flower Church might become increasingly busy.
……
Time passed; the Morning Star approached the horizon, and the sky was filled with red clouds.
Corleon stood outside the church, gazing toward York Town.
A long army emerged from the town.
Compared to the previous days, this force was more elite, with five knight banners and about twenty mounted cavalry visible from afar.
Horses were valuable resources.
According to the lord's decree, only the lord could keep horses.
A knight was allowed to own three horses but was not permitted to breed them.
No one else was allowed to keep or use horses.
Suddenly, Corleon saw a small team of about eight people break away from the army and run toward the church.
As they got closer, he recognized the leader as the blonde woman he had seen at York Town's East Gate that morning.
“This must be the Flower Church. I guess you must be Priest Corleon.” The blonde woman approached, slightly bowed, and said.
“Yes, this is the Flower Church. I suppose you are Miss Yara mentioned by George.” Corleon returned the bow and said.
“Yara Daniels, here to fulfill the Daniels Family's promise.” Yara said, then waved her hand, and the guard Calon stepped forward with a small box.
“Here are three hundred gold coins and five hundred silver coins. I offer them to the church in the name of the Daniels Family.” She said, opening the small box to reveal neatly stacked gold and silver coins.
“The Flower Church accepts the Daniels Family's offering.” Corleon took the small box handed to him.
“When the shadow of war passes, the children of the Daniels Family may come to the church to worship and perhaps receive the Lord's blessing.”
“Hehe, if time permits.” Yara smiled, then looked past Corleon, and upon seeing George working diligently, her smile became genuine.
Corleon merely watched silently, not urging her.
Seeing Corleon's calm gaze, Yara felt a bit awkward, coughed lightly, and said.
“Cough, I heard from Piero that the church has taken in a group of refugees.”
Piero was the Administrator.
“Yes, but now only six people remain. The others chose to go outside the town, perhaps feeling safer there.” Corleon said.
“Perhaps they made a foolish decision.” Yara said, then raised her hand again, and two servants carrying black cloth bags stepped forward.
“Here are some oak spears, offered as assistance for the church's willingness to shelter these refugees.” She said.
The two servants opened their black cloth bags, revealing sixteen oak spears.
“Thank you for your help; you are a kind person.” Corleon said sincerely.
“It's just something within my capability.” Yara said.
For the Daniels Family, which had some connections with Alton, these sixteen oak spears only cost two gold coins.
After a pause, Yara lowered her voice and said.
“The lord's advisor has confirmed the presence of necromancers. After tonight, the undead crisis will be resolved.”
“However, if a part of the undead army attacks the church and George cannot resist, it would be best for the priest to flee to the town.”
“With George here, escaping won't be a problem.”
Corleon listened silently and said, “Thank you for your advice, Miss. The Lord tells me that your counsel is sincere.”
“However, this is the Lord's Throne. As a priest, I cannot allow evil to destroy the Lord's Throne on earth before killing me.”
“Well, since the priest has made up his mind.” Yara did not persuade further.