Chapter 37: Cicero
Most of those who came to the church for worship were from Daniels Village, mostly the elderly or those with injuries and disabilities.
Corleon intended to have these people build the new chapel, then bestow upon them the Commandment · Toward Life.
Perhaps after building the sanctuary for the Lord, they could truly feel the gospel of the Lord.
And after their transformation spread, it might accelerate the spread of Faith.
At the very least, it would help improve the narrow impression among commoners that "as long as you go to worship, you can get white bread for free."
But they belonged to Daniels Village, and if the Daniels Family, which held the positions of village guard captain and tax official, did not agree, they wouldn't even be able to leave the village.
Simply coming under the starlight to worship, then returning to work in the village — given the current relationship between the church and the Daniels Family, they naturally did not care.
Letting them eat better also helped them work better.
But this time, the construction would require their labor.
Even if they were all people deemed useless by York Town, they were still valuable resources to the small village of Daniels.
So Corleon still needed to negotiate with Yara.
However, before Yara even arrived, Corleon received a new guest.
"Brother Corleon, I am Cicero, Cicero Lundex," the other party said with a bow.
He looked only about twenty years old, yet his distinctive silver-white hair, ruby-like eyes, fair skin, and handsome features all highlighted his uniqueness.
The plain linen clothes he wore looked extremely out of place.
"This is the token my father gave me." He held up the cross on his neck, strung with pale gold thread, made by Corleon from an ordinary wooden stake.
"My father sent me here to request a baptism from the priest, and to let me serve here as an ordinary monk."
Corleon remained silent — this person who clearly was anything but ordinary, wanted to be an ordinary monk?
"My father told me to tell the priest not to worry about my appearance. When I was born, Aivas cast a spell on me. Now, except for priests, others who see me will only think I’m an ordinary person," Cicero continued.
So, by "ordinary person," you mean the kind of "ordinary" that would make a woman like Mary want to have the guards tie you up and bring you inside?
"This is the Holy Scriptures my father had me copy by hand. He said that only by writing the Scriptures by hand can one truly feel the presence of the Lord, and understand the Lord’s teachings that you convey." Cicero took out a book bound with plain paper.
It had the same cover as Corleon’s preserved original Scriptures.
"I have felt the Lord’s teachings within it. My favorite line is this:"
"The Lord says, people are born to fulfill their value; if one is a farmer, let one’s fields grow wheat; if a merchant, let goods reach those in need; if a knight, guard one’s lord’s honor with the sword; if a king, let one’s people feel happiness."
"The realization of value, whether great or small — as long as it is achieved — makes a person perfect, and meritorious."
Cicero’s voice held a childlike innocence and purity, like a child seeing candy.
"Though I am my father’s child, I want to become an architect, so I believe the value I should realize is to construct the most perfect buildings," he said.
"Thus, after copying the Scriptures, I received a revelation from the Lord in a dream. Yesterday, I drew the design for a new church. I believe this is the mission the Lord has given me."
As he finished, he took out a piece of fragrant paper.
When unfolded, Corleon saw a standard architectural sketch.
It looked far better than Corleon’s own abstract drawings.
"Of course, the Scriptures contain the Lord’s teachings."
"The Lord says, lies are sinful. The birth of lies creates gaps in human communication. Distrust is born, and this is the original sin that destroys harmony."
"Therefore, I must confess to the priest: this is what my father instructed me to say. He said that after I told the priest this, the priest would allow me to design the new church and build the sanctuary for the Lord."
Corleon remained silent, seeing both guilt and hope in Cicero’s eyes.
"The Lord says, lies can be kind or malicious. Honestly telling a mother her child has died may take away her will to live. At such times, honest words are like demons from Hell, stealing life."
"Honesty is not wrong; it is a beautiful virtue. But honesty can also become a blade that kills."
"Lies are wrong; they are the original sin of disharmony. But lies can also be a breeze that soothes hearts."
"You must understand which lies are purely evil, and which lies are meant to comfort the heart."
"And whether spoken out of kindness or malice, lies are still sinful. You must confess them in prayer to the Lord, to seek purification of your sins."
Corleon slowly said.
"This is from the Good and Evil chapter of the Scriptures. Perhaps you still need to study the Scriptures more thoroughly — if you are to be a monk."
"Yes, I will continue to study. I will confess to the Lord and pray that He purifies my sins," Cicero said, bowing his head.
"No, child, you are not guilty of lying. You were honest," Corleon said.
"Your father, too, lied out of love for his child’s dream. That is a virtuous deed."
"Alright, good priest, I will have Father confess to the Lord as well," Cicero replied.
Corleon fell into silence.
"You are honest — that is your virtue. And why would you think that drawing a new church, the Lord’s sanctuary, is not a revelation from the Lord?" Corleon shifted the topic.
"The Lord is the Lord of past, present, and future — the eternal Lord, omniscient and almighty, watching over every child, whether they follow His teachings or not."
"So you have always been under the Lord’s gaze."
"The day before yesterday, I prayed to the Lord, asking how I should build His sanctuary on earth."
"The Lord said, ‘I shall send a revelation. A devout one shall come with my new sanctuary.’"
"The priest means — I am allowed to build the sanctuary for the Lord?"
Cicero’s expression lit up. It was unclear whether he was happy to build the sanctuary for the Lord, or to build the church he had designed.
"But you must first receive baptism tomorrow along with the other monks. Moreover, the merciful Lord wishes for the devout poor, the sick, and the disabled to construct the sanctuary — that is also His gospel to them," Corleon said.
"You will need to lead such a group. They are all devout believers of the Lord."
"What a merciful Lord. I will work with these devout believers to build the Lord’s sanctuary on earth," Cicero said.
Corleon gave Cicero a serious look — there was not a trace of dissatisfaction on the latter’s face, only childlike innocence.
"Very well, Cicero. Go behind the church and find Monk George. He wears a beige monk’s robe. Tell him that you are to receive baptism tomorrow as well. He will tell you what to do," Corleon said.
He saw Yara’s figure in the distance.