Ice Vapor Goddess

Chapter 79 Church Speech
The Duke was taken aback, and observed the crowd again, finding that it was indeed so.

He had helped the poor many times and often brought his wife and daughters to participate in such activities, believing that it could cultivate their character and compassion.

However, every time relief was provided, regardless of whether there was enough food, large-scale chaos would occur, and deaths were common.

Generally speaking, this would be attributed to the fact that ordinary people are inherently "brutal," "illiterate," and "savage," and that they are unruly, lazy, and unwilling to work.

Just as the Duke was pondering the reason, Cecilia tugged at his sleeve—a bishop in a black robe with purple trim walked up to the altar.

Since arriving in Speyside, aside from the governor, the news he heard most about the bishop—not the church, but the bishop himself—seemed to have been shrouded in myth among the people.

It is said that when the governor's soldiers saw him, they suddenly saw the shadow of God appear behind him, and immediately declared their submission and became members of the church.

It is said that a family was diagnosed with a terminal illness, but the bishop gently stroked the top of their heads, and the whole family was cured.

It is also said that when the governor tried to slander the church, the bishop denounced him on the radio and then summoned an angel to knock the governor unconscious—the Guardian Tower was not even finished yet, but the physical evidence was already there.

Although the nobles had differing opinions about him, the rumors circulating among the common people became increasingly outrageous.

The duke subconsciously looked him over.

Black curly hair, light blue eyes, fair skin, and a small frame—this is the typical appearance of a Westerner, and also the appearance of the oldest people in the land of Albion.

People in the south, like those in London, are mostly of mixed race, with a high proportion of blond hair and taller stature, while those in the north have a higher proportion of red hair and are relatively more rugged.

At least at first glance, they don't seem to be as omnipotent as rumored.

The refugees also saw Xilun, and fell silent for a moment.

Some people's eyes flashed with fear and apprehension, as if they were afraid that the church would be angry if they made such a mess of the church.

But Siron simply summoned the little angel of [hymn chanting] to shine a light on himself, and then calmly said, "Don't worry, in the Lord's church, I will not allow anyone to go hungry. Anyone's suffering is a stain on the Lord's glory. You can continue to eat, but please try to keep quiet."

So people relaxed, quietly walked to the large pot to receive their own bowl, and then sat on the open ground, looking at the bishop on the altar.

"First of all—I am saddened by the destruction of Newport. Yet another piece of our land has been taken over by those monsters. Many people have died in this war. We have all lost a lot."

The voices grew softer, and sorrow began to permeate the air. People began to reminisce about the past and shed tears for the dead.

Their lives had been filled with the threat of death and the hustle and bustle of fleeing, but once they settled down, the grief finally had room to overflow—and was even more intense.

"May their souls ascend to heaven, where they may forever enjoy the glory of the Lord."

So most people quickly put down their bowls, made the sign of the cross on their chests, and murmured "Amen," meaning "certainly" or "sincerely praying." "And then—allow me to congratulate you on escaping death and snowstorms, temporarily avoiding the monster's tracks, gathering in the Lord's temple, enjoying warm food, and getting a moment's respite."

“The church is currently short of staff. We need chancellors, doorkeepers, messengers, as well as people responsible for cleaning, maintenance, cooking, and general chores. The church’s order of knights is also not yet full. I have listed all the positions and benefits that need to be recruited, which will be posted on the board behind me later. You can browse them yourself. If you can’t read, Father Green will explain them to you.”

He winked at Green.

Green had no idea he had this task, but he was honored to accept it. Recruiting people for the church was a great authority, and the bishop's willingness to entrust him with this task—even if it was just to give lectures—had already shown him enough trust.

People got a little excited and started talking in hushed tones.

The salary for working in a church is generally not high, but daily food is guaranteed, unlike working in a factory or mine where you may earn more but not have the life to enjoy it.

Siren continued, "The church will probably provide more than a hundred jobs. If the rest of you want to earn money, you can only go to various factories or farms, where the pay and conditions are similar to other places."

"Furthermore, I am pleased to inform you that your predecessors—those who have worked at Speyside for some time and are very enthusiastic—have compiled a summary of the compensation and evaluations for each position."

Xilun held up the simple booklet: "It records the situation of all positions, all based on the evaluations of other workers. I have read it through, and it is very well done. Although not every evaluation is very accurate, it is enough for you to use as a reference."

People stirred slightly, but the reaction was minimal. They didn't realize that this action made any difference; they were simply happy that they wouldn't have to fall into a trap.

Information is always crucial. Newcomers are easily tricked into working in unscrupulous factories, and by the time they realize something is wrong, they may have already paid the price with their health or even their lives.

Duke Hastings, sitting in the back seat, was even more astonished and suspicious: "The Arctic Morning Star? He's publicly promoting this kind of thing?"

The Arctic Morning Star was a well-known opposition newspaper before the end of the world, frequently publishing reports of worker abuse in factories and strikes in various places, but it often drew the ire of the authorities.

The church has remained silent and ambiguous about it, but no high-ranking clergy member has ever publicly supported it.

On the altar, Siron continued to say: "I hope that you will find peace and happiness in Speyside, not another hell. I hope that in the face of such calamity, we will unite and become stronger, instead of being defeated one by one and turning a blind eye to the suffering of our neighbors."

"Your predecessors wrote this booklet in the hope that you would no longer have to endure the same suffering as them. Not only that, they also established the Gospel Society with the support of the church. If you encounter any problems—whether it's broken furniture, not having enough to eat, insufficient heating, no one to take care of your children, or being owed wages—you can report to the Gospel Society, and someone will come to help you solve the problem."

“联系地点是地下三层的3-1-226室，地下四层的4-1-002室，地下五层的5-2-083室，记不住不要紧，每一层的墙上都会贴有联系地点。”

"In addition, the Gospel Church is just a non-governmental organization. Anyone who has received help can register there if they also want to help others, and use their skills, abilities and resources to help others."

"If you are facing spiritual problems rather than practical ones, you can come to my spiritual retreat next to the church. Just go through the side door and walk through the garden. I am always ready to see you."

(End of this chapter)