Elder brother's garrison

Page 1732

Although it's a bit old-fashioned, it makes perfect sense.

Xiao Bai mentally evaluated the decor in front of him and nodded in approval, his gaze unconsciously shifting to the faces of the nuns on either side.

After seeing the expressions of the nuns on both sides, Xiaobai suddenly felt a little confused.

In Xiaobai's view, the two nuns who opened the door, including the nun who had just been somewhat indifferent, were all looking at him with eyes full of pity and sympathy.

What a strange look!

Chapter 2378 The Saintess's Tale

Is there anything about myself that deserves pity?

Feeling the pitying gazes of the two nuns upon her, Xiaobai was about to tentatively ask a question when the leader of the men had already strode into the villa.

In order not to be left behind, Xiaobai quickly followed the leader's footsteps.

The two nuns at the door watched Xiaobai and the leader's backs as they walked into the hall and room. Only after they had entered did they slowly withdraw their gazes and exchange a glance.

The two nuns worked together to push the villa's door shut.

The villa's gates slowly closed under the devout gaze of thousands of believers in the garden.

"Sigh..." The nun, with a cold attitude, closed her eyes and sighed helplessly.

"Don't blame yourself, you've already done your best." Another nun quickly comforted her, "Since it's someone the High Priest specifically requested to be introduced to the Pope, there's nothing we can do to stop it."

“I know, I just can’t bear it.” The aloof nun shook her head. “She just happens to be… the type the Pope admires.”

“It might not be a bad thing for her,” another nun said with a complicated expression. “After all, receiving divine grace personally bestowed by the Pope is something that ordinary believers wouldn’t even dare to dream of.”

"..." The indifferent nun didn't speak, but her lips twitched, and it was unclear whether she agreed with her companion or was mocking her.

"..."

"..."

The two nuns' conversation was very brief.

The villa's hall quickly returned to a state of absolute silence.

……

Xiaobai's side.

Led by the male leader, Xiaobai entered a very spacious hall.

This hall has undergone an even more extravagant renovation than the villa's entrance. The walls are covered with milky-white ivory reliefs, and dazzling, luxurious crystal chandeliers hang from the ceiling. The moment Xiaobai stepped into the hall, she saw a sacred statue, three or four meters tall, standing at the far end of the hall.

Beneath the statue was a fire pit, from which yellow and red flames rose continuously.

Beside the seat in front of the fire pit stood a man dressed in luxurious and flamboyant clothes, his back to the door.

The moment Xiaobai saw the man's back, a look of disappointment flashed in her eyes.

—This pope of an illegal religion is not Akagi Shinkai.

Xiaobai stopped, trying to find other people on either side of the hall. But after looking around, she found that besides herself, the leader who had led her in, and the flamboyantly dressed man in front of her, only the other person remained in the magnificent hall.

"Your Holiness!" The leader's face lit up with excitement and piety as soon as he saw the figure in front of him.

The man called the Pope heard the call and slowly turned around, looking at the two people who had entered.

"Oh—it's my High Priest." The Pope greeted the leading man with a kind smile and opened his arms. "I've been waiting for you for so long. You've finally come."

After the Pope turned around, Xiaobai was able to see the man's appearance clearly.

This was a man of similar age to the "High Priest." He wore a magnificent tall hat studded with jewels, a heavy papal robe, and held a scepter that shimmered with gemstones. The man had an ordinary appearance, with small, perpetually squinting eyes, and a slightly plump figure. Even under the papal robe, his slightly protruding belly was clearly visible. However, perhaps due to his unique style, these features, which would normally be detrimental to his appearance, combined with his ever-smiling demeanor, somehow gave him an air of composure.

“My Pope, I am truly sorry.” The leader of the men walked up to the Pope, knelt down, and gently stroked the Pope’s toes. He said slowly, “On the way to the Sanctuary, the vehicle I was in charge of encountered some trouble—our truck was hijacked on the highway by a group of mysterious people. Most of the believers on board have now been captured. Only I and she escaped from the entire vehicle.”

At this point, the leader looked up expectantly and pointed to Little White behind him.

The Pope's gaze flickered slightly when he heard that "the truck had been hijacked."

"The truck was hijacked? Was it the police?" the Pope asked.

"No, it shouldn't be the police."

"Oh... in that case, it's fortunate." Upon hearing this, the Pope's expression returned to its previous ease. He followed the leader's finger to look at Little White, saying as he looked, "Since they were kidnapped on the way, it only proves that those believers have no affinity with our God. If they don't come back on their own, we can't force them. Our God will not abandon those who truly believe in him, just like you, and those you brought back..."

The Pope spoke leisurely, and his gaze finally fell on Xiaobai.

then.

The Pope's gaze visibly froze for a moment.

The Pope then realized that the person who had followed his high priest into the hall was a lovely young girl with snow-white hair and exquisite, dreamlike features.

The Pope's narrowed eyes widened instantly, his pupils trembling.

"The Pope?" The leader looked up in confusion when the Pope suddenly stopped speaking.

"Ah...ah." The Pope blinked, seemingly reluctant to leave the little white figure, then bowed and helped the leader up. "My High Priest, neither I nor my God have ever doubted your loyalty, but why haven't you introduced this beautiful girl to me?"

"Oh! Yes!" The leader was delighted upon hearing this. He quickly turned around and beckoned Little White to come forward, eagerly introducing him, "Quick, come here! This is our Pope!"

"Greetings, Your Holiness." Xiaobai stepped forward, blinking as she observed the man before her, and spoke.

"Pay respects, pay respects!" the leader said, exasperated. "Kneel down now and touch the Pope's toes with both hands!"

"Never mind, my priestess." After Xiaobai stepped forward, the Pope's eyes were fixed on her as if he were bewitched, his gaze lingering on her body and body. "Since you personally brought her here, these formalities can be waived for our first meeting. This is also our God's trust in you."

"Ah! Pope, my Pope, I am deeply honored!" Upon hearing the Pope's words, the leader was so moved that tears immediately welled up in his eyes.

"What is her name?" the Pope asked.

"Her name is... uh." The leader was about to speak, but then he suddenly realized that he didn't seem to know the girl's name at all. He looked awkwardly at Xiaobai, "What's your name again?"

"My name is Lu Lin."

"Ah... Lu Lin, what a wonderful name." The Pope took a deep breath, a look of rapture on his face. "I sense a divine aura in your name."

Chapter 2379 Expired Little White

It seems that the Pope is extremely satisfied with the appearance of Little White.

"The aura of a god?" Little White tilted his head, staring intently at the Pope.

"Yes, you will definitely be the most devout believer." The Pope narrowed his eyes slightly as he looked at Xiaobai's reaction.

“The most devout believer, that’s right!” The leader nodded, speaking to the Pope with great conviction. “My Pope, you truly live up to your reputation. This girl I brought in from outside is indeed the most devout believer! I tested her before, and her loyalty to God is unwavering. She…”

The leader was interrupted halfway through his sentence by the Pope raising his hand.

“My priestess, as a believer who serves the gods, I can feel the loyalty in her body.” The Pope looked at the leading man with a kind gaze. “This matter does not need your further explanation.”

“Yes—” The leader immediately knelt down.

The Pope no longer looked at the leader of the men, but instead looked at Little White with a kind expression.

What made Xiaobai somewhat uncomfortable was that the Pope's gaze, besides its outward benevolence, also contained a deeply hidden element of infatuation.

Xiaobai didn't like that look.

“Lu Lin,” the Pope said to Xiao Bai, “Since you were brought here by my priests, you must be a believer who has come to follow our doctrines.”

“Yes, I want to join the religion.” Xiaobai nodded.

"How did you learn of our existence?" the Pope asked.

"I learned about it from a stranger by chance," Xiaobai replied.

"Indeed, it seems the glory of our God has begun to shine upon this world." The Pope said with satisfaction, then raised his hand and touched Little White's hand.

As Xiaobai saw those rough hands reaching out to her, she instinctively took a step back, avoiding the Pope's touch.

The Pope's hand awkwardly grasped at thin air.

"It seems you don't have enough faith in our God," the cult leader said grandly, withdrawing his hand.

"Ah, no, this is..." Xiaobai quickly explained.

“No need to explain. It’s normal to be wary since this is our first meeting.” The Pope nodded, forcing a smile. “But I believe in you. I see potential in you, and I’m sure our God will be very pleased with you… Hehe… I can clearly sense that as long as you let down your guard against God, you might even be qualified to become a saintess of our church.”

"What?! A saintess?!" The kneeling leader exclaimed, his eyes wide. "Your Holiness, she can actually become a saintess?!"

"..." The Pope frowned, looked down at the leading man, and said, "Of course."

"My God, I've actually become the messenger who guided the saintess into the church..." The leader was overjoyed.

“Yes, if Lu Lin becomes a saint, then as her guide, your position will be upgraded from high priest to bishop.”

"What?! I can actually become a bishop?!" The leader was even more excited, and his shouts filled the entire hall.

"Yes, of course." The Pope raised a hand and pressed the leader's head down. "On the condition that you keep quiet and do not disturb my conversation with the saintess."

The leader quickly covered his mouth and lowered his head.

"Phew... Now it's quiet." The Pope looked at Xiaobai again and explained kindly, "The position of Saintess is even closer to God than mine. In the past, when there was a lack of candidates for Saintess, I, the Pope, presided over the ceremonies on her behalf. In the future, if you become a Saintess, then you will preside over the ceremonies, and you will also accept the worship of thousands of believers on my behalf, as well as bestow the shroud of hominid upon those believers... Hehe, as long as you lower your guard and accept God's grace from me."

"Can someone like me become a saint?"

"of course can."

"But I just arrived."

"The selection of saintesses has never been based on seniority; what we value... is qualifications."

"Qualifications...?"

"Yes, a rare... talent."

As the Pope finished speaking, his gaze swept over Xiaobai's flat body, his eyes slightly narrowed, as if he were savoring something.

"Oh... what do you mean by the grace of God that you just mentioned?" Xiaobai asked.

“It’s a sacred ritual. I am the believer closest to God in this world, and my body is connected to God’s consciousness.” The Pope opened his arms. “As long as you are connected to my body, you can also feel God’s presence… Hehe, this is a right that only people like you with young lives and pure souls have. As for the specific steps of the ritual, I will explain them to you in detail after you are baptized and join our religion.”

"..." Xiaobai looked up and asked, "Once you become a saintess, it's equivalent to having a very high status in this religion, right?"

“That’s right, the status of the Holy Maiden is supreme.” The Pope nodded.

Xiao Bai seemed to be deep in thought.

The "holy shroud" used in the cult rituals was the same fabric that Akagi wore close to her body, so in a sense, she should be in this area.

If I become a saintess... I should be able to freely enter and leave this villa and search for Akagi in this area, right?

With that thought in mind, Xiaobai made a decision.

"Alright, I want to join the religion and become a saint," Xiaobai said to the Pope. "Is there anything I can do?"

"You have indeed made the right choice. You truly are the chosen one of God." A flash of ecstasy crossed the Pope's eyes. He took a couple of excited breaths and hurriedly reached out his hand to Little White. "You don't need to do anything. You just need to be baptized and then receive God's grace from me!"

As the Pope spoke, his tone became increasingly impatient, mixed with a strange emotion that Xiaobai couldn't understand.

Little White watched helplessly as the Pope's hand reached out and put his arm around his shoulder.

"Your Holiness!" Just then, the leader, who was kneeling on the ground, suddenly spoke up, interrupting the Pope's actions.

"...My priest, what do you want?" The Pope stopped in front of Xiaobai, his expression instantly darkening as he looked down at the leader.

"Your Holiness, we believe that we need to register our identity before receiving baptism," the leading man kindly reminded him.

“I know! Of course I know!” the Pope replied angrily, lowering his hand. “Register your identity, then get baptized, right!”

“That’s right. You need to register with your ID card and other relevant documents, and you also need to provide a copy of your household registration book and property certificate as collateral. You also need to pay the membership fee and purchase indulgences…” The leader man said as if he knew them by heart. “This is what Your Holiness the Pope said when you promoted me. This is the foundation of our existence, and no one can be an exception.”

"Very well, you're right." The Pope nodded with his eyes closed, seemingly suppressing his anger. "Then let's register her first... but she's probably a minor and doesn't have an ID card yet..."

“I have one,” Xiaobai interjected.

"Huh?" The Pope was taken aback and looked at Xiaobai.

“I have an ID card.” Xiao Bai readily took out his ID card from his wallet and handed it to the Pope.

"You... oh... you're one of those special cases, right? Like, a minor with a temporary ID card, only valid for two years." The Pope reacted a beat slower, taking the young man's ID card with a sigh, saying as he looked at it, "Cases like yours, where a minor needs an ID card, are quite rare. Actually, I..."

Talking and talking.

The Pope's voice fell silent.

The Pope stared intently at Xiaobai's ID card, occasionally looking up at Xiaobai's face and then down at the photo on the ID card, as if trying to confirm whether it was indeed Xiaobai.

Xiao Bai's ID card was issued to her by the Governor-General's Office after she became a governor, and her personal information was updated in real time.

This includes the Governor's Office being responsible for updating the identity information after the acquisition of deep-sea ship equipment, which resulted in changes to hair and eye color.