Work Prophet
Chapter 247 - 5: The Trial of Justice

Chapter 247: Chapter 5: The Trial of Justice

"Do you realize that such a decision could lead to the death of many innocent people?" Priest Hesiod said solemnly.

"Then we might as well do nothing and just watch as the Double Rest Sect grows stronger day by day until it replaces us, and no one in the West will believe in Pisya anymore, but only followers of Sabbath will be everywhere," Herodotus argued.

"Nonsense, you’re just scaremongering!" the eldest Priest Kerkwon rebuked.

"We lost Green Field, not Rock Snow City, the Arias family is not the Figrola family, even if Ireya did join that so-called Double Rest Sect, it wouldn’t affect the overall situation!"

However, Herodotus, for once, did not maintain his previously modest demeanor and retorted, "Then why are we gathered here today?"

Priest Kerkwon was speechless.

Priest Reves also spoke up to support his disciple, "Ladies and gentlemen, this is war, and war means bloodshed, we are all children of the Silver Moon Goddess, who has always bestowed her care and blessings upon us, now it is time we did something for her!"

"It sounds as if you’re going to the battlefield yourself," Priest Martina said softly.

"If Priest Martina, you have a better solution, we are of course all ears," Priest Reves said unhurriedly.

"I still adhere to the Church’s traditional approach, which is to primarily woo the noble lords of the West."

"But haven’t you already sent your disciples to woo Ireya, and you personally made an unprecedentedly generous offer.

"The Church even agreed to create a special position for her as an honorary High Priest and promised to build a Temple on her territory, fund her city wall construction, but how did she respond to our olive branch?"

"Ireya has been completely bewitched by Merlin and the Foreign God behind him, losing her faith in the goddess and unable to turn back," Priest Hesiod stated decisively, "We must teach her and Merlin a lesson.

"Then reach out to the other families again, put pressure on the Arias family."

"Priest Martina, you know how cunning those nobles can be, without a family of sufficient standing willing to step up at this time and condemn Ireya to her face."

"So you want to start a war that turns the West into a river of blood?" Priest Martina raised her voice, looking around at her colleagues, "What if we lose?"

"Our believers outnumber them by a hundred, a thousand times; how could we possibly lose?" someone said.

"You were just as confident the last time you sent Adelle to challenge Merlin."

"It seems we have some disagreement on this issue; therefore, let’s stick to the old rules and have a vote," Priest Reves suggested, "So... who supports Priest Martina?"

"Count me in," Priest Kerkwon said, "I’m not afraid of Merlin and his Double Rest Sect, but I don’t want to see a war happen either."

"Your kindness is a blessing to all beings; anyone else?" Priest Reves looked around but saw no second hand raised, "Then let’s see who supports going to war."

This time, four people within the hall raised their hands.

Priest Reves turned to his disciple, "Priest Herodotus, what is your opinion?"

"I abstain," Priest Herodotus said with a smile. "You and Priest Martina are seniors I greatly respect. I can’t make a choice between you, but I will abide by any decision the Church makes."

"The little rascal!" Priest Reves muttered in a voice that only he could hear. "But it doesn’t matter now. We’ve already secured four votes. The Silver Moon Church will initiate a righteous judgment against the Double Rest Sect. It’s time for those heathens to see our resolve."

Hearing the last sentence, Priest Martina couldn’t help but sigh. However, she knew that she was powerless to stop what was happening.

A decision made jointly by the seven High Priests was an ironclad rule that no one could question.

Priest Martina had no intention of secretly opposing the decision or employing any other kind of trickery. At times like this, divergence in thought and disparity in front were most taboo.

Unity was the most important thing. Once a decision was made, everyone had to act in accordance with that decision.

"Since it was your proposal, I assume you already have a plan in mind," Priest Martina said to Priest Herodotus.

Priest Herodotus nodded, "After the successful dragon slaying, the Double Rest Sect has a favorable reputation among the people, so directly instructing our followers to attack them may not be easy. The key is to first create conflict between the two sides, making our followers believe the Double Rest Sect is the evil party and that their very existence is a blasphemy against the goddess."

"The means to create conflict..."

"I’ve already considered it."

"Then you shall be in charge of this matter," Priest Kerkwon stated, going with the flow.

Such a task held little benefit. If done well, the rewards were few; if done poorly, the troubles were many. Priest Kerkwon, being older, just wanted to live peacefully for a few more decades and did not want to take such risks.

The other High Priests also shared this sentiment to varying degrees. Priest Martina was willing to step forward but knew that this was not her strong suit; she could not do it as well as Herodotus. Hence, she ultimately acquiesced to this arrangement.

This time, Priest Herodotus did not decline again. He bowed slightly and said earnestly, "May the goddess’s radiance banish all evil from this world."

"May the goddess’s radiance banish all evil from this world," the other High Priests echoed in unison.

......

Li Yu didn’t waste the prestige gained from slaying the dragon. Recently, he ramped up the missionary work both in intensity and frequency.

Not only did he dispatch a large number of Sabbaths to recruit incessantly in the Green Field area, but he also personally took to the field, preaching to both new and old followers about the teachings of the Double Rest Sect.

Furthermore, the model village he had built was now proving its worth, especially in the cold winter. The airtight red brick walls and the blazingly warm kang bed left a very deep impression on everyone who visited.

The news of Lady Figrola’s impending conversion to Saturday belief also boosted everyone’s enthusiasm for joining the sect.

Li Yu looked at the fifty-xun in his hand, where the faith count column showed nearly eighteen hundred faith points accrued in just under seven days since the last harvest.

He roughly estimated the current number of followers of the Double Rest Sect, which was approaching three thousand.

Unfortunately, most were just ordinary believers, not fanatics like the lizard people, each providing only a small amount of faith.