Steel, Guns, and the Industrial Party in Another World

Chapter 176: The Cathedral

TL: Etude

Elvis rode his carriage all the way to the large cathedral located in the city center.

From the outside, the cathedral still looked quite new. To match the growing influence of the Church in the Horn Bay Alliance, the Church had invested a fortune to construct this lavish building on the edge of Ness’s central plaza.

Compared to the old cathedral in the eastern district of the city, not only was the new cathedral more splendid, but it also covered a larger area and was taller. Its tallest structure, the bell tower, even surpassed the government building—Gold Tower—used by the Alliance Council. To facilitate access up and down the tower, a basket lift was installed.

It likely wouldn’t be long before Ness’s iconic landmark changed from the Gold Tower to this cathedral.

Elvis stepped out of his carriage and approached the cathedral’s grand entrance, noticing nearby wanted posters seeking any clues to Baroness Fennie’s whereabouts.

He shook his head mockingly.

“Humph! You wouldn’t expect the person you’ve been searching so diligently for to be right here in the cathedral in the city center.”

He continued on his way inside the cathedral, and along the way, the monks and followers he encountered paid their respects, to which Elvis responded with courtesy, showing none of the arrogance he had displayed at the embassy.

A green parrot took flight from his carriage, circling the entrance of the cathedral as if hesitating to fly in.

The bird moved to the side of the cathedral and noticed that the windows on the wall were open. Just as it decided to pick a window to enter, Elvis emerged again from a side door next to the cathedral.

He turned and headed towards the church’s backyard courtyard.

The bird changed direction and followed him to the backyard.

Elvis seemed to be in a good mood as he entered the courtyard with a light step. The area was tastefully arranged with abundant flowers and plants, providing a space for the church clergy to take a walk after meals and cultivate their minds and bodies.

The bishop soon found the man he was looking for—one also dressed in clergy attire, feeding birds in the courtyard, holding a small box full of grains.

A flock of various colored birds surrounded him, chirping excitedly, occasionally pecking at the grains he scattered on the ground.

Elvis approached with a chuckle, “Antony, my lord, I couldn’t find you inside, so I guessed you would most likely be out here feeding the birds again.”

The man didn’t turn around, continuing to watch the birds at his feet, which oddly were not afraid of him.

“How did the Duchess react?”

“Hmph! She said she would consider our proposal and think it over. I gave her a deadline—by this time tomorrow, if she hasn’t agreed to our conditions, let her whole family face the consequences.”

“Ah… you really don’t know how to show tenderness to women. I heard that Duchess Helen is a renowned beauty throughout the Horn Bay.”

Elvis frowned; such frivolous words should not come from a clergyman’s mouth.

But since the man was a special envoy from the Holy See, Elvis refrained from making the relationship tense.

“For the glory of my Lord, I shall overcome all bumps on the road, be it in reality or the realm of the spirit.”

The man, addressed as Antony, turned to face him, praising in an admiring tone, “The radiance of our Lord will surely shine upon all in the Horn Bay with you, a devout and capable bishop like you in charge.”

Elvis puffed out his chest, readily accepting the compliment, though he didn’t fail to show some modesty.

“Not at all, not at all. If it weren’t for the intelligence brought by Lord Antony, I would still be in the dark about the Alliance Council’s antics. It’s embarrassing, really; they plotted right under my nose, and I hadn’t had a clue.”

“Ah…” Antony sighed deeply.

Elvis grew concerned, “Why do you sigh, my lord?”

Antony’s face was painted with indignation.

“I’m sighing because there are devout servants like you dedicated to spreading the glory of the Lord in the regions, yet in the Holy See, there are many who hold us back.”

“Holding us back? What do you mean?”

“It’s a long story.” Antony’s expression seemed to speak volumes of injustice.

“Some around the Holy Pope criticize the witch hunts in the Horn Bay, accusing you of bringing unnecessary trouble to the Church.”

Elvis’s face turned to one of seething hatred.

“Shameful traitors! Shameful heretics! They should all be bound to the stake and burned alive!”josei

For Elvis, those labeled with these two markers were even more abhorrent than heretics and infidels—an insidious lot stabbing from behind.

Antony provoked further, “Worse still, some clergy suggest rehabilitating the group of witches, citing that the Holy Scriptures do not record every witch as evil…”

“Heavenly Father above! Almighty Lord!”

Elvis let out an appalled cry, his whole body shaking with fury.

The bishop pointed a finger at Antony.

“You… what are all of you doing all day long? Why would you allow such gossipy people to stay in the Holy See? Why would you allow them to continue living in this world?”

As Elvis nearly collapsed to the ground, Antony quickly stepped forward to support him.

“Please, Elvis, we are trying, but the situation in the Holy See is… well, complicated, especially with the Council of Understanding promoting all sorts of heretical nonsense, and our current Holy Pope is a tolerant man…”

“Hmph!”

Elvis scoffed, whether in contempt for the heretics in the Holy See or the Pope himself.

Antony whispered in his ear, “Right now, we are desperately in need of a devoted saint to lead in the Holy See!”

Elvis caught the implication in the other’s words, scrutinizing Antony with inquisitive eyes.

Antony whispered with a smile, “The Grand Bishop of Horn Bay is growing old, and it will soon be time to appoint a successor. Has Lord Elvis thought about this prospect?”

“I…”

Elvis was suddenly at a loss for words.

“If it serves to better the service of the Lord of Light, I will, of course, spare no efforts.”

“Then a great burden will fall on you, Lord Elvis. Allow me to speak plainly; I have been sent on a secret mission to survey the bishops of the Horn Bay, to report their conduct to the Holy See’s headquarters, so, in matters of personnel, I do have a say.”

This was more than “a say”—Elvis was inwardly ecstatic.

“Lord Antony… no, my lord, you…”

Antony interrupted with a wave of his hand.

“No need for excess. I am impressed by the devotion in your heart! Continue to serve diligently in your current position.”

“I swear!” Elvis solemnly raised his right hand.

“I will spread the Lord’s glory into the heart of every person in the Horn Bay, and I will cleanse every impurity from this place!”

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