Faith

One of the priests was older and the other younger; they were dressed in roughly similar clothes.

A cloak similar to that worn by ancient clergy, with a loose cape, a dress that looks like a long skirt, a simple belt, mysterious patterns and decorations on the dress, and most importantly, a hood.

They walked barefoot on the clean floor, so clean it reflected their faces, leaving a dusty footprint with every step, but they didn't seem to care or pay attention; at least in some ways, they did have a certain charisma.

"Mr. Lin Qi, do you believe in God?"

The older priest looked at Lin Qi, his eyes cloudy, yet possessing an inexplicable power within them. "Do you believe in our gods?"

Both priests' gazes fell on Lin Qi, just as Mishe Haye had asked the Police Chief to test Lin Qi's attitude; they also wanted to know Lin Qi's views on Nagaril's religion and their gods.

This is a very important test. Over the years, among the people who have come to Nagaril from the outside world, there have been some atheists who insist on not believing in any god, which is completely contrary to the religious teachings of Nagaril. These people are blasphemers.

There are also some people who believe in gods, but they only believe that the gods they worship exist and are righteous, while all others are evil gods. This is even more terrifying than atheists, as they directly deny the doctrines of their native religion and defile the sanctity of the gods.

The test becomes important, especially since Nagaril is a theocratic state where the sanctity of God is beyond question and cannot be questioned.

After listening, Lin Qi nodded without hesitation, "I believe you!"

His decisiveness surprised both priests, who had prepared some arguments, but now they were clearly no longer needed.

They had originally planned to use facts to persuade Lin Qi when he said he didn't believe them, but these arguments were useless, which made the atmosphere somewhat awkward.

An awkward silence followed for about four or five seconds. The older priest's expression softened, and he nodded slightly. "Mr. Lin Qi, although you say you believe, I think..."

"You have never been exposed to our religion, never read our doctrines, and have no understanding of the great deity we worship. Can you explain why you have such thoughts?"

His expression gradually turned serious. "The gods are omnipotent. You can deceive me, but you can't deceive them!"

Religious issues and beliefs are very serious matters for some people; in fact, it could be said that these people's existence revolves around these things.

They may overlook other issues, but they will insist on some rigid and strict requirements when it comes to faith.

Lin Qi's quick statement that he believed made the two priests somewhat suspicious, wondering whether Lin Qi truly believed or was merely deceiving them.

Faith cannot be reserved or filled with deception; both are blasphemy against the divine.

They would rather Lin Qi say he was an atheist than have him deceive himself and God.

Compared to the elder priest's seriousness, Lin Qi appeared quite relaxed. He sat on the sofa, crossed his legs, and asked a question in return, "How do you know I'm deceiving you, and how do you know I don't really believe?"

"Based on your guess?"

Before the elder priest could say anything, Lin Qi interrupted him, "I am a theist and believe that gods really exist. I didn't want to explain these issues, but your words might have some negative impact on me, so I have to correct your mistake."

"Anyone capable of independent thinking would understand this point: every religion is an extremely large and complex system. Many people study a religion their whole lives and still cannot fully understand its contents."

"If there are no gods in this world, then where do these things come from?"

"It couldn't have come out of thin air. If someone lied and fabricated these things, not to mention whether humans have the ability to make the system and content of every religion so perfect, why would anyone believe a fabricated, false story?"

Lin Qi's voice carried a hint of mystery and inquisitiveness, drawing the listener in without them even realizing it. "You've fabricated such a huge lie, and people will find out. People from your own time know that no one has ever said anything like this before you, so it's all fake, and they won't believe it."

"Others won't believe it, and no one will pass on your lies after you die, because everyone knows they're false. People pass on real experiences, knowledge, and insights into life to the next generation, but no one will pass on lies."

"People know these things and pass them on, which means that these things must have happened. At the very least, people know that they did happen, which is why they pass them on."

"Furthermore, if you take a broader look at other pantheons, you will find that some doctrines and stories related to gods are not unique to you, but are common to all."

"I am not an atheist, nor am I a believer in any particular faith, but I believe that God exists. In the distant past, when people could not leave their own communities, how did they manage to travel distances that seem long even to us today to record the same things?"

"Perhaps due to language, customs, and habits, we have different understandings and different records of the same God, which leads to different views on some things that are of the same origin. But this does not prevent me from believing that God exists."

Lin Qi paused there, tilting his head slightly and looking at the two priests with a calm gaze. "Do you still think I'm deceiving you?"

The elder priest placed a hand on his chest and bowed deeply. "I'm sorry, Mr. Lin Qi, I was wrong!"

Lin Qi generously raised his hand to help, saying, "I forgive you. We didn't know each other before, and being strangers made us wary of each other. Now the misunderstanding is cleared up."

The older priest straightened up and nodded. "Yes..." He glanced at the younger priest beside him, who took out a red velvet cloth bag from his sleeve. When he opened it, a three-inch-long and two-inch-wide white plaque was placed in the middle.

It looks like the bone of some kind of animal or something else. The plaque has mysterious patterns carved with gold thread, and the whole thing looks very noble.

"This is Blessing Tablet personally blessed with divine power by the High Priest..." The elder priest took out the plaque and handed it to Lin Qi. "In addition, there will be an event next weekend, and the High Priest hopes you can attend!"

Such an invitation is only formally extended after confirming that Lin Qi meets their invitation criteria. Otherwise, they might just be going through the motions today. They wouldn't invite an atheist or a follower of other faiths to participate in a local religious event, as that could lead to some unforeseen consequences, something they've encountered before.

The plaque they brought was made from the horn of a horned animal, and in Nagaril, this plaque represented a religious status; the High Priest would only give it to certain individuals as a sign of their approval.

For example, ascetics, these people prove the purity of their faith by torturing and abusing themselves. They look very thin and unkempt, but they can always unleash unimaginable power.

Throughout the history of the clash between divine right and political power, there have always been times when divine right has been at a disadvantage, and on several occasions it has even nearly lost control of power.

It was these ascetics, who gathered from all over Nagaril, who saved the situation and restored stability to divine authority.

From then on, the native religion of Nagaril began to elevate the social status of ascetics, and High Priest would bestow upon them divine tablets to make them revered.

Their children also have the right to attend school and enjoy a range of social welfare benefits that are higher than those of ordinary citizens.

But don't think that becoming a monk is a simple matter. It is not so simple. Becoming a monk requires a profound understanding and mastery of the doctrines, and one must also take vows.

They need to sever ties with their relatives and worldly views; their only connection is with the gods and their representative— the High Priest.

Then they have to choose between fine repair or manual repair, which is another matter.

The person who possesses this sacred amulet is equivalent to a kind of religious aristocracy, and the Nagaril People who have faith will respect the holder.

After thanking the two priests repeatedly, Lin Qi watched them leave. When he returned after closing the door, he glanced at the ancestral tablet on the coffee table, picked it up, and played with it for a while.

In fact, Lin Qi did have faith, a true faith. He believed in wealth, power, and giant ships and cannons, but he did not believe in God.

However, in order to better integrate into this society, he needs to put on a cloak of faith, and fortunately, these people are easy to fool.

After an afternoon of rest, as dusk began to fall outside the window, Lin Qi and Asier arrived at the banquet specially held to welcome him.

The event was hosted by Mayor Mishe Haye, who invited local celebrities and business tycoons, including the Provincial Governor.

It's more accurate to say that the Provincial Governor organized it, rather than saying he did; he was just using the governor's name as a pretext.

At 5:30, a convoy of luxury cars appeared in front of the hotel. Looking at these luxury cars, it was hard to imagine that such a luxurious convoy would exist in such a backward place. But Lin Qi was not surprised, because he knew very well that this was the power of wealth and power.

Sitting in the car, watching the police officers on bicycles or on foot constantly whipping and driving away the crowd to make way for the convoy, and seeing those eyes filled with hatred or anger, Lin Qi felt relieved.

He even hummed a traditional folk tune from the Bayer Federation, a victory tune!