Unfaithful

"The glory of God will always protect you. The monsters of the night are merely dregs hiding in the Lord's shadow."

Inside a makeshift building in Hell's Kitchen, facing a crowd of gang members, now followers of Dagon, Kaecilius nodded with satisfaction.

"High Priest, those are dregs who betrayed the Lord's glory, but how can we reach the Heaven free from suffering?"

A follower asked at this moment. The formerly hostile gangs were now sitting together harmoniously due to a common faith.

Hearing this, a deep light flashed in Kaecilius's eyes. He slowly stood up, raising his hands gently as if embracing an invisible power.

The dim yellow light in the room cast mottled shadows on his resolute face, adding a sense of sanctity and solemnity to the moment.

"My dear brothers and sisters, your question is the answer we all seek."

His voice was deep and magnetic, each word clearly reaching everyone present.

"The end times have arrived. The demons lurking in the wilderness are signs of the coming apocalypse. Only the great Dagon can protect New York and attain salvation before the judgment."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the crowd. Seeing their devout faces awaiting his next words, he continued, "Only by devoutly believing in Dagon can one become a child of God and ultimately enter His Heaven to enjoy eternal life!

The previous follower was abandoned by God precisely because he was not devout enough, transforming into a monster that God detests. God will not tolerate those who merely go through the motions!

But remember, piety is not an empty slogan; it must be proven by our actions, for God is with us!"

As Kaecilius's words fell, the room erupted in thunderous applause and cheers, pushing the followers' emotions to a climax.

The followers rejoiced, and this scene filled Kaecilius with secret delight. It was thanks to proselytizing in Hell's Kitchen that the Dagon Secret Cult had grown so rapidly.

Now, the Great Father would surely praise his achievements, shower him with His radiance, and forgive his previous blasphemous actions.

He gently raised his hand, signaling for quiet, a gentle yet firm smile gracing his face. "My dear brothers and sisters, we gather here today not only to hear God's teachings but also to walk together, shining our light on our respective paths and illuminating each other's way forward."

"Now, as the sky darkens, let us return to our homes and integrate what we have learned and felt today into every corner of our lives. There is no need to rush; the gates of God's Heaven are always open to those who are devout and strive tirelessly."

The followers nodded in agreement. They began to leave the simple yet sacred hut in an orderly fashion.

Kaecilius stood at the doorway, watching the last follower depart, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes. Recalling his actions from a few days prior, a sense of guilt welled up within him.

Before, he had merely seen Cthulhu as another sucker, enjoying low-interest "loans." But through the gradual process of "borrowing," he gradually understood the Great Father's love.

He was so benevolent, treating every follower as his own child. How magnificent!

It was precisely because of this that the Great Father had no interest, or rather, no interest at all, in the interest on his loans.

Kaecilius was humbled by Him and wanted to spread the Great Father's love to the world.

However, the Great Father, despite His boundless mercy, could not tolerate blasphemy. Therefore, one had to undergo a sacred baptism to be qualified to become His child and believe in Him, the Great One.

As for those followers who had not yet passed the test, they could only believe in His messenger, Dagon, for the time being. Once they became devout, they would undergo the baptismal ritual and become higher beings. It was a pity...

"Archbishop."

A deep, respectful voice interrupted Kaecilius's thoughts. Evans, his loyal second-in-command and strategist, appeared silently beside him.

Kaecilius withdrew his gaze from the distance and turned to Evans, a hint of inquiry in his eyes.

"Has that unholy sinner been dealt with cleanly? Was anyone discovered?"

Evans bowed slightly, his voice tinged with caution. "Archbishop, we have already delivered divine punishment to the sinner. He is now repenting before the Great Father, but..."

"But what?"

A hint of displeasure flickered across Kaecilius's brow. Could such a small matter have gone awry?

Evans lowered his voice, a sense of gravity in his tone. "It's just that when we captured him, he already had some wounds, and those wounds were clearly not inflicted by the people he tore apart."

Hearing this, Kaecilius's pupils contracted slightly, and unease rippled through him. "Are you saying that other people or forces were involved? Did you interrogate him before dealing with the sinner?"

Evans nodded, his face also etched with confusion. "Apologies, Archbishop, we wanted to interrogate him, but he had gone completely mad, making it impossible.

However, those wounds look more like the claw marks of some beast, or the work of some superhuman power. This makes us suspect if other forces are secretly monitoring us, or even interfering with our actions."

Kaecilius pondered for a moment, various possibilities flashing through his mind. Hell's Kitchen was a melting pot of various forces, with complex entanglements. Although the Dagon Secret Cult had grown rapidly, its prominence inevitably attracted attention and hostility from others.

"We must proceed with caution and not give our enemies any opportunity. Furthermore, we must thoroughly investigate who inflicted those wounds upon him.

"Evans, immediately assemble a team of elites to investigate this matter secretly. Not only must you uncover the source of those wounds, but you must also be vigilant for any unusual activities or individuals appearing around us recently."

Kaecilius said sternly.

"Yes, Archbishop. I will personally select the personnel to ensure the operation is flawless. However, what about the Holy Son?"

"Do not worry about the Holy Son. The Lord's radiance has already fallen upon him. Just do your job."

"Yes."

Upon receiving the order, Evans turned to leave and carry it out.

Kaecilius stood in place, watching Evans's receding back. He lowered his head in repentance.

"Great Father, please forgive my shortcomings. To become complacent and make repeated mistakes after achieving only a small success."

Kaecilius prayed silently in his heart. Though his voice was soft, it was filled with sincerity and remorse.

Night deepened, and the streets of Hell's Kitchen returned to their quiet state. Kaecilius stood alone before the small building, gazing at the dark night sky in the distance.