Another morning dawned.
Plymouth.
"The Cleric," Nicholas Inam, wore the formal robes of a cardinal as he distributed food at a church relief station.
Every Church of the Holy Spirit cleric here was far kinder in manner than before. Perhaps this was the result of competitive pressure.
At the same time, Nicholas gazed toward the relief stations established by the three Orthodox God churches, his expression growing troubled.
In terms of secrecy, the Church of the Holy Spirit had suffered a complete defeat.
Though it had likewise formed teams of Beyonders, as the Beyonder squads of the three true god churches actively involved themselves in the Kingdom's occult affairs, they were gaining ever-greater influence—according to reports from the six divisions of the Investigation General Bureau, reports of high credibility.
Beyond that, the three major true god churches were constantly expanding their influence in the secular world as well, founding church schools, setting up relief stations, and so on... Combined with certain occult methods, they had gradually earned the title of "Orthodox God churches" among the populace.
This left the Church of the Holy Spirit in an increasingly awkward position.
'But objectively speaking, it has curbed some of the Church of the Holy Spirit's corruption and decay, especially in the attitudes of its external affairs personnel, who have become much friendlier... This is progress forced upon them.'
Nicholas continued smiling as he bestowed blessings upon each believer.
He knew that the only reason these believers still believed in the "Holy Spirit" was habit—a habit accumulated over the years!
Once the Kingdom's new generation had grown up, even the Church of the Holy Spirit's last foundation would be gone.
'After glory comes desolation... Is that some kind of cycle and destiny? But... even Foreign God faiths like that of Grandmother Green Banyan