Returning to the Church

Gais's gaze also fell upon the "Holy Blood Ritual."

"Holy Blood Ritual... what does it have to do with God Blood? Could it be that they use the God Blood in the Clock Tower to baptize people?"

He frowned, finding the image somewhat chilling.

"Go back to the church and take a look."

Ivan's voice echoed in Gais's mind.

He had thought of an excellent method: using Gais's memories to observe the church's rituals and circumstances.

All he needed was for Gais to remain in the state he had been in one second before recalling them.

He wanted to confirm whether this so-called Holy Blood Ritual held any special meaning.

"Great Lord of the Holy Spirit, I shall obey Your command."

Though he felt somewhat afraid and confused, Gais still chose to trust his Lord without hesitation.

"Even if my memories are altered again, the Lord will save me!"

Seeing Gais's concern, Ivan decided to encourage him as well.

"Don't worry. Your current identity is that of a devout believer of the Church of Divine Grace. They won't notice anything unusual."

"Also, if you get the chance, bring out some God Blood."

Upon hearing his Lord's command, Gais could not help but think to himself.

The Lord trusts me so much. I must fulfill His instructions. I have to remember the Holy Blood Ritual completely and steal some God Blood!

He silently offered another prayer, then quickly headed back toward the church.

Dong—

A deep bell toll rang from the church's Clock Tower, reverberating throughout the entire district.

Gais had arrived at the church's main entrance.

He took out the crumpled banknote and placed it in the donation basket by the door.

The nun seated behind the reception desk gave him an approving look, and Gais hurried into the church's main hall.

The oak pews in the main hall were already filled with worshippers.

Gentle violin music drifted from a gramophone in the corner. It was an unnamed religious piece that seemed capable of washing the dust from people's hearts.

The gentlemen seated in the front rows mostly wore tailcoats or formal suits, with crisp bow ties at their collars and exquisite cufflinks peeking from their sleeves.

The ladies wore fitted silk gowns, their skirts trimmed with delicate lace.

The children were led by nannies or tutors and sat properly beside their parents.

Though they occasionally stole glances around, their parents would gently stop them with a look. They immediately lowered their eyes, maintaining a composure unsuited to their age.

Even the merchants seated in the back rows wore stiffly starched linen shirts and wool coats, silver necklaces around their necks. The boss's watch chain dangled from his waistcoat pocket, swaying gently with each breath.

No one in the entire hall wore patched clothing. No one's shoes were stained with mud. Even coughs were muffled behind handkerchiefs, reduced to the faintest dull sound.

Watching this scene, Ivan could not help but think.

No wonder my Holy Spirit Society had answered every call yesterday.

No wonder people had believed even Gais's utterly flawed excuses.

So the Church of Divine Grace's worship services never gave the lower classes a chance to participate at all.

Gais casually found a seat in the back and looked toward the altar at the very front.

Father was already standing beside the altar. At some point, trays of silver goblets had been laid out on the cloth-covered table beside him, each filled halfway with a scarlet liquid that shimmered red in the morning sunlight.

The liquid in the cups differed completely from the one in Gais's memories from last night, both in texture and color.

"This looks completely different from what I saw last night. Why does it feel like nothing more than ordinary dye?"

Gais sniffed the air hard, but caught no scent of blood.

Only the fragrance of sandalwood and essential oils lingered in the air.

The violin music gradually ceased, and a group of children in formal attire slowly emerged from both sides of the hall.

"May the Lord's Holy Blood stain the hills, washing away our sins and confusion~"

"May the Eyes of the Lord guide our path, bearing witness to our suffering and faith~"

Sacred, melodious singing filled the hall, and everyone entered a solemn, peaceful state.

As the singing gradually softened, Father looked over the believers below and revealed a dignified smile.

"In the name of the Father and the Son, O devout believers blessed by the Lord!"

The ritual quietly began with Father's words. Several monks emerged from the side door and lit dozens of white candles beneath the Gothic arcades on both sides of the front hall.

The flames swayed gently in the morning breeze, casting faint shadows across the murals on the walls.

In the murals, the Blood of the Lord dripped from the cross, staining the believers below red. Every drop had been painted in vivid crimson, creating an atmosphere of sanctity and tragedy.

"Today, we gather not because of worldly bonds, but because we are guided by the Eyes of the Lord and sheltered by the Blood of the Lord!"

Father raised a silver goblet beside him, angling its rim toward the silver-plated cross at the center of the hall's altar.

"The scarlet within this cup is the Holy Blood shed by the Lord to redeem all mankind, sacred nectar that washes away the filth of the soul!"

"The Eyes of the Lord gaze down from the heavens, seeing us uphold our faith amid the suffering of this world, seeing us yearn for light amidst the mists of sin."

"Thus, He has bestowed His revelation, commanding us to use this Holy Blood Ritual to imprint our souls with a sacred mark!"

Father's words gradually became more impassioned.

Gais and Ivan began analyzing Father's phrasing at the same time, trying to learn the technique that stirred people's hearts.

Ivan only regretted that his tentacles could not write. Otherwise, he would have found some paper and studied every sentence.

"Remember." Father lightly tapped the cup's wall with his fingertip, producing a clear echo.

"This Holy Blood is not a gift obtained through wealth. It is the Lord's test of us."

"The Gold Pounds we offer are sacrifices to faith. The heads we bow are reverence for the divine."

"The Eyes of the Lord shall watch over every person, and the Blood of the Lord shall nourish every devout soul. Only by holding fast to this faith may we enter the Lord's Eternal Kingdom upon the day of final judgment!"

At last, he steadily placed the goblet back on the altar and drew a solemn cross before his chest. His voice returned to its gentle tone, yet sounded even more sacred.

"May the Blood and Eyes of the Lord be with us. All those with sincere hearts may step forward and receive this blessing from heaven!"

The people below began stepping forward one after another to receive Father's blessing. This so-called blessing was merely Father dipping his fingertips in water and lightly touching each believer's forehead.

"So that means the ritual is complete?"

Ivan considered the entire process: religious music, choir hymns, Father's sermon, then the water-dipping ritual.

"Mm, it isn't very complicated. Since there's no gramophone or choir, the music can be removed. I just need to revise the prayer a little, then dab some saltwater on the believers to give them the psychological suggestion that they've been baptized."

Thus, the great Lord of the Holy Spirit decided upon the process for his own Baptism Ceremony.

Gais watched the believers step forward one by one to be baptized and frowned. Though he was certain that this Holy Blood was not blood at all, and was completely different from the God Blood he had seen yesterday,

he still did not want to come into contact with that unknown liquid. Amid the flow of people entering and leaving, he quietly slipped out of the front hall and cautiously approached the Clock Tower's door.

Gais slowed his movements and quietly pressed his ear against the Clock Tower's main door.

Dong, dong, dong.

A series of heavy footsteps drew nearer and nearer. By the time they reached Gais's ears, they had already arrived directly behind the door!