The Feeling of Yesteryear

When Gais pushed the wooden crate and opened the chapel door, he happened to meet Little George's anxious gaze.

"It's you?" Little George was somewhat surprised to see the newcomer.

Could he be a bishop from the Hidden Cult? Is he here because the Lord sent him to take my place? That makes sense; he is clearly more experienced than I am and far better suited to be the spokesperson for the Lord...

Little George lowered his head, a faint, imperceptible blush rising on his cheeks as if he were struggling with something.

Gais looked at him and raised an eyebrow; this youth before him must be Little George.

The moment he first saw the boy, he felt a sense of familiarity, as if he had seen him somewhere before.

With a gentle nudge from Little George's voice, his chaotic memory instantly found its focus; it seemed there had been such a youth among the workers gathered last night.

According to the great Lord, he is also a Beyonder, yet when the Night Watchmen came by yesterday, he didn't reveal anything, choosing instead to cooperate obediently.

So, did he come to join the Hidden Cult yesterday just to investigate the true name of the great Lord of All Spirits, which I used to deceive people?

The more Gais thought about it, the more likely it seemed, and a hint of gravity entered his eyes.

He had actually failed to notice the hidden schemes concealed within the youth's clear gaze.

Gais then remembered that the Lord could hear his inner thoughts and quickly added in his heart:

"Praise the great and merciful Lord of All Spirits, and thank You for Your forgiveness toward Your loyal servant, Gais."

Ivan, concealing his form, floated in the air, watching with great interest as the thoughts continuously surfaced in the minds of the two men.

The twenty or thirty believers below also stared blankly at the pair on the stage, unsure of what was happening.

Only then did Ivan notice the air seemed to have fallen into a silence, so he quickly spoke up to interrupt Gais:

"This is one of my followers, Little George. Don't let his age fool you; he is already a Beyonder."

He then transmitted his voice to Little George:

"This is my missionary, Gais. Rest assured, from now on, he will only assist in the development of the Holy Spirit Society with all his might."

Little George felt a warmth in his heart upon hearing the Lord's revelation.

Gais broke the silence: "Mr. George, hello. I am Gais, the most loyal missionary of the great Lord of All Spirits."

He bowed slightly and extended his hand toward Little George.

"Mr. George... is he calling me that?"

Little George was momentarily stunned by the address, but seeing Gais's extended hand, he quickly stepped forward to shake it.

"H-hello, Mr. Gais, you can just call me Little George..."

Gais nodded with a smile.

Feigning a look of naivety? A truly excellent protection. A follower of the great Lord is indeed extraordinary.

"Following the Lord's revelation, I have brought the materials needed for the communion. I shall leave the presiding to you now."

Gais placed the wooden crate down and slowly stepped to the side of the stage.

Only then did Little George remember that the twenty or thirty people below were still waiting for him to preside over the Baptism Ceremony.

He fumbled through the crate in a flurry, finally pulling out a few decent-looking silver vessels and a jar of salt water.

Little George placed the items on the table at the front of the stage, composed his flustered mood, and assumed a solemn expression.

He poured the salt water into one of the vessels, picked it up with one hand, and with a steady voice, swept his gaze across every believer present.

"Brothers and sisters of the Holy Spirit Society."

"Tonight, we gather in this chapel not by chance, but by the guidance of the great Lord of All Spirits, and by the revelation of the Holy Spirit He has bestowed!"

"It is the longing for the truly great that allowed you to break free from the falsehoods of the Church of Divine Grace and brought you here, beneath the glory of the Lord of All Spirits!"

Little George paused, seemingly moved by his own words, and continued with an even more devout tone:

"Tonight, you shall become the first batch of believers in the Holy Spirit Society!"

"Your names will be engraved upon the scriptures of the Holy Spirit Society, forever recording the beginning of our faith."

"Your current piety will be remembered by the Lord of All Spirits and transformed into the strength that will protect you in the days to come!"

"Those who have arrived here today shall become the first believers of the Holy Spirit Society, and your faith shall be recorded in the scriptures!"

"Please come forward one by one. When this salt water, blessed by the Lord of All Spirits, falls upon your foreheads, it shall signify that you have completely severed ties with falsehood and are forever linked to the faith of the Lord of All Spirits."

"Henceforth, you shall carry the identity of 'Holy Spirit Believer' in this Trino City, in this world full of suffering, to spread the teachings of the Lord of All Spirits and protect each other's faith!"

The believers below were moved, stirred by Little George's infectious explanation, and surged toward the stage with enthusiasm.

Ivan watched Little George's impressive speech and the excited believers below, nodding secretly to himself.

This content was something he had "observed" from the Church of Divine Grace's ceremony that morning, then copied, modified, and explained to Little George at the Poorhouse.

Even the title for the believers, "Holy Spirit Believer," and the doctrine of the Holy Spirit Society, "protect each other," were things he had improvised on the spot.

He just hadn't expected Little George to deliver the content so perfectly; he had even been prepared to let that old swindler Gais take over if Little George couldn't manage it.

Gais, listening to the speech from the side, couldn't help but nod as well.

"This Little George—no, Bishop George—is truly a faithful follower of the Lord; his interpretation of the Lord is so moving."

"It seems I must also strive to play to my strengths and develop as many believers as possible, otherwise, how will the Lord's grace continue to favor me..."

Little George watched the reactions of the believers below, feeling somewhat stirred himself.

Phew~ I actually managed to speak it all at once, that's great. I shouldn't have failed the Lord's trust.

He extended his hand, and the restless crowd below, following his gesture, formed an orderly line.

Little George closed his eyes, sensing his own Spirituality, and channeled it into the salt water within the vessel.

He struggled to recall the prayer the Lord had instructed him to memorize.

"In the name of the Lord of All Spirits, O devout believers favored by the Spirit!"

"Today, we are summoned by the guidance of the Spirit and bathed in the protection of the Spirit's grace!"

"This salt water in the cup is the holy favor manifested by the Lord for the salvation of the world, the sacred nectar that washes away the filth of the soul!"

"The Lord's Holy Spirit witnesses our steadfast faith amidst the suffering of this mortal world, and witnesses our yearning for light within the fog of confusion."

"He descends with revelations through the Spirit, imbuing our souls with a divine mark!"

As the prayer concluded, the water appeared to be drawn up by a transparent straw, rising from the dish into mid-air before curving gently to touch the forehead of the first believer, Old Harvey.

Whether it was a psychological effect or something else, Old Harvey felt as if his soul had been purified; his accumulated fatigue was swept away, and even his thoughts became clear.

"It really is the same as it felt before..."

Tears streamed down Old Harvey's furrowed face, as if he were recalling some scenes from the past.

"Praise the great Lord of All Spirits!"

Ivan watched Old Harvey, feeling more and more that there were things he needed to ask this old man.

That feeling from before...

In the church that existed before the Church of Divine Grace, how exactly did it perish?

"Little George, after the ceremony is finished later, have Old Harvey stay behind."