Gilan went downstairs, crossed the street, and went to the grocery store across from the apartment to find his landlady, Mrs. Maslan, and asked her for the address of the " Atonement Church ".
Mrs. Maslan was a kind and approachable woman. She not only told Gilan that the Atonement Church in the capital was located in West Muse, but also offered him a cup of hot tea.
Gilan politely declined, then hailed a horse-drawn carriage by the roadside and headed straight for his destination West Muse.
The carriage traveled along the main road of the North Muse, crossed the Central Triumph District, and headed west.
However, a small incident occurred during this process.
When the carriage passed through the Empire Square, it was stopped by patrolling police officers for a routine check. This was because Führer Statue the Führer was being constructed in the square.
The middle-aged coachman offered a cigarette with a humble smile, but the police officers remained unmoved, their faces stern. They stated that the construction of the " Führer Statue " was of paramount importance and required strict inspection to prevent criminals from attempting to damage this imperial wonder.
Just as the coachman was about to be detained by patrolling officers for not having his identification, Gilan expressionlessly pulled out his "Senior Prohibition Agent " badge.
He was in a hurry and didn't want to delay his trip.
Upon seeing the identification, the police officers surrounding the carriage changed their expressions slightly and immediately gave an imperial salute with their arms crossed. Then, not daring to say anything more, they let them pass.
The Prohibition Bureau is under the Balance Department, and the two special departments, Balancing and Purification, are a level higher than the police station or even the police department.
Therefore, although Gilan was not a direct superior, his status still made the patrol officers afraid to offend him.
After this incident, the coachman treated Gilan with even greater respect, thanking her as he drove, and even stammering that neither he nor his family had ever drunk alcohol.
The middle-aged man's honest and unassuming demeanor left Gilan both amused and exasperated.
At the same time, he secretly sighed, realizing that living within the empire and wearing such an official's robes certainly made things much easier. At least it could avoid most of the minor troubles he would encounter.
Another half hour passed.
The carriage stopped in a block slightly north of West Muse.
This place is called Hibiscus Street, and there are seven or eight flower shops clustered along the street. There is also a large flower market nearby. As soon as I arrived, Gilan smelled the rich fragrance of flowers.
After paying 10 Pfennig for the fare and a 1 Pfennig tip, he alighted from the carriage and immediately walked straight down the sidewalk.
Not long after.
As he walked around the street corner, he could see in the distance a tall and solemn Gothic church, situated in a square off the street.
The square is surrounded by lawns and flower beds, making it a pleasing sight to behold.
On either side of the church's four-columned portico stands a pointed tower, each with a vertical oval stained glass window in the center depicting two kites soaring with outstretched wings.
'Churches that believe in the May Hour-God " Twin Kites "...'
Gilan thought to herself, and took a step.
As he passed through the square, he noticed a large group of homeless people gathered there. These people were dressed in rags, unkempt, and had made makeshift beds out of old newspapers or cardboard, where they were fast asleep.
Two homeless men caught Gilan's attention.
It was a young man and an old man.
"Father, Father... wake up!"
The young man, wearing only a dirty, blackened smock, held the unconscious old man lying on the ground and wept bitterly.
The old man was poorly clothed, and his emaciated body was covered with various sores, bumps, and red spots. He was clearly seriously ill and didn't have much time left.
Gilan walked along, observing the two of them.
Suddenly, he stopped in his tracks, thinking to himself:
'interesting...'
He had only intended to use his spiritual vision to check on the old man's condition, but he suddenly discovered that the young man's spirituality was glowing with a deep blue light. The depth of its color was only slightly less than his own.
At the same time, Gilan also discovered a vague outline deep within the young man's mind. It was a constantly swirling puddle.
' The Kingdom Brand is complete... This guy is a Tier 1 Spirit Mystic, not far from Tier 2.'
Gilan thought to herself.
He stepped forward, pretending to be a passerby, took out a five- Caesar note, and handed it to the young man.
"Go buy some hot food, and while you're at it, buy some medicine for your father."
"Oh, thank you, kind sir."
The young man took the money, a look of surprise on his face.
Their expressions and actions seemed genuine, stemming from heartfelt joy and gratitude.
"What's your name?" Gilan asked casually.
" Fermi," the young man said quickly. " Fermi Campos."
"Good luck, Mr. Fermi."
Gilan nodded, then gripped the brim of his hat, turned, and strode toward the church.
After he left, the homeless youth Fermi kissed the five Caesar bill in his hand, laughing heartily.
Gilan entered the four-pillared portico, a deep, resonant male voice echoed from a closed, rectangular guardhouse on his right:
"Visitor, please state the purpose of your visit."
Gilan glanced at the sandalwood window with its vertical stripes; it was pitch black inside. He said calmly:
"I want to buy the 'secret technique'."
"..."
Silence fell inside.
It's unclear whether it was Gilan's bluntness that left the guard speechless.
There was silence inside for a long time.
finally.
Bang!
A lattice was opened below the sandalwood window, from which a slender, fair hand reached out and gestured towards the donation box hanging outside the pavilion.
Gilan glanced at the hand.
He wore a ring on his little finger with a Golden Bow on it.
He raised an eyebrow.
He immediately took out his wallet, removed 10 Caesar notes, and dropped them into the donation box.
"..."
However, the hand remained unmoved, and there was no further sound from inside the window.
"Not enough?" Gilan asked, looking at the wooden window.
Seeing that the other person still didn't respond, he had no choice but to throw another 10 Caesar into the donation box.
"..."
Silence remained.
Gilan took a deep breath and continued to invest money.
10. Caesar.
Another 10 Caesar...
Only after 100 Caesar had been collected did the aged, deep male voice finally come from the watchtower again, though with a hint of helplessness in its tone:
"In Confession Chamber number 5, Atonement Priest will listen to your sins and confusion."
"Why didn't you just say you wanted 100 Caesar?"
Gilan sighed, turned and went inside.
The slender, fair hand froze for a moment, then slowly withdrew.
After Gilan found the wooden Confession Chamber marked with "5", he opened the door to a narrow side room, went in, sat down, closed the door again, and bolted it shut.
He took off his hat and coat and placed them on a wooden tray on the side of the partition.
Soon, the sound of a door opening and closing came from the next room.
Through the dense network of tiny holes, the familiar, aged, and deep male voice came again from the other end:
"Lost one, what confuses you?"
Gilan's expression suddenly turned strange.
Instead of immediately stating his purpose, he asked:
"Your priests at the Atonement Church also work as porch keeper?"
"Lost person, you've mistaken me for someone else. I am someone else."
The male voice on the other side of the partition was extremely serious and earnest.