The Church did not need believers; believers needed the Church.
In this world, the Church held supernatural power, and its funding came from the families. Merely allowing believers to worship was already a merciful handout.
But not everyone had the leo to enjoy that mercy, so all manner of esoteric cults sprang up unchecked, only for their members to be arrested by the Night Watch Bureau.
Like weeds in a wasteland, crop after crop, they would never disappear.
But the arrested cultists would disappear.
As Xiao listened to the familiar prayers rise, he could not stop trembling with excitement.
For workers at the bottom, acceptance was sometimes more precious than leo.
They could trade their lives for leo, but not for even a shred of acceptance.
Looking at the people around him reciting the same prayers, he could not help feeling a little closer to them.
Such things were happening throughout the Hearthfire District.
The canteen was merely a place to eat, and signing the Contract had only been for a few more leo.
But when they fought shoulder to shoulder on the battlefield, when their blood flowed together, everything changed.
Prayers rose from the mouths of comrades beside them, then accompanied them as they charged at the monsters.
Their prayers might have been cheap, but their sacrifices were not.
The Hearthfire District was like a massive anvil, hammering a loose Society into steel.
Maeve's defense gradually began to falter, but the fear in the eyes of those behind her quietly faded.
Faith had always been a remedy for overcoming fear.
The Lantern beside Xiao cast its light, and more and more people gathered around it.
"Brothers, hold these monsters back! For the Hearthfire District, let our blood flow together!"
Someone shouted.
Phoebe tried hard to raise the Lantern higher,