Chapter 349: Corruption of the High Level
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Hobert paused for a few seconds before reacting: "Are you saying that Full Moon Lake, or rather, South Colson, has contamination affecting Beyonders?"
"No, only we are easily contaminated!" Bishop Simpson said, "Even ordinary Mother Goddess missionaries, if they stay near Full Moon Lake for too long, their faith will become strange."
"Currently, Beyonders of other pathways won't be contaminated as long as they don't get close to the center of Full Moon Lake."
Hobert guessed: "Could there be a sealed artifact of the 'Planter' pathway in the lake?"
Bishop Simpson glanced at Hobert: "It seems you have extensive knowledge of mysticism, which saves me some explanation."
He sighed and added: "The Church has sensed your goodwill, but we also have our difficulties. The Archbishop has approved me to tell you this secret, hoping you can understand our difficulties in withdrawing from here."
Hobert nodded slightly, listening attentively.
Bishop Simpson organized his words: "The whole thing started 58 years ago, on a summer night. According to the locals, the red moon that day seemed particularly crimson.
"Around midnight, a meteorite fell from the sky and crashed into Full Moon Lake. Initially, there were not many casualties, only a lot of crops were flooded.
"But the next day after the disaster, the clergy in southern Colson County, to be precise, the Church's Beyonders, lost control one after another.
"An Archbishop who was sent to solve this problem was also contaminated. To this day, this Archbishop still dares not leave the 'Fountain of Life'.
"If it hadn't caught up with you here, I wouldn't have continued forward. We will send another missionary to contact you."
"Fountain of Life", like "Chasm of Storms" and "Tenebrous Heaven", is the headquarters of the Earth Mother Church, and also the divine kingdom of the Earth Mother when the gods were still on land.
The power of this contamination exceeded Hobert's imagination. He didn't expect that even a Saint would be contaminated.
Simpson continued: "Soon, some fish-like monsters appeared in Full Moon Lake, attacking merchant ships and cargo ships passing by. Moreover, those ships that passed through the center of Full Moon Lake also experienced various strange things in their subsequent journeys.
"For example, some crew members would profess their love to the beer barrels or the boxes containing goods on the cargo ship, hoping to do something beyond friendship.
"For example, some crew members suddenly grew wheat ears on their heads, and the wound would bleed non-stop after cutting them off."
Hobert's first thought was that this seemed to belong to the authority of "Moon" and "Mother".
Bishop Simpson continued: "In short, these bizarre events seriously affected shipping. The Feynapotter royal family sent three groups of people one after another to try to solve this problem, but without exception, they were contaminated after investigating the central location of Full Moon Lake.
"One of the 'Law Enforcers' was also contaminated and lost control as a result, causing huge losses to the royal family.
"Later, Duke Oliver Latin of the royal family and our Pope decided to join forces to solve this matter, but they also failed!"
Hobert couldn't hide his surprise: "They both failed!"
The Pope must be an angel, and the royal duke is likely to be an angel like Duke Southville of the Loen Kingdom.
Two angels failed to solve this matter.
"Yes." Simpson smiled wryly again: "The Pope's investigation result of Full Moon Lake is: It's not difficult to solve, but it can't be solved."
Hobert chewed on this sentence: "Not difficult to solve" means they can completely solve it, but why "can't it be solved"?
"So we can only abandon the mountainous area of Coelson County." Bishop Simpson continued to explain: "Both the Church and the royal family made a planned withdrawal.
"Since then, the royal family has ordered the blockade of this convenient waterway, and instead used the Yawy River in the west to transport goods and passengers from the port to the capital."
Hobert asked: "What about the residents here?"
The Bishop replied: "Ordinary people will not be contaminated by Full Moon Lake."
Hobert was stunned: "I have read the 'Holy Book of Life' at Bishop Utravsky's place. I remember the 'Bible' depicts that all life is equal, right?"
Bishop Simpson smiled: "That's right, this is the essence of the 'Holy Book of Life'. It seems you have read the 'Bible' carefully."
Hobert thought to himself: I'm not discussing academic issues with you.
Immediately, he realized that, for the Church and the royal family, they had no legal responsibility or guilt for abandoning the believers and people here and withdrawing.
Hobert finally understood: This is the "way to govern the world" in this world. The Church and the royal family seem to think that we have tried our best, but we have not solved the problem. Sorry, we have to withdraw. We have fulfilled our responsibilities. As for what impact this decision has on the people, it is not within our scope of responsibility. You can completely follow us, but you don't go together, what can we do?
Hobert smiled. Although he had never tasted the bitterness of leaving his hometown, just thinking about it made Hobert feel Bewildered and insecure. Especially in this era of relying on one's own small plot of land for survival, how big a disaster would leaving one's hometown be?
However, Hobert did not continue to discuss this issue with Bishop Simpson, but asked: "In other words, only after the contamination of Full Moon Lake is resolved will you send a bishop here?"
Bishop Simpson nodded: "Yes, but I don't have any hope for this.
"Therefore, I also brought some information about Colson County to show our sincerity."
Hobert nodded: "Please speak."
"Many of the bandit gangs here are peripheral organizations of the Theosophy Order. It is said that the Theosophy Order has a considerable stronghold in the mountainous area," Simpson said:
"In addition, according to reliable news, traces of the Blood Sanctify Sect have appeared in the mountainous area, seemingly members of the Andariel family.
"It is said that the Aurora Order also has a small stronghold here, but its power is not as strong as the Theosophy Order and the Blood Sanctify Sect.
"Currently, there are a total of four Barons and one Viscount still in their fiefdoms in the mountainous area. They have various backgrounds. Some are the last symbol of the royal family's influence on this land, some are our partners, and some are said to have already joined those secret organizations."
Hobert had the urge to cover his face: The situation in this mountainous area is too complicated! After the royal family and the Church withdrew, this place has completely become a place to hide dirt and filth!
Simpson finally said: "However, they are all secret organizations. As long as you don't actively provoke them, they won't cause you trouble."
Hobert smiled: "I am not comforted."
He paused and said: "I have my own messenger. If I have any questions I want to ask you, can I write to you?"
"Of course." Bishop Simpson left a mailbox address: "I will also reply to you with my messenger."
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