Chapter 2: Book of Truth (Please vote and add to favorites!!!)_2

After all, the executioner understood that if he did not put an end to the execution, he would be the one to bear the blame on behalf of the Bourbon Royal Family and face the consequences.

Subsequently, Marvin Enders and the other sailors returned to the Kingdom of Windsor. Although they faced discontent from King Rhodes IV for not bringing back gold and silver treasures, the King still 'generously' praised them, compelled by the valiant performance of the Saint Matier Fleet in the naval battle, and awarded them the Royal Honor Badge.

Not long after, he learned that the Kingdom of Windsor, along with Boupon Kingdom and several other great seafaring nations, signed a naval warfare declaration, permanently abolishing the use of privateer ships.

Marvin, who was orphaned and didn't fancy a hard life at sea, declined to continue serving in the Royal Navy. Upon discovering it was a world with religious freedom and abundant churches, he took his accumulated wealth and, bidding farewell to Commander Turey Crowley, came alone to New Ross City to establish the Church of Truth.

After recalling the bits and pieces of the past three years, Marvin went to the basin and gazed intently at his reflection, and after a while, he sneered at himself, "Who would have thought I'd become better looking after a body switch...."

A young and handsome priest—this was the assessment given to him by the women of New Ross City.

Quite apposite.

Um.

After washing his face, Marvin took out his pocket watch to check the time and, upon discovering it was close to three o'clock in the afternoon, hurriedly picked up his black overcoat made of pure wool, which reached down to his calves, and wore it over his priestly robe named Dalaris; he then donned a round-top hat, completing the standard attire for going out in winter.

Idly toying with the Red Pentagram Necklace worn on his chest, Marvin returned to the church and said to the two cats, one orange and one black:

"Fat Orange and Little Black, I'm heading to the Bil Market. I'm leaving the house-watch to you."

"Meow~"

Little Black sat obediently at the door, eyeing the pedestrians outside as if anyone dared to enter the Church and steal would first have to face the sharp imprint of its claws on their face.

Fat Orange was different; it snorted from its nose, its tail swaying beneath the windowsill, too lazy even to lift an eyelid, in a response that was both acknowledgment and a snore, all lofty and aloof like a woman who didn't love you.

A woman with... attributes.

The two cats, one orange and one black, were stray cats Marvin had adopted. Fat Orange wasn't so fat back then. When Marvin first encountered it, the cat was covered in wounds, thin and weak, lying in the alley next to the church, licking its wounds. Marvin, moved by its plight, tried feeding it something. However, Fat Orange wouldn't even glance at the food he offered until Marvin began to prepare dinner; then it darted out of the corner, snatched the raw meat from the table, and ran.

Charity was something Fat Orange outright rejected, as Marvin learned over the three years of living with him.

As for Little Black, it wasn't Marvin who found it, but rather two years ago, one night, it was Fat Orange that brought home a little kitten not even two months old. Marvin was amazed to discover that Fat Orange would share its stolen food with Little Black. From then on, Fat Orange had a little fan, Little Black gained a reliable big brother, and Marvin ended up with two cats, suddenly increasing his 'responsibilities.'

In an era with few entertainment activities, petting cats seemed to be one of the few joys.

The church was situated at the end of Ker Street, in the southern part of the city where a large working-class population resided, just one street away from the city center where the gentry and aristocrats lived.

To settle down here, Marvin had spared no expense. Purchasing the abandoned church and its renovations cost him a total of 2500 Gold Pounds, halving his fortune instantly.

But Marvin did not regret his decision. He had done the math: renting a church of the same size in New Ross City would cost at least 10 Gold Pounds a week, which meant spending nearly 500 Gold Pounds a year on rent. In comparison, a one-off purchase was less costly.

What was more important was that New Ross City was located at the intersection of the Barrow River and Noll River, with convenient access in all directions. Due to a great famine nine years prior, the population had dwindled and house prices had plummeted. But as time passed, it was inevitable for the population to recover and thrive, and for the plummeting house prices to rise again.

In fact, Marvin's foresight was correct. With the connection of the railroad and the city's advantage in river and land transportation, New Ross City quickly became a coveted southern city, flourishing in prosperity. Along with that, house prices escalated day by day.

Nowadays, one would not be able to purchase such a large church for 2500 Pounds.

Standing at the side of the street, Marvin pulled out a whistle and blew into it twice.

The piercing sound of the whistle drifted far with the cold wind, and soon, a Hansom cab appeared before him, pulled to a stop by the carriage driver dressed in a grey coat who sat high on the rear of the carriage, one hand holding the whip and reins, the other tipping his hat brim: "Priest, did you call for a carriage?"

"To Bil Market," Marvin replied as he got on the carriage.

Bil Market was located at the very southern end of New Ross City, where a large number of impoverished workers gathered, also known as the poor district—teeming with all sorts, thieves, and robbers became synonymous with the place. A stark contrast to the Ross Avenue Business Center with its patrolling police and lavish decor—no rich person would ever set foot in such a place. Yet Marvin felt not only that the prices there were cheaper than Ross Avenue but that it always held surprises for him.

"Today I need to buy some olive oil, a little bit of salt, rosemary, beef, onions, tomatoes, fresh fish... and oh, I need to deliver some bread to the orphanage," Marvin mused.