dmims Chapter 193 Academic Infiltration
Chapter 193 Academic Infiltration
Chapter 193 Academic Infiltration
The former bishop led the crowd, interlacing their fingers on their chests, and prayed to the Lord.
The prayer was a passage from the Gospel of Averting Disaster, without any modifications, so Kendrick could recite it from memory.
Kendrick felt he shouldn't be there, but Simpson insisted he stay.
Therefore, Kendrick was somewhat worried that this seemingly serious former bishop might force him to join the sect.
However, Simpson delayed bringing it up, which made Kendrick anxious and uneasy.
As the group introduced themselves, Kendrick learned that Simpson was not the director of the orphanage.
The real dean's name was Herven Tucker, a kind-looking, white-haired old man.
Simpson emphasized Kendrick's introduction, saying that Kendrick claimed he had not joined any sect, but was a fundamentalist who held a simple faith in God.
Of course, the fact that Herven Tucker is sitting here proves that his public statements are lies.
Otherwise, he wouldn't be able to comfortably serve as the dean in the current religious environment, yet attend this meeting.
The fact that Hervin had been the dean for many years further illustrates that everything here had long been planned by the First Birth Cult.
As for the others, there was a priest, two deacons, and the remaining three were just ordinary monks.
The diverse backgrounds of those attending this gathering demonstrate that the First Birth Cult is indeed in a very dire situation.
It must have taken a lot of time and effort to gather these people.
Kendrick felt out of place and was also worried, unsure of what topics awaited him next.
Simpson immediately launched into the first topic of the day: "Sister Margaret, I have read your paper carefully and shown it to everyone."
Margaret's eyes lit up: "Your Excellency, what do you think?"
"Excellent! The derivation is very logical, well-organized, and well-structured. I can imagine that if Lord Lars were still alive, your paper would have caused a sensation."
A shy expression appeared on Margaret's face, and a pinkish-rose hue rose on her fair cheeks:
"You flatter me, sir. It's just a poor piece of writing that no one would recommend."
“No need to be modest, Sister Margaret,” Herwin added. “I also read your article, and I thought it was excellent.”
Simpson nodded and added, "Besides, your brilliant use of astronomical references makes this, in my opinion, a masterpiece worthy of being recorded in the sect's history."
"It's nothing special. Since its inception, the First Birth Cult has been inextricably linked to the universe and the stars. I'm just inheriting the traditions and wisdom of my predecessors."
Simpson, however, said:
"The premise of development is inheritance, which means you have done what you should have done. It's not just the sect's ideology that is moving forward; in recent years, astronomy in the Far East has also been advancing relentlessly, and the articles you cited should be their latest research."
Margaret shook her head: "Not entirely. Two of them are conclusions from a hundred years ago, respectively arguing that the world is made of light and that the universe exists within observation."
"I've read both of these famous works, but I've always maintained a skeptical attitude towards them."
Simpson said,
"If the world is made of light, then what is everything we perceive? To say that the world only exists in observation is too idealistic and denies the objective reality of the universe."
"Many theological scholars have criticized them for this."
Margaret said,
"But the latest astronomy has corrected and developed these two papers, exploring whether light is energy or matter, and which is more fundamental to the universe."
The Hervenn couldn't help but interject, "And the answer?"
Nobody knows the answer.
Margaret shook her head.
"No one can figure out exactly what light is right now. Is it the sum of colors or the opposite of shadow? Nobody can say for sure, but this seems to be the most cutting-edge research direction recognized by scholars in the Far East."
"Easterners believe in the Wise Old Man, which is absolutely heresy to us," Simpson remarked. "But we have to admit that they are not only intelligent, but also possess the most objective and calm thinking, and they are trying to develop their power to the fullest extent."
"At least in mathematics and astronomy, we must catch up," Herwin said. "Suppose one day they express supernatural powers in formulas, then the Wise Man will trample God underfoot."
"Their power is immeasurable," a deacon suddenly said.
"But who dares to say that? Or rather, can you disprove it?" Simpson retorted.
The deacon said no more and simply lowered his head.
"That's it. Your conclusion is just your imagination," Simpson said. "The fact is that the Bright Day Magic Academy has now made geometry and astronomy compulsory courses for apprentices."
"You have to learn these things to learn magic?" Kendrick frowned upon hearing this.
He also studied two types of magic: temperature magic and detection magic.
However, he never came into contact with any other knowledge while learning these magics.
Has the situation changed now?
After leaving the Herald Academy, Kendrick almost lost his sources of information and intelligence, and the speed at which he grasped the situation might indeed be slower than what was happening.
However, Kendrick had also been exposed to geometry and astronomy in his youth.
Although this is not a required course for heraldry apprentices, the academy's teachers would recommend that everyone take the course, since for heraldryers, acquiring more knowledge is always beneficial.
Even Kendrick couldn't understand these two courses; he just couldn't learn them at all.
So now, magicians all need to learn this kind of obscure knowledge?
Kendrick couldn't understand how these two courses could help him master magic.
Margaret said, "I've only heard about these things, but I don't know anything about the magic world."
"That's true. The parish I was originally in charge of wasn't too far from the Bright Daylight Magic Academy, so I made a special trip to visit them. That's when I discovered that they had specifically invited several Easterners with a Christian faith to work at the school and teach this course."
Simpson explained,
"And I heard from my teachers at school that various magic circles, runes, and prayers are like mathematical symbols. If you study them carefully, you can find that they seem to have the same operating logic as the stars in the sky."
"All the power comes from the stars?" Kendrick asked in shock.
“I didn’t say that,” Simpson replied, “but supernatural powers can never come from mortals themselves.”
"The fundamental theorem!" Kendrick blurted out.
“That’s right,” Simpson said, “and I don’t think that’s the only rule. Geometry and astronomy are magnificent palaces built on the foundation of rules, so I think the purpose of offering these two courses in magic schools is to broaden students’ thinking.”
"But Mingzhou Magic Academy did indeed stand out immediately, producing many Holy Magicians of the Holy See," Hewen said. "Several of my children dream of one day being able to study at that magic school."
"That's how it is," Simpson shrugged, "and the other magic schools followed suit, adding mathematics,..."
Courses like geometry, astronomy, physics, and logic, which delve into obscure knowledge, seem to have become a popular trend.
"We, the New Beginning sect, realized the importance of objective laws and knowledge more than a hundred years ago. Therefore, gentlemen, we should be proud."
"Although the current situation is very unfavorable to us, our future is absolutely bright, because we will definitely be on the right side!"
Upon hearing this, everyone interlaced their fingers, closed their eyes, and recited:
"The Lord was born before all things, and leads all beings forward!"
Kendrick, however, shifted his weight awkwardly in his chair, feeling completely out of place and extremely uncomfortable with the scene around him.
However, he didn't dare to interrupt, so he could only sit silently and watch them pray.
After they opened their eyes, Simpson faced Kendrick:
"Mr. Bates, according to Margaret, you possess extraordinary strength; she said you saved her from fire and water."
Kendrick scratched his head: "It was just luck."
"No need for modesty, sir. I meant no harm," Simpson's smile was as warm as a spring breeze. "And your ability to recite the 'Root Theorem' just now proves that you have indeed come into contact with supernatural forces."
"Hmm—" Kendrick didn't know how to answer.
Simpson suddenly narrowed his eyes: "Sir, are you perhaps interested in the Cult of the Firstborn?"
coming!
Upon hearing this, Kendrick felt a sense of relief, as if a plate that had been half-suspended outside the table had finally landed. Although the outcome might not be what he expected, at least he no longer needed to live in fear.
Kendrick composed himself and then replied:
"Your Excellency, I am just an ordinary believer and have no interest in any denomination. Besides, I don't know much about your denomination's beliefs."
“As you know, sir,” Margaret said suddenly, “I have told you almost all the tenets of our sect along the way.”
"I'm sorry, Sister Margaret, I didn't try to remember it carefully," Kendrick said apologetically.
Margaret lowered her head in disappointment, but showed no sign of complaint.
"Is that so?" Simpson nodded. "In that case, I can't force you. Faith requires devotion."
Otherwise, not only will they not receive divine protection, but they may also be punished by the gods.
Upon hearing this response, Kendrick was surprised to find that the former bishop was unexpectedly open-minded.
Just as Kendrick was devising his lines and preparing to flatter the other person, Simpson continued:
"In that case, sir, could you do us a favor?"
Kendrick was taken aback: "Me?"
"Yes," Simpson nodded, "this is a critical moment for the survival of the Newborn Cult. If we don't take the initiative to do something, it won't be long before our cult is completely destroyed in this crisis."
"But why me?" Kendrick asked, puzzled. "I'm not a member of the Firstborn Cult."
“It is precisely because you are not that we need your help,” Simpson said. “In the Principality of the Holy Apostles, members of any denomination are required to register with the church, so the church had a complete list of heretics the moment the Firstborn were defined as heretics.”
Kendrick raised an eyebrow: "But what about Mr. Tucker? I heard he's an unregistered member of a cult."
When the orphanage director, Herven Tucker, heard Kendrick call his name, he immediately replied:
"The sect trained me to be useful in times like these, but look at me, Mr. Bates, I'm just a skeleton now. What use am I?"
“But you are different,” Simpson said. “You are in your prime and possess great superhuman strength. You can definitely help us.”
"No way!" Kendrick immediately shook his head. "This has nothing to do with me, and I don't need to get involved! You can't offer me anything in return."
Kendrick wasn't good at saying no, but he already had a task to complete and couldn't take on any other requests.
“The sect can’t offer you anything right now, but I promise that once the sect is revived,” Simpson said, “it will do everything it can to repay and satisfy you.”
However, there is no evidence to prove that the Firstborn Church can be revived.
Moreover: "And you are just a former bishop, which I know very well is not a high position, and you have not even been given the name 'holy'."
Simpson sighed: "You're right. The prerequisite for obtaining the middle name 'Saint' is reaching the rank of Archbishop. I'm still one level away from that."
"But with the passing of Lord Lars, many members of the First Birth Cult who held high-ranking positions were either dismissed or disappeared without a trace and could not be contacted. It is conceivable that they have been imprisoned or even assassinated."
"Therefore, my current status definitely places me in the top five of any sect."
But this argument failed to persuade Kendrick at all: "But I don't know you at all, I can't help you."
"Precisely because you know nothing, you only need to be yourself and don't have to worry about being doubted, since there's no trace of the Primordial Cult in you."
"Even so, what do you intend for me to do?"
"We have a comprehensive plan, but we need someone who can respond from within the Vatican."
Kendrick almost burst out laughing: "Me? Someone like me, do you think I could possibly get a position in the Vatican?"
"All you have to do is infiltrate," Simpson said. "All you have to do is gain the trust of a member of the Vatican and stay by their side."
Upon hearing this, Kendrick's eyes suddenly sharpened:
"Who is the other party?"
"All members of the Papacy use 'Saint' as a middle name, therefore it must be from archbishop upwards."
Kendrick narrowed his eyes: "So, if I agree to help you, can I choose the other party's identity myself?"
"Of course," Simpson nodded. "Do you already have a specific target in mind? Who is he?"
Kendrick said:
"A patriarch—"