Hearing Lathel’s question, Claire was startled, and she raised her head to look at him with confusion: “You… what do you mean?”
Lathel frowned and said, “Do you want to worship me without any plan?”
“How do you intend to recruit a follower? What law is used to admonish believers? What is it like to live in the church?
“Most importantly, what are the church’s criteria and the name of this church? Have you prepared those things?”
Lathel asked a series of questions that made Claire more confused. She stammered and said: “I… I… this… I don’t know; I haven’t thought about those things.”
He held his forehead, feeling extremely sore: “You don’t know anything, so what do you know?” Where did you get the confidence to establish a church? Where did you get the confidence to worship me?”
“This…” Claire was startled and hastily explained: “Originally, I intended to help the homeless and create trust and hope for them.”
“Then I’ll let them join my church; also, because they are homeless, they will not abandon me if I continuously give them food and shelter.”
“Besides, I also plan to name this church the Lathel Church.”
Hearing that, Lathel tapped his index finger on the table. His gaze made her scared and… a little embarrassed.
He sighed and said: “Your method is not fundamentally wrong, but it is also not right, and it cannot help you develop.”
“Besides, using my name for the church’s name sounds very strange; you don’t have to do that.”
“First, you must understand what your church is aiming for.”
“Like the Lumiere Church, they aim for fierce love. Every believer must seek love, especially their love for their god.”
“What about you? What are you aiming for? What will you teach your followers?”
“Claire, your way of doing things is not wrong, but will you take care of them like this for the rest of your life?”
“Do you have enough assets to give them food and drink for free like this?”
When Claire heard Lathel’s words, she pursed her lips, not knowing how to answer.
Lathel sighed; he knew Claire was truly loyal to him. This was because the first believer in a religion is the most loyal, as they never betray their beliefs.
However, Claire was too immature; she didn’t know too many things, which made it difficult for her to establish a church.
Claire raised her head and looked at Lathel like an abandoned puppy. Lathel felt her gaze and could only sigh.
“Okay, you are my first follower, so I can’t leave you like this.”
“For the time being, you can continue distributing food to them; however, you must give them a notice.”
“That is… food distribution like this will only take place next week. After a week, they will no longer receive food.”
“However, they have the right to live around this place. I will take care of sending more people to protect you, and of course, I will take care of matters on Karol’s side of the law.”
“Lathel…” Claire cried again, however, she laughed and cried at the same time: “Thank you… really thank you.”
“I know you will definitely not abandon me. I know you are the kindest and most honest god.”
“What?!” Lathel frowned: “Are you taking advantage of my kindness?”
“Ack! This…”
“Huh! Next time, remember to be careful with your words. Now, you are a Pope, my first follower. You represent me, so you cannot speak strangely, understand?” Lathel frowned and said.
Akna quickly nodded: “Uhm! I understand.”
“How many gold coins do you have left?”
“This… about 12,000 gold coins.”
“How many of you are there outside?”
“About… 400 people.”
“What?” Lathel was startled: “Is it that much?”
Claire nodded slightly. Lathel held his forehead, then used two fingers to rub his temples.
“Are you kidding me?” Lathel asked. When he looked around, he only saw about 100 people, and he thought that was all of them.
In the end… this place had more than 400 people. This is not a shelter for homeless people; rather, this is a gathering for rebels.
“How long have you been doing this?”
“About… 4 days.”
“You are lucky.” Lathel frowned and said: “Perhaps it’s because of your talent that the Queen let you gather so many people.”
“If it were someone else, I’m afraid they would have been arrested and imprisoned a long time ago.”
Claire was startled when she heard that. She didn’t understand the Empire’s laws very well, as this was the first time she heard that a large gathering of people would be taken to prison.
“I… I didn’t know that.”
Lathel sighed and said, “Okay, I’ll ask Captain Laura for permission so you can continue doing this.”
“Currently, you absolutely cannot propagate anything about religion or the Church, understand?”
“I understand.” Claire nodded and said.
“Wait for me for a while; I will come back in 5 days, then… I will come up with a plan so you can build a good church.”
“I trust you, my God.” Claire smiled and replied.
Lathel stood up and left. After entering the carriage, he breathed a sigh of relief, feeling extremely tired.
Akna sat next to him and gently rubbed his chest: “Young master, is there a problem?”
“Of course…” Lathel said tiredly: “There are so many problems that it gives me a headache.”
“Claire doesn’t seem to know what to do, she is like a child playing a house game.”
“After all, does she understand how difficult it is to start a church?”
Akna quickly hugged Lathel and said: “Young master, don’t be angry. We can slowly solve each problem.”
Lathel saw this and hugged Akna: “Ah! Akna, in the end, you are the only one who understands me.”
“Of course, I will solve each problem. First, we need to meet with Laura to solve the problem of homeless people and establish a church.”
…
In the security team’s headquarters, Lathel sat in Lafien’s cell. Although she seemed much thinner, she was more alert, which made him feel happy.
“You seem to have gotten a lot thinner, don’t you like the food here?”
Lafien heard Lathel ask, smiled, and said: “Lathel… I really miss your cake.”
Lathel felt that Lafien’s personality seemed to have changed. She seemed to be softer and a bit more polite.
“Of course.” Lathel nodded, took out a box of cakes, and placed them on the table: “If you want, I can bring you cakes every day.”
As Lafien began to eat the cake, tears suddenly flowed from her eyes: “Lathel, do you remember the first time we met?”
“Ah! That time… sorry, I wasn’t alert enough to know how we met.”
Listening to Lathel’s words, Lafien’s face showed a bit of sadness.
“However…” Lathel continued: “I remember everything that happened from the moment you were bitten by Charlotte until now. You’re always full of energy; you always cause a lot of trouble, but you’re always adorable.”
Lafien smiled when she heard that, but her tears still fell: “Lathel… aren’t you angry with me?”
Lathel sighed and said: “Of course not. I hope you can be released soon so you can live a happy life with me.”
“Really?” Lafien was surprised and immediately asked.
“Of course. Lafien, you are a beautiful girl, although you trust your God too blindly, you are a good girl.” Lathel smiled and said: “I believe… If you and I live together for a while, I will fall in love with you.”
Lafien smiled with satisfaction: “Thank you, Lathel. So… can you help me get out of here?”
“Even though it’s a lot more comfortable here than the prison before,… I miss you very much. I really want to go back to our normal lives.”
Lathel sighed: “Sorry, Lafien, I can’t promise this. However, I will try to help you leave here as soon as possible.”
“Uhm! Thank you, Lathel.”
“Don’t thank me; this is what I have to do. Besides…” Lathel gently wiped Lafien’s tears: “If I save you, how will you repay me?”
Lafien suddenly blushed and said sulkily: “Aren’t you taking advantage of my predicament?”
“Hm?! So I don’t get anything from you in return?” Lathel said, smiling.
“Huh! Then…” Lafien glanced at Lathel, pouted, and said: “I can give you a chance to… love me.”
“Hm?! What did you just say? I can’t hear clearly…” Lathel turned his ear towards Lafien, pretending as if he hadn’t heard what she said.
Lafien knew he was teasing her, so she shouted angrily: “Ah! I won’t pay attention to you anymore.”
“Hahahaha… you…”
“Sorry for bothering.” Suddenly, Laura stood at the door and spoke, interrupting Lathel’s words: “Visiting hours are over; please leave this place.”
Lathel glanced at Laura, feeling a little uncomfortable. However, in the end, he sighed and said: “Lafien, I will be back soon.”
Lafien also felt sad, but she had no other choice: “Uhm! I will wait for you.”
As soon as Lathel reached the door, Lafien continued to speak: “Lathel…”
“Hmm?” Lathel turned his head to look at her.
Lafien looked at him calmly and said: “Lathel, Alec is a very dangerous person; be careful. If you have the chance, kill him.”
“I know, I would definitely kill him.” Lathel nodded and spoke, then left.
As soon as the cell door closed, Lafien sighed again, looked out the window, and then looked down at the cake box that Lathel left behind.
Outside, Laura said uncomfortably: “We haven’t seen each other for a few days. It seems like you’re more courageous than before, right?”
“Heh?!” Lathel was startled and pretended not to understand: “What are you talking about?”
BAM!
Suddenly, Laura pushed Lathel against the wall; one hand held his chin, while the other hand leaned on the wall.
“You don’t understand… or you’re pretending not to understand.” Laura said, her voice cold like a wolf hunting its prey.
Her warm, fragrant breaths blew onto his face, making him feel a bit aroused.
Unlike Iritellis, Akna, and the other maids, Laura was the proactive type of woman, so he couldn’t resist her.
“Uhm…” Lathel didn’t know what to say, so he could only force a smile.
“Huh! I helped you with so many things; won’t you give me even a little benefit?”
“This… What do you want? But this place is… Ack!” Lathel was talking but immediately stopped because he felt Laura holding his ‘thing’.
“I want it…”