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Chapter 261: Lanchi's Theoretical Exam
Chapter 261: Lanchi's Theoretical Exam
Three days later.
The late February wind howled through the towering structures of Helrom, the imperial capital, as the morning chill of winter set in. Looming over the city was the imposing architecture of the Order of Annihilation, its grandeur and solemnity evident even from a distance.
The spire of the building reached skyward, adorned with ancient tales of battles against demons. A thin layer of frost covered the outer walls, constructed from pale stone blocks, adding to the air of mystery that surrounded the place.
Near the entrance, two knights stood sentinel, clad in deep gray heavy armor and wielding long spears. The massive doors, several meters tall, bore the engraved metal emblem of the Annihilation faction—a hollow eyeball at the center of a cold gray totem, devoid of pupils yet emitting a faint glow as if it devoured the last glimmer of hope. Twisted, intertwining chains and tendrils edged the emblem, their sharp thorns securing the eye firmly in place.
Once considered a taboo in the Northern Continent, the Annihilation faction now had an office in the imperial capital of Helrom, christened the Temple of the Order of Annihilation.
The clergy working here were primarily responsible for coordinating and providing logistical support to the various provincial branches under the jurisdiction of Helrom. Recently, they had also been tasked with screening prospective new clerics wishing to join the Annihilation faction.
After the Resurrection Church secured permission to operate in the Protoss Empire, the three major factions under the three bishops vying for the position of arbiter began rapidly expanding their influence across the empire. Many individuals already operating in the gray areas of morality now had a direct pathway to join the burgeoning ranks of the Resurrection Church.
Yesterday, at this very location, an initial exam had been held for prospective new clerics.
The comprehensive assessment process was divided into three stages: the preliminary exam, the secondary exam, and the final evaluation.
The completed preliminary exam was a conceptual written test.
This morning, the Annihilation faction would notify those who had passed yesterday's written exam.
The secondary and final evaluations would then be conducted simultaneously this afternoon.
Although the schedule appeared compact, the high level of execution expected of the clerics was a fundamental tenet of the Annihilation faction.
As the massive doors of the Temple of the Order of Annihilation slowly swung open, a spacious hall came into view. A grand chandelier hung from the high ceiling, emitting a brilliant white light that illuminated the surrounding walls adorned with oil paintings depicting the deeds of the Resurrection Church during the Holy War in the Northern Continent.
Arched doorways on either side led to various inner chambers, and at the end of the long corridor lay the main council chamber.
The main council chamber was the most solemn place within the Order of Annihilation. Its tall doors, crafted from sturdy oak, opened up to a spacious hall dominated by a large round table. The high windows allowed in ample natural light, and the sunlight streaming through the glass cast a vibrant array of colors across the table and walls.
Even at this early hour, several senior clerics of the Annihilation faction were already gathered around the table, their faces stern and unyielding. The amethyst-hued holy emblem pendants they wore over their chests attested to their high rank within the order.
Stacks of sorted scrolls and folders lay on the table, meticulously recording the identities and exam results of the Protoss Empire citizens who had taken the preliminary exam the day before.
In the center of the hall, a middle-aged man clad in a deep gray robe carefully perused the documents, his finger adorned with a skeletal ring that occasionally brushed against the pages.
He would look up from time to time to consult with the other senior clerics seated beside him, while a young knight in deep gray armor recorded their discussion with quill and ink. The remaining two senior clerics each held several files, occasionally engaging in discussions about particular candidates' performances.
The atmosphere in the room was solemn, as each cleric present understood the weight of this selection process. This exam was part of the Annihilation faction's bid to expand its influence within the empire, and the ability to recruit individuals capable of adapting to the empire's new policies could significantly impact the faction's chances of victory in the upcoming bishop election, just over two months away.
Under the current political climate of the Protoss Empire, they needed individuals skilled in strategy and planning more than those adept at direct combat.
Within the council chamber, the middle-aged man in charge of this task, Grand Cleric Caius, was at the heart of decision-making, while the others awaited his final verdict.
The objective and subjective sections of the written exam not only tested the candidates' wisdom, learning abilities, and fundamental skills but also provided insight into their nature, character, and style of conduct to a certain extent.
"I didn't expect him to pass the exam. It seems he has done his homework," Grand Cleric Caius remarked as he extracted a test paper and compared it with the matching resume.
Each candidate had their background investigated by specialized intelligence officers of the church.
The document in Grand Cleric Caius' hand bore the name 'Serio the Iron Fist', accompanied by a photo of a robust man with deep brown skin, a single horn on his head, and heavy black-gold bracelets on his wrists, indicating a half-demon heritage.
The intelligence report described him as a famous gladiator who had been banned from the arena due to his cruel killings. It was evident that he had an almost fanatical passion for battle, yet he scorned hurting the weak, such as children and women. He had been imprisoned on several occasions.
"He's a desperate man in this country, but our Resurrection Church isn't too averse to half-demons," the Grand Cleric sitting next to Caius remarked with a slight smile as he took the file with a score of just 5 points above the passing grade of 65.
"If the Dominance Branch were also recruiting, he would be more likely to go there," commented another Grand Cleric.
Typically, the Dominance Branch would engage in both open and covert struggles with them, especially now that they were in a clear competitive relationship over interests. However, this time, the Dominance Branch surprisingly refrained from recruiting new clerics in the imperial capital.
"Those fools are probably afraid that our people will infiltrate them again. They're being exceptionally cautious this time," Caius said indifferently as he set aside several failing test papers and picked up another with a score barely passing.
Normally, both the Annihilation and Dominance Branches were wanted by the Empire, so they had nothing to fear and could directly resort to assassination.
Now, however, neither side could openly use force within the Empire's borders, and the Dominance Branch repeatedly found itself at a disadvantage, falling prey to schemes orchestrated by clerics of the Annihilation Branch.
It wasn't that the clerics of the Dominance Branch were less intelligent; their teachings and personalities simply inclined them toward more straightforward strategies, while the Annihilation Branch excelled in intrigue.
The Annihilation Branch was not of a forgiving nature either.
They might appear inactive now, but given the opportunity, they would seek retribution on the Dominance Bishop.
The resume that Caius picked up next belonged to a young man named Redor the Fire Tongue, with red hair and clad in a black priest's robe.
The information described him as a dangerous pyromancer who had incinerated an entire village for unknown reasons. He was said to have a volatile temperament and was prone to impulsive behavior.
"It's evident that he's an imitator of Destruction Bishop Ivanoth. I suspect he even dyed his hair to resemble the bishop more closely," Caius' voice carried a rare hint of helplessness.
Although this candidate seemed to have some mental issues, his score was quite impressive at 76 points.
It was clear that he possessed extremely high qualifications and a chaotic nature befitting a villain.
"If he were on the Southern Continent, he would likely have followed the Destruction Branch," one of the other Grand Clerics commented.
"Unfortunately, given Destruction Bishop Ivanoth's personality, if he saw someone imitating him, he would probably turn that person into ashes or torture them in the most cruel way imaginable," added the other Grand Cleric with a smile.
"But the real standouts are probably yet to come. These two are just uniquely distinctive in their own ways," Caius acknowledged.
(End of Chapter)
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