https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-265-Lanchi-s-Black-and-White-Dichotomy/12584333/
Chapter 264: Lanchi Begins to Prove Himself
Chapter 264: Lanchi Begins to Prove Himself
Keus's words resonated through the hall like pebbles cast upon a serene lake, sending ripples of shock and intrigue through the air.
The examinees in the hall wore an array of expressions, ranging from astonishment and silence to unbridled excitement.
Lanchi, upon hearing Keus's statement, stood frozen in place.
When he first heard the words "Wilfortism," he involuntarily thought of his own faltering merchant guild.
But as Keus continued, Lanchi realized that this was the very method used by the Cathedral's villains during the Shadow World banquet to destroy the Holy Maiden.
Even without guessing, Lanchi instantly understood who had named this ideology after his surname. What he didn't expect was that one day, this ideology would find its way to the Resurrection Church, only for them to turn it against him.
"..."
Keus, the Grand Priest, stood silently, his gaze sharp as he scrutinized each examinee, searching for any hint of wavering or abnormality in their eyes.
Even without putting this extremely evil ideology into practice, simply revealing it could cause hidden enemies to falter and expose their vulnerabilities.
Many of the examinees in the hall had never heard of this so-called "Wilfortism," but they quickly grasped the significance of this second trial.
According to popular scholarly beliefs about the nature of the gods, they exist within the conceptual realm.
It is believed that the gods cannot directly interfere with the mortal realm, or that they require extremely stringent conditions to do so. These conditions are thought to be related both to the nature of the god in question and the mortal they intend to influence.
The specific conditions remain a mystery.
However, regardless of what conditions need to be met, there is one inevitable prerequisite: establishing a direct causal relationship with the god in question.
Consequently, causing such causality with the gods in this world is a grave and dangerous matter.
One must never make reckless oaths to any deity, for whether it is a blessing, a prayer, a confession, or a direct curse, the consequences are uncertain. Yet, of all organizations, the Resurrection Church is the most wary of the goddess of fate's divinity and unseen interference. One could even say that the two organizations that most strongly believe in the power of the goddess of fate are the Church of the Goddess of Fate and the Resurrection Church.
The clergy of the Church of the Goddess of Fate employs "Wilfortism" to identify suspected members of the Resurrection Church by forcing them to swear the most pious oaths to the goddess of fate. They exploit this vulnerability to try and ruin the prospects of suspected Resurrection Church members. Should anyone display hesitation or resistance, their suspicion is heightened, leading to further intense investigation.
Now, in the second trial of the Extinction Branch's exam, the tables have turned as they employ Wilfortism to challenge the examinees to desecrate a statue of the goddess of fate. By observing their attitudes and final creations, they can identify those with suspected ties to the Church of the Goddess of Fate!
After all, sincere curses and disrespect toward the gods will reach their divine ears.
Only members of the Resurrection Church would dare to openly antagonize the goddess of fate in such a manner.
Or perhaps, it is a declaration of allegiance.
By committing such a blatant act of defiance against the goddess of fate, one effectively severs all ties and can only seek refuge in the Resurrection Church.
Several well-known examinees in the hall displayed exemplary villainous qualities, showing no hesitation and even appearing eager to begin.
However, the one who drew Keus's utmost attention was the female examinee named Cid, who had left much of her written exam blank and was the prime suspect of being a spy for the Church of the Goddess of Fate.
Her expression remained indifferent, as if she were unaffected by the challenge before her.
Lanchi's slightly surprised expression was quite normal, and it didn't attract much attention from Keus.
"Sorry, I'm out. Offending the Goddess of Fate is not worth it," an unknown examinee hesitated and finally stood up.
But when he turned around, he found a heavily armored priest standing immobile in front of the massive metal door.
"It seems you have some ties to the Church of the Goddess of Fate," Keus said calmly.
"No, that's not it! I just don't want to go to such extremes!" The man's eyes twitched as he shouted.
Keus acted as if he didn't hear his explanation.
Immediately, the heavily armored priests on both sides stepped forward to apprehend him, ignoring his resistance and loud shouts as they took him through a door inside the hall, their voices fading until they disappeared.
For a moment, in the brief silence that followed, the sound of heartbeats and breathing in the hall seemed to quieten.
They understood that this was an exam with no turning back and no option to withdraw midway.
In the so-called 'Wilfortism', only absolute innocence or absolute suspicion existed, with no middle ground. Every single person present, regardless of whether they wanted to continue with the exam or not, had to prove their loyalty to the Resurrection Church at this stage.
In a corner of the hall, Lanchi's expression was complicated.
And his shadow was even more agitated than he was.
Even Cat Boss couldn't help but curse this sinister and venomous Grand Priest.
And this terrifying "Wilfortism", what kind of beast came up with it!
"...”
But it remembered that Lanchi's last name was also Wilfort, wasn't it?
Not long after, the sound of unlocking chains broke the silence in the hall.
From an inner passage within the hall, several priests in dark gray armor pushed a tool cart out from the door.
On the cart were many exquisite statues and workshop tools.
They were sculptures of the Goddess of Fate, about twenty centimeters tall, with lifelike details.
"This is what you will be destroying. Any tools you may need will be provided," Keus glanced at the exam materials that had been set up, his voice cold and hard.
"The retrial will only last for half an hour. Once you're done, you can submit your work to me. After the retrial, I will announce the rules for the final assessment."
As his words landed, the heavy-armored priests delivered the statue of the Goddess of Fate and the tools to each examinee. Keus then signaled for the exam to begin.
Lanchi looked down, quietly observing the statue of the Goddess of Fate in his hands, remaining calm and thoughtful.
Gradually, the spacious hall echoed with the increasing sounds of metal and stone clashing.
Some examinees chose to use hammers, knives, or paintbrushes, along with their own magic. Some even went beyond destruction and used additional materials for transformation and creation.
In their own ways, the examinees expressed their hatred and malice toward the Goddess of Fate.
This was an exam that could be challenging or simple, depending on one's perspective.
As long as one's stance was firm and one had nothing to hide, it was merely a procedural formality.
But for those with doubts and secrets, it was as difficult as ascending to the heavens.
In the now slightly smoke-filled hall, Lanchi seemed out of place.
He didn't rush to start working, nor did he treat the statue with the same imaginative and violent approach as the others.
He simply picked up a carving knife and began to work with steady strokes, each one filled with emotion and deep meaning.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
