Chapter 295 ·An Immature Idea

An Immature Idea

"This... I'm afraid you'll have to wait a bit longer."

"Why?"

"Although Divine Medicine is extremely hazardous, it also has exceptionally potent healing properties, making it a 'forbidden drug' rather than simply a 'virus.'"

Indeed, potions like berserk potions also overdraw the body for temporary strength. When it comes to those potions, it's only a question of whether someone dares to buy them—not whether anyone dares to sell them.

Of course, this was only a problem the Otto Kingdom faced. If anyone dared sell such potions secretly in other major countries—take the Holy Empire, for example—they would be arrested on the spot and asked how well-done they want their place at the stake.

From this, it was clear to see just how rotten the Otto Kingdom had become.

"What if we made the potion's effects public?"

"Considering the influence of the Supreme Church, it's better to negotiate with them first."

Avril hesitated, something rarely seen. This showed that as the Trading Post grew larger and, as the merchant guildmaster, her actions were becoming increasingly constrained.

The meeting ended at this point. After saying goodbye to Avril and returning to her own room, Serea handed the Divine Medicine sample to Dogsius for research. With her ability, Serea believed it wouldn't be long before Dogsius produced something useful. Meanwhile...

"Little Black, Little White, tonight you two are to make a trip to the Supreme Church and see exactly what's being hidden inside."

"Yes." x2

The two complied with their orders, but at this moment Dogsius raised a question.

"Master, I think it would be fine to leave this matter to the Xiyun Merchant Guild. Why must you get involved in such muddy waters?"

"The Trading Post now directly affects my interests. Helping them is helping myself. Besides, I do not believe the Supreme Church is just a simple church—there must be something more hidden there, I'm sure of it!"

Though there was no direct evidence for such views, relying on a woman's intuition, Serea felt the Supreme Church was far from simple. If she didn't find out their true nature, how could she rest easy?

"I understand. Master, you're truly farsighted. I'll go study these potions right away."

"Mm."

After saying this, Serea leaned back in her chair. She had originally thought she could relax this time around, but she hadn't expected so many things to still cling to her.

"Hehehe, Serea."

As Serea was troubled, tethys drew near.

"Mhm, what's up?"

"I found something good~"

"What is it?"

"Just come with me and you'll see."

Tethys kept her in suspense, then dragged Serea away with her.

......

Meanwhile, inside the Supreme Church's mission station.

The priest whom Avril had rejected was kneeling before Preacher Oran.

After explaining the whole story of the prior 'chapel sale,' Preacher Oran slammed his fist heavily down on his chair.

"That woman who doesn't know her place dares to profane the grace of the gods!"

"O Lord, please grant punishment upon this heretic."

"Has the Divine Medicine's effects been accumulating long enough?"

"It's time."

"Good, let's restart that plan, then. I'll personally go and speak to that heretic!"

Saying this, oran stood up. The symbol of the black sun in his hand appeared piercingly bright.

......

Dusk gradually fell. Under the night, the Trading Post transformed into a city that never slept. On the streets were drunken drunks and adventurers everywhere. Amid this restless night, Serea, tethys, and Nora—disguised by their morphing masks—walked along the business street.

"This is it. I found something really interesting here."

Tethys gestured toward the Laureen Opera House. When Serea approached...

System: Acquired Faith Crystal *1

System: Acquired Faith Crystal *1

"Huh???"

Serea was dumbfounded. The familiar music in her ears—wasn't that "Life Will Change"?

Looking again at the poster outside the opera house, it displayed herself from the previous evening's performance. But why was she gaining Faith Crystals just by coming here?

"What a beautiful poster. I wish I could have one too."

Stars twinkled in Tethys's eyes. She seemed to yearn for the feeling of being noticed, perhaps from having been lonely for so long.

"Would you ladies like to come in for a performance? Since tonight's songs are chosen by guests, admission is free for a limited time!"

Ackley, attracted by Tethys's and Nora's beauty, had come over. Seeing so many people streaming into the opera house, Serea decided she had to investigate.

"Come on, let's check it out."

Leading Tethys and Nora inside, ackley was left behind.

"Miss, please wait... Tch, another bunch of impolite little girls."

Ackley drooped in disappointment, but then his eyes sparkled as he looked for other female adventurers to chat up.

Inside the opera house, Serea and the others saw that before the show had even begun, the place was already packed. Most people didn't even have a seat and had to stand. A rough count showed nearly two thousand people had gathered, and more continued to pour in—the opera house was nearly bursting.

Amid the chaotic crowd, snippets of conversation drifted by—

"Did you hear that song outside? It's written by a diva, you know."

"A diva, really? Can we actually see a diva perform here?"

"It's true! I saw it with my own eyes last night, but I'm not sure if Miss Candice will come tonight. Either way, miss Molly is definitely going to play last night's song."

At the mention of Molly, excitement flickered on many faces.

Hearing this, tethys nudged Serea and said,

"They're playing your song."

"I really didn't expect that a diva would have such appeal for adventurers in the human world."

As she spoke, the system notifications of "Acquired Faith Crystal *1" continued in her ear.

"System, what's happening? I haven't even performed on stage!"

System: The audience has developed faith in 'Candice'. Since the host is present, you can harvest this 'faith'.

"That works? But what if I'm not here?"

System: Build an Evil God Chapel and enshrine a statue, which will expand the range for harvesting Faith Crystals. However, collecting faith power at a distance will cause some loss, the degree of which depends on distance. If the distance is exceeded, faith Crystals cannot be harvested at all.

"Build a chapel? Am I supposed to enshrine a statue of Candice... in... in..."

A sudden flash of inspiration struck Serea—she realized something.

"Wait, does love for a person also count as faith?"

System: Yes.

"No need to develop an actual religion?"

System: Correct.

An immature idea sprouted in Serea's mind. If that could work, maybe she didn't need to struggle for territory with other religions at all.

For 'faith', maybe she could even refer to the 'LL method'...

As Serea mulled over the feasibility of her idea, the doors of the opera house slowly closed, and the lights dimmed. The host stepped onto the stage beneath a spotlight.

"Welcome once again to the Laureen Opera House!"

"Get off! We want Miss Candice!"

"We want Miss Molly!"

"Candice! Candice! Candice!"

The harvest of Faith Crystals surged again. Though those who had given faith yesterday produced much less today, the many new faces attracted by yesterday's crowd were a whole fresh crop of 'newbies.'

Seeing the uproar, the host pulled out a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from his forehead.

If he told them Miss Candice wasn't here tonight, he wondered if he'd even make it out in one piece.

But...

(To be continued)