Chapter 258: The Ambassador’s Position
After a busy day, feeling the fresh and natural air of the morning, Chen Ran was revived with full status.
The feeling of the new home was different. Although the bed was smaller, he slept more peacefully. It was so refreshing to soak in the small bath yesterday.
Washed clean, all the fatigue was swept away, and he began to welcome the new day optimistically.
That guy Seiya got up even earlier than him, practicing his skills in the small courtyard downstairs early, preparing for the battle with Othello. This was his ultimate goal at this time.
Sometimes the ideal of a noob was so simple and passionate.
He casually ate a butter bun unique to the Holy City breakfast shop on the way. It tasted really good. After eating his fill, Chen Ran took Seiya to the Holy Palace and rushed straight to the Knight Department.
In the early morning, when spirits were at their best, Othello, wearing a suit of holy silver battle armor, was training his subordinates in the training ground, personally demonstrating his combat skills. Every move and every style exuded a fierce power, which made people yearn for it.
Seeing Seiya coming, Othello nodded, let the Templar Knight squad train on their own, and took Seiya to a clearing specially for duels to accept the agreed duel.
Since Seiya came, the other knights also felt the atmosphere of this battle more or less. With the approval of another Templar captain, they all gathered to watch. And it was the gathering of this group of people that also attracted other passing spectators. The duel between two knight stars was very eye-catching.
Chen Ran didn’t plan to join in the fun. For a guy who had walked between life and death, he had no interest in joining in the fun of ordinary fights. And he also had his own things to do. Today was the first day he was officially appointed. He needed to say hello to Cardinal Damas of the Holy Department.
The Holy Priest Department was different from the office-like decorations of other departments. The Cardinal’s office was more like a small chapel. At this time, Lord Damas was reciting the Holy Light Prayer for the gods. That clear and bright voice lingered in everyone’s ears for a long time.
“Holy Light…”
“You are omniscient and omnipotent, you are omnipresent. You shine on the newborn babe and also on the dying old man.”
“You receive the worship of believers in the morning, and the fog cannot cover you.”
“You listen to the prayers of all living beings at midnight. Darkness cannot diminish your glory.”
“We walk under your protection and will receive your solemn guidance; we fight under your shroud and will receive your holy blessing; we receive your grace and associate with the upright and kind; we are led by you and will regard you as our emblem and banner; we receive your grace and will always receive your forgiveness; we hold brilliance and victory because of you and will add honor to you; we enjoy peace and happiness because of you and will offer the most devout prayers…”
Familiar psalms brought different feelings. In Lord Damas’s prayer, Chen Ran saw the unyielding faith in an old man’s heart, and the belief in a better future.
This was not the first time Chen Ran had heard this psalm, but coming from this lord’s mouth, it gave people a completely different feeling. At least, the same lines, coming from Chen Ran’s mouth, would definitely not make people feel this way.
Damas turned his head and looked at Chen Ran with a smile.
“You’re here.”
Chen Ran stepped forward and bowed respectfully.
“Greetings, Lord Cardinal.”
Chen Ran’s attitude was extremely respectful.
In the Holy Temple, the prestige of this Cardinal Damas was second only to the Pope. And the reason for all this was not his status, nor his ability, but that he truly dedicated everything to the Holy City and genuinely thought for everyone.
Lord Damas had no children in his life. When he was young, he often traveled outside, spreading the will of the Holy Light. A large part of the Holy Church’s reputation in the world today was won by him personally.
What was more worth mentioning was that Damas’s existence represented a spirit of the Holy City. When he was young, he was also the previous Holy Child of the church. It was also heard that he actually had a better chance to become the current Pope, but he voluntarily gave up this opportunity and chose to continue training in various parts of the continent, using his ability to let the Holy Light shine on farther places.
This sentiment was not something everyone could possess. In terms of temperament, even the Pope had to admit that he was not as good as Bishop Damas.
Chen Ran blinked, observing this old man.
Observing Damas so closely, he was a seemingly ordinary old man with white hair and slight wrinkles, but he had an indescribable affinity. From his outline, the bishop must have been a peerless handsome man when he was young.
The old man also carefully sized up Chen Ran and nodded. “Seeing you so closely for the first time, you are better than I imagined. It’s surprising that you can do everything so perfectly. Here, I have a small question.”
“Please speak, my lord,” Chen Ran maintained a listening posture.
“No need to call me my lord. We are both of the Holy lineage. If you don’t mind, I would prefer you call me teacher.”
“Yes, teacher. This student is listening.”
Damas smiled. “I’m very curious. Why did you walk on this path now?”
Hearing the bishop’s question, although he spoke vaguely, Chen Ran truly understood the question he was asking. He wanted to know what his true faith was. He thought for a moment and continued, “Perhaps it was just an accident. Everyone has something they pursue, and the meaning of the Holy Light has different definitions. Teacher, you have always preached benevolence, saving the world, and selflessly dedicating everything, while I am slightly selfish. What I redeem is more just myself. I have always been on the path of finding myself.”
“It seems your path is destined to be bumpy,” Damas gestured for Chen Ran to sit down for the next detailed chat. “Self is the hardest to find. I spent half my life looking for the definition of self. Perhaps my requirements are really not high, and I was lucky enough to find the meaning of my existence. The prerequisite for redeeming others is to complete self-redemption. The meaning of the world also starts from that moment.”
Chen Ran said respectfully, “I wonder if you have any experience to guide me, teacher?”
“What experience? We are not the same kind of people,” Damas shook his head. “Although I have done a lot, my world is still too narrow. There are too many things I haven’t experienced. Although I have worked hard, I cannot change this world with my will. Poverty, war, famine, facing these, I am extremely powerless…”
Damas looked at Chen Ran, his eyes flickering. “When I saw you, I had a thought. The person I was waiting for has appeared. Facing a world where disputes are about to rise again, what the current Holy Church needs is not a dying old man, but a more thoughtful, creative, and self-centered person to change this world together. I think you are that person.”
“My lord, is your evaluation of me too high?” Hearing this, even Chen Ran couldn’t help but blush. “Although I have some ability, I am just an ordinary person.”
“I don’t know if it’s high or not. As for you being able to do a lot for this world,” the bishop’s voice was a little low. “Just like back then, I accidentally took in Othello, an orphan who survived the chaos of war. At that time, he was just a very ordinary child, but because of a look, a lonely look, I remembered him and adopted him alone. I warned him what to do until his eyes no longer held hatred, but he always wanted to change this world with his own power, working hard for it, to fulfill his childhood wish. And although your eyes are scattered, they possess a curiosity about fate. You can change the fate of more people. For this, Tianji has also talked to you a little, right?”
There was some confusion in Chen Ran’s eyes. “Why are you sure that I can do what you want to do, teacher? I have always thought that I am a relatively selfish person. I can help more people around me. I rarely take the initiative to do any good deeds…”
“That’s enough,” Damas nodded. “Small kindness does not mean salvation, and bloodshed does not mean absolute sin. Everyone has selfishness, but when the great era comes, no one can stay out of it. No one will force you to do something unsuitable for yourself, but to preserve the things around you, you must use all your strength to resist everything where sin grows.”
“Are you referring to… the upcoming war, teacher?” Chen Ran tried to ask. The only thing he knew was the upcoming northern war. Within a few years, a full-scale war was very likely to break out.
But faced with Chen Ran’s question, Damas shook his head. “Maybe, maybe not. I’m old. I can’t see through this sky anymore. My time is only these few years. So, I must find a qualified successor, at least find a suitable guardian for our Holy City.”
“Could it be…” Chen Ran smelled an inexplicable aura from these words.
“Don’t think too much. Just do well now. The future will have its own conclusion,” Damas smiled, took out a badge from his clothes, and pushed it toward Chen Ran. “Young people need to go out more. As for the rank I give you now, it is the visiting ambassador. In the future, if the Holy City has important visiting tasks again, I will trouble you to represent the Holy City for us.”
“Uh…”
Chen Ran knew the rank of ambassador. Generally, those who could accept this position were bishops. It was still somewhat surprising for Chen Ran, a rookie Grand High Priest who had only been in the Holy Church for a few months, to get this position with the most benefits.
This also implied that as long as Chen Ran performed a little more, the position of bishop should not be far away…
But looking at Lord Damas’s meaning, it seemed that his position was also reserved for Chen Ran…
Chen Ran hadn’t expected this lord to think so highly of him. This person whom he had only met a few times and chatted with for the first time made a judgment that surprised him a little. Although Chen Ran was confident that he was good enough.
