Chapter 196 Atonement
On the continent of Westeros, except for the northern border, every town must have a temple dedicated to the Seven Gods.
Yingzuiyu is no exception.
Although due to the "negligence" of the lord, not all the citizens here are believers of the Seven Gods, but the monk Ivan believes that he will be able to spread the light of the Seven Gods all over Yingzui Island in a short time, so that everyone here Can listen to the Gospel of the Seven Gods.
At this moment, he is standing in front of the newly built church, smiling, welcoming every believer who comes to worship.
Just then, a middle-aged man with a flustered expression caught Ivan's attention.
He knew a man named Gongga, who used to be a savage. Because he joined the territory earlier and was smart and quick-witted, he was quickly appreciated by the lord and became Lord Caesar's retainer, responsible for managing a vineyard.
"Master Gongga, are you here to worship?" Ivan walked forward with a smile and asked.
He remembered that Gongga believed in a certain mountain god. If he could convert this person to the seven gods, it should drive a group of savages to convert to the seven gods.
"Your Excellency Ivan..." The monk called him an adult, which made Gongga a little uncomfortable, but he couldn't help being a little happy.
He thought about what he had done, and felt uneasy, but he still asked with a glimmer of expectation:
"I heard that the seven gods are merciful, and as long as they pray sincerely, they can forgive all sins. Is that true?"
"Yes, Lord Gongga." Ivan smiled more kindly, "The Heavenly Father judges all sins, and the Holy Mother forgives all sinners. Do you want to pray for sins?"
"Yes, prayer for redemption!" Gongga rubbed his hands timidly, "but...but I'm not a believer of the Seven Gods..."
"As long as you want, you can become a disciple of the Seven Gods at any time."
"Really? Then...then I am willing to serve the Seven Gods! As long as they can forgive my sins."
"You made a brave choice." Ivan drew a seven-pointed star on his chest, "Please come with me. You need to confess your sins to the Seven Gods first, and then sincerely repent."
"Good, good!" Gongga nodded repeatedly.
He followed Ivan into the church. When he passed the prayer hall, he saw many believers waiting for worship. Gongga couldn't help asking in a low voice:
"Brother Ivan, did I delay you from leading these believers to worship?"
Ivan smiled gently: "It's okay, I'll help you pray for sin first."
Although in the eyes of the Seven Gods, everyone is equal, but Ivan knows that some people are more equal.
"Thank you so much!"
Gongga followed Ivan to a confessional room in the side hall of the church.
The confession room is small, with a small altar made of white rocks in the middle, and an exquisite white crystal is placed on it.
Ivan's expression became extremely solemn, and he said:
"Gongga, you should bow your knees to the Seven Gods."
Gongga quickly knelt in front of the altar.
"I ask, you answer. There must be no concealment in front of the Seven Gods." Ivan's voice became empty and distant, as if it came from high above the sky.
"Yes, yes." Gongga seemed to feel the brilliance of the Seven Gods, and nodded excitedly.
"Gongga, what crime do you have?"
"I, I killed someone."
"Kill who?"
"Tiffy. She's a girl worker on a plantation I manage."
"Why kill her?"
"I, I didn't do it on purpose. She didn't listen to discipline and was always lazy. I had no choice but to use a whip to teach her a lesson, but...but I accidentally beat her to death..."
Ivan frowned and didn't speak for a while.
Gongga gradually became anxious. He raised his head, looked at the monk beside him with hopeful eyes, and prayed:
"After killing her, I was very disturbed and guilty, but I really didn't mean it! That's why I came here to pray! I ask the merciful Holy Mother to redeem my soul!"
"Sinner!" The monk's voice was like rolling thunder, shocking Gongga and trembling, "Your sin will make your soul fall into hell! You will be burned by the fire forever!"
Gongga burst into tears and hugged Ivan's thigh:
"Merciful Holy Mother! Please save me! I don't want to do this either! Master Ivan, you said that the Seven Gods will forgive all sins! Please! Please!"
"The Seven Gods are benevolent." Ivan's tone suddenly softened, "But they will only forgive pious souls. Gongga, are you pious?"
"Pious! Pious!" Gongga hugged Ivan's thigh, as if hugging a life-saving straw.
He knew that if he killed someone, he would be hanged according to the law of the territory.
Gongga didn't want to die, so he came to the church with a glimmer of hope.
"How will you prove your piety?" Brother Ivan asked.
Gongga quickly took out a money bag from his arms and stuffed it into the monk's arms:
"This is all my savings! I dedicate it all to the Seven Gods! I only ask the Seven Gods to forgive my sins!"
Ivan took the money bag, but without opening it, he put it aside casually, saying:
"Pray, sinner Gongga, pray to the Seven Gods with your utmost piety! Let the merciful Virgin see your sincerity, and He will surely save your soul!"
Gongga was like a drowning man catching driftwood, and quickly knelt down in front of the altar and began to pray loudly.
Ivan picked up the crystal on the altar and placed it under a ray of light coming through the small window.
"Well, you are indeed a pious person." Ivan nodded and said, "The seven gods have redeemed your soul."
Gongga wept with joy when he heard the words. He was bathed in seven-color light, and felt that all evil and pain seemed to have gone away from him, as if he had been reborn.
This feeling fascinated him.
"Thanks to the benevolent Seven Gods!" Gongga said sincerely, "From today on, Gongga will be the most loyal servant of the Seven Gods!"
Ivan put down the crystal and lifted Gongga up from the ground, with a kind smile on his face again:
"Master Gongga, you are innocent."
Gongga immediately expressed his gratitude and promised to help spread the Gospel of the Seven Gods.
Ivan smiled more kindly when he heard the words, and personally sent Gongga out of the church.
But when the two of them just went out, they saw Sheriff Bruce standing there with a solemn expression.
"Gongga!" the magistrate said, "Someone reported that you killed Ms. Tiffy, come with me."
Gongga trembled all over, and then looked at Brother Ivan with a begging look.
Ivan stepped forward, smiled and said:
"Master Bruce, just now Lord Gongga has confessed in front of the Seven Gods, and the Holy Mother has pardoned his sins."
Bruce shook his head coldly and said: "Sorry, Monk, Gongga violated the law of Yingzui Island, and the forgiveness of the Seven Gods could not save his life."
Ivan asked calmly: "Which law did Lord Gongga violate?"
"Murder. Hanging!"
Ivan smiled slightly and said: "Master Bruce, then you are mistaken. Master Gongga accidentally beat Ms. Tiffy to death while punishing her. Isn't this considered murder?"
Bruce froze for a moment.
Gong Ga hurriedly shouted: "That's right! That's right! That woman made a mistake. When I was punishing her, I accidentally killed someone. The Seven Gods have already forgiven my mistake. What right do you have to hang me?" !"
"Nonsense!" At this time, a young girl stood up and pointed at Gongga angrily, "My sister did nothing wrong! It was you who coveted her beauty and wanted to **** her! She resisted and refused to do so. I was beaten to death by you!"
"You lied!" Gongga scolded, "When am I going to **** her? Where's your evidence?"
"My sister told me! Said that you harassed her many times and wanted her to marry you! But you already have a wife!"
"Lies! It's all lies!"
Ivan looked at the girl and asked, "Who is Ms. Tiffy?"
"She's my sister, and my name is Timett."
Ivan nodded, and turned to the sheriff again: "Lord Bruce, if Ms. Timett is the only one, it doesn't prove anything. She is in grief, and she will probably lie to avenge her sister."
"I didn't! I dare to swear in the name of the mountain god!" Timothy said.
"Then I dare to swear in the name of the Seven Gods!" Gongga followed suit.
Ivan smiled and looked at the sheriff: "Master Bruce, who do you trust?"
Bruce frowned for a moment. Although his intuition told him that Timett should not have lied, he was from the River Bend and a believer of the Seven Gods.
At this time, many leaders have gathered around, and among them, believers of the Seven Gods account for the majority.
This puts more pressure on Bruce.
In desperation, the sheriff had no choice but to find his superior—Todd Flower Knight, who was in charge of the defense of the territory.
Unfortunately, Todd is also a believer of the Seven Gods, so he couldn't make up his mind after hesitating for a while.
Finally, Gavin, the head of the territory, was found.
The key is that Gavin is also from Hewan, a believer of the Seven Gods...
Brother Ivan's smile became more and more kind. At this moment, he seemed to be the incarnation of the heavenly father:
"My lords, since you can't make a verdict, why don't you leave it to the Seven Gods and their spokespersons in the world? I suggest that a holy seven-member jury be formed to decide this case."
Gavin glanced at the confident Gongga, then at the angry Timet, and remained silent for a while.
He is no longer the dock laborer on the banks of the Mande River. He has been in charge of Yingzui Island for so long, and of course Gavin knows that this matter is not just a murder case.
It's a fight for territorial arbitration rights!
Regardless of whether the final "seven-member jury" declared Gongga to be a manslaughter or intentional murder, the church has achieved its goal—
Interfere in the trial of criminals in the territory.
From now on, as long as the leaders make mistakes, they will all run to the church.
At that time, where is the majesty of the lord?
But if Gavin were to make it clear that he was against the Church of the Seven Gods, he really didn't have the courage.
Moreover, he was also worried that if he did not handle it properly, it might cause dissatisfaction among the believers of the Seven Gods, and even lead to turmoil in the territory.
After hesitating for a while, Gavin decided to put it aside temporarily:
"Let's wait for the lord to come back to deal with this matter in person."
Ivan said: "Isn't Lord Caesar still fighting in Dorne? I'm afraid he won't be back in a short time."
"No. I received a letter, and my lord has led the army back."
Ivan was stunned for a moment.
(end of this chapter)