The Sunset Temple in Emerald City is not as majestic, solemn and solemn as the Great Temple in Yongxing City, but it is more exquisite and exquisite in layout. It is an architectural masterpiece based on the pre-century triumphal style of the old empire and taking into account the mathematical and geometric aesthetics of the new era.

This stable and ever-changing religious architectural style confirms that the Kingdom of Stars at the end of the third century was in a rapidly changing and restless era. “From the kings and princes to the common people, everyone was changing the rules of the old world and the new

There is a painful tug-of-war between the ideological trends of the century. If you advance, you will leave your homeland and be filled with thorns. If you retreat, you will grow old and cling to death." (349 AD, "The Difficulties of the Century" by Boser Kaandi)

The people who presided over the construction of this temple were two high-ranking clergy during the reign of "Jackal" Sumer III: one was the deputy chief priest of the priesthood who was proficient in history and theology, and the other was the deputy missionary who was proficient in mathematics and architecture.

bishop.

At that time, their cooperation and the completion of this temple in the Emerald City were one of the achievements and symbols of the religious reconciliation between the Priest Department and the Mission Department within the Sunset Faith System, proving that the Kingdom of Stars had been going back and forth for a century.

The bloody religious dispute "The Sacrificial War" has finally come to an end.

(Some documents use the "false promise" of "False Promise" that Tormund IV the Excavator ignored Archbishop Lydia Brightstar's oracle, interfered in temple affairs, and consecrated Archbishop Nerif without authorization.

This religious sectarian dispute was called the "Holy and Mortal Schism". However, due to the controversy over the legitimacy of the "Cutr" King and the bad impression of him by court historians, this historical term is far less accepted among court historians than the "Science".

"The king cut off the thorns" wrote a personal letter on paper, and the "sacrifice dispute" that started with the sacrifice of his son was widespread.)

(There are also scholars in later generations who believe that the origin of the religious dispute can be traced back to the "broken line" Sumerian II. They believe that it was because he was crowned as a religious scholar that the status of non-family hereditary priests in the Temple of the Sunset was determined.

Gradually rising, gaining power step by step, and ultimately threatening the sacred and inviolable power of interpreting oracles and hosting sacrifices.)

Under the mediation of King "Jackal" (and perhaps the threat of the Eastern Continent invaders), the Sunset Temple, the supreme authority of the Sunset Faith, officially separated peacefully:

The Priest Department has exclusive access to the traditional old name of "Temple", and all the Sunset Priests in the kingdom are under the supervision of the Sunset Chief Priest.

The mission department left the temple and was renamed the "Church" independently, and the Sunset Archbishop, who headed it, had the power to appoint Sunset priests responsible for missions in each diocese.

In this way, the temple and the church share the sunset, one is close to God, the other is close to man, and they are in charge of sacred and secular affairs. They recognize each other but do not subordinate each other, and their powers are divided regardless of their superiority or inferiority.

As a condition for reconciliation, the priests no longer use the names of "heresy", "disbelief", "degeneration", "devil's deception" and other names to criticize and persecute dissident believers, and treat the interpretation of doctrines tolerantly; the priests will use the names of "alien patterns"

The symbol was removed from the robes, no longer claimed freedom of exegesis, and no longer incited lower-class believers to fight against priests and lords.

As for those sensitive issues that have caused countless bloody storms, such as "whether the truth lies in the holy way or is hidden in the secular world", "which is closer to God, the altar or the church", "who is more qualified to speak for God, the priest or the priest", "

Religious controversies such as "Which is higher or lower, which is more important or less important, the archpriest or the archbishop" are collectively shelved or even avoided.

Because peace requires mutual trust, but trust requires compromise.

This significant temple became the first, and probably the only, temple and church, a religious building shared by priests and priests. The Emerald City's sacrificial ceremonies and church sermons were all conducted here.

At this moment, as one of the most distinguished guests, Thales was sitting on the viewing platform in the front row of the temple altar, looking solemnly at the statue of the Sunset Goddess. Well, compared to the statue in the temple of Yongxing City,

She looks like she's about to stare you to death. Doesn't her face look much gentler and more humane here?

Behind him, separated by nearly ten meters, countless nobles and distinguished people filled the remaining seats in front of the altar. They were all dressed in dark colors to pay respect to the gods (it is said that the Sun Temple across the sea is the opposite, so

Wearing formal attire (white and light colors), he watched the chief priest of the temple in Emerald City cadence, quietly reciting a long sacrificial article, and was about to start public prayer.

Thales secretly turned around and saw in the first row of people the Earls of Lasia and his son from the Zeland, Earl Havia from Yanbi Port, Earl Xiukader of Evergreen Island who always had a smile on his face, and the Karabiyan family.

The devil twins raised their fans (this time the words on them were changed to "The setting sun will protect you, you will have everything you need" and "The setting sun will protect you, you will succeed") to cover their faces, and secretly blinked at Thales in front of them.

But Miranda next to them said "Yeah", and the two sisters immediately sat upright and looked away.

Thales gave Mira a thumbs up.

For some reason, Thales found the Karabyan twins very pleasing to his eyes yesterday, but when he saw them today, he felt a headache again.

But he will soon be free of headaches.

Because at the very edge of the first row, Shilai Kevindir still looked like she hadn't woken up. She put her knees on her elbows and rested her chin listlessly, her head focused on the chants of the priests and the temple.

ups and downs in the solemn atmosphere.

Noticing Thales' glance, the round-faced girl perked up, silently opened her palms, and then blocked the light source with the ferocious face of "Soul Bone Jacques" and smiled at him again.

Oops.

Thales quickly turned around.

Actually, looking back, Kasha and Qina are quite good.

"I heard that you sent someone to the prison early in the morning." A familiar figure entered the temple under the spotlight and came to Thales. He lowered his voice and said indifferently, "for the death of Dagory Moss."

."

Thales felt as if a basin of cold water had been poured on him, and his mood sank.

The prince snorted coldly:

"So you got it."

Zhan En did not sit down, but bowed respectfully to the icon of the sunset goddess and prayed.

Thales had to stand up and follow him to avoid being criticized by others for being domineering and bullying the gods. So in a chain reaction, the sound of clattering seats was immediately heard from behind, and the believers present stood up one after another and hurriedly prayed.

Zhan's expression remained unchanged:

"I was going to tell you, Thales, about the accident at the wine merchant..."

"Yes, that's the prison of Emerald City, your prison," Thales sneered and sarcastically said, "It's really up to you to tell me."

Zhan En was silent for a while and whispered:

"I admit that it was my subordinates who failed to supervise me well, and that was my negligence."

Thales raised his eyebrows: "Just an oversight? Nothing else?"

"I am sorry for your loss."

"Jie Ni"

The angry and frustrated Thales took a deep breath, remembering that he was in a temple.

"Chenghui Mingshen, carrying the holy sun of light, the goddess's grace is endless, and the setting sun shines boundlessly. May you protect my kingdom and protect this city, just like you once protected King Heyman and Queen Regina, and saved countless lives from the flames of war...

"

In front of the altar, priests stepped out from both sides of the altar one after another, holding candles to follow. They followed the priest's singing and prayed rhythmically. The believers also followed suit and prayed respectfully.

No one noticed that the two dukes were silently confronting each other on the most distinguished viewing platform.

"Officer Kaguire told me that Dagory Moss was found dead in the prison at midnight last night." During the religious chanting over and over again, Thales glanced at Zhan next to him and spoke in a low voice, "But

My men also got the news around midnight last night. I still remember the fireworks at the celebration."

The Duke of Iris, who was praying, opened his eyes and his eyes were full of energy.

"Knowing it so quickly, it seems that your Star Lake Guards are well-informed."

"On the contrary, I know what my men are capable of," Thales responded coldly. "In the Emerald City, a place I am unfamiliar with, the news must have been delayed for a long time from the prison to me: Dagori's death will only

It’s earlier than midnight, much earlier.”

Zhan En looked sharply and did not answer.

"But the prison still reported that it was discovered at zero point. Why?"

Thales thought of Miranda and the others' return, narrowed his eyes and asked:

"In other words, why did the prison authorities make changes and lie about the time of the incident?"

Lying about the time...

Zhan En looked at the priests in front of the altar faintly. After a moment, he smiled and said:

"I don't know the specifics. But I guess they changed the time of the incident to cover up the prison's own negligence. Don't worry, I will take care of the relevant departments."

"enough."

Thales interrupted him coldly:

"The Sunset Goddess is literally superior, so please stop lying."

The Duke of Nan'an's eyes moved and his smile did not change:

"I do not understand?"

The prince shook his head: "Three times."

"What three times?"

Thales sneered: "We talked about a lot of things at the competition banquet last night, ranging from the background of each guest to the past and current situation of the Emerald City."

"But there is only one thing, little Huahua, you mentioned it three times, intentionally or unintentionally."

Zhan En was a little confused at first, but he quickly remembered something and his pupils shrank!

In the temple, the religious chanting gradually became quieter.

"That's right, you mentioned that wine merchant, Dagory Moss." After the public prayer, Thales raised his head, sat down slowly, and said word by word, "Three times exactly."

"Not everyone can make our South Bank Guardian Duke sit down and miss him for so long. Stop torturing the people behind you."

Zhan En's expression was serious and extremely solemn, but after a few seconds, he slowly sat down.

Then, from behind the whole temple, the sound of people sitting down could be heard.

On the altar, the candlestick in front of the main priest of the temple flickered, and the flame turned silver.

Amid the whispers of the believers, the officiating priest calmly waited for the priest apprentices to put on the ceremonial gloves embroidered with the sunset emblem, then took the dinner plate from his deputy and tore the holy communion bread into pieces, solemnly and skillfully
To be continued...