Chapter Twenty-Two: Masters Within the Divine Father Sect

“Parking lot? What’s that?” Brand had never heard such an advanced term and looked bewildered.
The church member, evidently accustomed to such questions, maintained a professional smile as he explained, “This is an idea from our archbishop, the great Neil Night; it’s a designated space for storing mounts and vehicles.”
“Oh, so it’s just like a stable or a carriage shed,” Brand said, now understanding, though he felt the Church of the Father was making unnecessary fuss.
The church member naturally understood what Brand was thinking and didn’t elaborate, instead pointing toward a distant signpost. “Honored guests, just follow the sign and you’ll find the parking lot. Rest assured, there are church members assigned to look after your vehicles.”
Brand didn’t mind the extra step and nodded, driving toward the parking lot.

Upon seeing the parking lot, Brand was rendered speechless. He had expected something akin to a stable, but it was entirely different. In the world of Sora, stables and sheds were typically small and chaotic, but the Church of the Father’s parking lot was modeled after those on Earth—clearly demarcated, clean, orderly, and spacious, giving a refreshing impression.

Even as a seasoned traveler, Brand had never seen anything like this—a solution born from the abundance of vehicles on Earth. He felt a mixture of surprise and awe. The man inside the carriage, upon seeing the parking lot, uttered genuine praise, “The concept of this parking lot is quite clever—clean and tidy, well-suited for big cities. But in a small town like this, it seems unnecessary. Hmph, the Church of the Father really is a bunch of ambitious charlatans.”

Seeing only a handful of carriages parked inside, Brand’s father became even more prejudiced against the Church of the Father.
Brand, however, held a different opinion. He thought that if the Church truly flourished, many travelers would visit in the future, and the parking lot would be indispensable. Clearly, the Church was preparing for what was to come.

“It seems Mr. Neil has great confidence in the Church of the Father. Well, with its current momentum, it’s only a matter of time before it becomes the dominant religion in the Red Moon Province,” Brand mused, elevating his opinion of Link.

With entirely different thoughts, the father and son parked their carriage and disembarked. Brand’s father was a robust man in his forties, his square face covered in a thick beard, not aged but rather exuding authority and sharpness, with a faint aura of lethal power—like a general commanding the lives of millions.

After receiving a wooden parking token from the attendant, Brand quietly asked his father, “Father, should I go ahead and notify Neil Night?”
His father shook his head, “No need. I want to see what this Church of the Father is really up to!”

Brand couldn’t help but smile bitterly; his father’s prejudice was deep. He just hoped nothing untoward would happen, and felt a twinge of worry about the visit.

They approached the Holy Light Cathedral once more, examining it closely. The sight was even more impressive up close.
At the entrance, two church guards noticed their scrutiny and guessed they were visitors unfamiliar with the place. One stepped forward, “You two must be from afar?”

Brand and his father turned to look. Upon realizing they were church guards, Brand smiled and nodded, “Yes, we are travelers. Is there something we should know?”
The church member smiled, “Please don’t misunderstand. This Holy Light Cathedral is a miracle bestowed by the Father, possessing unparalleled power. Many travelers are unaware, so Archbishop Neil instructed us to explain it to every visitor.”

With that, the church member described the cathedral’s abilities, using the version Link had crafted for public dissemination.

After hearing the explanation, both father and son were startled, then skeptical. Both had seen much in their lives and doubted the so-called blessings and gaze of the deity.
Brand’s father especially, already biased against the Church, now saw it as a band of tricksters, scoffing, “I shall see whether this so-called Father exists at all.”

Without further ado, Brand’s father strode toward the cathedral, church members watching in surprise, and Brand hurried to follow.
Brand’s father moved with an imposing, domineering air, but the moment he crossed into the cathedral, his aura evaporated, replaced by shock—he was struck by the cathedral’s spiritual oppression.

His prejudice toward the Church of the Father bred hostility, which triggered the cathedral’s enemy-detection effect.
Unlike ordinary folk, Brand’s father did not attribute this to divine power. He knew that powerful mages could exert spiritual pressure too.

But to achieve this, one needed to be at least seventh-tier. Such people were rare, not just in Red Moon Province, but throughout the entire Kingdom of Stars, and each was a figure of national importance.
Brand’s father was strong, but nowhere near seventh-tier. Faced with sudden oppression, he was horrified. Even with his status, being killed by a seventh-tier mage would go unavenged by the kingdom.

“So the Church of the Father actually has a seventh-tier mage!” Brand’s father was terrified, cold sweat pouring off him. He immediately dropped any thoughts of causing trouble, his hostility shifting to awe and caution.

Instantly, the cathedral’s enemy effect vanished, and Brand’s father felt the pressure lift. He breathed a sigh of relief, now convinced that a seventh-tier master was lurking nearby. He began scanning his surroundings.

Brand found his father’s behavior odd and asked, “Father, what’s wrong? Did you notice something?”
His father paused and looked at Brand, “Didn’t you feel it?”
“Feel what?” Brand was puzzled.
“It seems this master was only targeting me…” Brand’s father mused, his respect for the hidden expert growing. He had only just arrived, and the master had already sensed his intentions and exerted pressure without making a scene—such insight and control were impressive.

Thinking this, Brand’s father said gravely, “This Church of the Father is powerful. We must take it seriously.”
Brand was mystified, but being clever, he quickly guessed something had happened, though his father wouldn’t say. He refrained from asking further and accompanied his father to sit quietly among the other believers.

Since the day of the miracle, many believers came for prayer daily. Though the crowds were no longer as overwhelming as in those first days, attendance was still strong. Every two hours, Jack led a prayer session, preaching divine grace and praying with the congregation. A new session was about to begin.

Soon, Jack appeared in priestly robes, holding a book titled “The Father’s Bible,” and began the lesson, recounting mythic tales of the Father.
These stories, authored by Link, were detailed and drew inspiration from Catholic traditions and Chinese mythologies, amounting to over two hundred thousand words. Though short for a novel, as a compendium of myths it was rich and vivid, far more persuasive and credible than those of other religions.

New listeners were enthralled, and even those who had heard it several times found it engaging. For Brand and his father, hearing these stories for the first time, they were captivated.
Of course, with over two hundred thousand words, Jack could not cover everything in one session. He told only a few major tales, and invited believers to buy a copy of “The Father’s Bible” for further reading.

Most literate believers chose to purchase one. Though not believers themselves, Brand and his father found the stories far more entertaining than any previous myths they’d heard, so Brand’s father instructed him to buy a copy.

After reading for a while, Brand’s father put the book away and said, “Brand, let’s go pay a visit to the archbishop here.”
Brand was stirred and asked quietly, “Father, does that mean…”
“No need to hide our identity.”
Brand understood, and went to Jack, who was leading prayers. He whispered something to him and showed him a special badge. Jack was startled, immediately delegated his duties, and led the father and son toward the monastery in back.

There, the three found Link practicing. On seeing them, Link was surprised and looked questioningly at Jack, who, seeing no one else nearby, stepped forward and said, “Archbishop Neil, these are Count Lothar and his son.”

“Count Lothar!” Link was startled and instinctively looked at the pair—Count Lothar, a first-class noble of the Star Empire, lord of Red Moon Province, the direct superior’s superior of the mayor of Kinko Town, and the local autocrat—Lothar Bass.

As for the count’s son, his name was indeed Brand, and his full name was Brand Bass; Red Moon Province was the hereditary domain of the Bass family.

Well now, these two were undoubtedly important figures—whether for Kinko Town or the Church of the Father, such big fish could not be let slip!
Though surprised, Link maintained a calm and collected demeanor. After observing the pair, he realized Brand looked familiar; after a moment’s thought, he recalled meeting this handsome heir of Red Moon Province last month.

Link’s heart stirred, and he offered a meaningful smile. “By the grace of the Father, Brand, you have finally brought your father.”
Both father and son were taken aback. Brand asked, surprised, “Archbishop Neil, you knew we would come?”
“By the grace of the Father, all is under the Father’s gaze,” Link replied, once again displaying the air of a true preacher.