Chapter 190: 190 Retired Bishop_1


    Trantor: 549690339


    In this fantastical medieval world, knowledge is a precious wealth.


    Not to mention ves, evenmoners usually have no chance to touch this kind of wealth.


    As for the nobles, of course, they don’t need to worry about this. Their castles are filled with books, and they even have private tutors in charge of their education.


    But formoners, it’s hard for them to learn.


    They mainly have two ways to master knowledge.


    The first way is through the Church.


    The Church has schools in various ces formoners to study, but here, children mainly learn theological knowledge. Besides being instilled with how and why they should serve the deity, they hardly learn any useful knowledge for daily life.


    The second approach is through the nobles.


    That’s right, nobles also recruit somemoner children to apany their children in their studies.


    But these opportunities are very rare and are generally reserved for the descendants of their own servants. After these descendants gain knowledge, they can better serve their lords.


    In fact, there is a third way, which is the White Tower Academy of the Empire.


    But even the nobles find it difficult to ess this path, let alonemoners.


    Because the admission requirements of the White Tower Academy are simple and strict. They do not look at the background, they only look at talent.


    Only exceptionally talented children, whether they are nobles ormoners, can enter the White Tower Academy for free learning.


    But there is only one White Tower Academy in the entire Empire, and it only admits a two-digit number of students each year. Even fewer can graduate sessfully.


    So, mostmoners may remain illiterate for their entire lives, not to mention those lowly ves.


    However, this may be what the rulers wish to see.


    Peter Miser, the first Pope of the Glorious Empire, once made a famous remark –


    “An ignorant mind is easier to fill with loyalty and faith.”


    Commoners and ves who live in a muddled state their entire lives make it easy for the Church and nobles to rule.


    “Retired Bishop, do you think I shouldn’t allow these ve children to be taught knowledge?” Colin was not worried that his actions would upset the Church since the Church didn’t explicitly prohibit this.


    Of course, this is because generally, no lord would teach knowledge to ve children.


    “No, My Lord, I have no right to interfere with how you govern your citizens.” The retired Bishop made a bow to Colin and said with a smile.


    Then he also bowed to Vera, clearly recognizing her identity.


    Colin’s eyes shed slightly. He wasn’t too surprised that the retired Bishop could recognize him, after all, he had dealt with him many times, and his current disguise wasn’t very strict.


    But how did the retired Bishop recognize Vera?


    How did he know that Vera hade to Ice Rock City?


    It seemed that someone among the attendants in the Red Castle had leaked Vera’s arrival to the Church!


    Although Colin had not deliberately concealed the news of Vera’s arrival in Ice Rock City, the feeling of being infiltrated by someone still left Colin feeling extremely ufortable.


    However, at present, he had no good way to deal with the Church.


    Faith, for the people of this world, is an extremely serious matter.


    If they have to choose between a lord and a deity, most citizens would choose the deity.


    The nobles can only ept this helplessly.


    Back in Silver Moon City, when Colin deliberately nted seeds of hatred against the Church in Prince Harrison’s heart, besides wanting to cause some trouble for the St. Lorenzo family as a retaliation, he also wanted to test how strong the Church’s real power was.


    Seeing this, Vera also had to lift her skirt, bend over to return the courtesy, and then asked crisply, “Retired Bishop, why did you say that knowledge could also be a curse?”


    “Miss Vera, for you, knowledge will certainly not be a curse. But for these lowly ves, knowledge can make them more clearly aware of their own situation, and thus fall into an abyss of despair from which they cannot extricate themselves. Isn’t such pain the same as a curse?”


    Vera was silent.


    Yet Colin sneered inwardly.


    What was obviously a trick to keep the popce ignorant,ing from the Bishop, seemed like apassionate concern for humanity, as if withholding knowledge from the ves could alleviate their suffering.


    Although he inwardly criticized, Colin disyed an apparent realization on his face: “Ah, you’re absolutely right, Bishop! Fortunately, you reminded me, otherwise, I might have done more harm than good with my good intentions!”


    “My Lord, you are too kind.” Seeing the young Lord taking the initiative to apologize, Bishop Rongxiu showed a look of approval, “In fact, your approach isn’t entirely wrong, it’s not bad to let these ve children learn to read, but please do not forget to spread the glory of the Lord to them!”


    Only then did Colin realize the true purpose of Bishop Rongxiu, he wanted to brainwash these ve children.


    Actually, when Colin arranged for teachers to educate these ve children, he deliberately excluded theological content. Instead, he focused more on who feeds them, who allows them to have opportunities for learning, hoping to instill the concept of loyalty to their Lords in these young ves.


    Unexpectedly, the Church took notice.


    “Of course, it’s right to let these ves bask in the glory of the Lord.” Colin said with his usual smile.


    “So, I will arrange for some priests to assist you in teaching these ve children.”


    “Thank you for the helping hand, Bishop!” Colin could only nod in agreement.


    Despite his wariness of the Church, he dared not irritate them on his own at this time.


    He would rather have Prince Harrison of the St. Lorenzo family act as the frontline hero resisting the Church, while he himself, merely cheers from behind.


    Seeing his objective achieved, Bishop Rongxiu nodded with satisfaction, then added, “My Lord, there is one other thing I need to discuss with you.”


    “Please go ahead.”


    “Next month, I will be transferred from Ice Rock City, but rest assured, a new bishop wille to rece me.”


    “Oh? May I ask where you are being transferred to?”


    “Winterfell City.” Bishop Rongxiu’s eyes flickered a bit.


    “Well, congrattions!” said Colin with a smile.


    The bishop of Winterfell City was of a higher rankpared to the bishop of Ice Rock City.


    Bishop Rongxiu alsoughed and modestly waved off the praise, but he couldn’t hide the joy on his face.


    The bishop of Winterfell City was typically a leading candidate for Archbishop of the North Territory Diocese. Hence, Bishop Rongxiu was only one step away from entering the real core of the Church’s high-ranking officials.


    “Do you know where Bishop Jean has been transferred to?” Vera suddenly asked.


    The Jean she referred to was the former bishop of Winterfell City.


    Bishop Rongxiu revealed a sad expression and sighed, “Bishop Jean has returned to the Lord’s embrace.”


    Vera was taken aback and quickly expressed her apologies and condolences.


    However, Colin discerned a hint of unnaturalness on Bishop Rongxiu’s face and asked:


    “May I ask, what was the cause of Bishop Jean’s death?”


    “To my knowledge, Bishop Jean died of illness.”


    Died of illness?


    At this time?


    Colin was sure, the death of Bishop Jean was certainly suspicious.


    Upon careful thought, Duke St. Hilde was injured in a duel with the troll Holy Warrior, and the one most likely to have treated him was Bishop Jean.


    But, he died at this time?


    What secrets were hidden behind this?


    What was really happening in Winterfell City?


    One question after another arose in Colin’s mind, leaving him absent-minded unconsciously.