"....."
Watching the girl crouch with her head in her hands, Fang Zheng didn't know what to say. He thought for a moment, sighed helplessly, and extended his hand. After all, he couldn't just leave her squatting there.
"Are you alright?"
"Ah......"
Hearing Fang Zheng's voice, the girl trembled again. She carefully looked at Fang Zheng's outstretched hand, hesitated for a moment, then cautiously reached out and grasped it. Fang Zheng pulled her to her feet.
"I-I'm very sorry for embarrassing you......"
"No, it's nothing......"
"W-well...... please wait a moment......"
The girl took a deep breath and put her hood back on, which seemed to relax her. She went to the bookshelf, took out a thick book, placed it on the table, and opened it. She picked up the feather pen beside her and made a gesture towards the crystal ball. Fang Zheng saw a mysterious azure power emerge from the crystal ball and guide the pen to the book. A peculiar and mysterious symbol appeared on the blank page. It was a cross-shaped star surrounded by a circle inscribed with strange characters that looked like oracle bone script. Although Fang Zheng didn't understand it, he recognized it as the "Language of the Stars," said to have been created by the Goddess of Order to stabilize the world by giving each star its own meaning. However, only deities could decipher this language.
"Desolate Realm...... Reappearance of the Star......"
The girl muttered to herself. Even Fang Zheng didn't understand what she was saying. Soon the girl closed the book, took out a silver badge from a drawer, and placed it in front of her. She raised the feather pen again and pointed to the crystal ball. Another wave of the same power was drawn from it and absorbed into the silver badge. The crystal ball dimmed.
"Alright, sir. Please take this badge. It has collected your Star Pattern."
For some reason, the girl's voice was no longer the low tone she had adopted earlier but was now pleasantly melodious. Fang Zheng realized why she had put on such an act—her natural voice lacked any intimidation and sounded as though she were meekly pleading.
Though her voice and cute appearance made her seem like the perfect candidate for endearing gestures, it was clearly insufficient for her role as a government official to maintain authority.
"Thank you."
Saying this, Fang Zheng took the badge, closed his eyes, and infused it with his power. Soon, a pitch-black starry sky appeared in his mind, filled with numerous shining stars. The brightest star was in the center.
This was his destiny star. However......
Fang Zheng compared it with the Star Pattern that originally belonged to Williams from his memory and nodded in satisfaction. Though he wasn't an astrologist and couldn't read star maps, he could compare the differences between two star maps. It was obvious that the stars were in completely different positions, with no similarities between them.
Then, I can proceed.
Thinking this, Fang Zheng smiled and put away the badge, then looked at the girl before him again.
"Miss, I have a small request."
"What request?"
Hearing Fang Zheng's question, the girl tilted her head curiously, then waved her hands as she realized something.
"W-well, my teacher said I can't go out for meals with strange men......"
"........."
Though Fang Zheng wanted to tell her she was overthinking it, he thought that if he weren't dealing with these troubles, he might have actually invited her out. Nonetheless, he decided to save this matter for later.
"It's like this......"
Fang Zheng coughed, pushing aside these odd thoughts.
"I want to visit the Sanctuary and would like you to provide a letter of introduction."
"The Sanctuary? A letter of introduction?"
Hearing Fang Zheng's words, the girl hesitated, then understood.
"Sir, you intend to join the Sanctuary?"
"Yes."
At this, Fang Zheng finally felt relieved. Though the girl seemed puzzled, she was at least rational. Ordinary people wouldn't need an introduction to enter the Sanctuary to pray. Fang Zheng's purpose in visiting was not to pray for the Goddess of Order's forgiveness or to sightsee. He intended to join the Sanctuary.
Of course, any stringent religious organization has strict procedures for admitting new members. In a theocratic country like the Kingdom of the Holy Church, an outsider like Fang Zheng wanting to join the Sanctuary must first apply to become an Apprentice Guardian Knight.
Don't think it's a grand title. Although "Knight" sounds prestigious, being an Apprentice Guardian Knight is much like the intellectuals in Fang Zheng's world who underwent the "Send-Down Movement." They carried a divine mission to the most difficult and poor areas, battling evil and guarding the people. Their enemies included native creatures like gnolls and goblins, rampant bandits, and, of course, cultists and necromancers, not to mention various chaotic monsters.
Of course, dangers came with opportunities. If the Apprentice Guardian Knights survived and completed their tasks, they would be recognized as Knights by the Sanctuary. Should they achieve great deeds, they might even be promoted to Grand Knights or Knight Captains with their own lands and armies.
For nobility, even if they didn't accomplish major feats, completing this process without committing severe errors would add prestige to their records, aiding future advancement.
Generally, only lower and minor nobility chose this path due to its hardships. Those who couldn't sleep without comfort and luxury wouldn't endure the dangers of the wilderness.
Fang Zheng watched the girl pick up a piece of paper and write on it, then place a large ivory stamp on it with some effort, seal it, and hand it to him.
"Please keep this safe, sir."
"Thank you, miss."
Fang Zheng took the letter, put it in his pocket, and smiled at the girl before him.
"If you have time, let's have a meal together sometime."
After saying this, Fang Zheng didn't wait for a response and left with a smile.
The safest place is often the most dangerous.
When Fang Zheng left the town hall and entered the Sanctuary without any obstructions, he couldn't help but reflect on the age-old truth of this saying.
Compared to the nearly empty town hall, the Sanctuary's security was much stricter. Though not to the extent of a guard every three steps and an outpost every five, numerous fully armed Sanctuary Warriors stood guard and patrolled. Even so, these warriors, with long spears and swords, paid no attention to Fang Zheng, remaining as focused and motionless as statues. Perhaps they couldn't imagine that a cultist wanted by the Sanctuary would boldly walk into this sacred place.
It seems that in any world, the commonalities of intelligent beings are the same.
"I come from the Silver Duchy."
Fang Zheng found a bishop in the Sanctuary, briefly explained his purpose, and handed over the letter he had received from the girl.
"I seek the guidance and illumination of Order."
"I understand."
The bishop was an old man with white hair and beard, evidently experienced in dealing with noble offspring like Fang Zheng. He opened the letter, read it carefully, examined the seal and signature, then nodded at Fang Zheng calmly.
"Follow me, child."
With this, the old man turned and led the way to the inner courtyard. Fang Zheng followed silently. They crossed the corridor and entered the inner courtyard. The old man stopped in front of a circular marble Holy Emblem, turned to Fang Zheng, and said:
"Stand here, young man."
"Alright."
Fang Zheng's hand lightly pressed the hilt of his sword, feeling his palms sweat. This was the final and most crucial step. He had prepared thoroughly for this trial.
He knew what this was; everyone on the continent knew, and cultists feared it most.
Everyone had to account for their actions, their deeds written into the fabric of destiny, just as ink leaves marks on parchment. No one could alter past events, and history's dust could never fully conceal the truth.
Order endures.
Fang Zheng understood that once he stood on this platform, Order's radiance would begin the search, like antivirus software determining whether he was a virus—the enemy of Order.
Or, specifically, one of those damned chaos-worshipping cultists.
All of this was decided by Fang Zheng's soul star.
Though Fang Zheng was certain he wasn't a cultist, he couldn't be sure how accurate the scan was.
Even antivirus software sometimes mistakenly flagged system files.
He hoped this firewall was more precise—at least more so than Kaspersky.
With this thought, Fang Zheng took a deep breath and stepped onto the platform.
The next moment, a pure white radiance fell from the sky, enveloping his body.