Chapter 23 - Chapter 23: Chapter 22 Peripheral Members (1/2)

Chapter 23: Chapter 22 Peripheral Members

The East City District of Nasir is the poorest area in the entire town.

The people who live here are desolate and dependent, with the majority enduring illness without treatment, and if they cannot hold on, they can only die in agony.

In the past, the poor of the East City lived like ants crawling on the ground, unnoticed and uncared for.

Until five years ago, the appearance of Irene Fischer was like a tender light given to the poor.

She only charged the wealthy a high fee for diagnosis and treatment, while for the middle-class who sought Irene’s help, their treatment costs were significantly reduced.

As for the poor, Irene herself came here once a week, her expensive shoes stepping into the filthy mud, to treat a sick or injured person for free.

Initially, she treated illnesses and injuries in private, but later, in order to increase her influence, she chose to heal people in public.

Whenever Irene treated diseases, everyone would gather around and silently watch; she would first pray in silence for a while, and all those around her would join the girl in her prayers.

Until the prayer was over, Irene would reveal the astonishing “Miracle.”

Time and again, witnessing miracles, the people’s hearts grew increasingly filled with reverence for the noble Irene, and she herself grew to be more pure, holy, and inviolable. Thousands of poor people in the East City gradually became a hidden and powerful force for the Fischer family.

In the East City, there was an old woman over eighty years old; everyone called her “Old Comb” or “Grandma Narda.” She was respected by almost all of the impoverished for one important reason—her three sons were the leaders of the biggest thieves’ guild in the East City.

They had hot tempers and were deceitful; their guild had around fifty to sixty people, making them a perennial scourge in Nasir Town. The only person who could restrain and reprimand them was Grandma Narda.

Grandma Narda had instructed them to never commit murder or rape, and surprisingly, the thieves’ guild they formed has the best reputation in Nasir Town thus far.

Three years ago, on the night when jungle natives attacked Nasir Town, Grandma Narda was severely wounded by natives who fled into the East City to hide, bordering on death.

At that time, she lay in bed in agony, silently praying to her Lord of Salvation.

However, He never responded, and deep down Grandma Narda already understood that for decades no one in Nasir Town had witnessed a miracle from the high and mighty Lord of Salvation.

Even if He were a true and powerful deity, if He would never respond to us or save us, should we still revere and pray day and night?

Tonight, having prayed to the great Lord of Salvation for over seventy years, I’m about to die.

Submerged in despair and pain, Grandma Narda thought of many things, but she did not die in the end; her sons had called for Madam Irene Fischer from the Fischer family.

“Don’t worry, you will be fine.”

Irene arrived at the old woman’s home calmly, while her three sons waited outside.

Her gentle breath was like soft silk sliding over the skin, soothingly warm and gentle like a spring breeze, the green mysterious power pulling the old woman back from the hands of the Death.

After being saved, Narda said weakly, “You’ve saved my life, I will definitely repay you.”

However, Irene did not ask for anything then, simply saying with utmost tranquility,

“My Lord’s will saved me and therefore redeemed your fate.”

Grandma Narda fell into thought; she had never heard which deity the people of the Fischer family actually worshipped.

Later, she grew more familiar with Irene, and the two often conversed together, becoming friends despite the difference in age.

A year ago, during one of their exchanges on religious matters, Grandma Narda finally couldn’t help but ask about her faith.

Irene did not say which of the True Gods Churches her god belonged to, only saying:

“I carry out my Lord’s will, wielding the power of healing as I walk among the people, and if you are willing, you should pray to Him as well.”

“Is your faith in the Lord of Salvation?” Narda asked, puzzled.

Irene just smiled and did not continue the conversation.

Narda faintly felt that the attitude itself was a hint.

Could it be that her faith was in some great being who, while powerful, had not yet made His name known in the world?

Tonight, both the red and silver moons were shrouded in thin clouds, the constellations a hazy sight.

Irene came to Grandma Narda’s home again, to talk with her alone.

Treatment in front of others was customary, so Narda knew that when Irene Fischer of the Fischer family sought her out alone, it was often because there was something to discuss.

Irene’s demeanor was very calm, her eyes possessed a depth like the cosmos itself, and her words carried a mesmerizing aura.

“The grace that my Lord has bestowed upon you has been more than enough; for years, you and your children have not been troubled by sickness or pain, and now you can no longer enjoy, without offering anything in return, what should be reserved for the devoted believers.”