1226 Handing Out Mushrooms (2/2)

At this moment, their expressions were numb, their eyes vacant as they left the square like a bunch of zombies.

During this process, a woman carrying a child had her legs give way as she fell to the ground.

Her child started wailing loudly, his voice laced with pain.

As he cried, the child sobbed and said, ”Mommy, I'm so hungry…”

”There'll be food soon. There'll be food soon. There's food at Memorial Square…” The woman carried the child and patted his back. Tears streamed down her face as she spoke.

Upon seeing this scene, Audrey was just about to say something when she saw Melissa take out a plate of food from a wooden crate under a long table and run towards the mother and son.

”I didn't see it just now. There's still one more…” Melissa crouched down and handed the bread, dried mushrooms, and preserved fruit over. Then, she explained in a soft voice, afraid that it would cause a dispute among the citizens.

The rest of the food was actually prepared for the foundation staff who had been busy all this while. The portion that Melissa had given them was hers.

The woman took the food and handed it to the child as she said repeatedly, ”Thank you, thank you…”

The child hugged the food tightly and mimicked his mother in his nascent voice, ”Thank you, thank you…”

Audrey subconsciously looked around and noticed that the Church's priests, most of the police, as well as the ”Nighthawks” who were mixed among the people to secretly prevent any accidents, were all showing sympathy, pity, and sadness.

After the citizens had left, Audrey picked up her own set of food and handed it to Melissa.

”You deserve it.”

Melissa looked at Miss Hall before her and shook her head.

”I gave my own share.

”Miss Hall, don't worry. I'll have food when I get home. My brother is a civil servant…”

With a faint smile, Audrey stuffed the grilled bread, dried mushrooms, and preserved fruits into Melissa's hands.

”You don't have to worry about me. My family has prepared snacks for me when I'm out busying myself.”

As she spoke, she took a wooden box from her personal maidservant, Annie, and opened it for Melissa to see.

The wooden box contained exquisite cucumber sandwiches, cream muffins, and a small carrot cake.

A look of astonishment appeared on Melissa's face. She stared at the snacks for a few seconds before looking up at Miss Audrey Hall.

She immediately lowered her head and, without saying a word, she ate the grilled bread and water that Saint Samuel Cathedral had prepared.

As if ”petrified” by her gaze, Audrey held the wooden box and stood rooted to the ground. For a few seconds, she didn't move and only pursed her lips tightly.

…

After the fifth batch of residents from Moon City received cleansing and treatment and enjoyed the magical mushrooms, this ancient city became a believer of The Fool without any resistance. It welcomed the saint and oracle, Gehrman Sparrow, into the city.

With that, Klein held a large Mass and used the Unshadowed Crucifix and the Life's Cane to heal the remaining Moon City residents.

High Priest Nim, who had finished his quarantine, came out and respectfully asked at the end of the Mass, ”Oracle, what is the complete honorific name of the mighty Lord?”

Klein looked around and said solemnly with his face tightened, ”The Fool that doesn't belong to this era…”

After giving out the honorific name, he specially emphasized, ”Don't chant the complete honorific name in normal times. Do so only when important matters arise.”

Otherwise, as Mr. Fool, he would suffer a mental breakdown from all the ”phone calls from work.”

Nim wasn't surprised at all, because the ancient sun god was the same.

After some thought, he asked, ”What are the requirements for the ritual of the Lord?”

Klein said confidently like a charlatan, ”God says: Eighth Commandment: Serve me with your heart, not with your offerings.

”The most important thing for a ritual is to be pious. There are no other requirements. It can be very simple.”

After all, the Lord does not care[1]… After saying that, Klein silently added in his heart.

After explaining this, he raised his right hand and pointed at the pile of mushrooms in front of him.

”The Lord has bestowed these mushrooms to you because he wants you to enjoy a bumper harvest.

”These mushrooms are nourished by the flesh and blood of monsters. They can rapidly grow and accumulate all the toxins, corruption, and madness into those pure black mushrooms. This can be used as a medium for curses or to smear the heads of arrows…”

The Moon City residents listened in excitement as they clasped their hands and bowed their heads, shouting, ”Praise be to The Fool!”

At that moment, it was as if Klein could hear countless illusory voices coming from the air. They were mixed with the real praises, circling him and anchoring him.

[1] Quote from The Dark Forest of the Three Body Problem trilogy.