They all call me an Outer God.

Chapter 192 What can I do

"Hmm... In a sense, you are also a part of myself, so it's normal that we share the same origin. But you are also connected with the Red Moon. I'm a little confused about the Red Moon's intentions now."

Lia wanted to understand the Crimson Moon, but from what he learned about the current situation, the Crimson Moon, also known as the Crimson Mother, was classified as a heretic and belonged to the underground church.

As for God and his followers, who were classified as an underground church... after observing them for these days, I found that they did indeed have reasons for being rejected.

These guys always want to cause more trouble for others and the Order Association, especially the White Mask. Ria can only pray that Garn is dead, because as long as he has a breath left, the church may make a comeback at any time.

To fight them, it might be necessary to unite with the underground churches. Compared to the Rising Sun Church, the underground churches seem to have more capable and extraordinary individuals, which puzzles Lia somewhat.

"With their bishops and pope so incompetent, how has this church survived until now? Is it only because of the support of order?"

That doesn't seem right either. Some people in the Order don't believe in the sun; their beliefs are a mystery, or they are abelievers rejected by all churches.

According to the Bible, those without faith have no place to go after death; they cannot go to heaven but can only go to hell.

"It's terrifying. Luckily, I have a sincere faith in the sun and the abyss, and also in Crimson."

Since the Crimson Mother created Little Swarth and helped Ria, it was only right that Ria worshipped Him, even though, in a sense, the young man's faith was not devout at all.

He is like someone who juggles multiple relationships; if those great beings knew of this, they would surely be filled with rage and condemn him.

However, no god has come to punish him now, which confirms Ria's conjecture—

The great being does not care about the believers, who believes in him or who does not. The only ones who truly care are the clergy who are furious at not receiving indulgences from the believers.

"I feel happy just thinking that they don't make any money."

Ria smiled maliciously, but then thought of the Pope of Winstown.

When he met the pope, he was flustered. After the investigators from the Order Association were eliminated by Ria, he fled overnight with his belongings. Ria did not know where he went.

The Pope is the supreme leader of the Church and the father of all people.

The true title of the Rising Sun Pope is—

Bishop of the Rising Sun, representative of the sun, successor of the Lord of all disciples, High Priest (Pope), Patriarch of the Western Continent, Chief Bishop of Enderus, Archbishop and Metropolitan of Clembea, Head of the Kingdom of Gotti and servant of all the servants of God.

However, those titles are too long, so people just refer to the Pope or the Pope.

During those days, the Pope was perhaps staying in the church in the small town of Winstown for the purpose of resisting the Red Moon. He had direct command authority over members of the Order Association below Rank A.

But Ria suspected that the man who appeared in Winstown was just a stand-in for the Pope. If the real Pope was like that, the cardinals of the Church of the Rising Sun would have been arguing about who should become the new Pope long ago.

"May those who prey on children go to hell soon." Ria felt genuine disgust for that man; had he not run away early, he would have been used as nourishment for Ria's tentacles long ago.

"From my current observation, the clergy of the Church of the Rising Sun are incompetent, indiscriminately collect money from the masses, and when they encounter problems, they only seek help from the Order Association, and may even collude with some people within the association and nobles to achieve their own goals."

Those who remain in high positions for too long become corrupt and complacent. The underground church is chaotic but very active and proactive because it needs to survive and create space for itself to live.

What can I do in this situation?

Ria began to think about her plans for the future.

He believes that the Church of the Sun should remain as it is, as it is easy to obtain what one wants from within by simply understanding their system.

I'm not afraid of their greed, but I'm afraid of people who are like ascetics, devoid of any desires.

“Money is the source of disaster. You had better have other means of defense, or this church will be finished.” Ria had a fairly good impression of the Radiant Sun and certainly didn’t want the church members to just give up like this.

"Cuckoo!"

A pigeon swooped down from the sky and landed on the open windowsill. When it saw the dark, unidentified creature on the ground, it trembled like a sieve.

Ria reached out and let it land on her arm, then untied the note from its leg.

Since Number Two went to deliver mail and got lost for a few days, Ria has stopped sending Little Swarth away to deliver mail often, fearing that it might not come back once it goes out.

"Wow--"

The young man unfolded the note, read it for a moment, and then his brows relaxed.

“I knew there would be church people at this dinner party.”

The banquets hosted by the upper class would naturally invite important figures that Lia rarely sees.

The banquet was ostensibly to celebrate a religious festival—it is said that the earth was once covered in solid ice, and it was the bright sun on this day that melted the ice, giving warmth and allowing humankind to thrive.

To express their gratitude to Him, people hold festivals and feasts on this day.

In fact, those nobles probably didn't care at all who the holiday was for. Madame Sicard was ostensibly hosting a banquet for the sun, but in reality, she was making plans to select the next viscount.

Bringing this up in front of everyone is also a way to let them bear witness.

On this day, not only church personnel, nobles, and members of the Order Association will be present, but the Plague Doctor of the Keeper of Secrets may also appear nearby or on the scene.

That Ms. Favreau-Lassard was a clever woman. She cared a lot about the prestige of this banquet and could use it as an opportunity to help her family continue to network with those important figures, cultivate good relationships with them, and achieve a win-win situation.

“It’s easier if we have our own people here.” Ria burned the note and released the pigeon out the window.

Seeing his wasteful behavior, little Schwarz's eyes widened and he jumped to the window, watching with great reluctance as the pigeon flapped its wings and flew away, leaving only a single white feather on the windowsill.

"Ow—"

Little Swarth began to gnaw on the feather as if it were a mortal enemy.

Ria looked at it, then pulled a roasted pigeon with a golden-brown exterior from its hat. The mythical creature then swallowed the feather in one gulp, ran to the roasted pigeon, and flapped its wings, mimicking a fledgling begging for food.

"Want to eat?"

"Ow!"

"Then extend your tentacles."

"Aww." Little Swarth obediently stretched out his tentacles.

"Aim at that corner over there."

"Ow."

"Stab it with all your might."

"Whoosh!!!" The mythical creature's pupils shrank to needle size, and it directly coated its tentacles with strong acid, aiming at the corner that Ria pointed to. In that instant, these tentacles were blocked by a hand.

(End of this chapter)