Shipping goods from the game to the World of Warhammer

These words naturally ignited the atmosphere on the bridge.

Rhodes inwardly regretted it. He had forgotten about this guy after seeing him summon the Queen of Insects. He had originally wanted to see if he could get any more information about Esperan from him, but now it seemed that with the Thinker and his steward there, there was no need to keep him on the ship.

Now that they're desperate, they'll definitely spill the beans.

"I saw with my own eyes that he colluded with those alien creatures and even made them appear out of thin air on this planet."

"Enough!" Aria snapped at Pavi, who was being held firmly in place. "Traitor who has joined a heretic sect, betrayed the empire, and sold out the traveling merchants and rogues—do you think your words still have any credibility?"

"Manager Aria, I understand your feelings, but the evil rebellion that has broken out on this planet could indeed affect the traveling merchants."

The priests of the Church of England standing beside them raised their hands, interrupting Aliya's reprimand.

"I suggest we use a simple ceremony to confirm the purity of the wandering merchant ronin. You should have no objection, right?"

Aliya looked at Rhodes, seemingly seeking his opinion.

As the representatives of the empire in maintaining the purity of faith, the state priests naturally have the right to examine whether every citizen of the empire has been corrupted by chaos in their souls.

However, the special status and position of the traveling merchants also meant that, if Rhodes insisted, the priests of the Church of England could not force the traveling merchants to conduct such inspections.

If Rhodes showed even the slightest sign of refusal, Aria would not hesitate to order the crew to throw the former planetary governor into the decompression chamber.

Rhodes was also considering this matter. Indeed, he could refuse the request from the state priest, but the price would be that this matter would become a time bomb buried in everyone's hearts, and it was unknown when it would explode.

And it will certainly attract the attention of the court.

Since that's the case, he might as well take a gamble. He also wanted to see if the system on his body was some kind of thing that a blue mollusk from the subspace was using to mess with him.

"Aliya, I agree. Let him say whatever he wants. My faith in the God-Emperor can withstand the test."

Pavie, who had been hysterical, froze in place after hearing his words.

Wait, shouldn't this person be trying to find a way to refuse? Why does he look so fearless?

"Then please follow me, you wandering merchant." The leading confessor, Father Soren, gestured for Rhodes and the other Anglican priests to leave with him.

Inside the chapel of the Christina, the flagship of the traveling merchants.

Gold, the colors that are visible are almost all composed of the most noble gold and red of the empire.

A colossal statue, several meters tall, stands in the very center of the chapel, its hands gripping a giant sword with the tip embedded in the ground. Behind the statue, enormous wings and a halo representing holiness further enhance its solemnity.

The area in front of the statue is covered with parchment inscribed with High Gothic script, which is fixed to the surface of the plate with red wax stamps along with gemstones.

On the lavish red carpet, a glass box with gold trim stands in front of the statue, and a section of grayed-black remains lies quietly in a silk cloth.

This is the flagship chapel, which houses the remains of saints and statues of emperors, and is one of the most sacred places on the flagship.

"Please pray before the remains of the saint, and testify to your purity before the God-King." Father Soren gestured for Rhodes to step forward.

Rhodes stood before the emperor's statue, his hands touching the reliquary containing the saint's remains, his mind beginning to recall the prayers he had learned during his family's education.

"Under the radiance of the God-Emperor, lies have nowhere to hide..."

Prayers were uttered from Lod's mouth, echoing throughout the spacious flagship chapel.

But Rhodes was actually in a panic.

What if my system really is the product of some subspace vendor?

Old Huang… no, Emperor, please bless me! Even if this system is truly a product of the subspace, please, considering my unwavering loyalty to the Empire both before and after my transmigration, try to lend me a hand!

As the prayer continued, Rhodes felt his consciousness growing lighter and lighter, and the carpeted flagship floor beneath his feet began to soften.

Could he have fallen asleep? This feeling seemed familiar. Rod remembered that when he was a student, after staying up all night, during morning reading sessions, the desk and chair would gradually feel like a soft bed.

The prayer is so complex and lengthy that it can indeed lull one to sleep.

No, Rhodes shook his head slightly, continuing to focus on the prayer in his memory, but the drowsy feeling persisted and even worsened.

In a daze, Rhodes saw the statue in front of him begin to move.

The statue's head, shrouded in a hood, lowered, and the empty eye sockets of the human skull met Rhodes's gaze.

Those two hollow, pitch-black holes seemed bottomless, yet within that darkness, it appeared as if endless flames and light were burning.

Meanwhile, inside the prayer hall.

Father Soren watched as Rod finished reading the first part of the prayer, then lowered his head and remained silent.

One minute, two minutes later, Father Soren finally couldn't help but glance at Rhodes's current state, only to find that Rhodes had closed his eyes, and the entire chapel could hear Rhodes's even and soothing breathing.

He actually fell asleep while praying before the emperor?!

Even if the other party is a wandering merchant, such an act that is almost blasphemous to the God Emperor is completely intolerable!

Soren's face was solemn. The other Catholic priests in the chapel, seeing the confessor's expression, couldn't help but look at Rhodes, who was praying. Soon, Soren's expression spread to their faces.

Just as Soren coughed, preparing to reprimand the merchant who was already "asleep,"

The saint's remains inside the reliquary immediately lit up, and dazzling light leaked out from the cracks in the remains, then increased until the entire saint's remains were covered with golden patterns like a spider web.

A burst of fire erupted from Rhodes' body, enveloping him in golden flames.

"This is... the God-Emperor's punishment? No!" Father Soren initially thought it was Rhodes being burned by the holy fire, but the next second, he abandoned that idea.

Not only because Rhodes didn't seem to be in any pain, but also because the golden flames, though clinging to his body, showed no signs of burning, not even an inch of skin or a single hair.

More importantly, because they could feel that all-too-familiar sensation from the flames.

"O Divine Emperor! Your miracles are manifest in the world!"

May your glory shine upon us forever!

All the Catholic priests present began to pray fervently. For them, being able to witness the Emperor's miracles so closely was undoubtedly the greatest honor and fortune of their lives.

It wasn't until long after the flames and light had disappeared that Father Soren and the state priests on the ship gradually stopped their prayers.

Rod jolted awake and opened his eyes.

Oh no, I actually fell asleep while praying! Forget about proving my purity, this alone is considered disrespectful to the emperor in the state religion.

"I'm sorry, Father Soren, it's probably because I haven't had a proper rest these past few days while I've been stuck in Esperan. I was just reading somewhere..."

Just as Rod was about to explain, he saw Father Soren and the church's Anglican priest looking at him with a strange gaze he had never seen before.

“No need, Your Excellency Rhodes, the Wandering Merchant,” Father Soren confessed with a sigh. “The ceremony is over, and you have proven your purity and loyalty to the Empire.”