Seeing her lady's obvious interest in the ghost story, Anne glanced at the other maids who were preparing hot water, combs, and other items, before continuing: "The doctors and nurses want to invite the church's bishop to hold a mass, but the remaining patients strongly object. They are looking forward to encountering that ghost. They all call it the 'Clown Angel', saying that its terrifying appearance is like a deliberately made-up clown, but in reality, it is an angel that relieves pain and suffering." "That title is quite interesting..." Audrey remarked with a faint smile.
In the past, she would definitely have been filled with curiosity, eagerly trying to spend a night at that hospital through "dreamwalking" to figure out exactly what this "Clown Angel" was. However, the outbreak of the war lowered her spirits. She felt there were too many serious and important things to attend to, and she simply had no mood for investigation.
Actually, if she hadn't personally experienced the air raid and seen those injured by it, she would definitely have felt over the past few days that the war had never broken out and that Backlund was very peaceful.
This was because after that air raid, the Loen Kingdom's airship corps entered the war, and the air defense standards of all coastal cities were raised. Backlund had not been attacked since. Currently, the battles between Feysac and Loen were mainly concentrated in three places: the Amanta Mountains in Winter County, the heavy industrial city clusters on the east coast of the Inner Sea, and the major ports along the coast of the Sonia Sea. Both sides were locked in a stalemate, with neither gaining a significant advantage. Even if there were casualties, it lacked substantial impact on Backlund. Apart from rising prices and constant news in the papers, the city seemed to have returned to calm within just a few days.
But Audrey did not see it that way. Her father and brother had been busy running around recently, coming home very late or gathering groups of nobles, members of parliament, and clergy for private meetings at home. Through the Church of the Night and other charitable organizations, she learned the exact numbers of casualties at the Pritz Harbor and Amanta front lines. She had even seen some battlefield photographs. She was working hard to raise funds, contacting major pharmaceutical companies and regular hospitals, hoping to organize battlefield rescue and charity medical services.
Who would have thought that the adventurer famous for his madness had not only provided the surplus food from his estate but also donated an extra 7,000 pounds in cash... Audrey sighed inwardly and let the maids begin their work.
…………
South Bridge District, Rose Street.
Emlyn White casually donated a 10-pound note to a fundraiser for a charitable organization, pressed his top hat, and walked up the steps into the Harvest Church.
At this moment, there were no worshippers inside the church. Only Father Uytravsky, who seemed like a half-giant, sat at the front, devoutly praying.
Emlyn was in no hurry to change into his priestly robe. He sat down next to the father. He wanted to say something, but when he opened his mouth, it turned into a laugh of "Hey."
"It must be your typical Feynapotter looks and build that scare the believers away," Emlyn said, looking at the altar ahead, seemingly casually.
Bishop Uytravsky lowered his hands and opened his eyes. "I can understand them."
"What's the use of understanding? If the war gets more intense and more soldiers die, those believers might just surge in here, burn down the church, and hang you," Emlyn said, still looking at the Emblem of Life.
Father Uytravsky shook his head slightly. "No, they won't. They sincerely believe in the Mother Goddess. They won't burn down the church. At most, they will expel me. If I state that I have given up my Feynapotter nationality, someone will always understand me and accept me."
Emlyn clicked his tongue and said without moving his gaze. "What if Feynapotter also joins the war and attacks Loen's territory in Dicey Bay? What if the Church of the Earth Mother calls upon all its clergy to be enemies of Loen? Do you obey the church's orders and betray the believers here, or do you pretend to know nothing and continue as you are, preaching the value of life and the joy of harvest, or do you directly organize those believers to make them enemies of their own countrymen, proving your faith with blood and sacrifice?"
Bishop Uytravsky slowly looked towards the altar and the Emblem of Life upon it, staying silent for a long time. Emlyn did not ask any more questions and became silent like the father. The entire Harvest Church was enveloped in stillness.
…………
On a colonial island, Alger Wilson, who hadn't yet had time to return to Pasu Island, did not leave the "Blue Avenger" out of prudence. He only sent the sailors ashore in turns to gather information.
"Captain, there is still no news of a summons for us." A sailor, heavy with the smell of alcohol, reported the day's findings to Alger.
Alger waved his hand, dismissing this subordinate from the room. Only then did he slightly furrow his brow and mutter silently to himself. "The church seems to not be taking this war very seriously..."
In Alger's perception, this should have been an intense, widespread war. As the invaded party, the Church of Storms would inevitably mobilize all its strength to defeat the enemy, including driving the "captains" scattered across the sea and assigning them corresponding tasks. Yet, up until this very moment, Alger had not received an order from Pasu Island.
This was not to say that the Church of Storms was slacking off. The activity of the Church's forces within the Loen military, the high-altitude defenses of major cities, and the activities of demigod experts all indicated that the Church of Storms was earnestly countering the invasion of the Feysac Empire. It just wasn't fighting desperately enough.