Greece brings evildoers.

Chapter 686 Capturing a Wild Daughter

Rome, the Pantheon.

Lorne sat upright on his throne, scrutinizing the twelve figures standing respectfully in the hall, and asked:

"These are the preachers you've chosen?"

"Yes, my lord."

Ariadne, Phaedra, and Cassandra, who were seated behind the throne, answered respectfully.

Over the long course of history, the Dionysian Church underwent continuous changes, reorganizations, and transformations, eventually forming a large and vibrant organization.

With Greece and Rome as its axis, Celts and Northern Europe as its two wings, and the Garden of Eden as its holy site, it successfully linked the five great pantheons and countless beings into a whole, fusing thousands of beliefs into one.

Its name is—[The Papacy]!
As the leaders of the faith reform and the attendants closest to God, Ariadne, Phidiras, and Cassandra were naturally given the title of "Saints" by the believers and worshipped and respected.

At the same time, they are also the de facto leaders of the human faction within the Holy See.

That is, the Pope.

"Sir, these are their identification information. Please take a look."

Cassandra stepped forward and handed her a parchment scroll.

Lorne opened it, and the first twelve names in a row came into view:
Peter, Andrew, James the Greater son of Zebedee, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James the Less son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon, and Matthias.

It's them?
Lorne was slightly taken aback, and couldn't help but look at the twelve people in the hall again.

They included people of all ages, heights, and builds, and even differed in skin color and race.

But what they have in common is a certain quality:

Devotion, courage, perseverance, and the fervor to dedicate oneself to an ideal!
This, in turn, led to a truly tragic end for them:

1. Peter demanded to be crucified upside down, using his blood to wash away his past cowardice and wavering in questioning God.

2. Andre was bound to an X-shaped cross in Patras and continued preaching during three long days of torture. The cross later became a patron symbol of Scotland, witnessing how faith can transcend physical pain.

3. Jacob the Greater became the first apostle to be martyred, beheaded by King Herod. The calmness this "Son of Thunder" displayed at the moment of his death caused the executioner to convert on the spot, completing the final miracle with his blood.

4. After Philip was crucified upside down in Asia Minor and stoned to death, his widow and daughter sang hymns of praise at the execution site, their songs of faith piercing through the executioner's brutality.

5. "Bardolomay" suffered the horrific torture of skinning in Armenia. Legend has it that when his skin was completely peeled off, a large-scale wave of conversion broke out among the onlookers, and the tyrant's torture became the most powerful propaganda platform.

6. Thomas traveled to India to preach, but was eventually impaled by a spear on the Malabar coast. His tomb still attracts millions of pilgrims, proving that truth never needs the protection of force.

7. Matthew was stabbed in the back with a sword in Ethiopia. This former tax collector completed his ultimate transformation from a wealth grabber to a spiritual devotee with his life.

8. James the Less was thrown from the top of the Temple in Jerusalem and beaten to death. His death marked the beginning of a great persecution of the Jerusalem church, with the ladder of pilgrims being built in blood.

9. After Thaddaeus won a debate with a sorcerer in Persia, he was crucified. The pagan priests were horrified to discover that his death actually multiplied the influence of this "aborter."

10. Simon was sawn to death in Persia along with the rebels. This "radical" ultimately proved the power of nonviolent resistance in the most painful way.

11. Matthias preached in Jerusalem, where he was first stoned and then beheaded.

12. After John was arrested, the tyrant of the enemy country threw the 94-year-old man into a boiling pot of oil...

This is the future for all of them.

A tragic song written with blood as its faith.

Later, they were given the same name in the Bible—the Twelve Apostles.

Lorne's gaze was complex, a hint of pity rising in his heart, and he asked:
Do you know what you are about to experience?

"Yes, Lady Cassandra has informed us of the outcome."

The twelve answered in unison, their tone unwavering and their expressions steadfast.

As the most outstanding prophet, it was not difficult for Cassandra to predict the fate of ordinary people, and she did not hide anything from them.

When faced with this sacred mission, there were many people running for office initially.

Many of the candidates were far superior to the twelve candidates in terms of knowledge, status, and lineage. Some were even scholars who had personally participated in the writing of the Bible and heroes with divine blood. However, after learning the price of spreading God's word, they all wavered and chose to back down.

After rounds of selection, only twelve of them persisted to the end.

Without exception, they knew their fate and without exception accepted it.

Therefore, they were not chosen by fate, but rather they actively chose their fate.

This is precisely why they were able to stand out from the crowd and become the Twelve Apostles.

Looking at those faces radiating fervor, determination, and idealism, Lorne remained silent for a long time before speaking again:

"It's not too late to back out or quit now."

"All nations on earth will surely become a land of joy, and all people on earth will surely be saved! To spread the gospel of the Lord and accomplish the Lord's great work, we will never regret even unto death!"

The twelve answered loudly, without wavering in the slightest.

Lorne did not continue to dissuade him, but slightly raised his hand forward, and the solemn temple transformed into a low stone chamber.

Lorne shed his magnificent divine robes, donned a simple white robe befitting a human, and sat at the head of a long table, beckoning to the twelve people around him:

"Come on, let's have a meal together before we set off, as a farewell dinner for you."

"How can we, of such lowly status, sit at the same table as [Father]?"

The twelve preachers were flattered and immediately waved their hands in refusal.

Lorne's gaze swept over the twelve preachers, and he calmly said:
“I was once one of the Sons of Man, and I am no different from you in essence, nor am I superior or inferior to you. There is no need for you to be nervous; just regard this as an ordinary family dinner.”

Faced with God's repeated requests, the twelve preachers had no choice but to agree and take their seats with trepidation.

The dim candlelight inside the room flickered in the breeze, radiating a soft warmth.

Ariadne, Fedra, and Cassandra volunteered to act as maids, going in and out of the kitchen that connected to Mount Ares, bringing freshly baked bread, simmering soup, and a few simple home-style dishes to the table.

The aroma of food filled the air, carrying a simple and warm scent.

The apostles' initial nervousness gradually subsided.

Encouraged by Lorne, they put aside their awkwardness and unease, enjoying dinner prepared by Hestia, the goddess of the hearth, while chatting and laughing.

The twelve people sometimes discussed their understanding of the Bible verses, sometimes shared local customs and traditions, and sometimes imagined their visions after the mission was accomplished... Lorne in the center listened patiently, sometimes interjected with his own insights, and sometimes served the apostles food and urged them to eat more. He showed no trace of his superiority as "God," but was like an ordinary "father" who was trying to take care of each "child."

Gradually, the atmosphere on the field became harmonious, even lively.

The apostles no longer looked at this "Father" with awe, but with love and affection.

The belief that "God loves the world" is etched into their souls and bones like an ironclad rule.

At least, that's what their "father" was.

Lorne was also observing the twelve people at the table, his gentle gaze revealing a hint of complexity.

Just as it was not Shakyamuni but King Ashoka who truly developed Buddhism into a systematic religion and spread it, the actual founders of Christianity were not Jesus alone, but the twelve apostles from all walks of life who were well-versed in the scriptures and dedicated their lives to missionary work.

The reasoning is simple: what Shakyamuni initially created was merely a field of study and a method for personal practice. But what religion seeks is not knowledge, but rather reverence, propagation, bewilderment, and unfounded belief.

As the greatest contributor to the spread of Buddhism, Ashoka's choice was actually heavily influenced by utilitarian motives.

His life's achievements can be clearly divided into two parts. The first half of his life was the "Black Ashoka" era, mainly in which he fought to secure his throne and defeated the sixteen major kingdoms by force, basically unifying most of India and establishing the Mauryan Dynasty.

The latter half of his life was the reign of "White Ashoka," during which he vigorously promoted Buddhism throughout the country, contributing to the prosperity of this world religion. Ashoka's reign marked an unprecedented period of strength in ancient Indian history, making Buddhism the state religion.

This shift is said to have occurred because King Ashoka witnessed the massacre during his conquest of Kalinga and felt deep remorse, thus ceasing his military expansion.

But in reality, it was because he had already conquered almost the entire territory of India and no longer needed to expand by force.

Instead, his immediate priority was to stop the war, urge the people to cease their killings and resistance, and gain acceptance of the Mauryan dynasty's rule.

Because Ashoka's lineage originated from the untouchable class who raised peacocks, he was destined to be unable to gain recognition and a foundation for rule from Brahmanism, which emphasized lineage and order.

Therefore, the Buddhist teachings of equality for all beings and abstaining from killing and violence became his best choice.

Buddhism thus came into being, successfully ushering in the "Age of True Dharma," and suppressing Brahmanism for a thousand years.

In contrast, the twelve apostles, carefully selected by the Papacy, were much more pure.

They traveled far and wide, not for wealth, status, or fame, but solely for the future depicted by their "Father," willingly traversing mountains and rivers to spread the gospel of salvation to every corner of the world.

Hardship, danger, and death could not stop them.

It is because of these people that Christianity will spread more widely and have a longer lifespan than Buddhism in the future.

Of course, from a rational perspective, Lorne does not reject Ashoka's relatively utilitarian behavior.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have left Poros with the Buddha and given him his keepsake, indicating that he would pass it on to his grandson, King Ashoka.

However, he felt that the more he gave, the more he should receive in return.

Even if his followers do not ask for it, he should give it to them.

This is God's mercy, and also God's justice.

Lorne's eyes flashed, and the golden Holy Grail emerged from the magic circle and landed on the table in front of him.

Then, he slightly raised his hand, his five fingers digging into his palm.

The golden-red divine blood dripped through his fingers into the cup, transforming into scarlet wine, its rich and intoxicating aroma spreading outwards.

“Take this and drink it. This is the blood I shed for you, the blood of the covenant between God and man.”

At Lorne's signal, Ariadne, Federa, and Cassandra stepped forward, divided the wine in their cups into twelve portions, and presented them to each of the apostles in turn.

Then, Lorne raised his glass and said:

"You are about to embark on a long journey, and I have no other gift to offer. Come, drink this cup, for our blood is thicker than water, our bloodlines are intertwined!"

The twelve apostles quickly stood up, raised their glasses in respect to the merciful Father, and then drank the wine in their cups.

The wine entered their mouths, transforming into a surge of warmth that silently imprinted a blessing upon them.

As the twelve people's wine glasses were placed back on the table one by one, the farewell dinner came to an end.

The apostles bowed one last time to Lorne in the hall, then shouldered their bags and embarked on their respective journeys.

Lorne stood at the temple entrance for a long time, until the twelve figures were completely out of sight, before gradually turning his gaze away.

After calming himself down a bit, he glanced at the letter in his hand and suddenly felt a headache coming on.

Undoubtedly, this is another troublesome matter.

Well, I'll have to get cut sooner or later anyway, so I might as well get it over with quickly.

Lorne shook his head, stepped out of the Pantheon, and through the spatial teleportation array of the adjacent Temple of the Three Phases of Fate, arrived at Avalon Island in the Celtic Age.

However, as soon as he landed on the island, a broad and heavy longsword suddenly emerged from the hazy mist and was placed against his neck.

"Hey kid, who are you? Where are you from? What are you trying to do, sneaking into my house like this? Tell me the truth!"

A deep, gruff question came from behind, and as he spoke, the heavy longsword moved even closer to Lorne's neck.

Lorne turned his head and glanced slightly behind him.

A tall knight stood in the mist, wearing heavy black and silver knight armor with a dark red bodysuit underneath. Her breastplate was engraved with exquisite fairy script, and her helmet was shaped like a ferocious dragon's head, concealing the wearer's appearance and aura.

However, this level of magical disguise was of no use to Lorne.

His gaze peered unobstructed into the interior of the armor, taking in the knight's face.

The other person had a face almost identical to Artoria and Morgan—short blond hair, emerald green eyes, but with a sharper, more manic gaze, and a provocative smirk at the corner of their mouth. Their skin was slightly pale, and a small scar under their left eye added to their madness and rebelliousness.

Seeing that Lorne had not answered for a long time, the knight became impatient and pressed him again:

"Hey kid, I'm asking you a question, are you deaf?"

Lorne sighed, turned to look at the knight, and said seriously:

"Um, I'm your father..."

The knight was stunned for a moment, then flew into a rage:
"Still dare to talk back? You're dead!"

In an instant, a large, powerful sword swung down toward the suspect's head.

(End of this chapter)