A Guide to Becoming a God Starting from a Monastery

Those eyes were not the eyes of any creature Thomas knew, but a pair of black vortexes.

The black vortex stared at Thomas.

"Samarkand!"

The two whirlpools were getting closer and closer, as if they were going to swallow Thomas up.

The next moment, Thomas opened his eyes in the darkness!

All sweaty!

He gasped for breath and stood up.

Awesome, so awesome!

The other party actually has no hostility, or rather, he is just trying to test the other party's strength through dreams.

It turned out that the strength of both parties, at least in the dream, was not even on the same level. It was like a child wrestling with an adult, with the slightest force causing the child to fall to the ground.

Thomas walked to the window, opened the porthole, and let the sea breeze blow across his face.

Samarkand?

Thomas had very little impression of this city, whether in his previous life or this life.

I vaguely knew that this was a city in Central Asia. It seemed to be of a decent size and had decent economic development.

It seems that during the heyday of the Tang Dynasty, this city once belonged to the Tang Dynasty, but was eventually annexed by the Arabs. In modern times, it once belonged to the Soviet Union, and after the Soviet Union collapsed, it belonged to Uzbekistan?

But apart from these major changes, nothing else is known.

What’s so special about this city?

Also, is this a friendly invitation or a trap?

But I couldn't think of the answer for a moment.

Damn, there is too little information, I really can’t make a judgment!

The sea breeze blew, and Thomas couldn't help but recall what the Wolf God had said. The Wolf God's superior, a certain deity, wanted Rhodes Island!

Trouble... Really trouble...

I have done so much, but I can clearly feel that the road ahead is still dangerous.

I originally thought that as the master of a city or a place, I could always control my own destiny, right?!

But now I feel that the situation is still precarious and the future is uncertain.

You thought you had broken through a class barrier and entered the upper level of society, but you found that there were more risks and greater difficulties.

Just like what Lu Xun said, ordinary people definitely don’t have the worry of losing money by opening a stock exchange, but rich people do.

Alas... there is no way, it is so difficult for human beings to control their own destiny!

It seems that it won’t work. I have to speed up my plan!

The strength of the Knights must be strengthened to face the next wave of challenges.

This challenge should be coming soon!

The author says:

Author's words: I will probably go out again tomorrow, so I will update one section in advance.

Chapter 223 Golden Apple 1

One month passed quickly.

The fleet returned to Smyrna. Although it was not a complete return, it at least gained a lot.

Several bases that could provide supplies to the Crescent Moon pirates were razed, which also means that the possibility of the Crescent Moon pirates penetrating deep into the areas controlled by the Knights and carrying out pirate plundering will be greatly reduced.

Of course, it can only be reduced, not eliminated.

The clerk Demetrios was waiting at the Smyrna pier.

During this time, Demetrios remained stationed in Smyrna, overseeing the progress of the castle's construction.

This is also what Thomas cares about most.

No one can tell when the unrest in the East will end, but once it ends, the Seljuks will be free to launch a counterattack.

If the enemy army arrives and the bastion is not yet completed...

Even if Thomas led the army himself, he could only order a retreat.

The Knights really can't afford to waste time.

Although Thomas is mainly in Rhode Island, he also has to come here from time to time to ensure that the construction progress is in line with the plan.

The group quickly returned to the City Lord's Mansion.

After the Knights became financially well-off, they still took the time to renovate the building.

Although Thomas can endure hardship, he doesn't like to endure it without any hardship.

Building this thing is much easier than building a bastion, and it has been renovated. Although it is certainly not as magnificent as it was originally, it can definitely make the owner live in it very comfortably.

"Grand Commander, congratulations on another victory." Demetrios immediately congratulated upon entering the meeting room of the mansion.

"This is Christ's blessing," Thomas said calmly. "Dimitrios, there's something urgent. That gilded silver statue in my cabin can't be left here. You must melt it down as quickly as possible. And I want you to see it melt down until it becomes a shining silver coin! Do this the moment you leave this place."

"Ah... As you command, Grand Commander!" Demetrios naturally would not object to such a small matter.

"How's the progress of the project?" Thomas immediately asked. This was what he was most concerned about.

"Everything is going according to plan, and slightly ahead of schedule. It's expected to be completed one to two months ahead of schedule. Would you like to visit the construction site?"

"Let's go check it out tomorrow," Thomas said. "Arrange food and lodging for the soldiers going out on the expedition, and give everyone a good meal. We've had enough of the dry rations on the ship!"

Although the problems of fresh water storage and vitamins were solved, sea voyage was still a hassle. Even Thomas, the Grand Commander, had to make concessions on the issue of diet.

It can only be said that you are free from the worst food, not enjoy it at all!

"Grandmaster, um, there's an envoy from the church coming."

"Oh, where are the people?"

"They've gone to Rhodes and are waiting for you there," Demetrios replied. "I'm afraid the rumors have come true."

"Oh, you mean..."

"You can wear red clothes." Dimitrios said sincerely.

The church also rewards people based on their merits. After all, any organization must follow this basic principle.

Since taking office, Thomas has made outstanding military achievements and has been repeatedly commended by the Roman Catholic Church.

Although they are all spiritual rewards, such as sending cardinals to entertain the troops, giving Thomas various titles, and giving the Knights Templar some privileges that sound prestigious but are actually useless.

The Order could now mint its own coins and was allowed to use the portrait of Saint Peter.

It's useless, but it's really glorious.

Unfortunately, there is nothing good to say about the material rewards.

Thomas captured Ceuta and sent some of the spoils to Rome, hoping to gain something in return.

After killing the Wolf God, the victory report was immediately sent to Rome.

I originally thought that I could get some tangible material rewards!

It seems I'm overthinking it.

As for Red, Thomas was very clear-headed. After all, his way of thinking was fundamentally different from that of people of this era.

If it were someone else, it would be considered a special favor from the Pope and a supreme honor.

In Thomas's mind, it was of no value, because there was no way he could leave his position as Grand Master of the Knights Templar and go to Rome to become a cardinal!

To put it bluntly, there are only two benefits to being a cardinal. The first is to be able to run for the next pope.

But if you tell him that Thomas has a chance of running for the next Pope, he doesn't believe it at all! He's not cut out for it!

The second is that you can obtain a higher status.

But Thomas was now the Grand Master of the Knights Templar, lord of a city and a region. Within his jurisdiction, he held the highest position. Even facing the kings of other nations, he was barely on equal footing.

There is no real meaning in being a little higher. It's just a nicer name!

After all, the ultimate benefit is that he will have the opportunity to vote in the future Pope election.

But how much this vote is worth is debatable.

What's more, my cheap teacher can still live for another twenty years, and that ticket can only be sold for money after twenty years...

It's really not affordable at all. It's no different from the pie in the sky!

It would be better to reward them with something tangible, like a warship or a group of paid mercenaries.

"Ah...ah...what great news." Thomas replied weakly.

Although it was just a pipe dream, he had to accept it.

If you don't accept it, not only will you lose the promise, but you will also bring a lot of trouble to your cheap teacher and yourself!

"My Lord, are you unhappy?"

"No, I'm glad," Thomas said insincerely. "By the way, provide Andrea with a quiet room. He needs to do some spiritual practice."

"Andrea wants to practice?" Dimitrios was confused.

Although the official members of the Knights Templar are theoretically monks, but... there is no emphasis on spiritual practice here.

There are no morning or evening classes, and even the number of times we recite scriptures is very limited.

On the other hand, I spent much more time strengthening my muscles and honing my martial arts skills. Unless I was too busy with important matters, I would practice every day.

Others didn't understand, so how could Demetrios, as a colleague, not understand? Although Andrea was not a pure warrior, he didn't pay attention to meditation or other spiritual practices.

It's really a bit confusing.

Demetrios went out and saw Andrea and the quaestor comparing the spoils outside.

"Demetrios," Andrea greeted the secretary as he approached. "Thanks to you for this."

"You want to practice?"

"Well, I need a quiet room for a day or two," Andrea replied. "So don't arrange a seat for me at the welcome party or anything like that."

"what happens?"

"Nothing." Andrea crossed herself. "Christ has given me a revelation!"

"Revelation?" Demetrios asked again, but the other party did not answer. Instead, he continued to check the statistical tables with the financial officer.

Although the clerk was full of doubts, he could only do his own thing first - the Grand Commander had specifically instructed that the statue be melted down to make coins!

At dusk, the city of Smyrna was quiet.

The castle construction project did not have a significant impact on the port city. In fact, it provided some merchants with opportunities to make money.

After all, many materials such as stones, wood, and labor still need to be shipped by sea.

The Knights' massive investment here can be said to have boosted the city's commerce.

Even some of the Star and Crescent believers used the Christian banner to impersonate others.

Of course, Thomas has strictly ordered all members of the Knights Templar not to discriminate against each other and to allow free trade.

As long as you're not a pirate, everyone is welcome!

The situations faced by the Knights who only occupied Rhodes Island and the Knights who occupied Smyrna were different, so their policies naturally had to change.

The night was quiet. Thomas sat in the small reception room of the City Lord's Mansion, waiting patiently.

"Grand Master," a guard reported. "Knight Andrea has arrived."

"Let him in," Thomas replied. "Tell them Andrea and I have something important to discuss and don't want to be disturbed."

"As ordered!"

A few minutes later, Andrea walked into the room.

He wore no armor, but a long ascetic robe, with no belt around his waist, only a rope.