NABC Chapter 147 Who did it?!
Chapter 147 Who did it?!
Chapter 147 Who did it?!
The reading table is on the right; it's made of copper and polished to a high shine.
Rows of seats for believers are arranged, each seating dozens of people.
Along the walls on both sides stand several white statues, which appear serene in the light and shadow.
Small but complete.
The old priest walked to the center of the church as was customary.
He stopped, faced the statue of Jesus in front of him, and knelt down on one knee.
The movement was slow and steady, with the knees only inches off the ground. The position was held for two seconds before standing up.
This is the ritual performed by the priest before entering the sanctuary.
After he stood up, he turned and walked to the right.
There stands a statue over there, of Saint Joseph, holding a baby in his arms.
The old priest placed the red rose in his hand next to the statue, then straightened up and tidied the petals.
Chen Yuan followed behind, holding the flowers, watching him do all this.
"What we do every day is very simple."
The old priest turned around.
"It's just cleaning, changing the flowers, and presiding over the Mass."
"If someone comes to confess, listen to their repentance."
The old priest continued, his voice barely audible in the empty church.
"But this is an affluent neighborhood, and everyone is very busy. It's already a rare treat for them to come to Mass, so very few people come to confess..."
As he spoke, he realized something was amiss.
Why can't I hear Chen Yuan speaking?
He turned his head and glanced at Chen Yuan.
They discovered that the young man wasn't listening at all; instead, he was turning his head and staring intently at the person opposite him.
What's over there?
The old priest followed his gaze.
But Chen Yuan's head was blocking his view, so he couldn't see anything.
"List."
no response.
"List!"
Chen Yuan finally turned his head.
His expression was priceless; his eyes were wide open, his mouth slightly agape, and his brows furrowed, his entire face screaming "utter shock."
"Father."
Chen Yuan said.
"What should I call you?"
The old priest paused for a moment. What's the question?
"Call me Iller."
"Oh, Father Iller..."
As soon as Chen Yuan opened his mouth, Father Iller frowned.
"Are you really a priest?"
Chen Yuan looked down at himself; he had even taken off his big gold chain, looking quite proper.
"What's wrong?"
He showed off his skills.
"Genuine or genuine."
"Then why aren't you surprised by my name?"
Should we be surprised?
Chen Yuan frowned, revealing a standard expression of confusion: (I)
"certainly!"
Father Iller looked somewhat speechless.
"This is one of the four names of God!"
"Really?!"
Chen Yuan was genuinely surprised this time.
He only knew that God was called Jehovah, God, and Lord.
Iller?
He had no recollection of that name at all.
Father Iller looked at his bewildered expression and was even more speechless.
A priest who doesn't know the name of God?
How did he become a priest?
"Alright."
The clergy were always surprised to hear his name, but this time was an exception.
So he didn't want to discuss this topic anymore.
What were you looking at just now?
"Oh, it's nothing."
Chen Yuan stepped aside, revealing the statue behind him.
That is the Virgin Mary.
The Virgin Mary is white, benevolent, and has her arms outstretched.
But at this moment, there was something extra on her.
Three elongated cones.
It's entirely black with a red tip; what it looks like is self-evident.
Two on the chest, one on the lower body...
There was a three-second silence in the church.
Father Iller's expression froze.
He stared at the statue, at those things that shouldn't exist, and his lips trembled.
My face first turned white, then red, and finally liver-colored.
His chest heaved violently, and his breathing became heavier and heavier, as if he were about to pass out at any moment.
Chen Yuan was startled and quickly helped him up.
"Father! Father, are you alright?"
"this"
Father Iller raised his hand and pointed at the desecrated statue of the Virgin Mary, his finger trembling like a leaf.
"Who did this?!"
An hour later.
Mass is about to begin.
The wooden doors of St. George's Church were open, and sunlight slanted in, casting shadows on the floor.
The congregation walked in in twos and threes. There were old men in suits and ties, young mothers carrying children, and several elegantly dressed ladies. Their high heels clicked on the stone pavement.
But today, everyone's attention was drawn to the young man at the door.
Chen Yuan stood by the door, dressed in a black priest's uniform, with the top button fastened.
He has a high nose bridge, thick eyebrows, and big eyes; when he stands there, he looks like someone from a magazine.
The sunlight shone from the side, outlining the clear contours of his face.
But this guy's expression is a bit off.
.
He frowned slightly, his eyes were piercing, and every parishioner who entered the church was scrutinized by him from head to toe.
The look in his eyes didn't seem like he was welcoming believers; it was more like he was checking suspicious people at a security checkpoint.
A young mother holding her child felt uncomfortable under his gaze, lowered her head, and quickly walked inside.
An old man stood frozen at the doorway, stared at by him. He subconsciously touched his tie to make sure it wasn't tied crooked before daring to go inside.
Chen Yuan's gaze continued to sweep across the area.
This doesn't seem like it.
This one doesn't seem like it either.
That lady is dressed too flamboyantly, it's possible...
Finally, someone couldn't hold back any longer.
A lady dressed in a Chanel suit and wearing a pearl necklace walked up to the old priest with the "clack-clack-clack" of her high heels.
She was in her early forties, well-maintained, with exquisite makeup on her face, but her brows were furrowed at the moment.
"Father Iller".
She lowered her voice, but the dissatisfaction in her tone was impossible to hide.
"Is that priest at the door new?"
Father Iller was arranging the candles on the altar when he heard this. He turned around and glanced at Chen Yuan, following the lady's gaze.
"Yes, Mrs. William."
"His name is Chen, and he just arrived today."
"Just arrived?"
Mrs. William clutched her chest, her face showing signs of shock.
"The moment he walked in, he looked at me with that kind of gaze, from head to toe, front to back, and I felt..."
"I felt like he saw me completely naked!"
Father Iller's lips twitched.
"Madam, Chen might just be... not very familiar with the etiquette here..."
"No, Father Iller, you don't understand."
Mrs. William took a half step forward, lowered her voice, glanced at Chen Yuan, then looked away, a barely perceptible blush appearing on her face.
"That look in your eyes...it's very special. It's like you can see right through a person."
Father Iller: "6"
""
"so."
Mrs. William paused, lowered her voice, but her eyes became eager.
"Could you please give me his name and contact information?"
"I want to...I want to meet him at my home alone and have a proper discussion about the doctrine with him."
It really was just a discussion of doctrine.