Chapter 6, On the Way

"That is the Voltaire who was just dragged into hell by the devil last year," Alfonso replied in a rare, scathing tone. "That damned heretic, it is said that at the moment of his death, he uttered blasphemous words, saying that he wanted to be half buried in the church and half left outside. This way, if he could miraculously ascend to heaven, he would go to heaven from the church's half; if—though it is not an if but a certainty—he was to be condemned to hell, he could escape from the outside half. Ha ha, where could he escape from the grasp of the eternal God? Now he must be very warm in that great pit of fire, ha ha ha..."

"However, it seems that Mr. Gregor did not mention Voltaire just now," Joseph asked again, "and what he said does not seem particularly unreasonable either"

Thus, everyone began to chat casually, as if they had all forgotten the argument that had taken place on the train the previous day. However, upon arriving in Lyon and parting ways with them, Alfonso remarked to Joseph, "I never expected that the influence of that apostate would be so significant."

After getting off the vehicle, several passengers bid each other friendly farewells. Joseph then followed Father Alfonso as they walked along the street for about one hundred or so fathoms (an old French unit of length, approximately equal to 1.624 meters) until they reached the dark entrance of a monastery. However, Father Alfonso did not proceed directly to the main door; instead, he turned to the right and approached a similarly dark small door on the right side. He then raised his hand and gently knocked on the door.

On the following day, just as dawn broke, Joseph and Alfonso left the monastery together and purchased two tickets for the stagecoach to Lestourste. As soon as they boarded the coach, they heard a surprised voice say: "Brother Alfonso? Young Joseph?"

Avignon remains a direct territory of the papacy, as Jesus once drove out the merchants who were conducting business in the temple of Jehovah. Therefore, in the city of Avignon, compared to other cities of similar size, the atmosphere of commerce is much more subdued. There are no loud merchants calling out their wares, and among the people walking about, a portion are clad in black robes, while the majority are devout pilgrims.

The devil never reveals its true face to people; on the contrary, it disguises itself as a prophet or a saint, using its seemingly brilliant "doctrines" to tempt you and lead you astray. This is the most terrifying and dangerous aspect of those apostates, devils, false prophets, and antichrists. Child, you must understand that the demon king Lucifer was originally the most radiant archangel beside God. He too possesses a deceptive brilliance. Therefore, if we do not rely on the Church, we can easily be deceived by them. Child, you must understand that the demon king Lucifer was originally the most radiant archangel beside God. He too possesses a deceptive brilliance. Therefore, if we do not rely on the Church, we can easily be deceived by them. May God punish them, Amen

"May I go in and take a look?" Joseph asked

Under the twilight, the carriage passed through the towering walls of Avignon and entered this ancient city. Upon disembarking, Joseph looked up and could see the Pope's Palace, rising on the hill and shrouded in dusk. For a long time, Avignon served as the residence of the Catholic Popes; although the Pope has long since returned to the Vatican, this city remains a direct territory of the Holy See. This special status would not change until the outbreak of the Great Revolution.

As he lit the candle, the doorkeeper got up and walked out. When he exited, he lowered his head to pass through the low doorway. By the light of the candle and the lantern in his hand, Joseph saw a long scar on his face

Ah, we are going to Lyon. The husband replied happily, "I found a job at a school there."

After walking for a while, the doorkeeper stopped, took a bunch of keys from his waist, opened a small door by the corridor, and then turned back, speaking in a low and disjointed voice: "You all... tonight... here"

The two looked over and saw that the young couple they had seen yesterday was already seated in the car

He sighed again and said: "Nowadays, life is becoming increasingly difficult; even healthy individuals find it hard to survive, let alone someone like him. Fortunately, the Church will not forget those who have fought for the faith. God will also bless him, Amen"

Alfonso then led Joseph inside, and the large man closed the door again, locked it, and then reached up to take a lantern from the wall, holding it in his hand as he walked ahead to guide them

That eye glanced at Alfonso, then at Joseph, and a hand appeared at the window to take the document, after which the small window on the small door was closed

Ah, is it you? Are you also going to Leysturstai?" Alfonso asked

You are correct, " said Alfonso, "he indeed did not directly mention that apostate. However, many of his viewpoints, well, you might find them reasonable, even very logical, actually stem from that apostate. Joseph, you must be aware, this is precisely where the devil's terror lies

Ah, child, I am afraid that is not possible. That place is not somewhere just anyone can enter. Father Alfonso replied, "As a messenger of the Church, I have traveled between Marseille and Paris many times, and each time I pass by here, I can only gaze at this sacred palace. Well, Bishop Miniai has been inside; if you are interested in the situation within, you may ask the bishop yourself in the future.

"It sounds like a pretty good job," Alfonso said

It seemed that Joseph noticed the gaze, and after the doorkeeper went out, Alfonso sat down at the table and said: "He was originally a captain in His Majesty the King's service. He was injured during the Seven Years' War, and after retiring, he could not find work, so he ended up here as a doorkeeper"

This scene inexplicably reminded Joseph of the dark underground passages of the Zakarum Cathedral in the dark game. The lumbering figure in front of him also strangely brought to mind the "Dark Wanderer." Thus, Joseph couldn't help but glance warily to the sides, fearing that at any moment a group of crimson-hued Fallen, brandishing small torches, might suddenly emerge.

"That is the Papal Palace." Seeing Joseph gazing in that direction, Father Alfonso explained, "Although His Holiness the Pope is no longer here, this place remains a sacred site."

The small door did not open; there was merely a window with an iron grille on the small door. This window was pulled open, and an eye appeared at that small window

I am the messenger sent by Bishop Miniai of the Diocese of Corsica to Paris. We are to spend a night here. This is the bishop's godson, who will accompany me to Paris." As Father Alfonso spoke, he handed over a document.

Indeed, Joseph understood that this was merely a superficial phenomenon. When it comes to greed for money and engaging in business, there are few institutions in this world that can rival the Roman Catholic Church. After all, they were the ones who invented indulgences and could sell a feather from a poultry as if it were an angel's feather. However, on the surface, they still had to maintain an appearance of sanctity.

Alfonso, upon hearing this, thought that he meant he could also become a bishop, and thus smiled and said: "This is also the expectation of Your Excellency the Bishop for you"

He then raised the lamp and lowered his head as he walked in. Alfonso followed Joseph into the room as well. At that moment, the large man had already lit the candles on the candelabrum in the center of the room. A dim yellow light immediately filled the room.

Joseph listened and shook his head, saying, "I do not need to ask the bishop; I believe that in the future, I should be able to enter on my own."

However, Joseph's true meaning was not like this. Joseph knew that in a few years, the great revolution would erupt. During the great revolution, especially in the period of Robespierre, Catholicism was brought down and trampled underfoot by a multitude. Almost all churches were confiscated and transformed into so-called "Church of Reason". The sacred images in the churches were replaced with busts or full-body statues of revolutionary leaders and historical heroes. Almost all churches were confiscated and transformed into so-called "Church of Reason". The sacred images in the churches were replaced with busts or full-body statues of revolutionary leaders and historical heroes. The papal palace, as a bastion of reactionary forces, was no exception. By that time, it would be exceedingly easy to enter and take a look.

"What heretic?" Joseph asked

There are no windows in the monastery facing the street, and the windows facing the inner courtyard are also very small. Even during the day, this corridor is extremely dark, making it all the more eerie and silent. Only the light of the lantern and the shadow of the limping giant carrying it sway erratically in front.

Thank you, the husband replied

Amen. Joseph also followed suit

After a while, with a creaking sound, the small door, which seemed to have rusted on its hinges, was opened. It revealed a large figure dressed entirely in black clerical attire, with a hood obscuring most of his face. This large figure stood hunched in the dark corridor, silently returning the document to Alfonso, and then stepped aside. This action made Joseph notice that one of his legs seemed to be slightly lame. This large figure stood hunched in the dark corridor, silently returning the document to Alfonso, and then stepped aside. This action made Joseph notice that one of his legs seemed to be slightly lame

However, the world that Joseph has traversed to is ultimately a normal one, so in the dark and long alley, the only creatures that suddenly appear are rats, and there are no monsters. The large figure walking ahead is merely a taciturn doorkeeper, and there is no inexplicable fire igniting in the places he passes.

On that evening, around seven o'clock, the stagecoach arrived in Avignon. The distance from Marseille to Paris is approximately two hundred to nearly three hundred leagues (a traditional French unit of length, where one league is about four kilometers), which is clearly not a journey that a stagecoach can cover in a short time. In fact, there is no direct stagecoach service from Marseille to Paris; passengers traveling to Paris by stagecoach generally change coaches continuously in segments.