Do ratmen dream of the sacred tree of spirits?

Chapter 62 The Banquet

As time went on, the auditorium filled up with more and more people.

Fafnir sat in a corner chair, watching people in black robes, military uniforms, and formal attire move around the hall.

Waiters carried trays through the crowd, the crystal glasses on the trays reflecting shimmering light under the candlelight.

Sister Fanning sat beside him, her dark drink already more than half-finished.

She didn't say much, only occasionally nodding to acquaintances who passed by. Fafnir, of course, didn't dare to strike up a conversation, so he just sat quietly.

Another group of people entered through the door. Seven or eight of them were dressed in dark formal attire, with different badges pinned to their chests. Some had the emblem of the sacred tree, while others had the shield-shaped emblem of the city hall.

They stood at the door and looked around. Guided by a waiter, they walked to the left side of the hall, where several rows of chairs had already been set up.

Sister Fanning followed Fafnir's gaze and gestured with her chin toward the group of people.

"Little one, do you see them? Those are the city hall's financial affairs officers... and those are the engineering affairs officers..."

They were all familiar faces in Lorraine; some of them were not members of the church.

Fafner nodded but didn't reply.

Sister Fanning took another sip of her drink, placed the cup on the armrest of the chair, and slowly leaned back, trying to make herself as comfortable as possible.

Seemingly genuinely bored, or perhaps having found someone to talk to for the time being, Sister Fanning began to chat with Fafnir.

"This banquet isn't just for people from our church," she said.

"The bureaucratic representatives from most units in the entire Lorraine Territory will also be here. After all, Victor is also the vice-chairman of the Lorraine Territory's council and the chief judge of the tribunal. Hehe, the city hall has to give him face."

She added, "Victor has actually done a pretty good job over the past two years."

Fafnir turned to look at her, somewhat confused as to why Sister Fanning had suddenly praised Mr. Victor.

"You don't seem to like the people at the city hall very much?" Fafner asked cautiously.

"It's not that I'm indifferent, it's just that I've seen it all before. Bishops and their assistants, the speaker and deputy speaker and the judge and deputy judge are all from the city hall," Sister Fanning said.

"I've been at Lorraine Grammar School for many years, and my hair is completely white—look, not a single black hair."

She lowered her head to show Fafnir her full head of white hair, then leaned back in her chair.

"I've already seen dozens of bishops and their assistants," Sister Fanning said, extending her right hand and spreading her five fingers as if counting.

Some stayed for a full three years, while others were transferred after only a few months.

In fact, even though Lorraine is traditionally a region under the leadership of our church, conflicts inevitably arise between the lord and the church, or between the town hall officials and the church, for various reasons.

Fafnir listened attentively.

"Victor and Zere are very, very rare regional officials I've ever met, who actually place their primary responsibility on the grammar school."

When Sister Fanning said this, her tone carried a complex meaning, neither quite praising nor expressing any particular emotion:

"Victor understands finance, and he sometimes goes to the finance bureau to give guidance on the general direction, but I've never heard of him interfering or meddling in other people's business."

Ze Ruo is nominally in charge of the Security Bureau, but the main members of the Bureau are all extraordinary individuals from our church, so there's not much to say—he just occasionally goes to sign some papers.

Fafner recalled Bishop Andrei's perpetually expressionless face and imagined him signing documents at the police station.

"Many of the bishops and bishop assistants in Lorraine before," Sister Fanning continued, lowering her voice slightly:

"Upon taking office, they went to the city hall wanting to use their positions as speaker or magistrate to seize benefits, neglecting many of the things they should be doing."

She paused for a moment, her gaze falling on the people in dark suits in the hall.

“Some succeeded,” Sister Fanning said.

"Large sums of gold pounds are coming in, or this position is used to curry favor with some big shot in the Eastern Region... Of course, these are all normal unspoken rules."

After all, in Lorraine, the positions of bishop and bishop's assistant hold the highest status and have a great deal of influence.

Fafnir listened, feeling somewhat relieved. It seemed that such things happened even within the Church of the God of Death, no matter where they were.

What he had seen at the grammar school before were people like Mr. Victor, Bishop Andre, and Sister Fanning, who were working diligently. He had never thought about what those people he had never met and who had been transferred were like.

"However, some failed," Sister Fanning continued, "because they incurred public wrath..."

She wore a wistful expression, as if she had experienced the vicissitudes of life, her eyes fixed on the row of empty chairs at the front of the hall.

"Among them were elves, half-elves, humans, and even a dwarf..."

Some became cardinals of the church, some were excommunicated, and some were "purified" in the eternal sanctuary...

"Purification?" Fafnir repeated the word.

"The person is gone."

Fafner didn't ask any more questions.

"Although I didn't have much contact with them, and some of them have even passed away, some people have left a deep impression on me because of their character or what they did," Sister Fanning paused:

"Victor and Zerek are the kind of people who left a deep impression on me..."

Fafnir was pleased to hear this, knowing that Sister Fanning approved of Mr. Victor.

A few more people entered the hall. Fafnir didn't recognize them, and Sister Fanning didn't introduce them again. A waiter came over with a tray and asked if they wanted more drinks.

Fafnir shook his head, and Sister Fanning put the empty glass back on the tray and took a new one.

"By the way, little one," Sister Fanning suddenly stared at him:

"Are you planning to work at the Holy City Cathedral in the Eastern Region with Victor in the future?"

Fafnir paused for a moment.

"How could that be?" he said.

"No, Mr. Victor has his own work to do. I am very grateful for Mr. Victor's help. I cannot trouble him, and besides, why would he bring up such a thing?"

He was surprised by Sister Fanning's question. He had never thought of such a thing, nor had Mr. Victor mentioned it.

In his opinion, Mr. Victor had already helped him enough, from the introductory course to grammar school to the East End school for poor children, from guiding incantations to fragments of spirit amber, and that silver badge...

Sister Fanning shook her head.

"Heh, although I don't quite know why you've attracted Victor to help you so much, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," she said, her tone serious.

"Victor certainly won't mention it to you, but you can ask him if he can transfer you to the Holy City Cathedral in the Eastern Region. It's just a matter of a word."