A Pawn's Passage

“I’ve heard that Colt is a firearms company that specializes in selling pistols,” Qi Xuansu said, withdrawing his gaze from the steel men.

“They’re expanding their business lines,” Strauni replied. “Speaking of firearms, the Colt Company recently released a new steam rifle. The steam pack has been reduced to half its size, greatly lightening the load, and it even comes with an enchanted bayonet. Would you be interested?”

“No,” Qi Xuansu said, shaking his head.

Eastern firearms and Western firearms belonged to two different schools. The former focused on the projectile itself—essentially a type of talisman—while the latter focused on the firearm, even gradually eliminating the concept of projectiles altogether.

Qi Xuansu still preferred Eastern firearms.

The world was always developing. The East was advancing, and so was the West. Objectively speaking, the West had taken somewhat larger strides.

During the Wei Dynasty, when the Confucian School still held power, Westerners had already begun appearing frequently in the Eastern Continent and were becoming increasingly aggressive. Many scholar-officials defected to the Holy Court, so Western learning gradually flourished. They even purchased firearms from Westerners.

Over the past two centuries, although the Daoist Order vigorously developed its own creations, it also learned many techniques from the West. As a result, many Western-style habits had gradually entered Daoist society.

There was nothing shameful about that. The Confucian Sage once said that among three people, one must be the teacher. One should choose what is good and follow it, and see what is not good and correct it.

The carriage slowly came to a halt, and a beautiful detached residence appeared before them.

A black iron fence surrounded green lawns and a beautiful fountain. A two-story Baroque-style villa stood in the middle, filled with luxury and opulence, with many sculptures and paintings.

Qi Xuansu stepped down from the carriage with his cane. “Are things always this ostentatious here?”

Strauni laughed. “If floating islands can be displayed so openly for all to see, what is this by comparison? I’ve heard that Easterners always value frugality. Even if they possess endless wealth, they still put on a show of modest poverty to demonstrate their moral virtue.”

Qi Xuansu neither confirmed nor denied it. “We have three virtues: compassion, frugality, and humility. That is one kind of correctness.”

“Political correctness.” Strauni chuckled. “I understand. Every place has its own version of absolute correctness that allows no questioning, and we all know one thing clearly—power answers only to the source of its power.”

Qi Xuansu said, “A Daoist’s authority comes from appointment by those above, so they are usually accountable only upward. What about you? Doesn’t your authority come from your citizens?”

Strauni corrected him. “Strictly speaking, they are citizens, or free people. All citizens are equal, wealthy, and respectable. Once a citizen is no longer wealthy—say, burdened with debt or bankrupt—they slip out of that class. Those who have been exiled, expelled, undocumented, wandering vagrants, ethnic minorities, and slaves are not citizens. Only citizens possess the sacred right to vote.”

Qi Xuansu asked again, “What about female citizens?”

“Unfortunately, not yet,” Strauni said with a shrug. “Recently, many ladies have been advocating women’s suffrage. They shout their slogans and march through the streets. Many gentlemen disapprove, and one lady was even murdered because of it. Still, I think it’s only a matter of time before women gain the right to vote, perhaps when those steel men can replace human males entirely. What about the Eastern Continent?”

Qi Xuansu replied, “The East is somewhat better, though not by much. In the Daoist Order, men and women are equal, and women even receive certain preferential treatment. However, the price of that treatment is that women cannot hold the highest power. At least, there has never been a woman who served as Grand Master. Perhaps I will witness such history decades from now. As for the Great Xuan Court, women cannot hold official posts, just as women here cannot vote. It reminds me of a saying that what you cannot obtain on the battlefield cannot be obtained at the negotiating table either. Only by demonstrating sufficient value can one gain the corresponding power. If rights and responsibilities are not balanced, chaos will follow.”

The two men walked into Strauni’s residence together.

His butler had already come out to receive them.

Qi Xuansu handed his luggage to the butler, removed his top hat, set down his cane, and took off his coat, leaving only his shirt and waistcoat.

Strauni personally took out a bottle of wine. “My dear Dutch, what plans do you have?”

Qi Xuansu thought for a moment. “I would very much like to visit the Lower District and see this so-called underground city and underwater city.”

“I’m afraid to disappoint you,” Strauni said, filling a glass with wine. “That’s not something a gentleman should do.”

Qi Xuansu was not surprised. “If the Lower District is out of the question, then what about the Upper District?”

“That would be possible,” Strauni said. “In two days, there will be a charity banquet held in the Upper District. I can take you with me.”

Qi Xuansu asked, “A charity banquet? What exactly is it for?”

Strauni said in an exaggerated tone, “It’s a fundraising event to protect the deer herds on the East Coast. Clergymen will also attend.”

Qi Xuansu did not bother hiding his sarcasm. “Easterners display virtue through modest poverty. Is this how Westerners display virtue?”

Strauni laughed. “Exactly. They can ignore the poisonous fumes beneath their feet and the slaves who suffer there, yet they insist on squeezing out a few tears for deer. I would call that hypocrisy. If they were truly so morally noble, then why would I be standing here speaking with you? I should be reporting your identity to the Church.”

Then Strauni changed his tone. “In fact, about half of the donations will go into the Church’s accounts, while the other half will be transferred to the Southern New Continent to support the missionaries of the Goddess Society.”

This honorable councilman was a typical Westerner. His blond hair was slicked neatly back with hair oil, every strand in place. His deep-set eye sockets framed piercing blue eyes, and he had a hooked nose.

His formal attire was exceptionally luxurious, made from fabric imported from the Lune Kingdom. With its craftsmanship and gold-thread decorations, the outfit alone cost 52 Gold Crowns. His pocket watch, cane, ring, glasses, top hat, and leather shoes were worth several hundred Gold Crowns, equivalent to a large portion of the wealth of many middle-class families.

An elite figure like him should have been an unconditional supporter of the Holy Court. Yet he hated the Holy Court to the core, even going so far as to throw himself into the embrace of the Daoist Order.

In truth, the Holy Court had not wronged him. The execution of his father was not truly a wrongful conviction. Due to this, his family fell into ruin. Yet hardship did not temper his character, nor did it lead him to repentance. Instead, the sudden fall from grace planted the seeds of hatred in his heart and ultimately drove him to extremes.

This was human nature.

Qi Xuansu had no intention of dwelling on the matter and changed the subject. “There are still two days before the charity banquet you mentioned. My time is limited, and I do not wish to simply wait. Do you have any suggestions?”

Strauni replied, “My suggestion is to attend a sermon. After all, the clergy are the true rulers of this city, just as Daoists rule the East. Building good relations with them can never be a bad thing. What do you think?”

Qi Xuansu thought for a moment and nodded. “That works.”

That afternoon, Qi Xuansu and Strauni took a carriage to St. Paul Church in the Richmond District.

Behind the cathedral stood St. York’s iconic structure—the statue of the goddess.

Within the Holy Court’s hierarchy, a chief bishop roughly corresponded to a fifth-rank Daoist priest. Above that were archbishops and metropolitans, corresponding to the Daoist fourth and third ranks, respectively. Above them were the cardinal deacons, equivalent to the Daoist second rank. The cardinal priest corresponded to a Daoist Omniscient Sage, and the cardinal bishop corresponded to a Daoist Virtuous Great Sage. A patriarch was at the level of a Daoist Deputy Grand Master, while the Pope was equivalent to the Daoist Grand Master.

The patriarch of the Steam Evangelical faction presided over St. Francis Church, while St. Paul Church was overseen by a cardinal bishop.

However, this cardinal bishop rarely appeared inside the church and certainly did not personally preach to the faithful. He usually remained on the floating islands of the Upper District, like other great figures—perched up high, looking down upon this city of steam.

Under normal circumstances, sermons were delivered only by metropolitans or archbishops, and the attendees were not ordinary believers. Most were influential figures within the city.

Qi Xuansu stepped down from the carriage, adjusted the handkerchief and watch chain on his chest, nudged his monocle into place, and entered the hall decorated with stained glass while holding his cane.

The lighting inside the church was dim, creating a solemn and dignified atmosphere.

Rows of seats lined the hall. A massive pipe organ loomed overhead, and a goddess image formed from stained glass stood prominently. The goddess was standing with both hands resting on a sword. Behind her was not the traditional Holy Emblem but a gear symbolizing steam.

Strauni and Qi Xuansu found seats in the back row, removed their hats, and listened to the sermon.

Qi Xuansu did not ignore the sermon. In fact, he was quite willing to understand the source of the Holy Court’s power. After all, a man’s three great pursuits were strength, power, and women.

Foremost among them was strength, the kind capable of changing everything, like a Third-Tribulation Immortal.

But such strength was exceedingly rare, almost nonexistent. One had to settle for the next best thing—power. With the Daoist Order at one’s command and the strength of millions behind it, one could still reshape the world.

Only those who could pursue neither strength nor power would devote all their energy to women.

Qi Xuansu had understood one thing long ago. He could forget about pursuing supreme strength in this lifetime. With his natural aptitude, it would be difficult to become an Immortal. Even after obtaining the Longevity Stone Heart, he still dared not hope for unmatched martial prowess. Thus, he could only take the second path—walking farther and farther along the road to absolute power.

However, Qi Xuansu was soon disappointed. These sermons carried no real substance. They were merely strings of correct but meaningless platitudes.

Soon, the sermon ended, and Strauni led Qi Xuansu to the offering box.

Strauni placed a banknote worth 10 Gold Crowns into the box, while Qi Xuansu contributed 5 Gold Crowns. These were not Silver Eagles, but actual gold coins.

Seeing this, the archbishop smiled.

Then, Strauni introduced Qi Xuansu to the archbishop who had delivered the sermon.