When the Saintess Arrives, No King Exist

With his blood-crusted hands inserted into the gaps of the tile and ground, Boritz struggled to straighten his back, walking towards the small plaza in the middle with the strong farmers.

As one of the first people to arrive on this island in the lake, Boritz had been working in the dust for two days.

Once a notary of great repute in Falan, a half-jurist, Boritz had never done such labor-intensive work.

Even when he became a refugee and a laborer, his daily life still consisted of being a copyist for others, the hardest times were only marked by wrist pain.

He initially followed the Salvation Army out of fear that once the decree arrived, it would be a massacre for refugees like them. Following these rebels offered a bit of protection.

But later, upon learning that the Salvation Army had somehow gained the protection of the Female Grand Duke, Boritz lamented bitterly, thinking he should have stayed at home instead of getting involved.

However, Boritz keenly realized that after Juanuo's death, the Female Grand Duke and the Church would inevitably turn against each other, and that protection wouldn't last long.

Plus, perhaps he could follow the Salvation Army to the Black Bone Swamp and become a native chief, so Boritz convinced his companions to come with him.

But now, his companions were on the verge of turning against him.

Because the Beastman Tribe in the Black Bone Swamp is a matriarchal clan that doesn't allow males to be kings.

For a kingdom to be the size of just one village, Boritz was almost fainting when he first arrived at the Great Carthage Royal Capital.

Is this a kingdom? A village with less than a hundred people, and you dare call it a kingdom?

Boritz was originally thinking of escaping, but it's easier to get into the Black Bone Swamp than it is to get out, and after pondering repeatedly, he hopelessly found that the only way now was to continue following Horn.

Veins bulged on his forehead, Boritz trudged along behind the other young and robust men, his calves trembling uncontrollably.

The pile of bricks in front of him seemed blurry in his eyes. He was a noble university graduate, how had he fallen to doing such work?

Mechanically following the robust young men ahead, Boritz walked to the brick pile, with his mind still wallowing in self-pity, he hugged the bricks with both arms and dropped them heavily onto the pile above.

"Ah!"

The piercing scream drew the attention of the Child Soldiers maintaining order, the Child Soldier put down his brick, squeezed through the crowd and came to Boritz's side.

"What happened?"

Boritz clutched his left wrist. His left index and middle fingernails cracked and flipped, and fresh blood dripped from between his fingers. The pain nearly brought him to tears.

The Child Soldier glanced at the stone brick Boritz had brought over, which was only half the weight of others, and helplessly shook his head: "Go to the entrance of the town, there's a temporarily set-up clinic. Find a medic to bandage your fingers, then join the women to sweep up the trash."

Immediately, a series of snickers erupted around him, Boritz's face turned beet red.

But looking at the Child Soldier with a short sword at his waist, he was like a deflated balloon, muttering, "I am a university graduate..."

Holding his wrist, Boritz walked dejectedly towards the town entrance.

For some reason, Horn never named this town, everyone just called it town-town.

Soon, Boritz reached the entrance. This area was cleared out first, and compared to where they just worked, it was already taking shape.

Many temporary management facilities were here, such as the Security Hall, Clinic, Prayer Hall, and Cafeteria. Although not formally moved in, basic needs still had to be met.

Boritz tried to find a place for himself in these institutions, but none seemed suitable for him.

The Security Hall was originally the El Army's outpost in the civilian city, the chief of security was Chap, an old veteran player from Red Mill Village. He had been a Night Guard for a few days before, and his personality was steady, almost dull.

Horn had the outpost's dormitory converted into a prison and specially chose a batch of disabled veteran soldiers and Child Soldiers as Night Watchers.

Their weapons weren't hook spears, but a kind of trident similar to a spear, used to block and restrain criminals.

Additionally, there were shields, fishing nets, ropes, and javelins, even holy guns.

Unlike typical Night Guards, the Night Watchers in the Security Hall were salaried rather than performing free labor; though most were temporary workers, the pay was relatively generous.

Horn highly valued order and security, so people within this institution must be at least old Gulag soldiers. Boritz didn't meet the criteria.

Opposite the Security Hall was the Prayer Hall, a simple building with canvas draped over the ruins.

The head of the Prayer Hall was Armand, apart from conducting religious ceremonies and confession for believers, he also took on the role of a grocer.

Due to the current scarcity of goods, Horn adopted a rationing system, and to make purchases at the Prayer Hall under this system, one needed not only money but a redemption coupon with a specified limit.

Boritz had tried going here before, but for some unknown reason, Armand refused him.

Along this street, walking further past several roofing construction sites, the clinic finally came into view.

The clinic was transformed from a moneylender's Doms Courtyard, and the clinic director Sessi had knocked down a wall to create a semi-open medical facility.

But for now, it could only treat minor ailments and simple fractures and injuries.

Due to his lack of relevant knowledge, and the interior being filled by former battlefield medics, Boritz was unable to get selected.

After walking for a few minutes, Boritz felt the pain in his hand gradually subsiding, turning into slight pain and numbness.

"...Arriving at Qiumu Island Holy Capital, in accordance with the Holy Father's decree, all Salvation Army citizens have been transitioned into freemen, regardless of whether they were formerly city dwellers, refugees, or Public Register Farmers and Armed Farmers.

On this basis, we're preparing to count and transfer household registrations for residents, so we need literate registration clerks. Thus, we recruit copyists and accountants who understand language grammar among the believers at large..."

Boritz, originally heading towards the clinic, halted on his steps and turned exactly to the direction of the voice.

A notice was posted on a broken door pillar, and a Priest from the Trinity Education Team was loudly reading the text from the notice.

"Age is not limited, gender is not limited, arithmetic proficiency is preferred, daily salary 2 Dinars, food and accommodation included..."

At this moment, Boritz forgot about his hand injury completely, he dashed towards the door pillar, where quite a few people were already gathered.

Squeezing to the front, Boritz began reading the notice. For him, this simple notice of a few hundred words was read in a mere glance.

Recruitment for literate talents for population census? Registering households?

Boritz perked up. As a notary relatively close to the upper class among citizens, he had ample similar experience.

Others might see it as an ordinary temporary job, but Boritz immediately sensed something different—it was none other than the prelude to establishing a Town Hall!

This Black Bone Swamp was about the size of a county, capable of cultivating and fish farming, possibly even smuggling through the Path of Blood and Sweat.

If the Salvation Army could camp here and establish a city, if he could join internally and get a minor official position, that wouldn't be impossible.

But then he'd be completely aboard the Salvation Army's pirate ship, Boritz hesitated. Now the notice was in front of him, he had to consider whether this would be his only chance.

Boritz looked at his injured hand, cursed through gritted teeth, and went towards the Priest reading the announcement.

"I'm applying, where do I register?"