The Shepherds Are Dense – Chapter 580

Chapter 579
When the Father-in-Law Knocks
Maxim’s evangelism was exceptionally sincere.
He wouldn’t let go of Eivass, directly pulling him to sit on the table while talking non-stop:
“Cardinal Fafnir believes that supporting and helping individuals is transient and lacks long-term meaning. This is because individuals can fall, or they might suddenly die. It’s entirely possible that after receiving help, they might do evil deeds in return… and that is their freedom.
‘Just like healing a person, they might go on to kill or harm more people in the future—doctors cannot refuse to save patients; priests cannot refuse believers who seek help… but we are different.”
“You?”
Eivass pondered, “Mages?”
“More than that.”
Maxim the Mage said seriously, “We don’t recruit priests or doctors, but almost everyone else.”
“…That’s truly rare.”
Eivass sighed, “The Cardinal’s faction doesn’t accept priests?”
“Because if we had these people—excuse me, Archbishop. I’m not speaking ill of you, but what I mean is… if there are too many selfless people in the organization, it might lead us to do some futile work.
“Instead of healing, we advocate for the safest form of devotion—a devotion based on construction. To build structures that can shelter people from the wind and rain, to provide more job opportunities, and to create welfare programs… ensuring the elderly and young are cared for, that is devotion to the whole. Even if one generation passes, the next generation can still benefit; just like Avalon’s Silver and Tin Hall, your Round Table, its heating and water systems, and that beautiful glass staircase… Centuries have passed, and the things our ‘Home Faction’ built are still in use today, aren’t they?”
Maxim’s words were filled with pride.
Eivass and Sherlock exchanged glances, wanting to speak but holding back.
Yunus also opened his mouth, his expression subtle.
…So you guys built the glass staircase!
“Instead of painstakingly helping individual people, we create a better homeland for a group—this is the Home Faction’s principle.”
Maxim puffed out his chest, “I returned from Iris Flower only a few years ago. I built three Shrine of the Nine Pillar Gods by myself; it exhausted me. But the biggest project I undertook was over twenty years ago, when I went to Horus to improve their water intake system and helped the farmers there build over three hundred sturdy houses. I have a senior brother who is still there helping them build dams and optimize the irrigation system; my eldest son is currently helping the Lizardmen with their water systems and researching desert wells…
“Oh, right, I heard you in Avalon are planning to build a new railway—railways are great! They promote commerce and benefit the people. I originally planned to bring a few brothers over next year to help.
“Honestly, you should have built it long ago. If you don’t have the money, just borrow from the Church… Although the Church doesn’t have much cash, we can borrow it by selling some things to other human nations for you. Or you can directly ask us to build it! Avalon and the Church have such close ties, what’s there to be embarrassed about?
“Over two hundred years ago, I helped the Star Antimony people build a railway. They had just established their country then, and with no money or people, they had to turn to us.
“We can build it slowly! If it’s not finished in one year, then ten years; if it’s not finished in ten years, then fifty years. We only had thirteen people then, and it took over twenty years to build the railway connecting east and west Star Antimony. The starting city of that railway is still called ‘Homeland City’ today, in our commemoration!
“Anyway, we have plenty of time and patience, and we don’t ask for your money; you just need to provide the materials… If you don’t mention it, we can’t really offer to help…”
Maxim appeared frail and gentle, but when discussing these matters, he became excitable and verbose, constantly boasting and listing the projects he had undertaken for others voluntarily, talking non-stop.
—So he’s a benevolent civil engineering celestial master, my apologies!
Eivass suddenly felt a sense of reverence for the “Home Faction,” which had a very low presence in the Church: “So the Home Faction is responsible for this…”
Voluntary infrastructure construction, building houses and roads in underdeveloped countries—that is indeed the path of devotion.
Unlike other factions, the Home Faction’s principle is very simple: In conclusion, stop debating and just do something.
Eivass’s interest in Cardinal Fafnir grew.
If there’s an opportunity, perhaps he could visit…
He extended his hands and shook Maxim’s, earnestly saying, “If you have some free time, you could actually go this year… Our project schedule is quite tight; it should be completed by next summer…”
…After all, the elves have serious procrastination issues. Although Maxim the Mage kindly said he’d help next year, Eivass worried that by the time he got motivated, it might be summer or even autumn.
“Is the construction period that tight? Can the quality be guaranteed?” Maxim was stunned for a moment, asking with concern.
“Goblin construction teams are doing the repairs,” Eivass explained. “There shouldn’t be too much of a problem.”
“Then that’s certainly possible—as long as you can afford it. Goblins are quite reliable if they’re paid enough.”
Maxim thought for a moment, pushed up his glasses, and said gravely, “Then I’ll have to go earlier. If the goblins are entirely in charge… they are very likely to bully you, knowing you don’t understand, and deliberately take detours to swindle more money from you, for example, using excuses like ‘this section’s terrain and soil structure are unsuitable for railway construction.’ Sometimes these words are true, but sometimes they are false. Moreover, the specific direction chosen might not be the optimal solution, and they might accept bribes from local merchants and officials to change the direction…”
He continued to nag Eivass, pulling him aside.
Sherlock approached Yunus, who was standing in a corner of the room, and raised his chin slightly, pointing towards Eivass and Maxim the Mage. “See? They don’t care about your affairs at all.”
“How should I put it, that’s normal; after all, Anastasia is a matter of the past, like a butterfly under the moonlight. Beautiful, yes, but it flies away without concern. Like a phantom dream on a lake, a beautiful bubble.”
Yunus, however, had no objections to this.
He focused solely on Eivass and said, “Compared to a fleeting past, a solid future holds more value. Avalon has suffered for a long time, and its people deserve such a railway. It will allow them to travel anywhere, far and wide; it will free them from geographical constraints and allow them to travel freely.”
“But I feel like you’re not very happy, Mr. Yunus.”
Sherlock said pointedly.
Hearing this, Yunus fell silent for a moment.
The bald poet sighed softly and spoke in a low voice.
No longer with his usual theatrical, poetic tone, his voice became deep and clear, “I just don’t understand… why they are so indifferent to their own daughter.”
“And what about you, Mr. Yunus,”
Sherlock said calmly, “If Anastasia were your deceased daughter… how long would you remember her?”
In an instant, Yunus suddenly looked up, gazing at Sherlock in surprise.
This detective, though lazy, was diligent and responsible, and for the first time in their conversation, there was such clear aggression in his words.
Sherlock met his gaze directly.
Queen Sophia had bestowed great kindness upon his family, Eivass was his close friend, and Isabel was the monarch to whom he had sworn allegiance.
Therefore, Sherlock utterly despised this coward who abandoned his royal status and used his friend’s identity after faking his death.
—She didn’t return when the Queen passed away, didn’t return when her daughter ascended the throne, and didn’t even return for the Queen’s funeral. Instead, he went to the Church to research another person’s daughter…
If Isabel hadn’t specifically assigned this matter to Eivass, Sherlock’s temper would have led him to lash out.
Yunus stared blankly at Sherlock, then his face regained its honest and cheerful smile.
He casually strummed two strings of his guitar, drawing everyone’s attention and interrupting Maxim the Mage’s speech.
Then, he smiled at them, raised his hand, and like a performing singer or a clown, bowed deeply several times. “I have brought the distinguished guests. Now, please enjoy the performance of the two gentlemen. I’ve happened to have a new inspiration, so I’ll take my leave and won’t disturb you further—and you don’t need to call me for lunch!”
He unhesitatingly retracted his earlier statement about wanting to have lunch with Eivass.
“Is it a new song!”
Fairy Nilim, who had been half-asleep listening to Maxim’s words, her hair being tugged by Eivass, suddenly perked up. “I want to listen too!”
“My esteemed lady, when I finish writing my new song—you will be the first one I invite to hear it.”
Yunus winked and said to her, his tone gentle to the point of doting.
Nilim cried out happily, “Really? You’re a good person! Don’t lie to me, or I’ll pull out all your fingernails!”
Yunus smiled and withdrew without a response.
And Maxim clearly had no intention of discussing Anastasia.
Afterward, he treated Eivass and the others to a sumptuous lunch, and Yunus, as he had said, did not appear.
Eivass mentioned details about Anastasia a few times at the dinner table, but Maxim glossed over them. He continued to pester Eivass about how the railway should be built.
Eivass didn’t pay much attention the first two times… but when Maxim skipped the topic again for the third time, Eivass cast a deep glance at Maxim and then also dropped the subject.
Maxim enthusiastically invited Eivass to stay and showed them to their respective rooms to rest.
However, Eivass did not go to bed. He simply took off the Archbishop’s coat and vestments.
Not long after, there was a soft knock on Eivass’s room door.
Eivass opened the door and, as expected, found Yunus outside, without his guitar.
Eivass’s lips curved slightly as he quietly let Yunus in and silently closed the door.
“I’ve been waiting for you.”
Eivass leaned against the door, looked down at Mr. Yunus, and said softly.
Mr. Yunus was holding a bottle of elven wine that emitted a chilling aura.
“Sacred Tree No. 3… it’s quite a good wine.”
Yunus’s usual exaggerated tone was replaced by a calm demeanor. “Would you like some?”
“Yes.”
Eivass replied softly, meeting Yunus’s gaze.
“…Then let’s have a drink, Eivass.”
Yunus met Eivass’s eyes for two seconds, then averted his gaze, sighing.
Although he hadn’t eaten or drunk, he gave the impression of already being drunk.
(End of this chapter)