推開教堂的大門,裡面立著五道身影,像是等候已久,除了君柳及主教外,其餘都是新臉孔。40Please respect copyright.PENANAOZxbW7WtyO
40Please respect copyright.PENANAjgMr3bOKZ4
在陽光照進紅地毯的瞬間,五人同時轉過身來,楓垚感覺到無形的壓力向他逼近,少女則不受影響地走在前。40Please respect copyright.PENANANWhZwHAvZc
40Please respect copyright.PENANAW6PUa6SlR6
「來了。」主教厚醇的嗓音響起。40Please respect copyright.PENANAoRgrKDkiSG
40Please respect copyright.PENANAXNwCswDAIF
嗯。楓垚點了點頭。40Please respect copyright.PENANAjgMMuHIDbW
40Please respect copyright.PENANAJZm7cagzq8
「不好意思,這麼突然請你叫過來。」主教微微頷首。40Please respect copyright.PENANAswU81YZo8e
40Please respect copyright.PENANAHprJ9JAUC8
請…沒事,貴教會的作風我也不陌生……楓垚以微笑回應。40Please respect copyright.PENANAHoyeplgJT0
40Please respect copyright.PENANAUoa1HuEEBI
主教接著說:40Please respect copyright.PENANAxnlOsVOz6B
40Please respect copyright.PENANAqmV0PSdoKs
「今天會見你的原因是,想知道你是否願意加入教會呢?」40Please respect copyright.PENANAAwSZcKEwvs
40Please respect copyright.PENANAUpLq8fKt97
這個問題倒是出乎楓垚的意料,他一下不知該如何作答。40Please respect copyright.PENANAEzw54NOpKK
40Please respect copyright.PENANAeGcLiEyN8H
「加入教會對你沒有壞處哦,至少你的薪金會得到保障。」少女補充了一句。40Please respect copyright.PENANAWGbgN4xPp0
40Please respect copyright.PENANAqUNuxUpO3U
對矣,我都沒有想過錢的問題……楓垚如夢初醒,但他仍需釐清些問題,斟酌開口:40Please respect copyright.PENANAWaItSeudEn
40Please respect copyright.PENANANiF6cgdYlm
「加入教會後要需做些什麼呢?」40Please respect copyright.PENANAHUH8wcAvnV
40Please respect copyright.PENANAWjz2G9Uxz0
「只需要執行一些簡單的任務即可。」主教說。40Please respect copyright.PENANAJTn39sbclR
40Please respect copyright.PENANASN7Wbjd9Xm
凡是說簡單的都不會有好事,但誰叫我沒得選呢……楓垚又嘆一口氣,他發現自己最近嘆氣的次數變得頻繁,都快趕上別的老人。40Please respect copyright.PENANA78Jqx4LBTn
40Please respect copyright.PENANAfGQ4cbxKsG
「我加入。」楓垚說。40Please respect copyright.PENANABSYLi6517E
40Please respect copyright.PENANAGKy7TL3z4A
「很好。」主教點頭,「那麼開始見證儀式吧。」40Please respect copyright.PENANAunEV5COnwA
40Please respect copyright.PENANAyaAY8HgB7n
主教走前幾步,站在人群中央,下巴微仰,敞開雙臂,手掌朝上,他輕聲誦念起經文,40Please respect copyright.PENANAZ2lawEAwok
40Please respect copyright.PENANAObHTMuDDCC
「全知全能的主,40Please respect copyright.PENANAdHbiqGMkkp
40Please respect copyright.PENANAMXBrrVqLp8
「願祢的靈降臨,願祢與我們同在,願祢作見證40Please respect copyright.PENANAhmzNqj75OJ
40Please respect copyright.PENANAJCb0vSQ3rF
「他將打開心靈,成為祢的子民。」40Please respect copyright.PENANAz3lffEXVDU
40Please respect copyright.PENANAHG9Nn8OdpM
楓垚原本以為這只是象徵式的禱告,哪知在完畢的剎那,他的身心確切地輕微變化,像是靈魂得到了歸宿,有種回到家的樸實幸福感。40Please respect copyright.PENANALxoyWMm0T9
40Please respect copyright.PENANA2zC5eSdH2P
很微妙的感覺……楓垚回味著過去的那瞬間。40Please respect copyright.PENANA1zblVW4rNF
40Please respect copyright.PENANA12yAXcVqNa
「歡迎你,主的新子民。」主教在額頭及胸口點了一下,其餘人也動作劃一。40Please respect copyright.PENANAwekpzRPoqt
40Please respect copyright.PENANAOwh1u9yvAX
我也應該跟著做吧……楓垚模仿著一模一樣的動作。40Please respect copyright.PENANAeIShrM9IF6
40Please respect copyright.PENANAJwJfxT1g2Q
「接下來會由君柳及靈芝領著你處理教會的事務,有什麼問題請教他們即可。」主教說。「很抱歉,我得失陪了。」40Please respect copyright.PENANAMGz5jdaeku
40Please respect copyright.PENANAWTHl0UIplr
話落,其中一位陌生的身影忽然走了上前,他身穿藍金長袍,額頭圍繞一圈墨藍絲巾。他緊閉雙眼,一隻手搭在背後,一隻手在身後比劃,憑空描畫出一個透明橢圓。40Please respect copyright.PENANAQtTeRfThC8
40Please respect copyright.PENANAYZWJNfU3yn
幾息過後,那橢圓的邊界閃爍著游離的電絲,宛如即將噴發的雷雲。40Please respect copyright.PENANAm9JVO1gO6V
40Please respect copyright.PENANAgrdXX4Oqmk
滋啪。40Please respect copyright.PENANAJd1Rbo1y16
40Please respect copyright.PENANAXDLKPq9MSx
電絲漸漸粗壯,由邊界向內部聚合,橢圓慢慢被白茫填滿,變得有形可見。40Please respect copyright.PENANASfRZy4knlb
40Please respect copyright.PENANA70mnU7ioiJ
滋滋。40Please respect copyright.PENANAcawjQD03zr
40Please respect copyright.PENANAURoCRFdtdB
難得的尖銳聲自橢圓傳出,像修長的指甲刮在玻璃上,有根豎立的黑線在白茫中央浮現,然後往外擴張,壓縮著白色的空間。40Please respect copyright.PENANAaiOhZplQ6G
40Please respect copyright.PENANAFrltIwx06N
更讓楓垚驚奇的是,那被撐開的白色後面並非教堂內部的景象,而是全新的未知的光景,那顯然是一道連接大陸某處的「門」。40Please respect copyright.PENANAifdbYkZxLB
40Please respect copyright.PENANAbfbToELNAn
「我會期待下次的見面,楓垚。」主教說完便回頭鑽進那被撐開的「門」,陌生的身影跟隨其後,待他們都進去以後,「門」像沙粒被風吹散般,被無痕抹去。40Please respect copyright.PENANA72EEEu6fsz
40Please respect copyright.PENANA1748TfDxHs
「你帶著他吧,我去睡個覺。」少女打了個呵欠,走到樓上,消失在兩樓陰影盡頭。40Please respect copyright.PENANAZI42XlToSL
40Please respect copyright.PENANAZBbm7rYi3c
她好像叫作靈芝?楓垚轉頭望向君柳,40Please respect copyright.PENANAV5aLYYA4iy
40Please respect copyright.PENANA0pGUS04IYd
「剛才那些人是?」40Please respect copyright.PENANA3LjWVTKPuf
40Please respect copyright.PENANADiX3rXYpjm
「一位司鐸及兩位執事,他們是前來護送主教的。」君柳答。40Please respect copyright.PENANAaraC6WEgDT
40Please respect copyright.PENANAPtaOwMFKW7
「司鐸?執事?咦,你好像也是執事矣。」40Please respect copyright.PENANA19u4j9W8K9
40Please respect copyright.PENANAYyiSKA3vcx
「都是教會的職位,在教會核心的階級裡,主教在頂端,其次是七司鐸,然後是十六執事。」40Please respect copyright.PENANAU7jJi2KL8v
40Please respect copyright.PENANAEgqs1RhGNN
「那位白髮少女呢?她也是執事嗎?」楓垚拋出疑惑。40Please respect copyright.PENANAL4T7EoC8Se
40Please respect copyright.PENANAHhIx9qZcL3
「你說靈芝?她是七司鐸之一,『夢魘』」君柳淡淡解釋。40Please respect copyright.PENANAfIlz6kEnNW
40Please respect copyright.PENANAO42W8zdCXe
居然是七司鐸…那豆丁看起來還沒成年吧……楓垚心底吐嘈了句,表情卻表露得清清楚楚。40Please respect copyright.PENANAnlEPbFV4jO
40Please respect copyright.PENANA4YoosFdDUF
君柳見此嘴角一彎,40Please respect copyright.PENANA9Hs7pEv8qG
40Please respect copyright.PENANA6PXIskQqUI
「別小看她,你可要知道教會只有派遣一位司鐸及兩位執事前來吞龍城,而其他的大城至少有三位執事駐留。」40Please respect copyright.PENANADrMm24U6HZ
40Please respect copyright.PENANAvco3wsFHTQ
「什麼意思?」楓垚不解道。40Please respect copyright.PENANAZupnb9Gnbl
40Please respect copyright.PENANAOYEDskRxUR
君柳不自覺昂首,「說明我們不需要那麼多人。」40Please respect copyright.PENANAErSz5JvZ6u
40Please respect copyright.PENANAp6su3Zrb2V
楓垚點了點頭,他認為當中的誇大成份並不多,畢竟見識過靈芝的實力,在她面前自己像隻螞蟻般渺小,不存在反抗一說,心底萌起另些想法:40Please respect copyright.PENANAF7tfaolchv
40Please respect copyright.PENANAuwzoYiNqKL
不知道她和君柳相比如何,按階級的話靈芝排得更高,不過教會的分級是否取決於實力仍不確定。40Please respect copyright.PENANADzVE4pmqme
40Please respect copyright.PENANAbpvMR0AslF
「哦對,忘了問薪金的事。」楓垚急忙道,這可關係到他的生活。40Please respect copyright.PENANA0GNsAhr9Rm
40Please respect copyright.PENANAXBSHTBTVAm
君柳按著額頭,好一會才說:40Please respect copyright.PENANAiT98GpqJCq
40Please respect copyright.PENANAmcOo5wwmRv
「1金4銀,兩周結算。」40Please respect copyright.PENANApD93f6Mret
40Please respect copyright.PENANArUP5jnnRzC
這個世界裡1金等於20銀,等於200銅,又等於1000仙,而1仙約等於地球港幣5元。40Please respect copyright.PENANAFUBStLZvgl
40Please respect copyright.PENANAiLg7ytbrLU
半個月6000,很不錯了……楓垚簡單計算,非常滿意,這筆薪金應該可以過上物質充裕的生活,心情一下愉快不少,連聲調也隨之提高,40Please respect copyright.PENANAhQ5NgAnrpf
40Please respect copyright.PENANAR47AUJfSHp
「我的職位是?」40Please respect copyright.PENANAnS5RSZZwsc
40Please respect copyright.PENANA1HCGUoPgEf
「執事助手。」40Please respect copyright.PENANAFUfjQtJhE5
40Please respect copyright.PENANA0CdBxkfEjR
「工作都有些什麼呢?」40Please respect copyright.PENANAynP0ZpbpTm
40Please respect copyright.PENANAI6X9aOVGhj
「等等就知道。」君柳揉了揉太陽穴,「走吧。」40Please respect copyright.PENANAOKF7LANvW2
40Please respect copyright.PENANAdbZTgWP3Ey
「去哪?」楓垚跟上步伐。40Please respect copyright.PENANAkO4Jeys1KF
40Please respect copyright.PENANAougiNLJh0F
「赤里區,水道街。」40Please respect copyright.PENANAdtTsu1uwtu
40Please respect copyright.PENANA0UhnLwMebp
……40Please respect copyright.PENANATwXEVufIbG
40Please respect copyright.PENANA24QJQFNW24
馬車平坦行駛,前面不遠便是水道街,吞龍城的三大貧窮窟之一。40Please respect copyright.PENANALCAOYPgkY7
40Please respect copyright.PENANAFnRxPpp2lH
楓垚和君柳在一間尚算體面的旅館下車,兩人前來之前已經換過教會的工作服,束身上衣、長筒襪、棕色靴鞋,胸前掛上一枚彌爾教的徽章。到目前為止,君柳沒有一句話,楓垚靜靜緊隨其後。40Please respect copyright.PENANAd9ws1VA2F9
40Please respect copyright.PENANA0aby6jO6DC
不少地攤沿著道路兩旁擺放,有的賣菜、有的賣手工品、有的招攬髒衣服…君柳一眼沒望,直直往前行,只有楓垚對於新的景象深感興趣,東張西望,同時也暗自慨嘆:40Please respect copyright.PENANArSuxL2bH6L
40Please respect copyright.PENANAPtUxCVoI0w
無論在什麼地方,生活都不易啊,唉……40Please respect copyright.PENANALt3q2iuCnv
40Please respect copyright.PENANAiJ8sNl4p4K
走過一陣子,君柳停低步伐,到達了目的地,那是一棟三層高的建築。他從袋口拿出懷錶睄一睄,又啪答合上,這才推開底層的門走進去。40Please respect copyright.PENANArllxZ45W1V
40Please respect copyright.PENANAZ5IZl375Zi
前方有一條徑直走廊,兩旁排列著一式一樣的小門,而走廊的盡頭是通往上層的樓梯。40Please respect copyright.PENANApqINj4ipcq
40Please respect copyright.PENANAbYdJRqOSxN
「真是不方便的設計。」楓垚無奈道。40Please respect copyright.PENANAYs9QMxJ7R0
40Please respect copyright.PENANAKu2ATWwQZ6
穿過走廊的時候,總會有哀怨夾雜著痛苦的低沉聲音傳來,令人不寒而慄,像有處細縫不斷漏進寒風。40Please respect copyright.PENANAsKCc1Ao2Tr
40Please respect copyright.PENANAmx1qxy1tVS
「什麼聲音?」楓垚忍不住問。40Please respect copyright.PENANAEezrtUiR5s
40Please respect copyright.PENANA1YW1B0UYSU
「這裡是老人院。」君柳點頭。40Please respect copyright.PENANAjKZPryqu14
40Please respect copyright.PENANAAx6lhw6CXT
原來是老人……楓垚不禁同情起這裡的住客,他對老人院的觀感一直很差,認為那裡只是提前擺放屍體的地方。40Please respect copyright.PENANA1wyzLUDAGZ
40Please respect copyright.PENANAJxdtLAkwkE
咚咚咚。40Please respect copyright.PENANAVrXaemYMAK
40Please respect copyright.PENANAqzUxuFDzHF
兩人來到二樓的一扇門前,敲起門芯板。40Please respect copyright.PENANAnFzXotUqO1
40Please respect copyright.PENANAMAry45QKuV
得得得。40Please respect copyright.PENANAtgpTYsJJp1
40Please respect copyright.PENANAii7b4s4CGk
腳步聲傳來,門很快便打開了三分一,門後的是位中年婦女,束起棕色馬尾,身穿陳舊麻布衣。40Please respect copyright.PENANALi44gdIK7D
40Please respect copyright.PENANAmEEz3rpTgv
「請問你們是?」婦女問,身體保持在門後。40Please respect copyright.PENANA1oFjoSekFh
40Please respect copyright.PENANAXCqphB59DA
「教會執事,過來探望蔓莎女士。」君柳行了個微禮。40Please respect copyright.PENANAHQ2a8lDCGr
40Please respect copyright.PENANAPK4yBC5FkI
「裡面請。」婦女點頭回應,將門完全打開。40Please respect copyright.PENANAAOhjkHyG4Y
40Please respect copyright.PENANAc2hMUgjB37
裡面的空間大概有三百多呎,一人住起來不算狹窄,廚房、臥室、衛生間,應有盡有。40Please respect copyright.PENANAFPh5JHlK51
40Please respect copyright.PENANAMbLnqX3seM
婦女領著二人走進臥室,裡面有張單人床,上面正躺著位年邁的女士,她側頭望向窗戶,沒有注意到進來的客人。40Please respect copyright.PENANAjHsPBprXwg
40Please respect copyright.PENANA8rEdCsHQ4X
哐哐。40Please respect copyright.PENANAtDMuSmQJug
40Please respect copyright.PENANAzbDQwUzgyp
「夫人,教會的人來了。」婦女輕輕敲門。40Please respect copyright.PENANAEy8532uz9b
40Please respect copyright.PENANARC9V62Rk4n
蔓莎女士在聽後門聲後才後知後覺地扭過頭來,臉上拱起笑容,略帶歉意地說:40Please respect copyright.PENANABHCNTNxLFW
40Please respect copyright.PENANATCtO7J5zoU
「真是抱歉,看得太入神,沒有注意到你們呢。」40Please respect copyright.PENANAg4QxDl0Mxb
40Please respect copyright.PENANAP3ap5XmdU3
君柳坐在床邊的椅凳上,嘴邊掛起難得可見的微笑,40Please respect copyright.PENANAdGORv5p2tV
40Please respect copyright.PENANAZAMFGEvD7F
「女士在看什麼呢?」40Please respect copyright.PENANA6SjBM4lYDh
40Please respect copyright.PENANAP5bxwZDVia
蔓莎女士再次望去窗邊,她的笑容更濃了些,眼神裡有種響往,40Please respect copyright.PENANA6Unq8tCoDR
40Please respect copyright.PENANAqaqkKBsWry
「我看見兩隻烏鴉追逐,然後飛走。可惜這窗太小了,看不見他們飛去哪裡。」