The First Vampire

In this fantastical medieval world, knowledge is a precious wealth.

Not to mention slaves, even commoners usually have no chance to touch this kind of wealth.

As for the nobles, of course, they don’t need to worry about this. Their castles are filled with books, and they even have private tutors in charge of their education.

But for commoners, it’s hard for them to learn.

They mainly have two ways to master knowledge.

The first way is through the Church.

The Church has schools in various places for commoners to study, but here, children mainly learn theological knowledge. Besides being instilled with how and why they should serve the deity, they hardly learn any useful knowledge for daily life.

The second approach is through the nobles.

That’s right, nobles also recruit some commoner children to accompany their children in their studies.

But these opportunities are very rare and are generally reserved for the descendants of their own servants. After these descendants gain knowledge, they can better serve their lords.

In fact, there is a third way, which is the White Tower Academy of the Empire.

But even the nobles find it difficult to access this path, let alone commoners.

Because the admission requirements of the White Tower Academy are simple and strict. They do not look at the background, they only look at talent.

Only exceptionally talented children, whether they are nobles or commoners, can enter the White Tower Academy for free learning.

But there is only one White Tower Academy in the entire Empire, and it only admits a two-digit number of students each year. Even fewer can graduate successfully.

So, most commoners may remain illiterate for their entire lives, not to mention those lowly slaves.

However, this may be what the rulers wish to see.

Peter Miser, the first Pope of the Glorious Empire, once made a famous remark –

“An ignorant mind is easier to fill with loyalty and faith.”

Commoners and slaves who live in a muddled state their entire lives make it easy for the Church and nobles to rule.

“Retired Bishop, do you think I shouldn’t allow these slave children to be taught knowledge?” Colin was not worried that his actions would upset the Church since the Church didn’t explicitly prohibit this.

Of course, this is because generally, no lord would teach knowledge to slave children.

“No, My Lord, I have no right to interfere with how you govern your citizens.” The retired Bishop made a bow to Colin and said with a smile.

Then he also bowed to Vera, clearly recognizing her identity.

Colin’s eyes flashed slightly. He wasn’t too surprised that the retired Bishop could recognize him, after all, he had dealt with him many times, and his current disguise wasn’t very strict.

But how did the retired Bishop recognize Vera?

How did he know that Vera had come to Ice Rock City?

It seemed that someone among the attendants in the Red Castle had leaked Vera’s arrival to the Church!

Although Colin had not deliberately concealed the news of Vera’s arrival in Ice Rock City, the feeling of being infiltrated by someone still left Colin feeling extremely uncomfortable.

However, at present, he had no good way to deal with the Church.

Faith, for the people of this world, is an extremely serious matter.

If they have to choose between a lord and a deity, most citizens would choose the deity.

The nobles can only accept this helplessly.

Back in Silver Moon City, when Colin deliberately planted seeds of hatred against the Church in Prince Harrison’s heart, besides wanting to cause some trouble for the St. Lorenzo family as a retaliation, he also wanted to test how strong the Church’s real power was.

Seeing this, Vera also had to lift her skirt, bend over to return the courtesy, and then asked crisply, “Retired Bishop, why did you say that knowledge could also be a curse?”

“Miss Vera, for you, knowledge will certainly not become a curse. But for these lowly slaves, knowledge can make them more clearly aware of their own situation, and thus fall into an abyss of despair from which they cannot extricate themselves. Isn’t such pain the same as a curse?”

Vera was silent.

Yet Colin sneered inwardly.

What was obviously a trick to keep the populace ignorant, coming from the Bishop, seemed like a compassionate concern for humanity, as if withholding knowledge from the slaves could alleviate their suffering.

Although he inwardly criticized, Colin displayed an apparent realization on his face: “Ah, you’re absolutely right, Bishop! Fortunately, you reminded me, otherwise, I might have done more harm than good with my good intentions!”

“My Lord, you are too kind.” Seeing the young Lord taking the initiative to apologize, Bishop Rongxiu showed a look of approval, “In fact, your approach isn’t entirely wrong, it’s not bad to let these slave children learn to read, but please do not forget to spread the glory of the Lord to them!”

Only then did Colin realize the true purpose of Bishop Rongxiu, he wanted to brainwash these slave children.

Actually, when Colin arranged for teachers to educate these slave children, he deliberately excluded theological content. Instead, he focused more on who feeds them, who allows them to have opportunities for learning, hoping to instill the concept of loyalty to their Lords in these young slaves.

Unexpectedly, the Church took notice.

“Of course, it’s right to let these slaves bask in the glory of the Lord.” Colin said with his usual smile.

“So, I will arrange for some priests to assist you in teaching these slave children.”

“Thank you for the helping hand, Bishop!” Colin could only nod in agreement.

Despite his wariness of the Church, he dared not irritate them on his own at this time.

He would rather have Prince Harrison of the St. Lorenzo family act as the frontline hero resisting the Church, while he himself, merely cheers from behind.

Seeing his objective achieved, Bishop Rongxiu nodded with satisfaction, then added, “My Lord, there is one other thing I need to discuss with you.”

“Please go ahead.”

“Next month, I will be transferred from Ice Rock City, but rest assured, a new bishop will come to replace me.”

“Oh? May I ask where you are being transferred to?”

“Winterfell City.” Bishop Rongxiu’s eyes flickered a bit.

“Well, congratulations!” said Colin with a smile.

The bishop of Winterfell City was of a higher rank compared to the bishop of Ice Rock City.

Bishop Rongxiu also laughed and modestly waved off the praise, but he couldn’t hide the joy on his face.

The bishop of Winterfell City was typically a leading candidate for Archbishop of the North Territory Diocese. Hence, Bishop Rongxiu was only one step away from entering the real core of the Church’s high-ranking officials.

“Do you know where Bishop Jean has been transferred to?” Vera suddenly asked.

The Jean she referred to was the former bishop of Winterfell City.

Bishop Rongxiu revealed a sad expression and sighed, “Bishop Jean has returned to the Lord’s embrace.”

Vera was taken aback and quickly expressed her apologies and condolences.

However, Colin discerned a hint of unnaturalness on Bishop Rongxiu’s face and asked:

“May I ask, what was the cause of Bishop Jean’s death?”

“To my knowledge, Bishop Jean died of illness.”

Died of illness?

At this time?

Colin was sure, the death of Bishop Jean was certainly suspicious.

Upon careful thought, Duke St. Hilde was injured in a duel with the troll Holy Warrior, and the one most likely to have treated him was Bishop Jean.

But, he died at this time?

What secrets were hidden behind this?

What was really happening in Winterfell City?

One question after another arose in Colin’s mind, leaving him absent-minded unconsciously.