HTLCCBFT Chapter 214

Has The Lord’s Career Chart Been Filled Today? – Chapter 214

After hearing Marianne’s words, Oliver remained silent for a long time before gently holding her trembling hand: “Jack not only lived up to his uniform, but made it shine even brighter with his bravery.”

“Oh, thank you so much, Your Highness!”

Marianne could no longer hold back and burst into loud sobs.

Considering the emotional state of this fallen guard’s widow, Oliver didn’t rush to explain the future compensation arrangements. Instead, he patiently waited until her loud weeping subsided into quiet sniffles before gently suggesting she bring her children to the divine temple that evening.

Since the God of Death Deyth had long ceased guiding souls, the only way to truly let Jack’s soul rest in peace was to once again ask the cat god to lead the way.

“My dear God,” Oliver said softly as he reached the temple’s inner sanctum, making what passed as preparations for the soul-resting ceremony to be held that night. Of course, he wasn’t looking at the fortune cat statue that merely produced one gold ingot daily, but rather gazing at the deity beside him with a warm smile: “I’ll have to trouble you again this time.”

The tall, handsome golden-haired deity simply tilted his head slightly and naturally kissed the corner of his lord’s lips: “It’s my pleasure.”

After kissing his beloved little partner, the deity didn’t pull away but instead gently pressed against his back, murmuring softly: “Oliver, you don’t need to ask me. This is my city too.”

Even though in His eyes, the combined importance of all the faithful in the territory couldn’t compare to Oliver… He wouldn’t completely ignore His worshippers’ prayers either.

Oliver showed slight surprise, then responded with a smile: “Mm.”

It was actually Him who realized first and seriously corrected Himself: “It’s our city.”

This territory belonged only to Him and Oliver.

Night fell.

Jack’s family, personally invited by Lord Oliver, were permitted to enter the temple’s inner chambers, while other Laina residents who heard the news gathered silently in the temple courtyard and surrounding areas.

They whispered among themselves, clustering closely around the circular flower beds like blooming seas of flowers.

For Marianne and her three children, visiting the inner chamber housing the Shrine for the first time, their sorrow was unconsciously eased. Their faces showed both devout fervor and nervous excitement.

Oliver didn’t stop them from worshipping the cat god statue, standing instead by the white marble altar. He slightly raised his head, gazing through the expensive, clear glass skylight at the pitch-black night sky illuminated by a hazy white light.

After silently praying to the God in their hearts, Marianne and her children unconsciously imitated their lord’s actions, looking up at the tranquil night sky.

Suddenly—

In the thick, ink-like darkness of the silent night above, a sparkling point of light appeared.

Marianne’s pupils suddenly dilated.

She instinctively held her breath, widening her eyes to desperately follow that silver starlight, watching as its radiance grew increasingly magnificent and bright.

From initially faint and barely visible, it became like other sparse stars hanging high in the sky. That faint silver halo grew more solid and larger, gradually overshadowing the brightness of other stars, like a small full moon…

“God, look!”

This scene was naturally witnessed by the people waiting outside the divine temple.

They looked up in astonishment, gazing at that unusually bright “star” that seemed much closer to the ground than the others, while unconsciously reaching out to point at the faint golden silhouette beside it that gradually became clearer.

Like golden mist carelessly scattered by a god, it slowly coalesced into the form of a large golden cat.

Since they worshipped the God of Wealth who possessed cat ears and a tail, keeping these fluffy creatures had become increasingly popular in Laina city. Even as just an ethereal golden shadow, many immediately recognized it, their faces softening with gentle smiles: “It’s a big cat!”

Just like the mischievous cats at home that playfully bat at balls of yarn, this “big cat” formed of faint golden mist seemed to stretch out its “paw” in the night breeze, deftly hooking onto that unusual star.

The previously motionless star, as if guided, obediently followed behind the “big cat,” rising higher and higher.

“I’ve seen something similar before,” said a merchant from Albury. Paying no mind to the curious glances from others, he focused intently on the familiar scene, his smile tinged with sorrow. “On my first night back in Albury… a golden cat also led away many little stars.”

He wasn’t the only merchant from Albury.

Under the rule of the same benevolent and generous lord, with well-maintained safe roads and mutually recognized travel permits, trade and travel between Laina, Albury, and Gregor city had become increasingly frequent.

Hearing his words, others from Albury who had witnessed that night’s marvel also unconsciously showed nostalgic smiles.

While people outside whispered among themselves, it was utterly silent inside the temple.

Marianne didn’t even dare to blink, intently watching the departing “star.”

For some reason, the moment she noticed the star’s presence, her heart had leapt with inexplicable joy.

But as she watched it slowly rise and move away from them on the ground, her heart felt as if being tugged along, aching with each beat.

Just then, the lord who had been silent finally spoke.

He simply said one sentence: “Marianne, that’s Jack.”

Ah.

Having confirmed her unspoken suspicion, Marianne’s tears immediately gushed forth.

Under the worried gazes of the children who only partially understood, she hastily covered her tear-streaked face, letting out low, painful sobs like a beast that had lost its beloved mate.

“His soul is so bright,” Oliver said gently as he handed her a handkerchief. “Even under the cat god’s blessing, as he journeys to where every noble soul belongs, he will continue to watch over and protect you.”

Watching Marianne, who kept nodding while suppressing her sobs and desperately following her husband’s departing soul with her eyes, he spoke earnestly. He said: “Even though his body may perish, his soul and spirit shall endure forever.”

Had they not witnessed it with their own eyes, no one—especially those self-proclaimed noble aristocrats—would have ever believed… that the soul of a “lowly” slave could be more noble and precious, shining even brighter than that of Kien von Augusta Alexander George Musta III, the esteemed former King.

The star formed by Jack’s soul continued to rise until its dazzling brilliance grew faint and hazy with distance.

Though unable to comprehend what they were seeing, the crowd’s hearts grew inexplicably calm as they peacefully watched its departure.

“Ah!”

Someone suddenly gasped in astonishment.

They all saw it—silvery, shimmering fragments of light scattering from the star, drifting slowly downward.

Its radiance didn’t diminish in the slightest. Instead, it seemed to have completed a beautiful transformation. As those exquisite specks of light scattered, it rose even faster.

After hearing the cat god’s explanation, Oliver immediately recognized what it was.

He glanced at the dazed Marianne and whispered, “Jack is bidding you all his final farewell.”

—Those are the memories that linger close to the soul shortly after a human’s passing.

The more beautiful the memory, the brighter and more dazzling the glow.

When all colors of memory fade away, the soul’s brilliance is tinted only by noble virtue, returning to its purest, unblemished state.

And so many silvery fragments of light prove one thing: Jack truly possessed countless beautiful memories during his lifetime and lived very happily.

Ah……

People instinctively closed their eyes, silently praying to the cat god.

Even without understanding what it represented, their hearts remained incredibly tranquil, as if immersed in a beautiful dream within this magnificent spectacle, this breathtaking starfall.

This was destined to become a night they would remember for all their lives.

—In the following days, people once again witnessed the lord’s decisiveness and efficiency.

The sacrificed Jack was posthumously promoted to full guard status. Since his sacrifice had prevented massive losses for Laina city, and he couldn’t receive the honor himself, his family benefited instead—they were freed from slavery and elevated to commoner status.

Despite sincere refusals, Marianne received a substantial compensation of 50 gold coins, plus a monthly widow’s pension of 1 gold coin until all three children reached adulthood.

After the children became independent adults, she would continue receiving an additional 6 silver coins monthly as a widow’s pension until her passing. One could say that even if she never worked again, this money alone would ensure her a comfortable life.

But Jack’s story didn’t end there.

Soon, in the third edition of the “Primary Textbook,” many noticed two additional pages telling the story of Jack—the slave-born reserve guard who, to protect Laina’s property and safeguard all Laina residents’ happy lives, resolutely abandoned any hope of self-preservation. Disregarding all pain, he used his own body to extinguish the flames.

Not to mention the astonished Marianne and others, even the entire city of Laina was stirred upon discovering this: the deeds of people they knew personally could actually be included in textbooks that everyone must study, alongside the sacred wisdom taught by the cat god!

The subsequent writing of textbooks no longer had to rely solely on Arte—though at this time, Arte was still in Gregor city, struggling with detailed design drawings and completely unable to come to Laina.

However, before leaving Laina, Arte had trained a group of compilers from freed commoners (as his last insistence as a noble, he really didn’t want to frequently interact with slaves) who possessed sufficient knowledge to continuously revise the teaching materials.

One of these compilers, Editt[mfn]爱迪特(Ài dí tè)[/mfn], felt utterly incredulous when he first heard the lord’s request.

Hesitantly, he sought an audience with Oliver, humbly and tactfully confirming the Duke’s intentions—whether they truly intended to include a Slave Soldier’s story in such important textbooks.

“Of course.”

Editt thought he would forever remember the lord’s response at that moment.

“Not only must it be included, but it must be vigorously promoted. This is the dazzling, precious, and praiseworthy spirit of Laina. The granary is not the main point—the focus lies in Jack and Marianne’s selflessness, their decisiveness, and their lack of regret. Jack resolutely rushed toward death not because of anyone’s orders or coercion, but entirely out of his own faith, will, and determination.”

“His courage and selfless sacrifice elevated his soul; he fought to protect what he held most precious in his heart…” After faithfully recording the lord’s words at the end of the textbook, Editt paused briefly, then inexplicably added these lines: “From that moment on, he was no longer Laina’s nameless slave, but a devout believer of the cat god, a loyal and brave warrior who dedicated everything to his faith, a child nurtured by the city of Laina.”

“The sacred divine messenger saw him and acknowledged him. Henceforth, he was not ‘Jack of Laina Territory,’ but officially granted his mother’s surname—Jack Laina.”

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