CHAPTER 356: CHAPTER 3: EARTHLY DIVINE KINGDOM! MECHANICAL DIVINE SECT (4)

The entire scene lasted for a very short time, when everything was restored, the Number Three Human Form was still inside that iron maiden-like box, and the automated system had already recited the last part of the prayer.

——"Do you wish to simulate the Power of Faith?"

——"In automatic mode, sincere faith can be simulated."

——"Do you wish to activate Perception?"

——"In automatic mode, the Priest’s perception Force Field can be simulated."

Yes.

Duncan pressed confirm without hesitation.

Buzz.

Below the Steel Cast Prayer, a green indicator light lit up, suddenly Duncan’s output of faith far surpassed others, and when Duncan stepped out of that coffin-like box, a steward with the insignia of the Mechanical Church was already waiting outside.

The church steward, who appeared middle-aged, looked at Duncan in surprise, seemingly not expecting him to be so young, he politely said, "Please follow me."

Duncan had seen church stewards before, they were very indifferent, lofty, ordering others around like dogs.

Envious glances continued to be cast from all around.

Some got nothing, while others received a few small coins, similar to steel pennies from previous lives, only a few were taken away by the church stewards.

Duncan walked at the forefront.

When they passed through a corridor, a figure of a Mechanical Priest appeared ahead, out of five hundred people, only six were taken away by church stewards, and under their arrangement, they walked up the steps in sequence, passing by a statue of a Steel Angel, reciting the Mechanical Divine Sect prayer written on it.

Unfortunately, there was no reaction this time.

The Mechanical Priest showed disappointment, but his gaze fell on Duncan.

Beside him, an elderly man holding a scroll whispered, "This one is still very young, his mind hasn’t fully developed."

"He can be watched."

The Mechanical Priest nodded slightly in indication, and soon church personnel handed them the insignias of the Mechanical Divine Sect, not the insignia of the Mechanical Church, but one stamped with a gear construct, just like a normal badge.

Duncan also received one.

Besides that, the church gave them money, not much, three steel coins, purchasing power roughly equivalent to early thirty bucks, enough to spend for two or three days if used sparingly.

Behind Duncan was a middle-aged man marked as an Esoteric Practitioner, who also received a church insignia.

The group walked out of the prayer hall.

Outside, people waiting in line showed a hint of envy, Duncan now seemed privileged, leaving directly through a side door with the others.

He had now become a formal believer of the Mechanical Divine Sect.

Upon leaving, even the iron tag for receiving relief food was changed to a bronze tag.

All clear.

When Duncan returned to the residential area, gang members with fierce looks evaded him from afar, the initial vicious glared Wolf Gang thugs even greeted him politely. Being a formal believer of the Mechanical Church is the basic threshold for becoming a civil servant in Nest City, having it equates to obtaining legal citizenship, with political power for advancement within the government and church.

Half an hour later.

Government officials from the living area arrived, an elderly man with glasses, about fifty years old, dressed in a dusty jumpsuit, looking very old, he enthusiastically said, "Please follow me."

Duncan was immediately arranged to a building in the neighboring area.

Almost the same style of decoration, but larger in size, more than ten square meters, and even a simple small toilet. Some daily necessities were also prepared, although other items needed to be purchased, although it doesn’t look great, it is close to the living environment of modern workers.

On the desk, there’s a lamp, and on the shelf, there’s one book—"Mechanical Scripture."

When Duncan finished tidying up and walked out.

It was already dark outside.

This area probably has lights off at eight o’clock at night, simulating moonlight when energy is sufficient, sometimes pitch black to save energy. Each area in the lower levels of Nest City is self-governed, if the output of a settlement is insufficient, it might rely on church relief, basic energy supplies are difficult to ensure.

However, as long as the faith assessment indicators can be met, the Mechanical Church will not let lower-level people starve.

Duncan encountered the woman who tested him yesterday again.

The other party showed a ghostly expression, holding her heavy chest with both hands, looking Duncan up and down, shocked and saying, "You’ve become a church believer?"

"How did you pass?"

"Tell me!"

Duncan shrugged, saying calmly, "As long as you sincerely believe in the God of Machinery, you can receive God’s blessing."

What nonsense!

The woman didn’t believe a word, circling Duncan, shocked and puzzled, but eventually gave up, because people like them shouldn’t easily probe others’ bottom cards.

Whether going through back doors or scheming, these matters shouldn’t be discussed in detail.

It can cost you your head!

The woman still carried an oily smell, her small vest tightly strained, sweat and grease stains on the exposed curve, she sat directly on the steps, beckoning Duncan ambiguously, "Lucky day for you."

"Come."

"Taste it."

She then took out a bag from her jacket pocket, opening it to reveal slightly charred meat pieces, about palm-sized, a total of two pieces, she took one and bit into it, tossing the other to Duncan in front of her.

——Roasted rat meat.

Duncan reflexively reached out to catch it.

The woman ate with gusto, seemed she hadn’t eaten meat for a while, she looked at Duncan who was frozen, raising her eyebrows and saying, "Eat!"

"Don’t worry."

"Not radioactive plague rat!"

"Lucky day for me working, dug out a nest of big rats, so many people sharing, got just this little bit."

Damn.

The overseer manager in the industrial area took the fattest one, another had to be offered to the Mechanical Church’s management steward, the dozen or so of them sharing three big rats, finally getting just this little bit.

Duncan took a bite.

The taste wasn’t bad, just lacked salt, needs some seasoning.

The texture of the rat meat was surprisingly okay.

The majority of food in the lower levels is released by the Mechanical Church, such big rat counts as decent wild game.

The woman quickly finished, more enjoyable than steak, looked at Duncan eating slowly, her throat even moved a little, she smiled, "Good craftsmanship, right?"

"I’m off."

Finishing, she patted Duncan’s shoulder, wiped the oil on his clothes with her hands, briskly got up and left.

She treated Duncan like a young lad, working on gaining favor.

No doubt another gain today, this lad eats rat meat so leisurely, clearly has an unusual background, ordinary lower-level people seeing rat meat would get more excited than seeing naked prostitutes.

"By the way."

She turned halfway, suddenly turned around, blinking and saying, "Last time I asked, you said you were Raine Bird."

"Why did the administrator say you’re Duncan today?"

Duncan looked up, calmly saying, "Changed names."

Out in the world, changing names is normal, isn’t it?

The woman didn’t mind either, waving her hand saying, "Alright. My name is Anastasia."

"Just call me Tassia."

This oily-smelling woman briskly left, causing Duncan to ponder.

Rebellion?

The cultists he met here were more than rebels.

Duncan had descended into the world of Number Three Human Form for two whole days, the best meal he’d had was a piece of roasted rat meat given by this woman who might be either friend or foe.

Is this life even human?

After another night’s rest, Duncan should be able to reach close to adult physical fitness, although Number Three Human Form is a fifteen or sixteen-year-old youthful form, having the physical fitness close to an adult male would allow for doing many things.

With his skills, once physical fitness improved, his combat power would skyrocket.

.........