Rebirth of the Interstellar Pope <Mecha>

Chapter 34

Chapter 34

"I don't know why I fell in love with Anno; I only know that I will always love him..."

Rufeite and Anno returned to Jerusalem just as the city entered its religious month. For this brief period, the religious temple opened its doors to the public, inviting not only devoted followers but also families hoping to immigrate to Jerusalem from across the stars.

This month, often referred to as the "Year Month" by outsiders, was marked by nearly daily religious ceremonies. Pilgrims from all interstellar realms flocked to Jerusalem, transforming the city into a vibrant commercial center teeming with trade and activity. Vendors set up stalls selling an array of goods, while the air buzzed with the sounds of commerce and celebration.

During this month, Jerusalem took on a new visage that defied traditional expectations. Anno, however, had not completed his military training nor participated in the final assessment. As the dean, Kadira could not shield him from scrutiny, and the Senate promptly removed "Gaso" from the college list. Among the remaining students, only six had successfully passed the final assessment, earning the privilege to wear the dark green robes of heavenly staff.

In contrast, Rufeite lounged on the sofa in a bright red religious robe, his communicator linked to the Senate.

"I'll say it again! You may not wear the dark green celestial robe, but you cannot remove him from the list!" he insisted, his frustration palpable.

On the other end of the communicator, a slightly aged voice replied, "Rufeite, this is the rule of the Department of Religion. It cannot be changed just because of you!"

"I've already changed plenty of rules. Now, let's talk. What do I have to do to ensure you don't expel Garzo?" Rufeite pressed.

"This isn't a decision I can make alone! If you care about that boy, let him retake the religion department exam next year. Protecting him now will only hinder his future!"

"You don't need to worry about that. I will attend this year's religious ceremony if it means stepping back," Rufeite countered.

The person on the other end paused, incredulous. "Are you kidding?"

"As long as you promise not to remove Garzo, I'll participate. Isn't that a fair trade? I haven't joined the religious month ceremony in six years," Rufeite stated confidently.

Finally, the voice relented. "Alright, I won't remove him, but he won't wear dark green either. He can only wear a deputy staff robe at best."

"Fine, whatever," Rufeite replied, cutting off the communication with a satisfied smirk. He glanced over at Anno, who was tending to flowers on the balcony.

"Are you expecting me to participate in the religious month ceremony as well? It seems deputy staff can't do that, can they?" Anno asked, turning around.

"If I say yes, then yes. Come here; let's hear the confession," Rufeite replied, a playful gleam in his eyes.

After placing a pot of Zhongyue flowers in the corner, Rufeite activated his computer program, causing a light blue orb to materialize on his desk.

"Hello, beauty," he greeted the orb.

"Initialization completed," the optical computer responded.

"Enter the Confession Index," Rufeite instructed.

"Indexing begins. Confessions. Please select a keyword or entry," the optical brain replied.

Rufeite turned to Anno, curiosity sparkling in his eyes. "Whose confession do you want to hear?"