After all that had been said, Eileen was still confused.
But she did grasp the meaning of the previous speech and blinked again.
Having understood the nature of the situation, she harbored no fondness for these people, feeling nothing but disgust.
Thus, she was puzzled by the bishop's mere orders to observe.
However, since the bishop had mentioned that the most dreadful punishment had already been delivered to these people, it couldn't be a lie.
Suddenly, Eileen remembered the appearance of the old woman when she entered, who looked utterly soulless.
Subconsciously glancing at her own bishop, who was closing his eyes, Eileen bowed slightly and quietly retreated.
...
In fact, York's words were not false. For a group that had indulged in everything and had only this pursuit, such an ending was indeed miserable.
From being carried out of the church to the car.
Georgina still focused on the photo in her hand, staring at her soulless self, and her eyes that showed no difference from those deemed great. Her despair grew heavier.
Enjoyment had become a habit, then weariness, and finally a lack of desire; at this age, their pursuits were merely a cycle.
What the real world looked like after death.
She had imagined all scenarios but never thought that the real world after death would be nothingness.
Recalling her own experiences, Georgina clenched her teeth, gripping the photo until her manicure cracked, feeling nothing.
Because a tremendous despair had enveloped her, numbing all her senses.
"Damn it!"
Georgina looked at the crumpled photo, cursed under her breath, her eyes already red.
Life turned out to be devoid of any joy, the things pursued even more nonexistent than those in the human world.
What could be more despairing than this realization?
Alive or dead, everything was meaningless.
Georgina's expression became vacant, until the noise outside brought her back to some awareness.
She knew her own ending; the silence had already said everything.
Looking at the clergy waiting by the car for her to get out, Georgina instinctively picked up her handbag and slowly stepped down.
No one needed to remind her; she walked alone towards the mansion in front.
When she had left, it was a mess with corpses and severed limbs; now, it was clean.
Presumably, someone had tidied up.
Suddenly, the entire estate was hers alone.
Georgina laughed, step by step she walked to her room and sat in front of the vanity mirror, looking at her reflection.
Even with makeup, which made her appear younger than her actual age, she couldn't hide the signs of aging.
She didn't have many years left, and the physical changes robbed her of any joy.
"Having enjoyed everything, in the end, it's all nothingness." The old woman smiled slightly, starting to remove her makeup.
From her eyes and eyebrows to her nose, and then to her entire face.
Eventually, the vanity mirror showed a very aged woman, with age spots and wrinkles all visible.
Georgina stared blankly for a few seconds, then took out her phone from her handbag and dialed a number.
"Madam, are you alright?"
An old but slightly weary voice came through the phone.
"I'm fine," Georgina replied.
"Issian, how are you guys?"
"I've asked them; they've seen the clergy walking around nearby," the old voice replied.
"Hmm," Georgina responded calmly.
"Madam, have you seen that bishop, is there really no other way?"
Hearing this, Georgina turned on the speaker and placed the phone on the desk.
"No, all we can do is wait, but with our combined strength, we probably won't have any problems," Georgina spoke calmly.
"But..."
"But what?" the old voice sounded puzzled, but suddenly sensing something off in Georgina's tone, asked.
"What's wrong, Madam?"
"I'm fine, Issian," Georgina looked at the vanity mirror, seeing her aged and weary reflection, and pulled open a drawer.
"Issian."
"Hmm?"
Georgina said, "Can you imagine what the real world after death is like?"
The phone fell into a brief silence.
"Are you really okay, Madam?"
Clearly, the person on the other end sensed something unusual about Georgina.
Georgina said, "Just think about it."
Under that statement, she fumbled for a beautifully crafted handgun from the drawer, then a bullet.
Issian replied, "I can't say, Madam, that's why we want to know the answer, to understand if the real world is as we imagine, right?"
Georgina, while loading the bullet into the chamber calmly said, "Issian, I've seen it, I've seen the real world after death."
These words also reached an old man standing by a window, listening in another room.
He showed an expression of disbelief, from surprise
to confusion.
"Madam?"
"Nothingness, Issian," Georgina said with a tragic laugh as she looked at the mirror.
"Our pursuits, our endings, they're all nothingness, there's nothing."
The old man was stunned, seemingly still not comprehending.
But Georgina continued, "Issian, I really feel like there's no point now, life is truly devoid of any joy."
Saying this, Georgina looked at the phone that had quieted down, then reloaded the chamber, turned off the safety, and continued speaking to the mirror.
"I'll take all the sins upon myself, the rest of you figure it out."
After that, the old woman picked up the beautiful revolver, placed the gun in her mouth, and without waiting for a sound from the phone, she pulled the trigger.
The gunshot, a loud bang, echoed clearly into the old man's ears.
Issian was stunned, staring at the white-haired head, still absorbing it all.
...
Another sunny day.
Sunbeams streaked into the Ashby Abbey church.
A common sedan stopped by the curb, driven by an Asian woman with some spots on her face, who was looking at the nervous girl sitting next to her in the passenger seat helplessly.
"Lucy, do you really need to be this nervous?"
The girl in the passenger seat was none other than Lucy, who had succeeded in her revenge.
By then, she had recovered, her appearance more vibrant than before, devoid of the alienating madness.
She even didn't wear her usual hat, revealing her soft brown hair.
"That Father John has already agreed with you."
Anna looked at her overly nervous friend, feeling slightly frustrated.
"He agreed to let you ride along, what are you afraid of? You've worked before."
Lucy diverted her gaze from the church and noticed her friend's frustrated look, feeling a bit embarrassed, she whispered.
"After all, I've never worked in front of others, I don't want to disappoint Father John, Sister Eileen, or the priest."
Saying this, Lucy showed a very warm smile, then whispered.
"If it weren't for their help, I would have."
Hearing this, Anna took a deep breath, understanding her friend's situation; having grown up together, she could feel her friend's state of mind. Even though she had found her biological parents and brother, forming a warm family.
But clearly, aside from her family, Lucy still had some fear of people.
Like social anxiety, but in reality, it had nothing to do with social anxiety, but stemmed from years of distrust and harboring great malice towards others.
So, the seemingly expressionless monk who had been busy with Lucy's issues had suggested this, letting Lucy help out to see more of the beautiful emotions and things, hoping for improvement.
"Lucy, what's this?"
Lucy looked subconsciously.
She saw her friend pulling a cross necklace from her neck and shaking it at her.
Lucy felt a warmth in her heart: "Did you buy one too?"
"Hmph, you bought one, why can't I?" Anna laughed, then continued.
"What about yours?"
Lucy understood her friend's meaning from just a look after being together for so long. She also pulled out a cross necklace from her neck, smiling at Anna.
"Come."
Anna smiled, "Let's pray together, may the all-knowing and almighty God give you courage, and me too."
...
In the church.
"Thank you, Father."
After resolving a believer's simple problem, York nodded.
"The Lord be with you, Mr. Pascoe."
The man bowed slightly, a look of relief on his face, then went to the donation box nearby, pulling out a wallet from his suit and stuffing a handful of bills into it.
This pleased York; even without attribute point rewards, he received a return.
Effort with returns was the most motivating thing.
If there was nothing, York couldn't imagine what he would do.
Facing this wealthy and generous believer, York always showed respect and a smile.
Clearly, this attitude satisfied the man greatly, who decided to visit again solely for the comfort the priest had provided from start to finish.
Passing a nun, the man also didn't forget to nod respectfully.
Eileen returned the gesture, then approached her bishop, holding a Bible.
"They've set off, Father."
"Hmm." York watched the car in the 3D map range and smiled.
"It's the first time I've seen John so concerned, even suggesting this kind of thing in front of me. The people he's helping are all well-known old believers; of course, he'll only see the good side."
Thinking of the heavily breathing John Wick the other day, York smiled.
"But well, that's John for you. This way is indeed safer; if anything scares Lucy away, it would be bad, especially since John said she finally mustered the courage."
Hearing this, Eileen also smiled.
"Yes, Bishop."
Watching the
car leave the 3D map's range, thinking of something, York said.
"Where's Hannah?"
Eileen was hesitant, carefully watching her bishop's expression.
"She seems to be still sleeping."
York's mouth twitched slightly, resignedly saying: "Never mind."
But deep down, he envied Hannah; at his stage, he no longer knew the taste of sleep.
Rather than sleeping, it was more like closing his eyes to rest, his mind still alert.
This made him unsure what to do. If he lost all human pleasures, he feared he might become listless and uninterested in anything, just like the old woman.
Suddenly remembering Georgina, York habitually narrowed his eyes.
From that night on, as the head of the organization, Georgina's suicide had essentially spelled the end of the organization.
Because, it wasn't just Georgina who had committed suicide.
After learning the reason for the suicide, most of the organization's core members also committed suicide within a period, while the remaining members reported being soulless, their health deteriorating rapidly, like corpses, not knowing when they might die on the spot.
For York, this outcome was within an acceptable range; otherwise, he wouldn't have relaxed his grip.
Recalling some bishops calling with their metaphorical hints, York wasn't very concerned.
After all, which of these families would dare to clash with the church over an old person about to be buried?
Whether they had the guts was another matter; in the supernatural world, the church was a stable foundation. Even if someone tried to act secretly, they might not even know how they died.
Perhaps it was because he didn't bother to learn more.
York shook his head.
Envy for Hannah, which had triggered this train of thought, was interrupted by Eileen's voice.
"Bishop, what are you thinking?"
Hearing this, York looked at Eileen, seeing her bare-faced yet still exquisitely smooth skin, and smiled.
"Nothing, Eileen, help me prepare for tomorrow's mass."
Eileen earnestly replied: "Yes, Bishop." Following closely behind her bishop.
"Shh, don't reveal my identity in front of others, or we'll have to move again."
"Bishop, don't worry, I've always been careful. I can assure you my voice won't be heard by others."
"Hmm? Eileen, you're impressive."
"Bishop..."
"Haha, then let's find a chance to follow the car out too, how about it? Staying in the church all the time feels stuffy."
"Yes, Bishop, I'll start arranging this."
"You're really capable! Eileen, it reminds me of when I first met you, full of a spirit that refused to admit defeat. I bet you were really mad at me back then."
"Uh..."
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