Outside the villa, next to the Ford Raptor with both doors open, York, having learned the key information, decided to leave. The Warrens felt somewhat helpless at his decisive and swift actions.
Ed, watching the towering figure of Father York, couldn't help but try to retain him again. "Father York, we actually have spare rooms. Why don't you stay for the night and leave tomorrow?"
"Yes, Father York," Lorin also gently persuaded. "We've prepared a room for you."
"No need," York decisively refused, tossing the luggage containing mediums with sealed evil spirits into the back seat, along with the glass cabinet enclosing Annabelle the doll.
"Regarding the nun, I need to do some investigation, and then make a detour to a place. This time is just perfect when it's the most bustling."
Hearing this, the Warrens exchanged a glance, recalling Father York's previous words.
"Father York, is the place you're going to the secret site you mentioned?" asked Ed.
"Yes."
York slammed the back door shut and turned to the Warrens with a smile. He quite liked this couple; rule-abiding, kind-hearted, constantly on the frontline of the paranormal as ordinary people without asking for much in return.
Remembering this, York gently said to the loving Warren couple, "Don't worry. I will resolve this 'nun' issue as soon as possible. In the meantime, there's no need for you to worry too much. Her power is currently limited to small tricks, such as appearing in your dreams or during séances..."
Seeing the comforting priest before them, the Warrens were moved.
"Father York, we are very grateful for your help!"
York waved his hand at the Warrens' touched expressions, then climbed into the driver's seat and slammed the door shut.
"That's it for now. Remember to inform me if you encounter any paranormal events."
York shifted gears, his tone firm and righteous.
"Wherever there is evil, there I shall be!"
His words echoed in the Warrens' ears. Before they could react, York pressed the gas pedal, and the Ford Raptor roared away into the darkness.
The Warrens were left stunned by his decisive departure...
After York left their sight and drove out of the affluent area, turning onto a deserted highway, he prepared to play some music on the center console screen while dealing with the five attribute points he hadn't assigned yet.
Just as he was about to play "Midnight City," his usual driving tune, a noise came from the back seat, like something scraping against the glass.
York paused, sensing the changing atmosphere, and couldn't help but chuckle.
It hadn't been long since he left, and the evil spirits in the back were already starting to stir.
To others, it might not be noticeable, but York felt the atmosphere turning into something like a horror film, as if the desolate highway had no end, and he was alone in a different world.
Looking at the rearview mirror, he noticed the zipper of the luggage had been opened halfway and the glass cabinet containing Annabelle the doll was tilted on the back seat.
"Tsks," seeing this eerie scene, York refrained from playing music, instead grabbing the Bluetooth speaker that had previously served him well from the backpack in the passenger seat.
"Let me play a song for you."
York muttered as if speaking to someone, tossing the Bluetooth speaker to the back seat, then connecting his phone and pressing play.
Immediately, a solemn and sacred chanting filled the car.
"We drive you out, every impure spirit."
"All the forces of the devil, all invaders from hell."
"All legions of demons."
"All evil sects and churches."
As each solemn chant resounded, wisps of holy energy appeared out of thin air and slowly descended.
"Ah! Ahhhh!!!"
York's mouth twitched as he listened to the screams of the evil spirits, which were more exhilarating than any song.
After all, this was a "song" sung by the evil spirits themselves, a group performance.
Using these screams as an appetizer, York recited his personal panel, starting to allocate the earned attribute points: 5.5 in total, from his regular task reward plus the exorcism.
He could distribute them to all his attributes.
Mindfully, York first added one point to his overall physique, and a notification sounded.
"Overall Physique 34 to 35."
Then one point to spirit.
"Spirit 83 to 84."
One point to magic.
"Magic 164 to 165."
The remaining 2.5 points all went to his life value.
"Life 121.5 to 124."
With all the attribute points allocated, he felt unparalleled within.
York let out a long sigh, the chanting and weakening screams in the background fueling his inner sensations, making him feel even more comfortable.
"Feels great!"
York's contented voice drifted out the window, carried away by the wind, all the way to Stanford City.
Half an hour later, the Ford Raptor stopped in front of a church.
The sensations within him now gone, York looked at the closed St. Luz Church, reached for the phone in the center slot, and pressed pause.
The continuous chanting inside the car abruptly stopped.
Turning to look at Annabelle and the items in the backpack, sensing the weakened evil spirits, he chuckled.
"I don't know if you can understand human speech, but I want to tell you to behave in my presence, be sensible, and not to pull any tricks. Otherwise, I'll keep a speaker in front of you every day to educate you on the grace of our God."
York focused on the doll named Annabelle in the glass cabinet; he sensed that among the sealed evil spirits, this one was likely the strongest.
However, after a journey of enlightenment and proclamation, he suddenly found that the doll, which always looked terrifying, now appeared somewhat aggrieved.
"If you don't speak, I'll take it as your understanding."
Chuckling, York stepped out of the car and closed the door, staring into the darkness enveloping St. Luz Church. He knew the infamous old man must be living inside.
As central figures in the church, fathers naturally faced enmity from demons or certain cults.
Therefore, unless necessary, fathers usually lived in the church.
For a father, the holy church was the safest place, where their powers were at their strongest, even if evil beings came seeking revenge.
[12:31]
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Standing in front of the closed doors of St. Luz Church, York clenched his fist and hammered at the door without reservation.
His 35-point all-around physique was superhuman.
Each of his strikes made the closed doors tremble, shaking dust from beneath them.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
In the quiet of the night, the knocking sound was especially clear. Soon, lights came on inside St. Luz Church.
Seeing movement inside, York curved his lips and stopped knocking.
Not long after, the doors of St. Luz Church opened, revealing an old man in pajamas, his face showing kind wrinkles of age.
He leaned against the door edge, looking up at the young man towering over him. "York? What brings you here?"
"Father Luz, long time no see." York glanced past the old man, noticing a nun and two fully armed monks with knightly swords appearing nearby.
Hearing York's indifferent tone
, Luz's face twitched. Anyone woken up in the middle of the night wouldn't be in a good mood.
"York, don't tell me you woke me up in the middle of the night just to say that?"
York withdrew his gaze, smiling nonchalantly, "Of course not, Father Luz. Do you know a Frenchman..."
At the mention of the Frenchman, York carefully observed the old man's expression, which noticeably changed in that instant.
"François Lench. I've come for him."
Luz's wrinkles tightened, forming lines as he looked up at York.
"How do you know about François Lench?"
York calmly replied, "His evil spirit has targeted my friends, the Warrens. I need to know everything about it."
Luz instantly understood everything and sighed, "Alright, it's my fault for not investigating thoroughly enough, otherwise..."
York's expression remained unchanged, but he felt this matter wasn't as simple as it seemed.
Luz stepped aside, "Come in then. Since you've come specially, I'll tell you everything."
"Alright."
York strode into St. Luz Church, nodding at the middle-aged nun and the two monks, a standard church configuration assisting the father and protecting him.
He had the option too but had declined.
The nun and monks quickly bowed and then left, heading towards the annex.
As York watched, Luz spoke, "Do you feel a bit envious? You can tell headquarters, even if those bishops don't like you, they will still send someone..."
York shook his head, interrupting, "No, I prefer to be alone."
Understanding, Luz said no more, "Alright, keep being your unique self."
Saying this, he led the way into the main building.
"Come in, York."
Hearing this, York glanced at the newer and grander St. Luz Church compared to Pluto Church, pursed his lips, and followed.
The interior was as new as the outside, with each decoration feeling significant.
The benches, neatly arranged facing the eternal posture of Jesus, bathed in soft candlelight, seemed like a pilgrimage.
Sensing York observing, Luz calmly said, "Sit down, I'll go get something."
"Alright."
York nodded, sitting down under the statue of Jesus, closing his eyes to pray formally.
It was a new day, and his daily fixed task had already appeared.
In Luz's eyes, the devout-faced, towering priest shook his head and walked down a side path...
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