As Luz's footsteps receded in the distance, leaving only York in the warmly lit and ornate church, he seriously completed his daily fixed task, recounting his actions. This was the most efficient method he had found through various explorations. Traditional prayers, like reciting scripture, took the longest time, and he couldn't do it like those devout believers who prayed for hours.
He also suspected that the Lord above perhaps preferred stories over praises or hymns. Maybe it was loneliness after becoming omnipotent. All these were just his guesses, not hindering his completion of the task, all the way to invincibility...
After summarizing today's simple exorcism and his subsequent visit here, the familiar notification sound rang in his ears.
"[Prayer: Church Prayer (Completed)]"
"[Reward: +0.5 Points Issued]"
"Amen!"
York opened his eyes, quietly watching the Jesus statue in front of him, crossing himself over the chest. He appreciated this aspect of fixed tasks: as long as the location was a church with a Jesus statue, all he needed was to pray earnestly to complete his daily fixed task.
The church, a massive organization, had outposts like churches all over the world, making it unlikely for him to miss these 0.5 attribute points wherever he went.
"Only you would pray in a church in the middle of the night," Luz said, walking back from the dim path, holding some files.
York maintained his posture, his tone unchanging, "That's why I am more devout than all of you."
"Hmm, I think so too," Luz sat beside the robust priest. "And devout enough to stab a cardinal to death in a church, right, York?"
York's expression remained calm, though he recalled that night. "I have a clear conscience."
Remembering the incident, Luz sighed and handed over the documents. "You had other choices, York. Even if your actions were the right ones at the time, you have to consider the opinions of those old folks."
York took the documents, flipping through them with a casual smile, "Why should I consider their opinions? Am I not doing well now? If it comes down to it, I'll just leave the church."
This straightforward statement made Luz's wrinkled face twitch, but he also felt it made an undeniable point, leaving no room for rebuttal.
"Alright, I'm not one of them. I just want to retire peacefully."
York didn't respond, instead focusing on the documents in front of him, frowning slightly at a new page.
"Dead?"
He had planned to see François Lench, the Frenchman, but unexpectedly, the man was dead – and had died horribly.
Luz knew what he meant, looking at the photo of Lench's death clipped to the documents. "Yes, he died on the same night the Warrens confirmed the paranormal event. I was about to go for an exorcism."
York was silent, staring at the photo, silently turning to the next page.
"I arrived there and didn't sense any evil spirits. I thought the Warrens were mistaken, believing François Lench was just mentally ill. I didn't expect the evil spirit on him had transferred to the Warrens..."
Luz continued speaking, but York had already moved on to the next page, finding nothing new. The rest were unimportant investigation reports, behavioral and mental assessments of François Lench.
There seemed to be nothing significant, but recalling Lorin's ominous presence, he decided the source of this ominousness wasn't so simple. Unfortunately, with just this information, he couldn't trigger a random task, as more details were needed.
York closed the documents, "Father Luz, have you checked where François Lench had been?"
The first phase of a paranormal event involves triggering mediums and ignition points.
If an ordinary person lives their life regularly, they're unlikely to encounter paranormal events, but a sudden change, like traveling or moving to a place they've never been before, can change everything.
However, Luz, rubbing his aged hands, calmly stated, "York, I am old."
York was silent for a while, recalling Luz's habit of letting others take the lead in missions and the church's evaluation of the old man.
"Alright, since he's dead, I won't stay any longer."
Saying this, York stood up, documents in hand, and began to leave.
Luz didn't move, standing straight facing the Jesus statue.
"York, if you really want to investigate, you might start by checking where François Lench came from before he got here."
York didn't turn back, just leaving a word behind.
"I know."
His firm footsteps faded into the distance.
Luz looked up at the Jesus statue, crossing himself over the chest.
"Lord, I earnestly repent for my mistakes…"
...
Bang!
After closing the car door, York glanced at the once again darkened St. Luz Church, stuffed the documents into his backpack, and looked at the undisturbed Annabelle doll and the mediums in the luggage on the back seat.
After a journey of torment, or rather, recitation, these sealed evil spirits probably began to understand their current situation.
Sensing the weakness of the evil spirits within, York felt it was still not enough. He took out his phone again, reopening the recording app.
"Let me play you another song. This is a good one; I think it's called the Bible…"
Murmuring to himself in the car, sudden movement came from the back seat. The glass cabinet containing Annabelle the doll fell off the back seat...
York's face bore a smile, finding the marked recording file, ignoring the movements in the back seat, and pressed the play button.
The next second, the Bluetooth speaker in the back seat started to play.
"If a man loves life and desires to see good days, he must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech; he must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it."
Listening to the vague, almost hallucinatory screams, York remarked, "Yeah, nice. Driving is all about listening to music..."
With his right hand shifting gears, his right foot pressing the gas pedal, and his left hand steering, York controlled the car, heading towards a certain direction.
___________________
Read Ahead
Patreon.com/INNIT