Under the watchful eyes of the bewildered public and the police, sacred glimmers of light appeared out of nowhere, spreading instantly across the area, suppressing everything.
A giant low-level demon that emerged from the ground was directly hit by a beam of light.
It let out a howl as its newly formed shape began to dissolve into strands of dark mist, then collapsed into nothingness.
All the black-clothed individuals suddenly stopped their actions, moving in unison towards the yet-to-be-set-up checkpoint, reflecting a group of clergy in their eyes.
An old man, wearing a robe with purple edges and radiating a holiness that was blinding to them, stood at the forefront, followed by priests and monks wielding knight swords.
"Sacrifice!"
The black-clothed individuals spoke in unison, disregarding the confused and panicked civilians, focusing only on the church's clergy. With coordinated movements, they took out prepared sacrifices from their cloth bags, placed them on the ground, and then each took out a small knife to stab themselves in the chin.
With decisive actions, the bloody scene made not only the clergy on site but also the civilians who hadn't retreated to the checkpoint feel a chill down their spine, staring in shock.
Bishop Richard took out the Bible from his side, his gaze on Amelia lying outside the car and on the gathering dark mist, his aura of holiness intensifying.
"Daniel, do you know why I dislike York?"
Father Daniel shook his head: "I don't know."
"Because of his way of fighting."
Bishop Richard watched as the black-clothed individuals fell one by one, performing sacrificial summons, and then calmly said, "He doesn't pray, meditate, or connect with the Lord's radiance to exert his strength like we do. He's so different that he doesn't fit in with us."
As he spoke, Bishop Richard began to read from the Bible he had brought with him, focusing on the low-level demon that had nearly fully emerged, blocking the entire roadway, and recited loudly.
"Lord, let our hearts connect with You to gain spiritual insight. Please guide our steps in battle, directing us. In Your strength, we will overcome evil and repel darkness."
...…
Thailand.
Don Mueang International Airport.
A private jet arrived at high speed.
York carried a backpack that seemed large for an ordinary person but was just the right size for him.
"Finally arrived."
York, expressionless, descended the stairs from the private jet, holding a phone with a black screen.
From the moment the call ended, the five hours had been somewhat torturous for him because he didn't know the condition of Amelia and Saxon.
Setting aside Amelia, a stranger, he was most concerned about Saxon's safety.
After all, Saxon was Madame Camille's only son.
For both emotional and rational reasons, he didn't want to hear that Saxon had been harmed.
Looking down, the clergy stationed in Thailand were already waiting below.
With Bishop Richard there, this large-scale supernatural event, no matter how tumultuous, would be suppressed within five hours.
Because, aside from some bishops more inclined towards clerical duties, Bishop Richard, who was dispatched to Thailand, was an old man who had survived wars.
So, York trusted Bishop Richard's capabilities.
"Five hours, the supernatural event involving the demon legion should now be entirely suppressed, but the situation with Saxon…"
York stepped down, his expression unchanging as he landed on the ground, looking towards the waiting clergy.
"Father York." A middle-aged man, a sturdy monk in a monastic robe, greeted him.
"I am Monk Lucien, responsible for your transportation."
"Monk Lucien, how are things?" York nodded and walked towards a church-marked car parked nearby.
"The Siam Paragon Mall incident has been suppressed by Bishop Richard."
Hearing Monk Lucien's voice, York found nothing unusual.
This was something Bishop Richard could easily handle, reflecting the dignity of a bishop capable of safeguarding a region.
However, he then heard a somewhat hesitant next line.
"It's just…"
York stopped in front of the car door, a sudden unease surfacing: "Just what?"
The clergy responsible for transportation glanced at the stopped priest and said somewhat awkwardly.
"Bishop Richard's exertion was somewhat excessive."
York's expression tightened around his backpack. The cult had made a significant move, likely achieving their goal: to exhaust the church's forces in Bangkok with this incident.
Which demon were they trying to summon?
In that moment, Monk Lucien felt a heavy pressure emanating from the priest, so intense that it made his breathing heavy until he held his breath.
Fortunately, as York spoke again, the oppressive atmosphere quickly dissipated.
"How large was the event?"
Relieved, Monk Lucien's attitude and voice became even more respectful.
"The Siam Paragon Mall incident is tentatively classified as a Level VII event."
York was silent for a moment, then opened the car door and got in.
"Take me to see Bishop Richard, and tell me everything."
"Yes, Father York."
As Monk Lucien responded, the church-marked car slowly departed.
Inside the car, York began to understand the entire sequence of events.
Due to the cultists' massive sacrifices and the deaths of civilians, the appearance of a large number of low-level demons had escalated the event from an unconfirmed status to a Level VII event instantly.
A Level VII event could plunge a city into turmoil.
Bishop Richard, to prevent further casualties, had exhausted all his holy power...
Hearing this, York sighed.
Compared to the very specific data he usually dealt with, clergy who exhausted their holy power would mostly end up sacrificing themselves.
The depletion of holy power feels like being utterly drained, akin to the deep fatigue of not sleeping for several days and nights for ordinary people.
For robust priests, this might not be much, but Bishop Richard, being advanced in age, suffering double the damage after exhausting his holy power was inevitable.
Besides the above, York received both good and bad news.
The good news was that Amelia had not been captured by the cult.
The bad news was that both Amelia and Saxon were severely injured and were being treated in the hospital.
"Before I came to pick you up…"
Sensing a change in the atmosphere inside the car, Monk Lucien added: "They have been removed from critical condition and are being transferred to the Holy Ascension Cathedral."
York couldn't help but relax his tense body a bit; this outcome was relatively good for him.
Now that he had arrived, he could accept whatever came next.
___________________
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