Chapter 254: A New Commission
Cold, resistant, like being stared at by a wild beast.
Every inch of Meryl's skin was resisting. But she desperately told herself—this is my child.
She reached out a trembling hand, wanting to touch the evil spirit's face.
With a hiss, Meryl's palm was corroded, but fortunately, the holy artifact William had given her in advance purified these auras cleanly.
"Jell..." Meryl called out a name. "This is our... this is the name I thought of for you."
"I am not a competent mother, nor a qualified daughter. For so many years, I have caused everyone around me to be hurt... including... you."
Meryl clutched her collar tightly.
"Back then, in that villa invaded by evil spirits, Yude... your father, suddenly lost his balance in the stairwell."
"I was panicked then, even forgetting about my own pregnancy, only wanting to save him..."
"I fell down the stairs and bled from my lower body. When I arrived at the hospital, I thought I was going to lose my child, but the doctor told me that one fetus had survived."
At this point, the evil aura on the surface of the evil spirit suddenly surged, and William immediately controlled it with Holy Power.
"I was both heartbroken and relieved... After Winnie was born, I built a small tombstone for you in the backyard, praying that you would meet a better mother in your next life. I didn't expect..."
Meryl clenched her fists, seemingly making a decision.
"You should hate me; I deserve this. I know you lack a body. If you want, you can take my body away. This is what I owe you..."
The evil spirit slowly approached Meryl. The latter closed her eyes, her breathing gradually becoming steady.
"Why would I be afraid of you? You are my child..."
She opened her arms.
"Jell, can I hug you..."
William narrowed his eyes, staring straight at the evil spirit and the female manager. If anything went wrong, he would strike immediately.
But to his surprise, the evil on the evil spirit suddenly began to dissipate, transforming into a pure white infant spirit body. It met Meryl and entered the latter's embrace.
"My child..."
As if feeling something, Meryl's arms slowly tightened.
William knew it was time.
He opened the Requiem chapter and softly chanted the words on it.
Subsequently, a gentle breeze suddenly picked up in the room, centering on Meryl, and gradually turned into a small vortex.
Surging Holy Power poured onto the infant spirit body.
After that, its body began to dissipate, turning into many glowing white specks. Along with the rotation of the vortex, the light specks were carried into the air.
A moment later.
The wind stopped, and that infant spirit body completely disappeared.
Meryl opened her eyes, a teardrop slipping from the corner of her eye.
William guided with [Holy Eye], letting the little girl's soul return to her body.
After performing a routine check, he then took off the [Smiling Face Mask].
"Mum?"
Winnie quickly woke up, her face regaining some color, no longer as weak and frail as before.
"Winnie!"
Meryl hugged her daughter tightly.
Seeing this, Farlin silently left the room, giving this former colleague ample time to reunite.
"She is fine now. But people possessed by evil spirits for a long time have very weak bodies and need to rest for a period of time," William said.
"I really don't know... how to thank you." Meryl's face was covered in tears, speaking somewhat incoherently.
"This is an exorcist's duty, plus you've already given me the reward," William said. "I'll leave this place to you two."
He left the room after speaking.
"Mr. William, your exorcism method is breathtaking."
In the living room, Farlin stared at him with admiring eyes.
"I always thought that expelling evil spirits required completely destroying them; I didn't expect there was another way."
William waved his hand: "As long as it can expel evil spirits, no method is wrong, as long as it's suitable."
"Your humble character is as excellent as your strength." Farlin bowed slightly.
"That girl cannot leave Meryl's side in the short term," William said.
Farlin's eyes flickered: "I understand what you mean."
"After all, Meryl's father did a lot for the Guild. We will take good care of her, please rest assured."
William nodded and bid the other party farewell.
Vatican, St. Peter's Basilica.
Inside the Archbishop's lounge.
Sunlight shone through the magnificent stained glass onto the bright red carpet. A man wearing a black and gold robe was standing by the window.
"Archbishop Cole, there is news from the Exorcist Guild."
A Holy Clergy Member walked in from outside.
"Speak."
"According to the news from our people, Bellon privately mobilized a Templar Knight yesterday, and since then both of them have gone missing."
"On the Exorcist Guild's side, they announced a piece of news today—the supply of evil materials in the trading venue will be suspended for the next month, and exorcists who have already made reservations must wait until next month to collect them."
"Oh?" Cole turned around upon hearing this.
"This matter caused great dissatisfaction within the Guild, but the Guild stated they will compensate every exorcist with some Resentment Points."
"That 2-Star Exorcist Enzo Allard also maintained order at the door of the materials room today."
Cole narrowed his eyes: "Allard... I didn't expect this guy to hide in the Exorcist Guild after escaping from the Vatican."
"Do we need to send someone to catch him."
"No need."
Cole waved his hand.
"This Allard is nothing more than acting for his sister's sake; he can't make any big waves. Right now, the Church's focus is still on that place, we can't waste manpower."
"Understood."
"As for Bellon, that idiot!" Cole scolded angrily, his tone turning cold: "If he comes back alive, you know what to do."
"Following your will. The Land of Suffering is still lacking some blood sacrifices."
Cole nodded: "And that woman, she should already know our news. Send someone smarter over, and don't approach her in the short term."
"The preparation for the ritual is still far from complete; let that woman live a bit longer."
"I have noted it."
"You may leave."
"Yes, may the Lord bless you."
Two days later, Exorcist Guild.
William walked through the crowd, quietly leaving from under the commission board.
Because of that detestable Bellon, the trading venue hadn't had any evil materials recently.
Therefore, William could only pin his hopes on commissions. He had come over multiple times to wait these past two days, seeing if he could get another 'Anomaly' rated job.
Now that Skin Reshaping only had a bit left, he still hoped to complete it in a safer way.
But unfortunately, there was no harvest.
So he planned to return to the Seminary to take a look.
And that hundred-year vintage holy artifact had already been safely stored by William.
He didn't intend to bring it into the Church's territory, lest it cause any unnecessary trouble.
Just as he walked to the elevator door, someone suddenly called out to him from behind.
"Will!"
This voice sounded familiar.
William turned his head, only to see a figure wearing a dark red robe.
"Ms.... Catherine."
He revealed a stiff smile, his feet slowly shifting towards the elevator.
"Phew... Mr. William, finally found you! Where have you been these past two days? I asked Manager Farlin, but he refused to tell me."
Catherine took off her hood, revealing that fair and beautiful face.
"Uh... been quite busy recently..." William was evasive, fine sweat starting to seep from his forehead.
"By the way, last time I told you I wanted to buy some more holy artifacts." Catherine stared at William with big eyes.
The air fell into a brief stagnation.
"I..." William's heartbeat began to quicken, his brain spinning crazily.
A moment later.
"I forgot..."
"What?" Catherine revealed a puzzled expression.
"Ahem... after completing the transaction with you last time, the remaining holy artifacts were also sold out. The reason I told you that earlier... was because I suspected you were in cahoots with Bellon..."
Ultimately, William chose to tell the truth.
"As for restocking... you know, when humans need to complete a task, they always find ways to procrastinate a bit... it's just that this time I procrastinated a bit long..."
Pfft.
A smile appeared in Catherine's eyes as she gently covered her mouth.
"So you were lying to me earlier?" She pretended to be serious, staring at William.
"Ms. Catherine, under the circumstances at that time, this was a cautious strategy." William adamantly refused to admit fault.
"Alright! I think what you did was very right!"
Catherine couldn't hold back her smile in the end, a slight blush appearing on her cheeks.
"Mmh~ If it were me, I might have done the same."
"There's no rush for the holy artifacts. The ones I bought last time haven't been used up yet. When you get other holy artifacts later, please consider me first."
Catherine crossed her arms over her chest, looking at William with pleading eyes.
"It's a deal!" William nodded "solemnly."
"By the way, Mr. William, the reason I came to find you this time is actually for another matter."
"Oh?"
"You shouldn't have taken on a commission currently, right."
William shook his head.
Catherine breathed a sigh of relief: "That's great. I have a commission I'd like to invite you to join, is that okay."
"Let's hear it."
Catherine pointed to the tavern nearby.
"Let's find a quiet place; it'll also be a good chance for me to buy you a drink~"
William was noncommittal.
The two chose a corner room.
After the bartender left, Catherine brought up the previous topic again.
"Actually... a friend of mine accepted this commission. He still needs three helpers. Besides me, he has already found one."
"Earlier... what you used in the materials room should be the Church's Holy Art, the Holy Eye, right?" Her eyes were full of curiosity.
William nodded.
After knowing Catherine was from the Vatican, he understood the other party could definitely see through this kind of thing.
"The Holy Art of the Eyes Manifestation is very difficult to practice. For you to cultivate it to such power, you have already far surpassed many Holy Clergy Members."
"Thank you for the compliment; I'm just a bit luckier."
Catherine said: "My friend wants to find an exorcist who can trap evil spirits. But such an ability is relatively rare even in the Guild, unless using some kind of special prop."
"So that's why I thought of you."
"I see." William nodded, "But before answering you, I am also very curious about a question."
Catherine was stunned for a moment: "Please speak."
"You come from the Vatican, yet you can use witchcraft. I remember... the relationship between the Church and the Witch Association doesn't seem to be harmonious."
Catherine lowered her head upon hearing this.
"If it's inconvenient to say, then forget it. It's just my personal curiosity," William said.
"My... my mother is a witch." After hesitating for a moment, Catherine still spoke.
"And my father is a Holy Clergy Member in the Vatican."
William raised an eyebrow.
A witch and a Holy Clergy Member falling in love; this was rare news.
"A modern-day Romeo and Juliet..." William silently quipped.
"This indeed would bring shame to the Church. You..." Catherine twisted her hands together.
"No!"
But William shook his head.
"Matters of the heart always come unexpectedly, and they won't change just because of your identity."
Just like all "Armchair Strategists," even though William was a blank slate when it came to love, it didn't hinder him from speaking with assurance at all.
Catherine blinked her eyelashes, looking at William with a face full of surprise.
This was the first time someone from the Church had said such a thing.
In the past, when she was in the Vatican, she could often hear the gossip of some people in the Church.
"These... are truly philosophical words."
At this moment, Catherine's heart suddenly felt much lighter.
William said: "Let's get back to the main topic. What is the specific content of the commission?"
After understanding Catherine's background, the fact that the other party could use witchcraft most likely came from her mother.
As for anything further, it was her family's affair.
William naturally wouldn't be so tactless as to ask about things that made the other party sad.
Catherine steadied her breathing, nodded, and said: "Rossi told me... oh! Rossi is the accepter of this commission."
"He also seems to come from the Church and is an exorcist ranked in the top twenty on the leaderboard."
William raised an eyebrow.
"Mr. Rossi said this commission was caused by a 'seance incident'. Two children seemed to be entangled by an evil spirit while playing a seance game."
William rubbed his chin: "Spirit channeling again... What rating is this commission."
"It seems to be an Anomaly."
"Anomaly?"
William looked surprised.
"An Anomaly-rated commission, and a top-twenty exorcist on the leaderboard can't solve it alone?"
Catherine also rested her hand on her chin.
"Mmh~ Actually, I was also very curious at first. But Mr. Rossi said the identity of the client this time is a bit different."
"The other party seems to be named... Chris, the author of that recent popular bestseller, The Exorcist. That lady said the contents of the book were all adapted from her own true experiences."
"The Exorcist... isn't this the case I saw in that Church history book," William thought secretly.
Looking at it this way, this Ms. Chris should be the female lead of that 1973 work.
"Mr. Rossi has a good relationship with Ms. Chris. She said a gentleman recently came to ask her about the exorcism back then, and then came this commission," Catherine said.
"Mr. Rossi has always been very steady. He is never careless with any commission, which is why he came to me."
William nodded.
It seemed he had encountered the world after the events of The Exorcist ended, but this also reminded William of something.
"I remember the original evil spirit was an evil god from outside North America, possessing a statue. And appearing together with the statue, there seemed to be a silver badge!"
His eyes gradually brightened.
This matter was also recorded in that True Record of Church History, which William had just read not long ago.
Looking at it this way, this commission might be able to find clues to the Apostle Badge.
"Could that guy named Rossi also be after this thing?" William pondered inwardly.
But no matter what, he decided to go and take a look.
"I am somewhat interested in this commission, but whether I join or not will have to wait until I've read the specific materials," William said.
"Mmh! No problem!"
Catherine smiled and nodded.
"Then let's head over now; they are currently discussing the commission."
After speaking, the two headed off in a certain direction.
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