Working Records in a Weird World - 17

 

| WRIAWW | Allow Me to Send You Back into The Arms Of God | 17

The prayer room was pitch black, with two individuals unable to see each other, separated by a confessional wall.

The Virgin Mary, depicted on the stained-glass wall, cradled the infant Jesus with a gentle and loving expression. Seven archangels surrounded them, their snow-white wings edged with gold, exuding a sacred and solemn aura.

This was likely the "confession ceremony" mentioned earlier.

Zong Le wasn’t the type to pry into others' privacy, but in this situation, he couldn’t move forward or retreat, leaving him awkwardly frozen in place.

To make matters worse, the conversation below continued, as if he weren’t even there.

"What?! You like men?!" Madam Xue suddenly raised her voice, her tone sharp enough to pierce eardrums. "Aren’t you a priest? How can you be so shameless!"

"Being a priest is a profession, you don't necessarily have to believe in God."

Joshua spoke calmly, "Moreover, your words are biased, madam. I am pure in body and mind. I’ve never been in a romantic relationship. I’m simply stating my sexual orientation. Please pay attention to your words."

Hearing this, Madam Xue, who had been ready to tear him apart moments ago, finally calmed down.

She snorted coldly, "Hmph, at least you’re clean."

Zong Le, eavesdropping outside: "..."

This conversation had too many absurd points, leaving him at a loss for words.

He was still debating whether to take a few steps back and find another spot to get some cold wind to avoid overhearing anymore private information. Unfortunately, the two in the prayer room were oblivious to his discomfort and immediately launched into another round of confrontation.

"Since that’s the case, it seems there’s still room for discussion, isn’t there?"

Madam Xue unfolded her fan, the lace patterns on its edge conveniently obscuring her dark eyes.

Joshua stayed silent.

He stood on the other side of the confessional wall, twisting the authority’s ring on his finger, his expression inscrutable.

Three days of investigation had been enough for the S-level survivors to grasp the general abilities of this weird.

First, this wasn’t an old S-level weird. Its estimated that it has not been formed not too long ago, and its killing methods were crude and bloody, almost entirely without pattern.

Most importantly, it had some deep connection with Madam Xue. With these preliminary conditions, Joshua had a rough idea and took the initiative toward the other party, initiating the confession ritual.

But he hadn’t expected Madam Xue to have an ace up her sleeve.

The weird’s domain wasn’t particularly strong, and the enhancements it could provide were limited. The probability of it harming him through force was close to zero, but it was bound by a rule.

【No lies may be spoken within the prayer room】

Lying would directly trigger the weird’s killing rule.

Who would have thought that this seemingly weak weird could possess a conceptual domain, the most challenging type to form?

Although Joshua’s mind raced with various schemes to exploit loopholes in the domain’s rules, using such methods against this weird's level was overkill and unnecessary. 

After weighing the pros and cons, he decided to stay put and continue dealing with Madam Xue, the main NPC of the mission, to see if there was a simpler way to resolve this.

"I’m glad we can be honest with each other in this prayer room."

Madam Xue was completely unaware of his thoughts. She picked up a long-handled lighter and lit the candlestick in the center of the prayer room: "My earlier question might have been a bit presumptuous. After all, during the duration of your employment, we've only known each other for three days. Perhaps as we get to know each other better, Mr. Joshua, you might change your mind."

The flickering candlelight cast a soft glow on the woman's face, making her crimson lips appear as red as blood.

"I've heard that in a traditional confession room, the priest listens to a believer's confession and gives forgiveness. Unfortunately, I have nothing to confess, nor do I need anyone's forgiveness. But I am quite curious about Mr. Joshua. How about we exchange questions? We must answer each other's questions truthfully, which might help us understand each other better. What do you think?"

"Agreed."

Joshua was eager to clarify the biggest doubt about this mission, and Madam Xue's suggestion was exactly what he wanted.

"Then, ladies first."

Hearing this, Madam Xue smiled with satisfaction: "You just said that you've never had a romantic relationship. What do you mean by that? Have you never had close contact with anyone, or have you never had any emotional attachment to anyone? Of course, the emotions I'm referring to aren't limited to romantic love, but any human emotions."

"......"

The question wasn't particularly tricky, but it subtly touched on Joshua's bottom line.

He was usually very interested in others' secrets but guarded his own closely.

But now wasn't the time to turn hostile.

Thinking this, Joshua spoke calmly: "The latter."

"Oh my, so you've never given any extra emotions to anyone? Does such a person really exist in the world? How ruthless."

Hearing his answer, Madam Xue's red lips curled into a smile: "If I remember correctly, the white-clad Bai Shao who follows you everywhere is extremely loyal to you. What would he think if he knew he was following a cold-hearted saint?"

"My turn," Joshua ignored her teasing:

"Three months ago, the daily newspaper of Guiyi City reported a series of murders in the Tianmenfu community, where several highly decomposed bodies were dug up in the garden of a villa. Is it a coincidence that the location matches the newly renovated rose bushes in your garden, Madam Xue?"

The smile on Madam Xue's face slowly faded.

Her knuckles turned white as she gripped her folding fan, and after a long pause, she said: "I underestimated you. Yes, it did happen at my place, but what does that prove?"

"Madam Xue, you had to spend a lot of money to settle the matter quietly, right? Just like how your son stole from the post station yesterday. Having money and power combined breeds simple ruthless violence."

"Just a few lowly commoners died. Such things happen countless times every day in Guiyi City. Is the cold-hearted Mr. Joshua going to seek justice for these commoners?"

In the first round of their exchange, Madam Xue didn't gain much advantage.

So she regrouped and, unwilling to concede, began the second round.

"What does humanity mean to you?"

This time, Joshua's silence lasted longer than before.

And the longer he remained silent, the more pleased Madam Xue became, feeling she had finally found a chink in the young priest's armor.

And indeed, it was as she wished.

"If I had to describe it, humans in my eyes are equivalent to lambs."

"Lambs? Why describe them like that?"

"That's another question, Madam." Joshua smiled, but the warmth in his expression had vanished, replaced by a hint of displeasure. "As far as I know, you have an eldest son. And your third husband passed away three years ago due to illness. Like your previous husbands, he left you this villa and a substantial inheritance. Are you so eager to find a new father for the child in your womb because its origins are less than honorable?"

"Less than honorable? What kind of joke is that?"

When the conversation turned to her child, a tender light flickered in Madam Xue's eyes.

She gently caressed her pregnant belly, her face radiating maternal warmth. "It has the purest, most proven bloodline known. It is my proudest child, a gift from god."

Sensing the subtle ripple in the atmosphere at the mention of a certain keyword, Joshua's eyes curved slightly.

As the leader of the brain faction within the Infinite Space, his mind palace always displays an invisible puzzle. Every seemingly casual remark, every fleeting micro-expression, could become a crucial piece of the puzzle.

For instance, now, the layers of mist had been completely cleared, and the truth, like a completed picture, was clearly revealed.

"So why describe humans as lambs?"

Seeing Madam Xue still fixated on this question, Joshua, feeling quite pleased, casually replied, "Have you read religious texts, Madam? In the Bible, God is often compared to a shepherd, and believers to lambs, to illustrate God's wisdom and benevolence."

"In my view, sheep are foolish and blind, and only follow the shepherd's guidance."

The flickering candlelight in the prayer room passed through the silver hair falling by his ears, refracting through the shimmering gold ornaments, casting myriad eerie shadows on the walls.

At this moment of achieving his goal, the holy mask he had worn in front of others finally slipped away. The icy blue eyes no longer held any trace of compassion, only an absolute coldness that sent shivers down one's spine, like the eternal snow atop a towering mountain.

"I am the one who wields the shepherd's whip. All living beings are merely lambs in my flock, and they can be taken or given as I please."

Outside, Zong Le, who had been hesitating, was startled to hear the entire conversation.

Realizing he couldn't listen any longer, he quietly let the skylight cover slide back into place, sealing it shut.

At the same moment, Joshua, standing inside the prayer room, noticed something out of the corner of his eye. The silver-haired Patriarch suddenly looked up, his blue eyes piercing like blades toward the stained-glass window above.

The skylight remained silent, reflecting the unchanging black sky outside.

No matter how one looked at it, there was nothing unusual.

But Joshua was certain that someone had been there just now and eavesdropping on the conversation.

A chilling killing intent mixed with the fury of being overheard condensed into ice in his eyes.

"Wonderful! Wonderful! This is exactly the feeling I wanted..."

Madam Xue sensed the leaking murderous aura, her chest heaving. Her dark pupils dilated with excitement, flickering with a morbid light, trembling with exhilaration.

"This unrestrained, undisguised nature! You... you are even more perfect than I imagined!"

Madam Xue had seen countless people in her life, and her judgment was always accurate.

The first time she saw this young priest, she seemed to see through his serene and composed exterior, catching a glimpse of something profoundly unfathomable within. After all, those who walk in darkness can always more easily discern their kind, sensing the rot that seeps through no matter how well disguised.

"You are exactly as I imagined, and I admire you very much. So, would you reconsider my previous proposal?"

Madam Xue gracefully took half a step back, her right hand adorned with bright red nail polish gently raised towards him in a standard gesture of invitation: "Of course, you don’t have to be the father of the child. Because I have this confidence that as long as we join forces, we can surely rule over Guiyi City."

"Whether it’s the Central Court or Taikang Yongle, by then, everyone will bow beneath our feet!"

"..."

A mocking glint flashed in the silver-haired Patriarch's eyes.

"Join forces? Even mentioning you and me in the same breath makes me feel nauseous."

This time, Joshua didn’t even bother to give her a direct glance. He gently smoothed out the non-existent wrinkles on the sleeves of his cuffs, the edge of his monocle gleaming coldly in the candlelight.

"Ants should behave like ants and stay in their place, and not look up every day, coveting what doesn’t belong to them."

Madam Xue’s expression froze abruptly, and realizing the insult, she was enraged. She slammed her palm on the table, the sandalwood desk groaning under the pressure, seemingly on the verge of a sharp crack.

"——"

But no matter how she opened her mouth, it was as if she had lost her voice, unable to utter a word.

She finally realized something, turning her head sharply in panic to look at the priest slowly emerging from the wall.

"My abilities have always been harsh, and it's not the kind of ability that shows immediate results. However, thanks to your admiration, and your generous affection, I was able to meet the strict preliminary conditions."

The corners of Joshua’s lips lifted, blooming into a smile as pure as the first rays of the sun.

This smile seemed capable of melting ice, yet it sent a chill through the marrow of those who beheld it, their backs turning cold.

"So now..."

The man’s silver eyelashes fluttered gently in the candlelight.

"Allow me to send you back into the arms of God."

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