Chapter 1988: Chapter 1988

As it turned out, a series of coincidences turned what was supposed to be the final transaction with Queen Isabella into an unexpected opportunity for the Church to land a prize catch. The vampire, inadvertently struck by the power of the bronze bird that failed to fly away at the critical moment, was unable to transform into a swarm of bats to escape. And so, trapped by divine arts, it fell right into their net.

Less than half a week had passed, and the Church had yet to extract any information from its captive. This wasn't because the Church was too merciful to employ certain... "highly effective" interrogation methods. It was simply that the captured vampire had entered a state of suspended animation.

It was impossible to determine whether this was an innate vampiric talent or a failsafe left behind by the Difference Engine's modifications.

Regardless, when Jenkins saw the hideous creature inside the pure silver container at the bottom of the lake west of the Evergreen Forest, it was nailed to a cross with holy silver spikes, each inscribed with one of the twelve different sacred emblems.

"Just how much silver was used here?"

Jenkins asked, using flames to evaporate the water from his body. For security, the pure silver cage had been anchored to the lakebed with chains, and additional measures were in place on the lake's surface. No one could get in or out, from the inside or the outside, without permission.

"To the Church, the value of a non-human demigod far exceeds the cost of this silver. Besides..."

Mr. Gilbert scratched his nose and glanced down at his shoes. Dıscover more novels at NoveIꜰire.net

"The offerings from the faithful... well, they're quite generous."

Offerings from the faithful could, in a sense, be considered unearned income, but the reality was that no church on earth would refuse them.

He nodded in understanding, then reached out to feel the vampire's life force.

Accompanying Jenkins into the cell, which resembled an underwater silver coffin, were two other demigods in addition to Mr. Gilbert of the Sage's Church: one from the Church of Sun and Justice and one from the Church of the Unlit Moon. They were there partly to witness any potential conversation and partly to protect Jenkins.

Not that Jenkins particularly needed protection these days, but it never hurt to be cautious.

The vampire on the cross was shriveled and desiccated, as if completely drained of moisture. It looked more like a mummy than a living creature, its ugliness reaching a whole new level. After getting a nod of permission, Jenkins lightly tapped its skin, the brief contact allowing him to perceive the mechanical structure within.

Combining that with the information on its flesh and blood, which he gleaned by sensing its life force with the World Tree Seedling, he essentially unraveled all the secrets held within the vampire's body.

He pointed to the creature's left chest, where the heart is located in most humanoid creatures—and, naturally, in vampires.

"I can feel something strange in here, a sliver of metal about the size of a fingernail. Its whole body is laced with metal, but this piece is different. It's restraining the vampire, slowly transforming it into a metallic state. We were right not to force it awake. I can sense it... it's like a trigger-activated steam bomb... No, maybe it's not just trigger-activated. It could be on a timer, too..."

He frowned in thought, reaching out as if to use his affinity for metal and control over flesh to "pull" the shard out directly, but then he abruptly snatched his hand back.

"Should we have the Church of Creation and Machinery send someone down to figure out how to remove it?"

"Absolutely. And as soon as possible. I don't know what that metal shard will do, but I'm certain it's a final failsafe designed to keep us from its secrets. Honestly, I'm clueless when it comes to mechanics, so this is all just a guess. We need a professional from the Church of Creation and Machinery to get that thing out."

"Yes, I'm completely clueless about it."

He patted his cat and added:

"Also, do we have any kind of truth potion? It could be useful if we actually manage to wake this thing up soon."

"I can ask, but a potion might not be particularly effective on a non-human demigod."

Jenkins was able to use Psychography to directly sketch the detailed internal structure of the vampire's chest. This made it much easier for the demigods from the Church of Creation and Machinery to extract the metal shard he had discovered through a minimally invasive, almost surgical procedure.

The extracted shard was as thin as a fingernail, a long, slender sliver of metal. To Jenkins's eyes, an irrepressible black aura flickered and danced around it. It was likely a fragment of some Cursed Item, though it could also have been an unknown creation concocted by the Difference Engine.

"Look, there are some runes here."

Jenkins had spotted some ancient script on one of its smoother surfaces, though it seemed no one else could see it. He copied the characters down to decipher later. While the metal shard was being taken back to the surface, the group underwater began the formal interrogation of the vampire.

Animal blood was splashed onto its body, and the desiccated form swelled up like a sponge. The whole process was exceptionally nauseating, a true test of one's sanity. It was so grotesque that Jenkins had to cover his cat's eyes to shield it from a sight no creature its age should witness.

Just as they expected, the newly awakened vampire began to struggle and wail desperately. Only after it had nearly screamed itself hoarse did Jenkins step forward, holding a small vial.

The Church didn't believe simple questioning would be effective, so they hadn't planned on attempting a conversation. The potion Jenkins held was a creation of Old Jack, who was convinced that if this particular concoction failed, no other would succeed.

After forcing the creature to drink the contents, Jenkins posed the first question:

The vampire had already revealed its name when it made its appearance over the weekend. Now, exhausted, it hung its head limply and, upon hearing the question, gave the correct answer:

"Brujah Gangrel Nofeller."

This time, there was no answer. Jenkins glanced at the vial in his hand and poured the remaining half down the creature's throat, but still, he received no response.

"Don't tell me it only works once."

He grumbled under his breath. Seeing that the potion had failed, the Church members asked Jenkins to leave the cell. They intended to employ certain... less pleasant methods to make the vampire talk. The Church, after all, was not an organization built entirely on benevolence.