Chapter 504: Chapter 504

The room was a little warm, and the cat looked drowsy. It grew impatient with waiting, standing up to paw at Jenkins's clothes. He caught it deftly, setting it on his lap and stroking its fur without thinking.

"The facts proved the house was safe. But you're right, it's important to maintain a sense of reverence. Whether ghosts truly exist or not, the power of the gods is the greatest of all. I won't hide it from you—I am a devout follower of the great Legacy Sage. That's why, before moving in, I spent some time praying alone inside the house."

The portly merchant asked eagerly.

"I can't say for sure. After all, I've never once seen a ghost or spirit in my home. It was likely just a baseless rumor spread by the townspeople."

He took a sip of his tea as he spoke, the conversation unfolding exactly as he had orchestrated.

He feigned a moment of surprise, then asked tentatively,

"Don't tell me... you've encountered that sort of trouble as well? Forgive me, I imagine that's not something one would wish to share."

He shook his head, a look of apology on his face.

With that question, Mr. Nelly had indirectly admitted his own predicament.

"If I may be so bold, what is your faith?"

"The Traveler, god of contracts."

Jenkins nodded and sat up straighter, looking his collaborator in the eye.

"I am pleased to hear you worship one of the Righteous Gods. Then you must pray. Pray with all your heart to your deity!"

Chocolate was curled into a ball on Jenkins's lap. The cat cracked open its left eye to glance up at the man putting on such a show, its nose twitching twice before it closed its eye again. It had always known Jenkins was a master of theatrics, but today's performance was in a league of its own.

"And that will be enough?"

Mr. Nelly asked incredulously, the suggestion sounding utterly absurd to him.

"Of course. Devout prayer is all that's needed. Or do you doubt the greatness of the Righteous Gods?"

Jenkins was certain his expression was the very picture of piety.

"No, no, no, of course I believe!"

he declared hastily. After a moment's hesitation, he asked, "And how devout is devout enough?"

"Utterly devout. Absolutely and completely devout."

Jenkins nodded as he answered, deliberately stressing the word "utterly," his expression suggesting this was the most obvious thing in the world.

Mr. Nelly's lip twitched. He reached up to rub his nose, his upright posture slumping as he leaned back against his chair.

The writer chuckled softly, conveying his understanding of the merchant's skepticism.

"Of course," he conceded, "if you've truly run into that sort of trouble, you could always find a professional exorcist. I hear they're not so rare these days."

"Hmph. A bunch of charlatans, the lot of them!"

Jenkins hid another chuckle. According to the Church's files, a small fraction of the so-called exorcists Mr. Nelly had hired were, in fact, genuine Enchanters. The problem was their low level. The malevolent spirit that had hounded the merchant all the way from Cheslan to the Fidektri Kingdom was clearly beyond their capabilities.

"Then what about the Church? The Orthodox Churches offer blessings, baptisms, and other rites to all their followers. There is a fee, of course, but for a man of your means, I imagine that would be of little concern."

The merchant's thick lips parted, but he remained silent.

Like most people of his time, the merchant held a deep-seated fear and reverence for the gods. He had a guilty conscience, which made him reluctant to set foot in a church. He would rather suffer the torment of a malevolent spirit than...

"The wrongs he's committed must be far more serious than what the Church has uncovered so far."

Jenkins was now certain of it. Maintaining his smile, he drew his pocket watch from his breast pocket and checked the time, then coaxed Chocolate to climb onto his shoulder.

"It's getting late. I believe it's time I took my leave. I wish us the best with our collaboration..."

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Mr. Nelly wiped the sweat from his brow as he spoke, licking his lips.

"Baron Williamette, please..."

"Rest assured," Jenkins cut in smoothly. "I am not one to gossip about another's private affairs."

"No, no, that's not what I meant! I have the utmost faith in your character. You are, without a doubt, the most upstanding and kindest gentleman I have ever met! Please, help me. I'm certain you know a way!"

Jenkins shook his head and retrieved his hat from the rack by the door, setting it firmly on his head.

"My apologies. Though I grew up in this city, I'm not acquainted with any exorcists."

He hesitated, then his eyes lit up with a desperate idea. "You can do it! Yes, you can perform the exorcism! Didn't you do as much in your own home?"

"But the story of that house being haunted was merely a local rumor. Perhaps what people saw were simply burglars in the night. Besides—"

he shook his head with an air of regret, "only ordained priests, recognized by the Church, have the authority to perform baptisms and blessings for the faithful. I'm afraid I am no clergyman."

"But no one has to know! I swear I won't breathe a word of it! And regardless of whether it works, I will reward you handsomely..."

Seeing the look of displeasure that instantly crossed Jenkins's face, he quickly added,

"Please, save me! A man as kind as you couldn't possibly leave me to die! Yes, please save me, Baron Williamette, or I swear I will perish!"

He threw his dignity to the wind, lunging toward Jenkins and collapsing to his knees on the red carpet, his body wracked with sobs.

"You must save me... I can't bear it any longer... that thing... that thing..."

His tears fell one by one onto the carpet, darkening its crimson hue.

From an angle the sobbing man couldn't see, the corner of Jenkins's mouth curled into a smirk. It vanished in less than a second, replaced once more by that same troubled expression.

Unable to withstand Mr. Nelly's desperate pleas, Jenkins finally, reluctantly, agreed. He was quick to declare, however, that he was only acting to help someone in need. Though it may violate the Church's ordinances, he insisted, it was an act of justice.

He required no payment from Mr. Nelly. However, if the merchant truly wished to show his gratitude, he could find an excuse to make a generous donation to the Church of the Sage.

Mr. Nelly was so moved he nearly burst into tears again.

Of course, Jenkins thought to himself, the man's acting was quite superb as well.

Now that they had an agreement, Mr. Nelly was unwilling to wait a moment longer. He eagerly asked Jenkins if any special items needed to be prepared, but Jenkins simply replied that he needed nothing.