"Come out, Sir Bennett. We need to have a proper talk. A friend of mine needs your help..."
Constantine called from outside the coffin. Several minutes passed before the lid reluctantly opened a crack. Bennett's eyes glowed red in the darkness as he looked at Constantine and said, "John, I've slept for less than ten years. I haven't even recovered half my strength. Whatever you want to do, I'm afraid I can't help you."
"It's only a small favor. I've already retired from the magical world. There can't possibly be anything major that needs your help."
Bennett's eyes widened in surprise. Looking at Constantine's face, he said, "You retired from the magical world? How did you pay off those astonishing debts of yours?"
"That's a long story. Come out first."
A few minutes later, Jim, Bennett, and Constantine were seated together at the bar of the Oblivion Bar.
After hearing Constantine's account, Bennett let out a long breath. It was hard to say whether it was a sigh of emotion or the relief of having narrowly escaped disaster.
"John, you really are a lucky man." After taking a sip of wine, Bennett sighed. "Your friend paid off your debts at the cost of himself. From now on, you're different from us."
"Nothing's really different." Constantine gently clinked glasses with him and said, "You should know that paying off a debt doesn't mean it's over. I can't avoid dealing with the magical world for the rest of my life. Too many people have come looking for me."
"When we parted ways, I told you that I would need at least a century of sleep to make up for the strength I had lost. What could possibly have made you wake me early?"
"More importantly, I want to ask you something..." Constantine