The Priest's Talent

"Sorry, ten months ago? Are you saying I died at the beginning of this year?"

This time, not only Shade but even Sister Devlin slightly raised her head to look at that "boy."

"I died at the beginning of this year?"

Shade repeated himself, pointing at himself in disbelief.

"Mr. Barton, even jokes shouldn't be phrased like that. Please hold my hand and tell me whether I'm still alive."

Even if calculated from when this Outlander had occupied the original owner's body, the "date of death" should have been Saturday of the third week of June this year, not the much earlier beginning of Year 1853.

As Shade spoke, he held out his hand. Joey Barton indeed struggled to his feet, bent over, and reached out to grasp it.

One ring.

"Yes, you are alive."

He released Shade after only a brief touch, the "boy's" face still filled with disbelief.

"The divination just now showed death, and now this... Oh, Mr. Watson, I'm sorry, but I don't think I can perform a divination for you."

"What does that mean?"

"Perhaps there's something wrong with my divination, or perhaps something happened to you that even you yourself don't know about."

Joey Barton pointed to the envelope on the table.

"You only need to pay for one person. I think you must be one of those people who supposedly escaped the destiny of death."

He looked rather dejected, then spoke softly.

"But sometimes, death is also a very good thing. After all, life must always have an end. A normal birth, normal growth, normal death—this is nature, and something very enviable."

Before Shade could question him again, Joey Barton clapped his hands and had the people outside come in to prepare to see the guests out.

Though Shade was still puzzled, he