Senior Deacon Visits

"Bang! Bang!"

Luther pulled the trigger in succession at the target ten meters away, the revolver emitting loud reports that continuously jolted his web of the thumb and palm.

After all six bullets were spent, he lowered his arm, let out a long breath, and squinted his eyes to look at the target opposite him.

There, three bullet holes were embedded in the target.

A fifty percent hit rate; I still need more practice...

Luther's mouth twitched slightly as he muttered to himself in his heart.

He used his thumb to flip open the scorching cylinder, gave it a slight shake, and the spent casings clattered onto the floor.

He was currently in a small, enclosed underground shooting range, with no one else around. This was the underground range at Zolante Street No. 3, most of which belonged to the Tingen City Police Department, with only this small area reserved for the Night Watchers to practice.

Luther walked over to the rest area to sit down, placed the revolver on the table, and began to carefully wipe and maintain it with a handkerchief.

Come to think of it, this revolver and the bullets were both obtained from Old Neil.

As he maintained the firearm, he recalled the scene from that day.

Because he had been terrified by the anomaly on Old Neil, Luther had run straight upstairs to find Dunn after his mysticism class, not even daring to collect the gun he had been longing for. He had originally worried that Dunn would question him, as Old Neil was a teammate of many years while Luther was just a newcomer on his first day. However, when he carefully described the appearance of the eyes behind Old Neil, Dunn believed him quickly.

According to Dunn, the image of cold, lashless eyes perfectly matched the description of the Evil God at the pinnacle of the pathway Old Neil belonged to—something Luther, who lacked a foundation in mysticism, could not have fabricated.

Since Dunn already believed him, the crux of the matter became how to resolve the problem with Old Neil.

How to resolve it?

In one word: wait.

Dunn told Luther not to tell anyone for the time being, and that he would handle it properly. Before that, Luther had to maintain a normal state, continuing to attend classes, talk to Old Neil, and learn as if nothing had happened.

Consequently, the following few days were extremely difficult for Luther. He tried hard to act as if nothing was wrong, going to work, collecting his gun, undergoing training, and joking around with Old Neil while being stared at by the strange eyes behind his back... it was almost like having a split personality. If it weren't for the fact that Luther still maintained a certain level of trust in Dunn, he would have suspected that he was in on it with Old Neil too.

Luther felt immense pressure because of this, which gave him even greater motivation to practice his shooting. Every day after work, he wouldn't go home immediately, but would first come to the range to practice for half an hour.

Fortunately, tonight was the final deadline.

Luther polished the revolver until it shone, then filled the cylinder one by one with Demon Hunting Bullets, closed it, and tucked it into his shoulder holster. He stood up, patted the gunpowder dust off his clothes, took the coat hanging on the coat rack nearby, put it on, and stepped out of the range onto the street.

The Sun was gradually setting. As it was the time for people to get off work, the streets were becoming crowded with people and carriages, bustling with activity. Luther merged into the flow of people, walked along the street for a while, entered the Old Weir Restaurant, picked up the dinner he had ordered, and then, carrying the food box, boarded a public carriage to head home.

By the time he returned home, the smell of gunpowder on him had mostly dissipated.

Pushing open the door to Narcissus Street No. 6, Luther saw his younger sister, Cecilia, sitting at the living room table reviewing her schoolwork. To make it easier to study, she had tied her shoulder-length black hair into a ponytail, revealing her fair, slender neck, the curve of which was as graceful as a swan's. Seeing Luther enter, she looked up and smiled:

"You're quite punctual getting off work today."

As she turned to speak, Cecilia's black ponytail swayed back and forth, looking very cute.

"Unfortunately, that's not the case."

Luther placed the food box on the table, "I have to stand guard today. I'll be staying at the company for the night and won't be back to sleep. Eat well, remember to lock the door, and if there's any emergency, go to the Moretti family at No. 2."

"Stand guard?"

"Yes, I have to stay awake all night... everyone has to take turns, and it's my turn tonight," Luther explained. Sensing that his sister's smile had faded slightly, he added, "The good news is that there's a subsidy for standing guard, so I'll get a bit more pay."

"I understand."

Cecilia lowered her head and took the food box, "You should tell me earlier next time; I was waiting for you to have dinner together."

Her obedient and quiet demeanor made Luther feel a bit guilty, and he couldn't help but give a few more instructions before reluctantly heading out the door.

By the time Luther returned to the Blackthorn Security Company, the sky had turned completely dark.

In the season of August and September, the night temperature was just right. He walked into the company lobby, facing the cool night breeze.

"Oh! Luther, it's you. Good evening."

Roshan, behind the desk, greeted him. This girl was unexpectedly thick-skinned; after discovering that Luther really wasn't some Strange Person, and having chatted a few times, she had quickly become familiar with him and could now talk and laugh with him.

"Good evening. Have you had dinner yet?"

Luther also greeted her casually, turned, and entered the lounge to close his eyes and rest on the sofa bed.

He had told his sister Cecilia that he was working the night shift, but in reality, it wasn't his turn to guard the Chanis Gate tonight. In fact, he had come here tonight because Dunn had specifically entrusted him to keep quiet and wait for notice.

Not long after, the door to the lounge opened, and someone walked in. The person had long black hair and a cold expression; it was none other than Luo Yao, whom Luther had met before.

"Ms. Luo Yao, have your injuries healed?"

Luther said. The other party walked steadily, and although she still looked a bit tired, her spirit was good.

"Mm, it's basically no problem now."

Luo Yao replied. She sat on the sofa opposite Luther and looked at him with great curiosity.

When the two had met in the lounge before, Luther was the one being protected, but now, he had transformed into her teammate. The world was truly wondrous.

"I think I still owe you a thank you. Thank you for saving me."

Although she had been unconscious at the time, according to others' descriptions, if it hadn't been for Luther, she might have been torn apart and devoured by the cultists long ago.

"You're welcome. I was mainly doing it for self-preservation at the time."

Luther spoke the truth, "But we are teammates now, isn't it only natural to protect one's teammates?"

Luo Yao nodded.

She wanted to say something more, but the lounge door was opened once again. Dunn stood outside, having donned his black trench coat and hat, "Luther, come with me... Oh, Luo Yao is here too, that's good, you come along as well."

"Captain, where are we going?"

Half-surprised and half-bewildered, Luo Yao stood up and asked.

"We are going to the Tingen City train station; a Senior Deacon has arrived."