Godfather Raphael

Raphael's knowledge of mysticism included the names of every Potion in the Prisoner and Criminal Pathways.

However, he knew only their names, not their formulas.

But for now, that alone was enough.

Raphael first recalled that the Sequence 2 Potion of the Prisoner Pathway was called Ancient Bane, while the Sequence 2 Potion of the Criminal Pathway was called Archduke of Blood.

Then he told Chen Qingzhi, "If your patriarch's main abilities are curses and possession, he should bring his behavior closer to that of an Ancient Bane.

"If his abilities lean toward cunning, transformation, and delirious whispers, he should bring his behavior closer to blood.

"As for exactly how to do that, he'll have to work it out himself."

"Bring his behavior... closer to blood..." Chen Qingzhi had no idea what that meant, but then he realized that this method might be a case of supreme skill appearing simple. As a mere Deification Realm cultivator, he could not yet comprehend it.

Then he drew a deep breath and said reverently, "Our patriarch's signature divine ability is indeed the Heavenly Demon True Form. His other divine ability, the Demonic Sound Technique, is also renowned."

Raphael smiled. "It seems that although cultivators in our two worlds have somewhat different names for certain abilities, their underlying nature is much the same."

Suddenly, Raphael felt his strength ebb away. He no longer even had the strength to stay seated or speak.

He froze for a moment, then put on an inscrutable air. "It seems our conversation must end here for now."

As he spoke, his head lolled to one side, and he passed out.

The instant Raphael felt his spirit leave the body, he heard Chen Qingzhi cry out in alarm, "Oh no, this body has run out of magical power! Demon Lord... Demon Lord..."

Raphael sucked in a sharp breath and sat up in the reclining chair.

He immediately looked around. He was back in Markel's apartment.

Phew...

After letting out a long breath, Raphael still could not tell whether his experience had been a dream or something that had really happened.

Raphael first glanced at the partly closed door. He could faintly hear Audrey and Markel talking.

Then he took out his pocket watch and checked the time. It was already well past midnight.

Stretching, Raphael got up, hid behind the curtains, and surveyed the street below.

There were only a few vagrants wandering the narrow street, and no one suspicious.

Then Raphael sat back down in the reclining chair and went over his recent experience again.

In fact, Chen Qingzhi's summoning had succeeded. Although Raphael was only at Sequence 8, he really could help solve the man's problem.

Before Raphael woke, in the room where Audrey was being guarded.

Carter was a Gang member who looked fairly sharp and did not behave too crudely.

But however sharp he was, under the influence of Audrey's abilities, he had "inadvertently" told her even some of the Mafia's secrets, without realizing it himself.

According to Carter, although the self-styled Godfather Raphael could be rather extreme and reckless in how he did things, he valued loyalty and friendship. He was also generous to his subordinates, and the Mafia's members all held him in high regard.

Then Markel came to relieve Carter, and Audrey began chatting with the one-legged owner of the apartment.

Audrey smiled. "Mr. Markel, do you own this apartment?"

"Yes, beautiful miss," Markel replied, somewhat stiffly.

"There's something you should understand," Audrey said from her chair. "Sooner or later, the police will trace us here. Raphael and the others can flee without much to worry about, but if you go with them, you'll have to give up this property."

"I know," Markel said calmly. "If the police find this place, I won't run. I'll let them take me away.

"I imagine that if they have a scapegoat, the police will be quite happy to close the case."

His answer surprised Audrey. From what she could tell, Markel was not being coerced. He genuinely intended to take the blame for Raphael and Carter.

After a little thought, she asked, "It seems Raphael once helped you, and the help he gave you was enough to make you willing to give up everything to repay him."

"Yes, beautiful miss," Markel said simply.

Audrey smiled. "It seems you have quite a story yourself. Since there's nothing else to do right now, why don't you tell me about it?"

Markel looked out at the night sky and suddenly felt a strong urge to talk. "Last year, I still had a happy family, a gentle wife, and two adorable children.

"But after an accident at work late last year, I gradually lost it all.

"My leg was injured, and the weekly treatment costs were very high. We soon used up our savings. My wife's wages could barely support the family, let alone pay for my treatment..."

Audrey paused in surprise. "Didn't the factory pay you compensation?"

"Of course it did." Markel suddenly gave a cold laugh. "Yes, of course it did!

"But the money wasn't going to be paid to me right away. They said they first had to assess my injuries and go through certain legal procedures.

"I waited and waited. Instead of compensation, all I received was terrible news. Because I hadn't been treated in time, my leg couldn't be saved."

Audrey was taken aback again and gestured for him to continue.

Markel went on, "Our family moved into the cheapest apartment in the East Borough. I watched my wife work day and night, and I watched our two children grow thinner and weaker.

"Then an illness struck. They said it was an influenza outbreak following the Great Smog Event.

"My weakened wife and children died in my arms, one after another. I lay down beside them, intending to join them in the embrace of the Lord."

At this point, Markel's voice sank low. Audrey could still hear in his tone just how desperate he had been.

"But I couldn't accept it!" Markel said, choking up. "Our whole family had been full of hope for life. We'd never harbored any wicked thoughts, yet we were left to die of illness in a cramped rented room, without even a bite of bread before we died.

"Meanwhile, those factory owners and managers had done so many terrible things, yet they ate such fine food and lived in such luxury."

The smile gradually faded from Audrey's face. She did not know why things were like this either.

Markel continued, "Then I remembered Godfather Raphael, whom a neighbor had mentioned. They said he could solve problems that neither the police nor the courts could handle.

"I decided to give it a try and struggled over to find Mr. Raphael.

"I'd planned to tell Raphael what had happened to me, then go back and leave this world with my wife and children. But to my surprise, Mr. Raphael said he could solve my problem the very next day."

At this point, Markel waved his arms excitedly. "And the next day, I heard some astonishing news. The factory owner who had deliberately delayed paying my compensation had had one of his legs sawed off during the night. They said the whole street heard his screams. He didn't die, but his eldest son, who liked forcing himself on the female workers, was hanged."

He smiled. "That very afternoon, the compensation I should have received was paid out. Only later did I hear that the factory owner's severed leg had appeared late at night in the bed of the judge handling my case."

Audrey was taken aback. Although she had never much liked solving problems with violence, she found Raphael's actions rather satisfying.