Chapter 254 — A New Commission
Cold. Hostile. Like being stared down by a wild beast.
Every inch of Meryl's skin screamed in resistance.
But she forced herself to remember—
This is my child.
Her trembling hand reached out, trying to touch the evil spirit's face.
With a sharp hiss, her palm began to corrode.
Fortunately, the holy artifact Gideon had given her activated in time, purifying the invading aura.
"Jer…" Meryl whispered a name. "That's what we… what I wanted to call you."
"I was never a qualified mother. Nor a good daughter. Over the years, I've hurt everyone around me… including… you."
She clutched at her collar tightly.
"Back then, in that villa invaded by evil spirits… Yude—your father—suddenly lost his footing on the staircase."
"I panicked. I even forgot I was pregnant. I only wanted to save him…"
"I fell down the stairs. There was blood… By the time I reached the hospital, I thought I had lost my child. But the doctor told me one fetus had survived."
As she spoke, the evil aura surrounding the infant spirit suddenly surged violently.
Gideon immediately suppressed it with holy power.
"I felt both grief and relief… After Winnie was born, I built a small gravestone for you in the backyard. I prayed that in your next life, you would meet a better mother."
Her fists tightened, as if reaching a final decision.
"You should hate me. I deserve it. I know you lack a body. If you're willing… you can take mine."
"This is what I owe you."
The evil spirit slowly approached her.
Meryl closed her eyes. Her breathing gradually steadied.
"Why am I afraid of you… You're my child…"
She opened her arms.
"Jer… can I hold you?"
Gideon narrowed his eyes, watching closely.
The moment something went wrong, he would intervene.
But to his surprise—
The evil aura around the infant spirit began to dissipate.
Its form transformed into a pure white infant soul.
It drifted forward and entered Meryl's embrace.
"My child…"
As if sensing something, Meryl slowly tightened her arms.
Gideon knew—this was the moment.
He opened the chapter titled Repose and softly recited the scripture.
A gentle wind suddenly rose within the room.
Centered on Meryl, it formed a small vortex.
Surging holy power poured over the infant soul.
Gradually, its body dissolved into countless glowing white motes.
The vortex carried them upward, scattering into the air.
Moments later—
The wind ceased.
The infant soul vanished completely.
Meryl opened her eyes.
A tear slid down her cheek.
With the Holy Eye, Gideon guided the remaining half of Winnie's soul back into her body.
After conducting a final check, he removed the Smiling Mask from the girl's face.
"M… Mum?"
Winnie quickly regained consciousness. Color returned to her cheeks; she no longer looked frail and hollow.
"Winnie!"
Meryl pulled her daughter tightly into her arms.
Seeing this, Farlin quietly stepped out of the room, giving them space.
"She's fine now," Gideon said. "But anyone possessed for such a long time will be physically weak. She'll need proper rest."
"I don't even know… how to thank you."
Meryl's face was streaked with tears, her voice trembling.
"This is the duty of an exorcist," Gideon replied calmly. "Besides, you've already paid me."
He stepped toward the door.
"I'll leave you two alone."
---
Gideon left the room as well.
In the living room, Farlin looked at him with open admiration.
"Mr. Gideon, your method of exorcism was astonishing."
"I always believed that expelling an evil spirit meant destroying it completely. I never imagined there was another way."
Gideon waved a hand lightly. "As long as the evil is driven away, no method is wrong. The only question is whether it's suitable."
"Your humility matches your strength," Farlin said with a slight bow.
"That girl shouldn't be separated from Meryl for the time being," Gideon added.
Farlin's eyes flickered. "I understand."
"Her father contributed greatly to the Guild. We'll take good care of her. Please rest assured."
Gideon nodded and took his leave.
---
Vatican City — St. Peter's Basilica
Inside the bishop's lounge, sunlight filtered through stained glass and fell across a crimson carpet.
A man in black-and-gold robes stood by the window.
"Archbishop Cole, we've received news from the Exorcist Guild."
A clergyman entered and bowed.
"Speak."
"According to our informants, Beron privately mobilized a Templar Knight yesterday. Both of them have since disappeared."
"The Guild also announced today that all evil materials in the trade hall will be suspended for a month. Even previously scheduled exorcists must wait until next month to retrieve supplies."
"Oh?" Cole turned around.
"The decision has caused considerable dissatisfaction within the Guild. However, they promised to compensate members with resentment points."
"Enzo Allard, the two-star exorcist, was seen maintaining order outside the materials room today."
Cole narrowed his eyes. "Allard… I didn't expect that after fleeing the Vatican, he would hide inside the Exorcist Guild."
"Shall we send someone to capture him?"
"No need."
Cole waved dismissively.
"He's nothing more than a fool motivated by his sister's affair. He won't cause much trouble. The Church's priority lies elsewhere. We cannot waste manpower."
"Understood."
"As for Beron—" Cole's tone turned cold. "That idiot. If he returns alive, you know what to do."
"Yes. The Land of Suffering is in need of fresh blood sacrifices."
Cole nodded. "And that woman—she's probably aware of us now. Send someone smarter next time. Don't approach her for the moment."
"The ritual preparations are far from complete. Let her live a little longer."
"I'll see to it."
"Dismissed."
"Yes. May the True Lord bless you."
---
Two Days Later — Exorcist Guild
Gideon slipped away from the commission board after weaving through the crowd.
Because of Beron's mess, the trade hall had no evil materials available.
So Gideon had been lingering near the commission board, hoping to pick up another "Corruption" rated job.
Only a small portion of his Skin Reconstruction remained incomplete. He preferred to finish it through a safer method.
Unfortunately, no such commission appeared.
With nothing to do, he decided to return to the seminary.
As for the hundred-year holy artifact, he had stored it securely elsewhere. He had no intention of bringing it near Church territory—it would only invite unnecessary trouble.
Just as he reached the elevator—
"Gideon!"
The voice sounded familiar.
He turned around.
A figure in a dark red robe approached.
"Miss Catherine."
He forced a polite smile while subtly inching toward the elevator.
"Whew… Mr. Gideon, I finally found you! Where have you been these past two days? I asked Manager Farlin, but he wouldn't tell me."
Catherine removed her hood, revealing her fair and beautiful face.
"Well… I've been rather busy lately…" Gideon deflected awkwardly. A faint sheen of sweat appeared on his forehead.
"About last time—I wanted to buy more holy artifacts." She stared at him with wide, bright eyes.
The air went still.
"I…" Gideon's heart rate spiked. His mind raced.
After a long pause—
"I forgot."
"Forgot what?" Catherine tilted her head.
"Ahem… after our last transaction, I sold the remaining artifacts. The reason I said otherwise… was because I suspected you might be working with Beron."
In the end, he chose honesty.
"As for restocking… well, when humans need to do something difficult, we tend to procrastinate a little. I just procrastinated a bit too long."
A soft laugh escaped her.
"So you were lying to me?"
She tried to look stern.
"Miss Catherine, given the circumstances at the time, it was a prudent strategy," Gideon insisted.
"Alright! I think you did the right thing!"
She couldn't hold back her laughter any longer. A faint blush colored her cheeks.
"If I were you, I might have done the same."
"The artifact issue isn't urgent. I haven't used up the one I bought yet. When you have more, please consider me first."
She clasped her hands together, looking at him pleadingly.
"It's a deal," Gideon said solemnly.
"Oh, Mr. Gideon, I actually came to see you about something else."
"Oh?"
"You haven't accepted a commission recently, right?"
He shook his head.
"Perfect," she sighed in relief. "I have a commission I'd like to invite you to join."
"Tell me more."
She gestured toward a nearby tavern. "Let's find somewhere quiet. I'll even buy you a drink."
He followed without objection.
They took a private corner room.
After the bartender left, Catherine resumed:
"A friend of mine accepted this commission. He needs three assistants. Besides me, he's already found one."
"The ability you used in the materials room—that was the Church's Holy Eye technique, wasn't it?"
Gideon nodded. There was no point denying it to someone from the Vatican.
"Dual-manifestation ocular holy arts are extremely difficult to master. To wield it at your level—you've already surpassed many clergy."
"Thank you. I've just been lucky."
"My friend needs someone capable of restraining evil spirits. That's rare—even in the Guild—unless you rely on special artifacts."
"That's why I thought of you."
"I see," Gideon nodded. "Before I answer, I have a question."
"Please."
"You're from the Vatican, yet you use witchcraft. As far as I know, relations between the Church and the Witch Association aren't exactly harmonious."
Catherine lowered her head.
"If it's inconvenient, forget it. Just personal curiosity," Gideon added.
After hesitating, she spoke softly.
"My mother… is a witch."
"And my father… is a Vatican clergyman."
Gideon raised a brow.
A witch and a priest falling in love? That was headline-worthy.
Romeo and Juliet, ecclesiastical edition, he mused silently.
"That must have brought shame to the Church…"
"No," Gideon interrupted gently.
"Love doesn't ask about identity. It comes uninvited."
Though romantically inexperienced himself, he spoke with surprising confidence.
Catherine blinked, stunned.
No one in the Church had ever said something like that to her before.
Back in the Vatican, she'd grown used to whispers and gossip.
"That's… surprisingly philosophical."
For the first time in a long while, she felt lighter.
"Let's return to the commission," Gideon said.
Now that he understood her background, her witchcraft likely came from her mother. The rest was family history—none of his business.
"My friend's name is Rossi," she explained. "He's also from the Church. Ranked in the top twenty on the board."
Gideon's brows lifted slightly.
"This commission stems from a 'séance incident.' Two children were playing a spirit-summoning game and seem to have attracted something."
"Another séance…" Gideon rubbed his chin. "What rating?"
"Corruption."
"Corruption?"
He looked surprised.
"A top-twenty exorcist can't handle it alone?"
"Well…" Catherine hesitated. "The client is… unusual."
"Her name is Chris. She's the author of the bestselling novel The Exorcist. She claims the book is based on her own real experience."
The Exorcist… wasn't that case mentioned in the Church history records? Gideon thought.
If so, this must be the post-1973 world of that story.
And that reminded him—
"In the original case, the possessing entity was an ancient deity from beyond North America. It inhabited a statue. And with that statue…"
"...there was a silver coin."
His eyes gradually brightened.
That detail had been recorded in True Chronicles of Church History, which he had read recently.
If so, this commission might lead to clues about the Apostle Emblem.
Is this Rossi after that as well? he wondered.
Either way, he had decided.
"I'm interested. But I'll review the full materials before committing."
"Of course!"
Catherine smiled warmly.
"Let's go. They're discussing it now."
Together, they left in that direction.
---