[Chapter 34: Restaurant]
About ten minutes later.
[Exorcist Level: Ordained Exorcist]
[Merit Points: 26,200]
"Again!"
[Exorcism Level: Sanctified Exorcist]
[Merit Points: 13,400]
Seeing his Merit Points drop to just 13,400 points, Daniel's earlier excitement vanished in an instant. Although he enjoyed the convenience of upgrading directly with Merit Points -- bypassing the usual grueling trials of exorcism -- the sheer amount of points required for each level up was painfully steep.
At this pace, his next upgrade would demand over 20,000 Merit Points.
His eyes shifted over to the Spell column. Several Spells were now ready for upgrades.
"Prayer Seal Crafting Art, upgrade!"
[Prayer Seal Crafting Art: Fourth Tier]
[Merit Points: 3,400]
With an immediate deduction of 10,000 Merit Points, Daniel exhaled deeply, feeling the cost.
That left only the Spiritual Perception Technique and the recently acquired Rite of Divine Empowerment glowing in readiness.
After a moment's thought, he prioritized upgrading the Spiritual Perception Technique.
[Spiritual Perception Technique: Third Tier]
[Merit Points: 2,400]
Regarding the Rite of Divine Empowerment, he hesitated. The higher its Rank, the stronger the boost, and the greater the chance of success. Yet, he worried his current body, still that of Foundation Order, might not endure the surge of power.
Still, considering the formidable challenges ahead, Daniel dismissed his doubts.
"Upgrade!"
[Rite of Divine Empowerment: Second Tier]
[Merit Points: 2,300]
"Upgrade again!"
[Rite of Divine Empowerment: Third Tier]
[Merit Points: 1,300]
With only 1,300 Merit Points left, all the upgrade buttons grayed out. Daniel exited the System.
...
[Host: Daniel Cross]
[Body Constitution: Thunder Body]
[Exorcist Level: Sanctified Exorcist]
[Skills:]
[Sanctum Blade Technique: Third Tier]
[Divine Incantation for for Purifying Souls: First Tier]
[Prayer Seal Crafting Art: Fourth Tier]
[Spiritual Perception Technique: Third Tier]
[Rite of Divine Empowerment: Third Tier]
[Merit Points: 1,300]
...
Now as a Sanctified Exorcist, Daniel felt his internal magic power surge like a rising current, significantly boosting his overall strength. With Prayer Seal Crafting Art at the Fourth Tier, his success rate for inscribing seals rose -- and he could draw more of them.
He glanced over to see that Flesh-Mangled Face's three incense sticks were almost fully burned. It was lunchtime.
---
Inside a high-end restaurant, Katherine sat across from a tall, handsome young white man enjoying a juicy, tender steak. This was the same man who had threatened to get rid of Daniel back at the hotel.
Between mouthfuls, the young man asked, "So? Is that Exorcist dead?"
Katherine sipped her soup calmly. "I sent someone to check. The shop's door was tightly shut, seemingly empty. Everything around looked normal -- no signs of death."
She looked up, questioning, "Morian, you said your curse power was active. Could you have been mistaken?"
Morian shook his head emphatically. "No mistake. The blood on the curse doll turned black. That means the curse power activated. You know that as well as I do."
Katherine frowned. "Then how is this possible?"
Morian replied, "We need to send someone else to investigate."
"No need. The place isn't far from here." Katherine caught the waiter's eye, slipped him a crisp hundred-dollar bill, and whispered instructions.
...
Ten minutes later, the waiter returned swiftly. "I saw the door open; the shop was running normally. The owner was there. Everything else checked out fine."
Morian's face darkened.
After dismissing the waiter, Katherine asked, "Morian, what's going on?"
"The curse is definitely active. The only explanation," Morian said grimly, "is that this Exorcist is extraordinary. He actually resisted the curse and survived."
Katherine's brow furrowed. "So what's the plan? Try again?"
"No." Morian shook his head. "Earlier, we couldn't find his hair or nails in that shop, so we couldn't cast a direct curse. Now, he's on guard; it'll be even tougher to strike unless we confront him openly. But that raises the risk of exposure."
Katherine asked, "What will you do then?"
Morian grinned. "You've forgotten one thing. You're now the daughter of a wealthy family. We don't have to rely solely on ourselves -- we can use others' power. You know there are a lot of burglary gone wrong cases every year."
Katherine's eyes sparkled as a smile spread. "You always have a plan. I feel safe with you around. What would I do without you?"
"The faster we wrap this up, the better. After dinner, we'll make our move."
---
'That guy just now?'
Daniel watched the waiter vanish into the crowd, his expression thoughtful. The man had only glanced over casually, but Daniel had noticed.
'It's noon. Shouldn't he be working? His badge says Jim Lake Restaurant -- a high-end place, not far from here but not close either. If he needed anything, why walk so far? Something's off.'
Daniel quickly decided not to follow the waiter immediately. After closing his shop, he strode toward Jim Lake Restaurant, arriving before the waiter did.
From his vantage point, Daniel saw the waiter return and enter the restaurant.
His gaze locked on the man as he moved toward a table.
The dim lighting made it hard to see clearly, but as Daniel's eyes adjusted, they sharpened.
It was Katherine.
Daniel smiled. He had been wondering where to find her, and there she was.
'Who's that man with her?'
He studied the man sitting opposite Katherine with wary eyes.
Fearing they might notice him, Daniel looked away quickly.
He took two steps and settled into a vacant spot.
With a flick of his wrist, a Seal appeared in his hand. The seal ignited in a silent, yellow flame that soon flickered out.
As it burned, Daniel felt a subtle change.
Though his appearance remained nearly the same, he became nearly invisible -- effortlessly overlooked, basically a Notice-Me-Not.
Straightening his clothes, Daniel pushed open the door to Jim Lake Restaurant.
No one paid him any attention.
Some glanced briefly towards the door, then quickly looked away.
Content with the anonymity, Daniel took out his paperweight and gave it a gentle shake.
Flesh-Mangled Face materialized immediately.
If he revealed himself now, the scene would be gruesome, but only those with open Spirit Eyes could see such beings.
Daniel pulled a small pair of scissors from his pocket, pointed them at Katherine's table, and whispered, "Go, get some hair from those two."
A wisp of dark energy enveloped the scissors on Flesh-Mangled Face's form as he drifted silently toward Katherine and the man.
*****
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