America: The Cremator

Chapter 145 Leaving the whole world behind!

Surrender extended his right hand and said in a familiar tone, "Mrs. Hedley, it's nice to see you again. You look radiant today."

Hedley took his hand, her smile widening: "You little rascal, you've got a sweet tongue."

After exchanging greetings, she looked at Hannah standing next to Suron, noticing her nun's attire, and raised an eyebrow, asking, "And this is?"

Suron stepped aside to let Hannah stand in front of him and introduced her: "This is the other contestant friend that Elena mentioned earlier, Sister Hannah West from St. James's Cathedral."

Then, Surong turned to Hannah and said in a more serious tone, "Hannah, this is Captain Elena's mother, an A-rank exorcist, Mrs. Hedley."

Hannah's eyes widened suddenly. A-rank exorcist!

Facing this dignified and elegant lady, she suppressed her nervousness and respectfully extended both hands to shake Hedley's right hand: "Madam, hello, it's an honor to meet you."

Hedley nodded slightly, pointed to the door behind her, and said, "You should go into the hall and wait. Only a few contestants have arrived so far, and there's still a while before the assembly time."

Sulong nodded in acknowledgment and led Hannah into the hall.

The interior of the hall is decorated with a strong religious atmosphere, and its layout is very similar to that of a traditional Gothic cathedral.

Rows of thick, dark wood benches are neatly arranged, with a huge brass chandelier hanging in the center.

The most striking feature is the high platform directly in front, where a life-size bronze statue now stands instead of the usual place to enshrine a crucifix.

Surong and Hannah walked along the passageway to the platform, stopped below the statue, and looked up to examine it closely.

This is a man holding a long cross sword with both hands, his eyes fixed on the gate in front of him.

He stood tall and thin, his appearance somewhat frail from years of travel. He wore a knee-length overcoat with a lapel collar, the hem designed to flutter in the wind.

His name and biography are engraved in gold cursive English on the black marble base of the statue.

Elias Campbell

Founder of the American Exorcists Association (1893-1950).

Hannah softly read the name on the base, then abruptly turned to look at Suron, lowering her voice: "Campbell? That sounds like Captain Elena's last name."

Surong crossed his arms, looked up and examined the details of the statue, and nodded in agreement: "That's right, it's Campbell. It's said to be the oldest and most powerful exorcist family in North America."

Hannah was so surprised that her mouth opened slightly after hearing this.

She had always known that Captain Elena was strong and tough, but she never expected that she had such a powerful background.

"Captain Elena has this kind of background—" Hannah muttered to herself.

Surong turned his head and looked at Hannah's flustered appearance, and couldn't help but tease her: "Yes, this family is quite wealthy and powerful. If you want to curry favor with them, now is a good opportunity."

After saying that, Su Long chuckled and turned to walk towards a row of wooden benches on the side of the hall.

"Let's go, let's find a place to sit down first."

The two sat down on the edge of the bench. Su Long leaned back in his chair and scanned the entire hall. Apart from the two of them, there were already six exorcists sitting scattered around the hall.

The six people split into several small groups, each occupying a corner of the hall, and did not communicate with each other.

The first thing that caught Su Long's attention was a man sitting on the left by the window. He was shrouded in a heavy, dark gray cloak, with the hood pulled down low, completely obscuring most of his face, leaving only his pale, thin jawline visible.

The man sat quietly in the shadows, a jet-black bull horn hanging from his waist, exuding an aura of aloofness that kept strangers at bay.

Su Long's gaze shifted slightly, landing on a young couple behaving intimately in the front row on his right. The two looked extremely similar and were clearly siblings.

The older brother had neat, short, light-gold hair and a gentle demeanor. His hands were folded on his knees, and a huge English longbow was slung across his back. The bowstring shimmered with a warm, spiritual light, and his knuckles were calloused from years of drawing the bow.

The younger sister has long, light blonde hair, a petite figure, and wears pure silver cross earrings on her earlobes. Her bright eyes are constantly looking around.

Seemingly sensing Su Long's gaze, the girl immediately turned her head alertly, glanced in his direction, and after confirming that he meant no harm, she leaned close to her brother's ear and whispered something.

Besides these three contestants with unique auras, there were three other people in the hall.

A middle-aged, slightly overweight exorcist sat in the corner, his eyes lined with fine lines, dressed in dark clothing. He held a silver cross tightly in his hand, his expression composed.

On the other side, a woman with short, black hair was leaning against a pillar. She was wearing a tight-fitting tactical uniform, and her eyes were sharp and decisive. Two exaggeratedly curved Turkish scimitars were crossed on her back.

Closest to the statue sat a middle-aged woman in a long, flowing robe, her eyes closed, holding a cloudy crystal ball in her hands, muttering incantations.

The door was pushed open again, and four more exorcists entered the hall, accompanied by the dampness of the cold rain.

At this point, a total of twelve candidates had gathered in the hall.

Footsteps came from behind the platform. Hedley and the serious-looking woman with black-rimmed glasses entered through a side door and walked straight to the bronze statue of Elias Campbell.

Hedley's gaze swept across the entire room. She clasped her hands in front of her, slightly raised her chin, and announced in a clear voice, "Ladies and gentlemen, all twelve members of this B-rank exorcist test are now present. I am Hedley Campbell, an A-rank exorcist and your chief examiner for this test."

The hall was very quiet, and the breathing of the exorcists was noticeably heavier, clearly intimidated by the title of A-rank exorcists.

Hedley turned slightly to the side, giving the seat of honor to the serious woman beside her. The serious woman nodded slightly, then opened the black folder in her hand and read aloud, "I am Zena Pierce, a special inspector from the Federal Bureau of Paranormal Responsiveness."

"My job is to oversee the entire exam and ensure that the final qualification results are officially recognized by the federal government."

After reading the announcement, she closed the folder, her gaze sweeping over Su Long and the others one by one, and emphasized, "Now, the examination officially begins. During this period, any behavior that disobeys instructions and arrangements will be considered a violation, and the result will be an immediate failure."

"The final location of this assessment is Little St. James Island. The journey is divided into two parts. For the first part, we will take the association's chartered business plane directly to St. Thomas Island's STT airport. After landing, we will take a yacht from Charlotte Amalia Port on St. Thomas Island to the target island."

"During this period, all transportation and accommodation expenses will be covered by the association. Now, you have ten minutes to pack your things. In ten minutes, go to the gate to board the special car and head to the airport."

After saying that, the two turned around and left the hall along the same route, giving everyone time to prepare.

Suron stood up first, picked up Hannah's luggage, and walked out of the hall with Hannah. The waiter waiting outside immediately stepped forward to take the luggage from Suron's hands and led the two through the corridor to the waiting area near the road.

A dark gray Prevost H3-45 luxury bus was parked in the rain outside the porch.

After the two got into the car, a faint woody aroma wafted over them, refreshing and not pungent, instantly invigorating them.

Upon entering the passenger area, the seats are arranged side by side, yet they do not feel crowded or cramped.

When they reached the middle of the bus, Hannah chose a window seat and sat down, while Suron sat down next to her in a seat close to the aisle.

As soon as he sat down, Su Long noticed the car's unique features. The high-grade breathable fabric felt extremely delicate to the touch. He leaned back, and the entire seat slid forward slightly, causing the footrest to rise and envelop him. The internal massage system then began to work.

Hannah, sitting next to her, was clearly experiencing this level of treatment for the first time. As soon as the seat began to recline, she was startled, her shoulders involuntarily hunching upwards, and her hands instinctively gripping the hem of her nun's dress on her knees.

As a gentle, rhythmic pressure came from her back, her tense nerves slowly relaxed.

Feeling the just-right massage pressure, Hannah's tightly furrowed brows gradually relaxed, and she finally couldn't help but let out a comfortable groan.

The remaining exorcists also boarded the vehicle one after another.

The hooded young man walked silently to the last row by the window and sat down, shrinking his entire body into the shadows.

The brother and sister with light blonde hair happened to be sitting in the same row as Suron and Hannah, across the aisle in the middle of the carriage.

Su Long leaned back in his chair and casually turned his head, his gaze meeting that of the younger sister.

The girl didn't immediately look away. Instead, she lingered on Su Long's deep and handsome profile for a few more seconds before turning her head away nonchalantly, a slight smile curving her lips.

Su Long raised an eyebrow in confusion, but didn't think much of it, assuming it was just the 30 points of charm at work.

Once everyone was on board, the bus started and drove smoothly toward the airport.

Hannah sat next to Surong, yawning several times as she received the massage, tears welling up in her eyes: "So sleepy—I didn't get enough sleep last night."

Surong reclined Hannah's chair back a little, then said, "We're still a ways from the airport, you can take a nap."

Hannah nodded sleepily and quickly fell asleep.

Half an hour later, the bus smoothly entered the VIP lane of Seattle International Airport and stopped next to a Gulfstream business jet bearing the association's special emblem. The group quickly boarded the plane via the gangway, and then the plane soared into the sky, flying towards the Caribbean Sea.

The journey from Seattle to the Caribbean was much longer than I had imagined.

The so-called "Gulfstream G400" private jet did not have the luxurious Simmons bed seen in the movies. After cramming in twenty large luxury airline seats, the remaining space was not spacious.

During the long flight, Hannah was asleep the entire time, and Sulong also leaned back in his seat with his eyes closed, unable to muster any energy.

Although the seat was more comfortable and luxurious than a regular first-class seat, even comparable to a small bed, he did not experience any of the pleasures that a private jet should offer.

After boarding the plane, the long flight, landing, and then transferring to a bus to reach the port, the whole process took nearly ten hours. By the time the salty sea breeze finally blew on my face, it was already 7 p.m.

Suron got off the bus carrying his luggage, with Hannah close behind him. Hedley also happened to be walking from the front, and the three of them walked side by side toward the port.

Night had fallen, and in the distance, an ancient fortress revealed its unique outline under the lights. Warm yellow spotlights shone on the bright red walls, making it extremely conspicuous in the darkness.

Hedley followed Suron's gaze and casually introduced, "That's Christiansborg, a colonial fortress built by the Danes in 1672, which has now been transformed into the St. Thomas Museum."

Sulong nodded, casting the light towards the distant harbor scenery.

The sky took on a strange pinkish-purple hue, and the lights on the shore were reflected on the sea, their fragmented shadows swaying with the waves.

In the distance, Hassel Island was reduced to a dark silhouette in the night, while several huge cruise ships were anchored in the deep water, their portholes emitting lights that formed a dazzling ribbon of light.

The sea breeze, carrying the salty, damp scent unique to the Caribbean, helped to dispel much of the fatigue from the journey.

The group followed the wooden boardwalk to the designated boarding point. Accompanied by the deep roar of the engine, an exquisite and luxurious yacht slowly broke through the water and docked at the berth.

It was a PrincessX95 yacht, with a textured matte white hull and a sharp, aggressive streamlined bow design.

The three-deck silhouette extends aft, with curved panoramic windows running the length of the main deck, showcasing the luxurious interior lighting without reservation.

Hannah looked up at the ship, which resembled a palace on the water, her mouth slightly agape: "My God—renting this for a day must be outrageously expensive."

Su Long shrugged and replied, "No matter how expensive it is, the association will pay for it anyway, so we can just enjoy it."

The group boarded the enormous floating palace one by one.

The yacht's interior is extremely luxurious, with hand-polished Burmese teak flooring underfoot and dazzling crystal chandeliers reflecting a mesmerizing glow overhead.

Large, pure white leather sofas are arranged in a semi-circle, while on a black walnut bar table to the side, various expensive vintage champagnes and spirits are neatly stacked.

Inspector Zena walked to the center of the hall and clapped her hands loudly, drawing everyone's attention.

"Ladies and gentlemen, there are a total of eighteen double cabins available on the lower deck of the main deck. The journey from here to Little St. James Island takes about forty minutes. You may go to your cabins in groups to rest, or you may enjoy the free time in the common areas."

After the inspector finished speaking, he turned and walked towards the rest area on the second floor, and the exorcists in the hall also dispersed.

Hannah tugged at Su Long's sleeve, pointed to the spiral staircase leading to the upper floor, and said with a hint of anticipation in her eyes, "Su, let's go to the observation deck on the top floor. The view of the harbor from here must be beautiful."

Su Long nodded in agreement: "Okay."

The two walked up the spiral staircase to the top observation deck.

The salty sea breeze instantly filled my sleeves, the yacht's engine roared, and the massive hull cleaved through the dark sea, steadily heading towards the deep ocean.

The distant port of Charlotte Amalia had now transformed into a dazzling ribbon of light, while the warm yellow spotlights of Christiansburg shrank in the field of vision, eventually merging completely into the pinkish-purple twilight.

Hannah rested her hands on the railing, gazing at the receding lights, and said softly, "Sue, it seems like we've left the whole world behind."

Surong leaned against her, his gaze fixed on Hannah's profile. The sea breeze tousled her neat black short hair, with a few strands occasionally brushing against her fair and full cheeks.

Looking at her eyes, which were slightly squinted by the wind, Su Long said softly, "I think this is good for you. You are usually too busy with too many things, such as the church, the exorcism club, various part-time jobs, and your and your brother's tuition fees."

"You should definitely experience once in a while what it feels like to leave them all behind."

Hannah was silent for a moment, then suddenly said, "Thank you, Sue. Ever since I met you, I feel like my luck has turned around."

"You introduced me to Professor Stella, rescued me at the monastery, gave me the Bible, and even got me into Miss Dania's exorcism club. Now I can take the B-level exam and earn a higher salary."

Hannah's chest heaved as she looked down at the rolling waves below.

"Before I met you, I was anxious about making money every day. I had to carefully budget even for cheap fast food. But now, my life is much better. I can afford the console and PS5 that I like, and I have moved to a bigger house."

As Su Long listened to her slightly nasal voice as she spoke, a gentle smile appeared on his lips. He slowly moved closer to Hannah and looked down into her dark, clear eyes.

At this moment, the girl's eyes were already filled with a layer of glistening moisture, shimmering faintly in the dim light of the deck.

Su Long raised his hand and gently ruffled her hair, saying, "Isn't this great? I'm happy that you can have a better life."

A tear slid down her cheek and landed on the metal railing of the observation deck.

The next moment, she suddenly turned her head sharply, reached out and hugged Su Long's neck tightly, stood on tiptoe, and kissed him forcefully.

The yacht's engine roared even more wildly at that moment, and the sharp bow cleaved through the oncoming giant wave, stirring up a sky full of white foam.

The lights on the main deck cast two long, intertwined streaks of light across the dark sea.

The waves crashed violently against the hull time and time again, creating a deafening roar that completely drowned out all reason and restraint in the boundless night.

A full minute passed before Hannah, panting, released her arms and took a half-step back. Her chest was still heaving violently, but her eyes shone with an astonishing brightness.

Su Long looked at her, a unique fragrance of fresh lemon and rich rose lingering around his nose.

Just then, a series of soft footsteps came from the stairwell, followed by the clear voice of a young girl.

"Hello, sir, may I get to know you?"

Su Long turned around and found that the brother and sister he had met briefly in the association's hall were now standing at the top of the stairs leading to the observation deck.

Hannah recoiled as if electrocuted, taking a half-step back and turning her back to the stairwell, frantically tucking stray hairs behind her ears.

Su Long remained calm, turned to the two uninvited guests, and asked, "What brings you here?"

The girl with light blonde hair was not intimidated at all. She stepped forward, her gaze sweeping over Su Long, and said excitedly, "Although it is presumptuous of me, I saw the aura of three sacred objects on you, which makes me very curious."

"Excuse me, can we be friends?"

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