He took the script of an exorcism legend, but became the number one anti-fraud expert.

Chapter 16 Exorcism is superstition, the Pope is a fraud.

Inside the bar, several soldiers laughed heartily.

The bartender skillfully pushed two wooden glasses in front of Pete and Benjamin.

"Your companion is treating."

Pete stared wide-eyed at Benjamin, then turned away incredulously.

The soldiers, who had never said thank you during the day, suddenly fell silent, and after making eye contact with Pete and Benjamin, they gently raised their chins.

Benjamin nodded in response, then turned around:

"It seems they're not as stingy as you say."

"Dude, you know, you have a kind of magic about you? Even I can't help but want to trust you. By the way, where were we?"

"hero."

Pete took a big gulp.

"Ha~ You don't know heroes? That's a legend known to all Hamlet exorcists."

"I am not an exorcist."

Pete chuckled dryly: "Whatever, buddy. Maybe you have your reasons, but don't take me for a fool. This isn't the first time I've seen 'virtue'."

Benjamin's heart skipped a beat. Had Pete seen it?

Seeing Benjamin remain silent, Pete continued, "In the ancient times, Hamlet was just a small town. At that time, a nobleman became obsessed with the power of the ancient gods and made a deal with those abandoned 'Old Gods' in the dungeon. They were released and escaped from the rift in time and space."

The nearby creatures, having gained power, were then consumed by it, driven mad, and mutated into malevolent spirits.

Pete downed his drink in one gulp, and Benjamin didn't interrupt him.

"The evil spirits were out of control and grew stronger and stronger. In order to seal the ancient god, our ancestors gathered eighteen heroes. After a bloody battle, they finally succeeded."

"that's all?"

"This is just a legend; of course, no one knows the details of the story."

"Have you ever heard of heroic spirits?"

"Heroic spirits?" Pete frowned. "I've never heard of them, buddy. But speaking of souls... I once heard an interesting story in the heart of the city-state. Some crazy guys believed that summoning the souls of heroes could completely eradicate all evil in the world."

Benjamin believed in the existence of spirits, but he thought that people's trust in this power to eliminate all evil spirits was somewhat exaggerated.

"It sounds like superstition."

"Superstition? Hahaha, Benjamin, if the Pope in the center of the city heard that word, you'd be sent to the gallows. Don't forget, those guys in the north are rebelling. They've gained evil powers. I've heard they have carriages that can run without horses, tables that can weave cloth, and giants that can mine!"

Their slogan is, "Exorcism is superstition, and the Pope is a fraud."

"And what do you think?"

"Me? All I want is to find my daughter; I don't care about anything else."

Pete stared at Benjamin with a serious look, his eyes slightly glazed with drunkenness: "Listen, buddy, until I saw you shine today, I always thought you were a damn fraud. After all, no exorcist family would come to a disgusting place like Windhowl. But now I believe there really is a Horde family, even though I've never heard of them."

However, you're definitely playing with fire. Whether you're an exorcist or not, the environment here is more complicated than you imagine. Avery and the monastery won't let you off the hook. You need to find a way to avoid being drained by Avery. As for the monastery, I can help you with that.

"Then what do you need me to do?" Benjamin asked knowingly.

"Get close to Avery. That guy manages the trade in Windhowl. I need to know who those human traffickers are and where they are. Then I'll use the cruelest torture to force them to reveal my daughter's whereabouts."

"..."

The atmosphere became dry, and Benjamin couldn't help but take a sip of his drink.

Pete's suggestion would undoubtedly help alleviate the interference from one faction, but the problem is...

Correspondingly, getting close to Avery is too costly, and the risks involved are considerable.

Pete stared intently at Benjamin, noticing his hesitation:

"Listen, buddy, the reason I approached you for a collaboration was because I didn't think you were rotten to the core. At least you donated a case of holy water to the orphanage, didn't you?"

Benjamin suddenly realized that his unintentional act of kindness had spread far and wide.

Moreover, it cannot be denied that Pitt did actively help him when he approached him.

Benjamin has come to accept Pete as a comrade, and he feels obligated to help a comrade in need, but he worries that it might be detrimental to him.

He would choose...

[Virtue: Helping your companions, after all, Pete can also provide protection for you, +8%]

[Torture: Reject Pete; any request with risks outweighing rewards is unacceptable, +8%]

"Okay, I agree, but I can't guarantee it will work out."

Pete's brow visibly relaxed, he sighed in relief, and raised his glass to clink with Benjamin's.

"It's a pleasure working with you."

Benjamin agrees to help Pete, and building his own power is a crucial step in becoming a great exorcist.

[Virtue: Fountain Accumulation Progress: 51%]

After drinking, Benjamin was slightly tipsy.

He returned to the stone path, and for some reason, he always felt his mind become clearer whenever he walked there.

After confirming their partnership, Pete gave a brief overview of the Guard Corps' current situation.

Taking advantage of the captain's absence, Avery amassed a fortune, causing not only the vagrants and tenant farmers to lament their plight, but also...

Even the soldiers in the guard regiment had some complaints about him; they were just struggling to make ends meet for their meager salaries.

However, judging from today's reactions, many soldiers have reached their limit of patience with Avery.

After all, the evil spirits on the beach are not something to be dealt with hastily before a major cold wave.

Evil spirits are rampant this season; a rash attack will only result in more casualties.

Avery's decision was simply because he wanted those merchant ships at sea to be able to enter the port.

Benjamin did not mention that he already had a plan to get rid of Avery.

However, Pete wasn't stupid; he implied that if Avery died one day, no one would really bother to investigate.

This includes the mayor and captain, who will be back in half a month.

Back in his cabin, Benjamin was overcome with sleepiness once again.

He didn't even bother to take off his clothes before crawling into the blanket that Lillian had left for him.

The fragrance filled his nostrils, and he quickly drifted off to sleep...

【...】

【The Self-Cultivation of a Legendary Exorcist】

Benjamin's growth is astonishing, showcasing extraordinary talent in his first confrontation with evil.

When Benjamin's body reached its limit, he chose to grit his teeth and persevere.

An indomitable spirit is an essential quality for exorcists, and Benjamin demonstrated his resilience.

He chose to trust Pitt in his collaboration.

[Thus, I gained a reliable companion.]

[When Benjamin first faces the threat of evil, he enters exorcism mode. In a desperate situation with pursuers in front and ambushes behind, he chooses to confront the evil head-on.]

This adds a significant chapter to the legendary exorcist's story.

In his moment of crisis, Benjamin chose to believe the voice in his head, thinking it was the whisper of an ancient hero.

[This first encounter with exorcism techniques laid a foundation for Benjamin's professional understanding.]

Faced with Avery's threats, Benjamin chose to confront them head-on.

Benjamin's fearlessness in the face of power truly deserves the title of a man of courage!

At Pete's request, Benjamin argued that the importance of his companions outweighed the risks, and he agreed to help Pete.

[Accumulated Virtue: 51%]

[Accumulated nutrients from the ordeal: 107%]

Overall Rating: B-

[Benjamin, just starting out, displayed the qualities of a legendary exorcist, including an indomitable spirit, tenacious resilience, broad-mindedness, courage to confront evil, fearlessness in the face of power, and selflessness. He seemed unaware that his excellent qualities had already been recognized by the ancient spirits.]

Name: Benjamin Hodgson (LV0)

Exorcist Class: Undefined

Physical fitness: 3+0.5 (Benjamin completed the running training with great willpower)

Evasion: 3.5+1 (Benjamin dodged the murloc's attack)

Defense: 2 + 0.2 (knocked back by Murloc)

Speed: 3.5 + 0.5 (Benjamin attacks first when pursued by the merman)

Precision: 0+1 (Benjamin killed the fishman)

Critical Hit Rate: 3% + 2% (Never misses a shot)

Damage: 3 + 0.5 (Benjamin dealt fatal damage to the murloc)

Benjamin fulfilled his choices as promised and received a reward:

【award】

【...】