A priest in North America, what the hell is the Demon Gate system?

Li Ang stood under the old oak tree, watching the crowd gradually disperse in the square. He had originally thought that the parade would end abruptly, since given the situation in the demolition site, the event would definitely not be able to continue.

And there will definitely be a group of public intellectuals reflecting on this, wondering how this mess was made.

However, he clearly underestimated the psychological resilience of the American people and the grassroots management style of the United States.

"Hey! That lunatic ran away, didn't he?"

"They ran away, they ran west!"

"Fuck! I even got my gun out, and I still missed it!"

Several middle-aged men wearing camouflage vests and pistols on their hips were gathered together, their tone surprisingly tinged with regret. They wore sunglasses and cowboy hats, a typical redneck look.

Following the sound, Li Ang looked and saw that twenty or thirty people had gathered on the street on the west side of the square.

These people are a diverse group—there are farmers in overalls, office workers in crisp shirts, retired old men, and even a few teenagers.

They were carrying a variety of things: shotguns, pistols, baseball bats, American flags, pitchforks, and an old man in a World War II uniform carrying a samurai sword that looked like an antique.

A redneck wearing a cowboy hat stood on the hood of an F150 pickup truck, giving orders in a booming voice:

"Listen up! We're splitting into three groups, each responsible for two streets! If you see anyone suspicious, shout at them; if they don't cooperate, shoot! Remember, this is our community, and we have the right to protect it!"

"yeah!!!"

The crowd erupted in cheers; someone unfamiliar with the situation might have thought it was a tokusatsu fan gathering.

Li Ang's lips twitched. He saw that even the stall owner who had sold "Uldum Rescue" earlier had joined the group, clutching a butter knife and looking as serious as if he were about to go to the battlefield.

Detective Jones from Philadelphia tried to steer things: "Gentlemen, please remain calm! The police will handle this..."

"Come on, cop!" a bearded man interrupted him. "By the time you bring people over from Philadelphia, that lunatic will be long gone! We'll protect our own community!"

"Yes! Protect yourselves!"

"Second Amendment! Second Amendment!"

Someone started chanting the Second Amendment in unison, and the atmosphere became as enthusiastic as an Independence Day parade.

Li Ang silently retreated into the shadows. Children, you really have to stay away from this kind of obsessive beauty, whether you're studying abroad or working.

He finally understood that, for these people who were having fun, the attack on drug addicts was not a horror movie at all, but the opening ceremony of an outdoor live-action brawl.

After all, in America, there aren't many opportunities to legally carry a rifle around on the street.

"The air of freedom smells so sweet, ugh," Li Ang muttered to himself as he silently left.

-----------------

As Li Ang stepped through the side door of the church, he saw Sister Nia jogging towards him from the direction of the kitchen. A few strands of blonde hair clung to her sweaty forehead, and the hem of her black nun's habit was dusted with flour.

"Father! Are you alright?" Nia looked him up and down.

"It's nothing, just a homeless guy who got high and got scared away." Li Ang took off his suit jacket, hung it up, and loosened his collar.

Then Li Ang turned to Nia and asked, "How are the preparations for the 3 PM mass going?"

Nia, following behind him, paused in surprise upon hearing this: "You...you still want to hold Mass as usual?"

"Why not?" Li Ang walked into the office, turned on his computer, and prepared to search for some information.

"But something like that just happened in town..."

"It's precisely because of what happened that people need to come to church to find solace." Accompanied by the roar of the fan, the Windows 7 logo flashed on the computer screen.

The wait for the computer to boot up was very long, so Li Ang picked up the phone, found the town government's number in his contacts, and dialed it.

The phone rang six or seven times before being answered. A woman answered, the same auntie from the service hall.

"Uldum Town Government, may I ask...?"

"St. Michael Church, Father Leon, please transfer me to Mayor Joel."

"The mayor is... not available right now..."

"Tell him it's about his heroic performance in the square today," Li Ang said calmly, his voice magnetic.

There was a few seconds of silence on the other end, followed by rustling conversations. About a minute later, Mayor Joel's voice came through, sounding somewhat weak.

"Father Li? You mean his heroic act..."

"Of course." Li Ang adopted a sincere tone. He wondered if it was just his imagination, but since his divine sense had improved, he seemed to be able to grasp the subtle changes in the other person's tone more easily. So he took a deep breath and said the words he had prepared long ago.

"Mayor, in the face of this emergency, you resolutely upheld the MAGA spirit, remaining calm and taking the lead in command, organizing the safe evacuation of the masses at the first opportunity, fully demonstrating the sense of responsibility of Republican citizens. Your exemplary behavior of rushing to the front lines and protecting the people is precisely the positive energy we need to promote. This afternoon's Mass at 3 PM especially needs role models like you to inspire the faithful, guide everyone to further strengthen their patriotism, religious devotion, and commitment to serving society, and jointly maintain a harmonious and stable situation..."

Such unheard-of remarks caused Joel's chest to heave violently on the other end of the phone. He had never heard such praise before, nor had he ever dared to imagine that it would fall upon him. It was as if a new world had suddenly opened up for him.

In an instant, Joel felt the red tie on his chest become even redder.

"This..." Joel's voice trembled slightly.

"Mayor," Li Ang interrupted him, his tone still gentle.

"After Mass, we have a small fundraising event for the roof repair fund. You know, St. Michael's Church has been in disrepair for years, and the roof leaks badly. If you could say a few words during the fundraising and encourage everyone to give... it would also be good for your year-end election, since the Catholic vote is very important, wouldn't you say?"

There was silence on the other end of the phone.

Li Ang could picture the mayor's expression at that moment; his face must be weighing the pros and cons. In the year-end elections, every voter group was crucial, and although the Catholic population in Odum was small, their influence was considerable.

"...You're right." Joel's voice suddenly became more alert.

"As the town mayor, it is my responsibility to care about the town's historical buildings and unite various religions. I will arrive at three o'clock sharp."

"Thank you, Mayor Joel. God bless you."

After hanging up the phone, Li Ang waved to Nia: "It's all set. Go prepare the donation box and see if there are any extra chairs."

Nia stood there and asked softly, "Father, aren't you using the mayor...?"

"Use it? NO~NO~NO," Li Ang shook his finger.

"He needs exposure and votes, we need money to fix the roof. This is called community solidarity and cooperation, building a new era of church-state relations, and working together to embark on a new journey of prosperity and progress, Sister Nia."

"But..."

"No buts." Li Ang stood up and saw his guest off without any hesitation.

"Go and get ready. Remember to call the choir back. There might be more people today."

Nia wanted to say something more, but in the end she nodded, turned around and left.

Li Ang sat back in his chair, moved the patina-covered HP mouse, and began searching for what he had seen that day.

As the man fled, Li Ang vaguely saw a purple heart-shaped metal piece inside his down jacket. For someone like him to carry it around, it must be something extraordinary.

Using his memory and Google's fuzzy search, Li Ang quickly found a clear picture of the metal piece.

"The Purple Heart?"