I am a necromancer, and I absolutely love America.

Chapter 106 The Princeton Christmas Shooting (10K long chapter, please vote and subscribe)

Richard hadn't planned to go out for Christmas, but Christina messaged him saying they'd run out of samples.

The last time we sent samples of flesh-and-blood puppets to the cell laboratory was two days ago.

The flesh golem can only last for 6.5 hours.

After obtaining each piece of flesh and blood, Christina would lock herself in her private laboratory to take samples one by one, and then distribute them to all the experimenters for analysis.

The duration of the effect of the sample obtained from the flesh golem is the same as that of the flesh golem itself, which is 6.5 hours.

They need to complete the testing and experiments in the shortest possible time, and then conduct 1-2 days of analysis and research based on the data.

Next, Richard would send Christina another sample, and so on.

How about we go to the cell lab today? Richard doesn't really care about Christmas anyway.

Richard began to change into his outer clothes.

Debbie, who was playing with the cat, asked curiously, "Where are you going?"

"I'm going to check out the cell lab; my supervisor asked me to come over for something."

Debbie is bored today too.

There wasn't much to do during the day on Christmas Day. I was thinking of going to a classmate's party, but the news from yesterday was still making headlines. Sawyer had warned me not to cause any trouble during this time.

If you attend a party, you're likely to be surrounded by a group of people taking pictures. If someone takes a picture of you drinking a beverage and then falsely accuses you of drinking alcohol, that would be a huge problem.

She wasn't afraid of trouble, but she was afraid of losing the opportunity to go to Princeton with Richard.

"I've never been to Princeton!" Debbie jumped up. "Take me there!"

Staying at home was making her really bored.

She changed into a down jacket, hiding her perfect curves inside.

Richard thought about it and seemed to agree, saying, "The cell lab isn't on Princeton University campus. I need to go to the lab first, then to Princeton. Besides, there are practically no people on campus today. I heard there's a Christmas communion service at the main chapel; let's go check it out."

"Church again!" Debbie exclaimed, putting on her little leather boots. "I don't want to go to church!"

"Then you can stay at home." Richard wasn't going to indulge her.

"Go away!" Debbie immediately changed her mind: "I'll go out with you! Anywhere is fine with me!"

Catherine asked, "Will you be back tonight?"

Debbie felt a mix of shyness and anticipation.

She knew Richard had a dorm room at Princeton University.

Richard said, "He should be back this afternoon."

There weren't many people at the university on Christmas Day, so it wasn't a great place to stay, and even getting food was a hassle.

He would absolutely avoid eating hamburgers if he could avoid it.

"OK!" Catherine nodded. "I'll make dinner early."

Debbie grimaced in disappointment, but was too embarrassed to ask for anything in return.

Richard took two CEA cards out of his pocket, signed by Isabella, which he had obtained through Brian's connections.

With Mike dead, Catherine's SBA card naturally became invalid.

Isabella is the Executive Director of the IAB and has the authority to issue the top-tier CEA card.

Union cards for police inspectors and captains are issued only to officers of the rank of inspector and above, and are the highest rank among the NYPD's police family cards.

With this card, as long as you don't shoot at the police while driving in New York, even if you kill someone in front of the police, they will have to send you home and let a lawyer handle the matter.

"Here's one for you." Richard handed a CEA card to Catherine and kept one for himself.

He had asked for it for a while, but kept forgetting to give it to Catherine.

The two arrived at the garage and were about to get into the car when a car horn sounded at the door.

Drop drop!

Richard turned his head and saw a brand-new black Porsche Panamera parked outside the yard.

The car window was opened.

Daniel stuck his head out with a swagger and waved: "Hi, Richard."

This kid really knows how to spend money! Richard went outside: "What, it's Christmas already? A new car?"

"New car!" Daniel tossed the keys to Richard. "A Christmas present. The documents are in the passenger seat, registered in your name."

"You bought this for me?" Richard asked in surprise.

You've broadened your horizons, buddy.

"This car must cost $100,000, right?"

"12.4, 14.9 after landing," Daniel said.

$15 for this kind of antique? Richard was actually quite disdainful. Wouldn't it be better to just buy a domestically produced new energy vehicle for $3 or $4?

But since Daniel meant well, he couldn't say it aloud.

Moreover, in the United States, it is not legal to buy domestically produced cars, nor are there 4S stores for maintenance.

"Thank you!" Richard said seriously, "It's too expensive, deduct it from my money."

Daniel said seriously, "No, this is my Christmas present for you, of course I'm paying for it. Richard, I've made up my mind. I'm quitting my job at Queens Hospital to work at the Katrina Clinic. I think the Katrina Clinic is the future! However, before I quit, I need a few more months to poach all the high-end clients from Queens Hospital."

Liposuction surgery is so profitable these days, and the Katerina Clinic is booming. He has to take advantage of this opportunity as soon as possible.

If you get on the train early, you can get shares; if you get on late, you'll just be a beast of burden.

"That's really clever." Richard patted Daniel on the shoulder: "Catherine is the boss, you should talk to her."

Catherine came out with a smile: "Katrina welcomes you, but let's not talk about work on Christmas."

Daniel chuckled: "It's settled then, we'll discuss it in detail tomorrow!"

Catherine laughed and said, "Welcome Dr. Daniel Wheeler to the team. We finally have our own plastic surgeon."

The two shook hands and reached a preliminary agreement.

The specifics of how shares will be distributed, how dividends will be paid, and each person's responsibilities will need to be discussed in detail.

The two parties currently have a complementary cooperative relationship; Catherine has the venue and management capabilities, while Daniel can provide licenses and develop customer base.

Licensed doctors are easy to find, but trustworthy ones are rare.

After a period of adjustment, both parties recognized each other's abilities and character, thus establishing a foundation for a deep partnership.

Only by forming a community of shared interests can we make money more effectively.

Now that he has a new car, Richard won't deliberately drive that beat-up old one.

He took a wad of old $10 bills from the room and stuffed them into Daniel's hand: "I didn't prepare any Christmas presents, so consider this my Christmas present."

Richard knew that Daniel was under a lot of financial pressure.

This isn't out of politeness, but because people who are short of money might do irrational things due to the temptation and pressure of money.

At the very least, we can't let Daniel's finances collapse, as that would pose a potential risk.

In any case, stability is the priority, and Richard himself doesn't have a great need for money.

"Giving money as a Christmas present? Is this a common practice among students at Tokyo University?" Daniel glanced at the old bills in his hand, somewhat surprised, but shrugged. "OK! So, where should we go next?"

What kind of person would keep so many old banknotes at home? And not consecutive serial numbers at that? Daniel realized that his junior brother wasn't as innocent as he seemed on the surface.

Moreover, Richard's willingness to leave his money at Catherine's house suggests that their relationship is closer than he had imagined.

Daniel didn't say anything. He was already on the wrong boat, and it was impossible for him to get off voluntarily. He couldn't bear to give up his high income of over $10 a month.

Richard said, "I was just about to take Debbie to Princeton and the Cell Lab. Would you like to come along?"

"The cell lab?" Daniel waved his hands repeatedly. If it weren't for maintaining his relationship with his fellow students and Professor Shepard, he wouldn't want to go to that hellish place.

"Do you know how much mental preparation it takes for a mediocre student to go to a cell lab? I'm not going. Take me to this bar, my friends are there, you guys go by yourselves." Daniel sent a location.

"it is good."

"I'll sit in the passenger seat! I'll sit in the passenger seat!" Debbie excitedly insisted on sitting in the front passenger seat, while Daniel sat in the back.

Richard got used to it and realized it was indeed a good car, much better than that secondhand Chevrolet.

Richard dropped Daniel off at a bar that was still open for Christmas before driving to Princeton.

As soon as they reached the suburban highway, Debbie excitedly exclaimed, "Let me drive! Let me drive!"

Debbie had learned to drive before, but she was not yet 18, and Catherine had always been reluctant to let her take the driving test.

Richard thought about it and figured it was just a suburban road anyway, with few cars on Christmas Day, so it wasn't too dangerous.

"Drive slowly, don't rush."

"Wow!" Debbie exclaimed excitedly as she drove, "That Chevrolet is mine now!"

The car was going faster and faster.

Richard was at his wits' end: "Slow down! Or I'll drive!"

Debbie then slowed down, still wanting more: "That was awesome!"

"Hmph! I'll tell Catherine you can forget about driving until you're 18," Richard said, still shaken.

"Please, Mr. Richard, don't do this!" Debbie pleaded pitifully. "I'll drive slowly from the back."

"It depends on your performance."

Just then, police sirens sounded from behind.

In the rearview mirror, a police car followed, flashing its lights and sirens.

Debbie's face turned ashen: "What do I do? I'm doomed! I don't have a driver's license!"

This woman really knows how to cause trouble. Richard snorted coldly, "Pull over."

The Panamera slowly pulled over to the side of the road.

The police car was parked behind.

A burly white policeman adjusted his leather jacket, got out of the car, touched his holster, and then walked over. He stood on the B-pillar, one hand on his pistol, and the other tapping on the car window a few times.

"Lower the window!"

The car window rolled down.

The white police officer saw what was happening inside the car.

The driver was a pretty white girl, and the passenger seat...

The passenger in the front seat was a man with yellow skin!

And he looks like a student from the University of Tokyo.

Only students from the University of Tokyo would look at the police so calmly.

Damn rich kid from Dongda University!

They took all the pretty girls away.

A subtle pang of jealousy flashed through his mind: "I'm Officer Ryan. You were speeding. I need to see your driver's license."

Debbie panicked a little: "I—"

She doesn't have a driver's license.

Ryan, noticing the problem, became even more smug: "Are you an adult?"

He couldn't stand those rich second-generation students from Tokyo University driving luxury cars and picking up their white girls in New York.

What about yourself?

They have to be on duty in the freezing cold on Christmas Day!

Fk!

Ryan would be happy to cause trouble for the other party if he could.

Even though he knew these rich people would always find a way to get out of trouble, Ryan was still happy to be able to delay their Christmas.

I'm working overtime on Christmas, so you can forget about enjoying any beautiful women!

Anyway, these rich kids from Tokyo University are just rich; they can't influence the NYPD at all.

Ryan had no scruples.

Ryan's voice turned serious: "I suspect you are a minor driving without a license. Get out of the car immediately!"

Debbie had a long face.

What a shame!

If this gets reported to the media, it will be a huge problem.

She could already picture Sawyer lecturing her incessantly.

Richard calmly took out his CEA card from his pocket and handed it to Ryan: "I have a CEA card. We are family members of police officers."

Ryan glanced at it.

CEA card, real card, and signed by Isabella Rossi!

Damn!

Cold sweat broke out on his forehead.

Byron was just suspended because of the fire at the NYPD headquarters.

Isabella became the acting general secretary of the IAB, taking charge of the entire internal affairs department.

This crazy woman's name was feared throughout the NYPD.

Even though she was a whore who climbed to the top by sleeping with all the high-ranking people, Ryan was still terrified.

In reality, most police officers are more jealous, thinking, "Why can't I sleep with her?"

Ryan froze for a few seconds, swallowing back what he was about to say, and said obsequiously, "Be careful, the snow is very slippery."

"Thank you, Officer Ryan," Richard said politely. "Let's go."

The car window slowly rolled up, and the car continued driving forward.

In the rearview mirror, Ryan stood in the snow waving goodbye until he could no longer see the car.

Debbie was too scared to drive, so after a while Richard took over driving, and they moved forward slowly.

Debbie sat in the passenger seat, not daring to look at Richard. She deliberately turned her face away, using her long hair to cover her cheeks while looking at her phone, completely burying her head in the sand.

She knew she had almost caused another big problem.

If Sawyer and Catherine were caught driving illegally by the police now, they would definitely teach themselves a lesson. If they were targeted by Sawyer's enemies, getting into Princeton would be a big problem.

The vehicle arrived at the gate of the cell laboratory campus.

Richard lowered the car window.

The black security guard, with his deadpan expression, immediately flashed a friendly, sunny smile upon seeing Richard: "Hi! Richard! Merry Christmas!"

"Merry Christmas! Please register this car for me; I'm here to see Professor Shepard."

OK!

"I have a friend, so I'll take her to rest in the visitor area."

Security at the cell lab was extremely tight. Even Richard couldn't bring Debbie inside the park; he could only let her rest in the luxurious visitor area while he came out.

"No problem! I'll take her there! It's warm there, and they even have coffee!"

The Black security guard busied himself and took Debbie away.

Debbie was surprised; she never expected Richard to have such a high status here.

Richard easily found his way to a encrypted warehouse and located Christina.

She has prepared 20 limbs.

Heart, liver, spleen, lungs, kidneys, fingers, toes, ears, nose, and other body parts.

She is testing for differences in different areas.

Richard easily resurrected these severed limbs into flesh puppets, with beating hearts, crawling fingers, and lungs expanding and contracting—it was incredibly bizarre.

"Everyone stay still," Richard commanded.

All the flesh and blood puppets froze instantly, looking just like ordinary organs, only a little fresh.

This significantly reduces the chances of it being exposed.

"Have you noticed anything?"

Christina placed all the severed limbs into the storage box before saying, "So far, nothing has been found."

Richard nodded, not in a hurry. According to Christina's estimate, it would take at least several months, and it was still too early to tell since it had only just begun. "How about Hart Island? How's the progress?"

"This is bad." Christina frowned. "My application is blocked. It seems someone in the city council doesn't want us to go to the island. I just don't know if it's targeting me or if everyone is not allowed to go to the island. Don't worry, I'll ask around after Christmas. I suspect it's K0M Company that's blocking us. They've probably done something shady on the island and don't want anyone to see it."

(KOM Company: Appears in Chapter 83, a private contractor responsible for selling corpses on Hart Island.)

Every city in the United States has a city council, which is the city's legislative body responsible for matters such as budget, land, and public safety, and wields significant influence locally.

Each state also has a state legislature.

The Federal Parliament is the legislative body at the national level.

To Richard, a man from the University of Tokyo, this was not a normal country at all.

Richard frowned: "Will it pass?"

Christina said confidently, "Of course. In New York, no one can stop me from doing research projects, not even city councilors. Right now, it's Christmas holiday, and many departments aren't working. After the holiday, it should be approved in two weeks at most."

"OK." Richard was relieved.

He had already experienced Christina's influence a lot, and since she was confident, he would let her handle it.

Richard wouldn't risk engaging in any armed swimming if he could legally and legitimately land on the island.

It's the dead of winter, so cold.

Christina added, "Oh, right, Alaric is gone. He reminded me that Ivan Lee and Cole Barnes were problematic, so I fired them. This morning the security chief also reminded me that Cole Barnes caused a scene at the entrance, and that I should be careful if I encounter them, my lord."

Richard said with interest, "Professor Alaric is a good man."

This guy has great observation skills, but he's just unlucky.

Staying in the cell laboratory could very well mean being credited with key research projects in the future.

The study of immortality will certainly spawn a large number of sub-topics and may very well produce multiple Nobel Prizes.

Although Richard, as a student of the University of Tokyo, was somewhat dismissive of the award, for an American professor, the Nobel Prize was a lifelong pursuit.

Christina also made a rare comment: "All I can say is that he's an unlucky guy."

Richard laughed: "How's your health after all this research? You haven't been home in ages."

Christina became excited when talking about her research: "I feel more enthusiastic than ever before, just like when I first started university. The unknown territories energize me. And my health is much better than before, thank God!"

Richard nodded: "Once you finish your research on skin rejuvenation, I'll see if I can enhance it again."

Improving Christina's physical condition, optimizing brain function, and enhancing energy can accelerate the research process.

Brian and Catherine, however, do not need to.

With her skin rejuvenating, Christina's continued youthfulness becomes a reasonable explanation.

She can even promote it to the outside world. Christina didn't hesitate to use her own body as a test subject. This is what a perfect scientist should be, and it also proves the reliability of skin rejuvenation!

Christina's eyes lit up: "I'm really looking forward to it."

She has fully experienced the effects of the enhanced physique.

Richard chatted for a few more minutes before leaving. He found Debbie scrolling through her phone in the visitor area and said, "Let's go, we'll visit the school and then head back."

"Okay!" Debbie perked up immediately.

Catherine was doing housework alone at home.

Given her current income, she could easily hire a cleaning lady, but Richard's situation is a bit special, so for safety reasons, she chose to clean the house herself.

The snow outside the window has finally stopped, and the coffee machine is running.

The phone rang.

Catherine took her phone and walked to the window, watching the sunlight reflecting off the snow.

Sawyer's voice came through the receiver, sounding deeper than usual.

The second hearing is scheduled for the afternoon of the 26th.

"So eager?"

"Foster is putting pressure on us in Washington. He's contacted two cardinals and is trying to get a more rigorous review of the canonization case. We can't delay any longer; we must get through the hearings as soon as possible and move on to the formal canonization process." Sawyer sounded exhausted.

Having just finished midnight mass, we need to continue pushing forward with the canonization case today, and a second hearing is scheduled for tomorrow.

For an archbishop who is not young, it is a bit physically demanding.

"What do you need me to do?" Catherine opened the window, letting in a crack, and the fresh, cool air made her feel much more awake.

"Protect Debbie." Sawyer's voice was very serious. "Don't let her say anything more outrageous. She did a good job yesterday delivering carols and attending midnight mass; keep it up."

Catherine nodded: "Don't worry, I'll cooperate with you. We're in the same boat now."

Before hanging up, Sawyer added, "There's one more thing. Debbie is slowly becoming a public figure, and her every move will be magnified and analyzed online and in the media. Some people in the church are watching her. Remember, saints aren't allowed to marry, not even to have a boyfriend. Tell that young man living in your house to stay away from Debbie; I don't care who he is."

Catherine's fingers stopped.

She felt the air outside was a bit cool, so she closed the window again.

"Can you hear me?" Sawyer asked.

Catherine pondered for a moment and said, "That might be difficult."

Sawyer said angrily, "Last time at Wild Ridge Stadium, Debbie publicly announced that that East Asian guy named Richard was her boyfriend. That's very wrong! Very wrong! A saint can't have a boyfriend, especially not a yellow man. Many bishops, many important people... well, they don't like East Asian guys. This isn't racial discrimination; East Asian guys are all faithless! The canonization case is the most important thing. Think about Debbie's future. Catherine!"

Snapped!

The phone hangs up.

Catherine put down her phone, picked up her coffee, and took a sip.

Sawyer said something wrong.

The canonization is not the most important thing; the most important thing is Richard, and always will be Richard.

Even if she weren't canonized, she couldn't possibly keep Debbie away from Richard.

As for the saintess... take what's beneficial, and give up what's not.

Catherine didn't intend to give Debbie any instructions.

The true god is right beside me. The guy on the icon has never appeared. Why should I look for something far away when I can find something so close?

Washington, D.C., the spire of the National Cathedral.

Archbishop Foster of Washington had thick eyebrows and looked very fierce. He stood by the window of his study, looking down at the snow-covered square.

His phone screen lit up, Isaiah Douglas's name appearing on the call screen: "You didn't nail that stupid cheerleader last time. Attack her, don't try to attack Sawyer himself, he's an old fox, hard to shake! Your strategy is child's play, are you going to give up?"

“I haven’t given up; I’m waiting for a better opportunity.” A barely perceptible chill crept into Isaiah Douglas’s voice: “Archbishop Dolan, I’m willing to cooperate with you because we have the same needs. You need to become a cardinal, and I need the archbishop’s seat under Sawyer’s ass. If you call to question me after every setback, our cooperation ends here.”

Foster narrowed his eyes, thinking to himself, "Damn black man!"

You're a bishop, what right do you have to talk to me like that!

However, he said aloud, "No problem, our interests are aligned. But I want to know what you're planning to do."

Isaiah knew when to stop, and after gaining the upper hand in his verbal exchange with Foster-Dolan, he did not press the issue further.

"At the second hearing, I delivered the fatal blow to that hypocritical saint and ended it all. Tomorrow is the second hearing, and Sawyer is anxious and afraid. Our actions were effective and put him under tremendous pressure."

Isaiah did not actually intend to attack Debbie.

There are some subtle considerations involved.

The most critical issue is the time difference.

For Foster, the best option was to attack Debbie, ruin the reputation of that hypocritical saint, and make the canonization case a laughing stock.

If this is achieved, Sawyer will not be able to become a cardinal in a short period of time. Foster has already made many preparations in the Vatican, and he is confident that he can replace Sawyer and become a cardinal within a year!

At that time, Sawyer will still be the Archbishop of New York, only he will have lost his cardinalship.

Isaiah wanted to overthrow Sawyer and take the position of Archbishop of New York, but he still needed Foster's help, which gave Foster a huge advantage.

Isaiah had to pay a huge price to gain Foster's support.

Conversely, if Isaiah were to directly overthrow Sawyer and remove him from the position of archbishop, the position of the Archbishop of New York would become vacant before the position of cardinal was even determined.

Then Isaiah would very likely be the first to assume the position of Archbishop of New York.

At that point, the two will become direct rivals, competing for the sole cardinal seat.

Therefore, if Sawyer shows signs of rapid downfall, Foster might have to lend a hand.

Isaiah knew this, Foster knew this, and they both knew that the other knew this.

Therefore, the two could only cautiously maintain their advantages, like two hedgehogs, neither getting too close nor cooperating, while being ready to stab each other at any time.

Otherwise, Sawyer would have collapsed long ago, beset by internal and external troubles.

"I will put an end to this at the second hearing," Isaiah said. "But you must provide sufficient evidence to guarantee that I will succeed Sawyer as Archbishop of New York. If I become Archbishop of New York, then I guarantee my full support for your becoming a Cardinal."

That's obviously nonsense.

The two are currently in a cooperative relationship, but once Sawyer steps down, they will become direct competitors, vying for the cardinal position.

Who says a Black person can't be a cardinal?

If he becomes the Archbishop of New York, he can still make Debbie a saint.

Foster hung up the phone: "Don't worry."

The moment he hung up the phone, he couldn't hold back anymore.

I don't believe you for a second!

There isn't a single good black person!

That damned bastard Isaiah, his target is clearly Sawyer.

He felt the cardinal was getting further and further away from him.

He didn't know what evidence Isaiah had obtained from Sawyer.

Foster cursed under his breath.

He could ruin Sawyer's cardinal position, but he didn't have the ability to elevate himself to cardinal status.

For him, neither Sawyer nor Isaiah becoming a cardinal was acceptable.

But for the time being, he didn't seem to have any better solutions.

I need the support of the Los Angeles Cardinal.

Princeton after a snowfall looks like a black and white print.

The Gothic spires were covered in thick snow, and withered ivy branches hung down from the stone walls, encased in icicles.

There was almost no one on campus, only a few sets of footprints.

Debbie held Richard's hand as they stepped onto the soft snow, making a soft crunching sound.

In the empty campus, sunlight streamed through gaps in the clouds, making the snow glisten.

Debbie felt like she was walking in a movie, experiencing an unreal sense of happiness.

She gripped Richard's hand tightly, without saying a word.

Richard didn't say anything, he just quietly walked with her.

After walking around for more than ten minutes, Debbie couldn't stand it anymore; walking on the snow was just too cold!

The two went to Princeton Church.

When Richard and Debbie arrived, the auditorium was already quite full.

The choir is singing, and the stained glass windows are shimmering in the sunlight.

The air conditioning in the chapel was very warm, and the students and believers laughed heartily, unlike their usual reserved demeanor.

The priest was a tall, thin man named Samuel.

Upon seeing Debbie, Samuel immediately approached her with delight: "You're a candidate for sainthood?"

He also attended Christmas Eve midnight mass and met Debbie there.

However, Debbie met too many people that night and didn't recognize him.

Debbie was a little embarrassed; she hadn't expected to become a celebrity.

Samuel exclaimed happily, "You're very welcome! I've seen the Starling Miracle at St. Carlyle Church online many times; you're the best Christmas present for us! Everyone, come over here, Debbie's here!"

Samuel shouted enthusiastically.

Debbie's caroling and Christmas Eve midnight mass brought her immense fame; she was well-known, at least among Catholics.

A group of believers came up to greet Debbie, saying, "May the Lord be with you, child."

"God bless you, God's favored daughter."

"Debbie, we're praying for you."

Debbie recalled the instructions from the head of the ceremonies: as a candidate for sainthood, she should smile, nod, and softly reply, "May the Lord bless you," in this situation.

She felt a little awkward, but the people here were very welcoming, and there were many young people.

Catholics make up only about 15% to 20% of the population in the United States, and are mostly from the upper-middle class or above. They are generally more conservative, unlike Protestants and Puritans.

Young believers make up a small percentage of the population; most convert to Catholicism due to family influence and often come from well-off families.

"Debbie, will you come to Princeton to study?" a young girl asked excitedly.

Debbie nodded: "Probably. I want to study public administration."

Debbie was wondering to herself, "Are there any professional cheerleaders?"

"marvelous."

There are more and more young people.

On Christmas Eve, some students hold parties at the church, then rest in their dorms after the parties, attend Christmas services early the next morning, and then go home.

The girl said, "Princeton is the liveliest time of year when all the students, professors, and local residents who stay on campus come to visit."

Let's go together then.

"Okay," Debbie said happily.

Richard's phone rang; it was Helen.

Richard gestured to Debbie from afar, then walked out of the church, went to the backyard, and answered the phone.

Helen said, "Merry Christmas."

Richard also said, "Merry Christmas."

Helen was about to speak when she heard the cheerful laughter of her family members nearby.

Richard said, "It seems things are quite lively where you are."

Helen said, "Yes."

A girl with a ponytail suddenly appeared in the frame, wrapped her arms around Helen's neck, and leaned in, saying, "Let me see who it is!"

Helen said shyly, "My neighbor's name is Richard."

"Oh~ the neighbors don't call specifically for Christmas." The girl smiled brightly: "Hi, hello, my name is Emily."

Helen awkwardly introduced, "She's my cousin, a clerk at the NYPD."

Richard smiled and said, "Hello, I'm Richard."

Emily was a little surprised to see Richard was Asian, but she didn't say anything. She patted Helen on the shoulder and said, "Richard, Helen is a good girl. You should cherish her!"

Before Richard could speak, Emily left with a smile.

Helen said awkwardly, "My cousin has always been like this, too enthusiastic. She's always been very kind to me since I was little."

Richard smiled and said, "Your cousin is quite nice."

Few white people would not feel disgusted to see their family members dating Asian men.

Emily's face just now showed only curiosity, not much aversion, which was already quite good.

Helen paused for a moment and then said, "You have a Christmas present for me in the back seat of your car."

Richard was a little embarrassed: "Sorry, I forgot to prepare it for you."

Helen was a little disappointed, and bit her red lips: "Go and take a look."

Richard wasn't driving that car, so he could only say, "I just changed cars; that one didn't come out..."

""

boom!

boom!

boom!

As they were talking, screams and cries of terror came from inside the church.

"What's going on?" Helen exclaimed in surprise. "Did you hear gunshots over there?"

Richard immediately hung up the phone: "I'm not talking to you anymore, I'm going to go see what's going on."

"Richard, don't go! Hide right now!"

"Don't worry! I'll be careful."

Richard hung up the phone.

He saw that the chapel was already filled with an aura of death.

He didn't rush out; he wasn't a policeman and didn't care about those people's lives.

Debbie is still inside.

He would definitely rescue Debbie if it were safe for him.

Richard walked carefully toward the church.

Cole-Barnes parked his car behind an old school building.

He turned off the engine, and from this position, he could see the main entrance of the school chapel's spire.

Groups of students came to the church from all corners of the school.

Everyone was laughing, hugging, some taking selfies with candles, and even kissing.

On Christmas Eve, the school chapel holds an evening candlelight concert, followed by a large chorus.

Many students would get very drunk, and the men and women would go to the dormitory to have sex. The next day, they would wake up and come to the church to attend Christmas communion.

These depraved bastards!

Nobody has ever invited me!

Cole's eyes were filled with resentment.

Although he knew that many people had not received an invitation and had come to the Christmas Eve event on their own initiative.

But Cole wouldn't come over on his own initiative.

If no one invites me, it means I'm not welcome.

Cole sat in the car for a long time, a thin layer of snow accumulated on the windshield, and the temperature inside the car gradually cooled down.

Cole's knuckles turned white from gripping the steering wheel, and he took another swig of whiskey.

The alcohol exploded in his stomach, and he felt a surge of heat throughout his body; his hands finally stopped trembling.

He carried the shotgun on his back.

The movements were slow, as if they were doing something precisely timed.

Check the magazine, fill it, and put all the bullets in your pocket.

The clanging of metal echoed in the car as the bolt was pulled.

Put the pistol into its holster.

The temperature inside the car is getting cooler and cooler.

The shotgun grew increasingly cold, giving him a sense of reality.

Inside the chapel, the choir is singing the Gloria.

The chords of the organ drifted through the window and into the car.

Cole listened with his eyes closed for a long time, just like he did when he was a child.

"I can stop. I can find another job and start over."

Cole was trying to convince himself.

But some memories churned in my mind: countless instances of bullying and indifference.

From childhood to adulthood, he was always ridiculed as a nerd.

He thought things would get better at Princeton because it was full of good students.

When he arrived here, he discovered that he was still at the bottom of the school system.

We all got in based on recommendation letters, but you got in through exams. What right do you have to stand with us?

The church bells rang.

dong dong dong~

Cole instinctively reached out to make the sign of the cross, but stopped halfway through, clenching his fingers.

He won't finish drawing this cross.

God doesn't deserve it!

That guy in the sky has never helped me!

Cole slung his gun over his back, opened the car door, and got out.

The snow crunched underfoot.

He walked resolutely toward the church, his face and nose red from the cold, but he had never been so determined in decades.

The statue of the Virgin Mary in the church looked down at him with pity.

Cole seemed to recall his grandmother's teachings when he was young, but what good were they?

Nobody has ever cared about me!

I'm a pathetic guy who doesn't get invited to any Christmas parties!

He walked through the church doors.

Sunlight streamed in from behind him, casting a long shadow on the church floor.

Nobody noticed him.

Everyone was looking at the altar, watching the choir sing.

Only the Virgin Mary in the stained glass window looked down at him.

A strange sense of fear crept into Cole's heart.

To dispel this fear, he touched his pistol and walked straight toward the altar.

No one stopped him; everyone was curious, wondering what this young man was up to.

The priest was also somewhat puzzled, wondering what the young man was up to.

Suddenly, someone was horrified to discover that he was carrying a gun on his back.

"gun!"

"He was carrying a gun!"

"What is he trying to do!"

Cole picked up the shotgun on his back, aimed it at the priest on the altar, and walked up to the altar step by step.

The priest looked horrified.

"Child! Don't make mistakes!"

boom.

Blood splattered on the statue of the Virgin Mary behind the priest.