America: The Cremator

The sharp blade sliced ​​through the skin, and a deep red wound opened on Elena's fair palm, with blood quickly seeping out and rolling down the lines of her hand.

She expressionlessly unscrewed the lid of the silver wine jug and poured a stream of amber-colored liquid onto the wound.

Accompanied by a slight hissing sound, a wisp of very faint white smoke rose from the wound, carrying a pungent smell similar to alcohol disinfection.

The torn flesh writhed and closed at a speed defying biological common sense, the deep red wound rapidly narrowing until only a light pink mark remained, which disappeared completely a few seconds later.

"This is... a repair?" Su Long raised an eyebrow as he looked at the scene.

"Yes," Elena handed over the flask, "it can repair physical wounds and cleanse the contamination caused by the supernatural. Moreover, its healing effect on contractors is far stronger than on others."

After saying that, she shoved the wine jug into Su Long's hand: "Its functions are not limited to this. Try taking a sip."

As Sulong lifted the lid, a bourbon whiskey aroma, a blend of oak and vanilla, filled his nostrils.

He tilted his head back and took a small sip. The spicy liquor slid down his throat, carrying the unique sweetness and caramel aroma of bourbon, and warmed his stomach.

Immediately afterwards, a strong cooling sensation separated from the liquid, flowing upwards like an invisible wisp of menthol smoke, rushing straight into his brain.

The fatigue that had been lingering in his nerve endings was swept away, and the outline of the entire world became exceptionally clear in his perception.

The roar of the distant waterfall broke down into countless distinct layers of water crashing against each other, and the scent of pine needles in the air became more specific. He could even distinguish the subtle differences between the different plants mixed in—his thoughts were processed at an imperceptible speed.

"Good stuff," Surong exclaimed sincerely, "One sip can even refresh your mind."

He was almost certain that this thing had the effect of stabilizing the mind and enhancing the senses—he just didn't know if it had the ability to stabilize SAN values.

"Strange, such a wonderful relic, why didn't Old John bring it with him when he fought Shoggoth in the sewers that day?"

Elena's eyes dimmed, and she lowered her head to look at the wooden planks at her feet: "Not long ago, a strange attack occurred in the west of the city. Many children were seriously injured and were placed in a nearby church."

"He sent the wine jug over to help with the children's treatment... The pastor just returned it yesterday."

Upon hearing this, Su Long's mood also became somewhat heavy: "He must be very capable, so why wasn't he working with you in the Bureau of Oddity Support?"

Elena shook her head: "We have different ideologies."

"He has no trust in any government agency, believing that they will eventually be corrupted by bureaucracy and corruption, and only trusts his own efforts as a free witcher."

"But I believe that only by establishing professional and efficient official institutions can we systematically combat the supernatural and help more people."

Su Long was silent for a moment, then said, "Alright, I support his opinion."

As soon as she finished speaking, the communicator on Elena's waist suddenly rang, emitting a series of rapid beeps.

She picked up the communicator and listened for a moment, then her expression turned serious: "Sorry, I have to go now."

"An emergency mission?" Surong asked.

Elena turned and strode quickly towards the parking lot: "This is confidential, don't pry!"

Su Long watched her drive the black Dodge Challenger away at the end of the mountain road before turning his gaze back to the flask in his hand.

A cluster of golden flames ignited in his palm, completely enveloping the entire silver wine jug.

The flames silently licked the body of the pot, and the intricate Celtic patterns flowed in the firelight, as if they had come alive.

The next moment, two lines of pale blue light screens quietly appeared in his field of vision.

[You have formed a contract with a new relic, gaining a new entry—Raphael's Contract☆]

Su Long immediately opened the system panel.

【Raphael's Contract☆】

Type: Blessing

Description: This is a jug possessing sacred power; the liquid it contains can heal wounds, stabilize the mind, and dispel impurities. The higher the quality of the liquid, the stronger the effect!

Review: Strong liquor is not only good for healing physical wounds!

Su Long nodded. The description of "Stabilize Mind" confirmed his conjecture about restoring sanity.

He hung the flask on his weapon carrying belt at his waist, a position that perfectly symmetrically matched the Colt Python holster on his right.

The sky darkened without him noticing. Su Long glanced at his phone; it was only 5:30 PM, far from sunset.

He looked up and saw a huge, thick cloud silently churning on the western horizon, like a tattered cloth soaked in ink, darkly looming over Lake Diablo.

A mountain wind suddenly rose, causing the lake surface to ripple and the canopy of the surrounding forest to roar like ocean waves.

The phone rang abruptly at that moment—it was Dania.

As soon as the call connected, Dania's voice came through the receiver, tinged with barely suppressed excitement: "Suron, the storm is coming! We should move out."

"Okay, I'll drive over right away, in thirty minutes," Su Long added before hanging up the phone, "and remember to bring me a bottle of wine too."

"What? Do you need some alcohol to boost your courage?" Dania laughed on the other end of the phone. "What kind?"

"Just think of it as a way to boost your courage; the quality has to be good."

"Is a $5,000 bottle of Macallan good enough?"

That's enough.

Su Long put away his phone and glanced back at the fishing rod Elena had left on the platform.

He walked over, put the fishing rod away, and placed it in the trunk of the Ford crematorium. Then, he got into the driver's seat and started the engine.

The black heavy truck turned around and sped along the mountain road it had come from, heading towards the city where a storm was brewing.

……

Half an hour later, Su Long drove the Ford crematorium to the location sent by Dania.

It was a vacant lot near the Port of Seattle, where there were plans to build a comprehensive commercial complex, and even a large parking lot had been built, but for some reason it was shelved.

Su Long parked the car in the middle of the open space and got out.

Seattle was shrouded in heavy clouds at this moment, and the streetlights lit up one after another, casting a dim and blurry halo in the humid air.

The wind blew from the direction of Puget Sound, carrying a salty, damp smell, stirring up dust and discarded plastic bags on the ground.

Dania was already waiting here. Today she had changed into a black tactical jacket that was easy to move in. Her long golden hair was tied up in a high ponytail and fluttered in the wind. She was carrying a huge aluminum alloy guitar case on her back.

Seeing Su Long get out of the car, she waved a dark glass bottle in her hand.

"The wine you wanted."

Su Long took the bottle of Macallan. It was heavy in his hand, and through the bottle, he could see the deep liquid inside, which looked like solidified amber in the gloomy light.

He downed the last bit of whisky left in the Raphael jug in one gulp, then unscrewed the cap of the new bottle and poured it into the Raphael.

Dania watched his movements and asked curiously, "Is there anything special about your wine jug?"

"This is my sacred relic," Suron said calmly. "It will be useful in battle."

After saying that, Sulong handed the full wine jug to Dania.

Without any hesitation, Dania untied the lid and took a small sip.

The next moment, her bright blue eyes widened rapidly, and a look of surprise and novelty appeared on her face. She was clearly shocked by the refreshing feeling that instantly penetrated her brain and the experience of her spirit being cleansed.

She glanced at the half-empty bottle of Macallan in Su Long's hand and asked, "You don't mind if I finish it, do you?"

"Drink it."

Dania tilted her head back with delight and drank the liquid in the jug in one gulp, feeling the sacred power flowing through her body and washing over every nerve ending.

After finishing the bottle, she shook the empty flask and returned it to Su Long, a hint of lingering excitement on her face.

"This is wonderful stuff! I want to put all my future wines into this jug!"

Suron refilled the flask, hung it back on his waist, then raised the nearly empty bottle of Macallan, tilted his head back, and poured the amber liquid down his throat.

The spicy, burning sensation travels down the esophagus, eventually transforming into a warm flame in the stomach.

"So, can we begin?"

Dania nodded, her smile growing even brighter: "Yes, the canvas is ready, the weather is perfect, and my weapon is in perfect condition!"

Su Long's gaze fell on the huge aluminum guitar case behind her: "Your weapon... is just a guitar?"

Upon hearing this, Dania quickly shook her head, a sly look on her face: "Please, it's just that using a guitar case will be more discreet."

After saying that, she took off the guitar case from her back, laid it flat on the ground, and used her fingers to unfasten the metal buckles on both sides of the case.

"Click".

The lid of the box was slowly opened, and Su Long peered inside.

"Wow, that's violent?"