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"Father Myriel, you have truly exquisite taste."

He casually patted Ivan's stiff shoulder, telling him to put down his cramped hand, and then walked past him to approach Xiao Jiu and the priest.

"Boss... Boss, um..."

"Ivan, don't interfere with other people's little quirks." Ren Yi gently stopped him, then stepped aside to block Father Myriel's view.

Shifting blame is an art, and the most important point is—

Strike first.

As long as you throw it fast enough, the crisis won't be able to catch up...

Since both Xiao Jiu and the priest are mute, and there's no concrete evidence, handling the situation quietly is the best solution for this public relations crisis.

Give these two a cooling-off period before they have a real fight.

After escaping, he innocently exclaimed: "Oh my god, so Xiao Jiu was actually the mysterious neighbor?! What a coincidence!"

This is what we call adult wisdom and compromise.

However, the priest was not in a good mood.

His deep-set eyes stared at the young magician before him, his hand gestures creating afterimages as he spoke:

"This isn't mine at all! This evil octopus took it out itself!"

"How can you lie in the sanctuary? This is utter slander!"

He nodded with an extremely gentle attitude:

"I understand..."

"A repressive environment can easily foster some novel aesthetics... Of course, dressing up cephalopods is also a way to relieve mental stress, which is very effective and healthy."

He thought for a moment, then added,

"We are all worldly people, we would never speak carelessly."

[The big shot's mouth is a lying devil... his ability to blatantly lie...]

[I'm naive and might just be spouting nonsense... The priest is actually a hidden hairstylist, specializing in styling seafood!]

[Pass this on: The big boss is protecting an octopus that stole a wig...]

[Spread the word: Xiao Jiu is a cross-dressing master disguised as an octopus!]

Seeing that the priest's eyebrows were trembling with anger, Nathan very tactfully pulled Ivan and Klaus aside.

"Well, friends, this hairstyle was very popular in certain clergy circles during the Middle Ages, really."

"......Yeah?"

Klaus stared at the all-too-familiar Dora hairstyle and gave a sullen reply.

Feeling utterly bewildered, the priest raised and lowered his hands, then finally flicked his sleeves heavily, turned, and left, his heavy footsteps almost sounding like he was fleeing for his life.

He'd had enough of this outsider!

"Thump."

A soft sound.

A tattered parchment notebook was tossed onto the armrest of a bench.

"I thought you gave this to Aurora because you had already thought it through."

The priest paused, turned around, and saw that the despicable magician had already walked to the first row of benches and sat down with an air of nonchalance.

"Splash—"

Turn to any page and let your fingertips glide lightly across the yellowed paper.

He looked up.

"Otherwise, what are you going to do with this? You can't expect us to die without knowing why, can you?"

"Oh, right... We've already told Vili everything."

This isn't exactly a lie.

Without batting an eye, Ren Yi pulled out another "blessed coin" and fiddled with it between his fingers.

This was obtained from the "tycoon" next to the wishing well. He looks exactly like the fat mayor's "Touch of Fate," so it's perfect for fooling people.

"About 'He,' the touch of fate, and... the outsiders who have strayed here over the years and the souls that have been mortgaged. The mayor has a strong will to survive; he answers whatever he's asked."

really.

Upon seeing the "blessed coin," Father Myriel's eyes instantly filled with anxiety.

His withered fingers moved rapidly:

"How...how is he now?"

This anxiety doesn't seem like worry about an accomplice...

Instead, he seemed more like an elder watching a child who had caused trouble, with a hint of disappointment and frustration.

In this small town,

Even if Vili was greedy to the core, was he still a member of the "flock" that Father Myriel needed to look after?

"..."

What a luxurious act of compassion.

He mentally commented.

"He's fine." He put away the little trinket and said casually, "The mayor is probably counting his gold coins right now."

Upon hearing this, Father Myriel's shoulders slumped.

"but,"

He abruptly changed the subject, saying, "He can take his time, but we can't."

He looked around the church, which seemed more vibrant than when he first visited:

"My companions and I cannot be trapped here forever."

There are a few townspeople in the back row here.

An older woman was resting with her eyes closed, carrying a basket of bread; a boy with a missing front tooth was playing idly, tossing and catching marbles, all waiting for Sister Aurora's confession.

Calm and peaceful.

However... it has a lifeless, pickled feel to it.

"The benefits here are indeed quite good." Renyi and Miliai looked at the several unsuspecting townspeople together. "Free food and lodging, no illness or disaster... It's just a pity that this kind of canned life is too boring for us guys who are used to the ups and downs."

The priest's sign language gestures were hurried and desperate:

"You don't need to leave! You won't forget anything, and no one can leave!"

He sighed.

It seems there's no way to resolve this peacefully.

He stood up and retreated among his companions, not forgetting to scoop Xiao Jiu up.

"You're educated and knowledgeable; do you really believe in this kind of forced buying and selling of secondhand goods?"

Seeing that the priest was trying his best to hide his panic, his breathing gradually became rapid.

"Look at these townspeople. If they were truly carefree, why would they gamble so desperately? If they were truly at peace, why would they come to Aurora to confess?"

"As the town's only priest... a clergyman who should have brought miracles and light to the lost sheep, not only failed to fulfill his duties but also signed a contract of servitude with the monster, pushing everyone into the abyss..."

Tsk.

He smiled gently, his peach blossom eyes narrowed, and shrugged casually.

"If I were to become a resident of this town, I would choose to 'relieve' myself with you; that might be more dignified."

"Hehe...hehe..."

Myriel emitted a hoarse sound from his chest, like the groan of a broken bellows.

It seems... it seems like something broke...

The atmosphere around us seemed to change in that instant—

There is no wind...

The church diary floated up, turning into dust bit by bit, swallowing the light from the dome and extinguishing the candlelight's warmth and brightness.

Nathan rubbed the goosebumps on his arms and pulled Situ behind him:

"Boss, isn't your negotiation approach a bit too aggressive? Shouldn't you be talking about love and peace in a situation like this?"

"...Isn't what I was talking about love and peace?"

They kept offering kind and reasonable advice, even adopting the perspective of a townsman in an attempt to awaken the priest's compassion for his family.

Klaus & Nathan: "..."

Ivan cracked his knuckles and twisted his neck:

"If you ask me, we should have done it sooner! This guy doesn't look tough at all; the boss is too kind!"