Exorcist in America

The next day.

Erin delivered all the information about the island nation.

In these documents, York finally learned of Higa Makoto's current situation.

"Is it really this serious?" York paused, glancing at the data in his hands before looking up at Erin.

"Are these casualty figures accurate?"

Erin nodded earnestly. "Yes, Bishop, these are the real figures officially compiled by the island nation. In fact, the affected areas have descended into chaos.

The news hasn't leaked because of the actions of the Freedom Nation's troops. They have sealed off the regions where these events occurred. Except for specific personnel, no one is allowed in or out, and no information is permitted to escape."

With that, Erin couldn't help but glance at her bishop's expression as she continued.

"This is an order from Bishop Pedelio."

York fell silent for a moment, then returned his gaze to the documents in his hands.

The island nation consists of twelve major cities: Tokyo, Yokohama, Osaka, Nagoya, Sapporo, Kyoto, Kobe, Fukuoka, Kawasaki, Hiroshima, and Kitakyushu.

The rest include 779 cities, 744 towns, and 183 villages, totaling 1706 municipalities.

According to the data, the sudden outbreak of supernatural events has spread to six main cities—Nagoya, Sapporo, Kyoto, Kobe, Kawasaki, and Kitakyushu—and has affected an astonishing 463 municipalities.

The casualty figures are still incomplete, and York subconsciously counts the numbers, tallying into the tens and hundreds of thousands. "No wonder Makoto wanted to see me, appearing so vulnerable before me. No wonder her spiritual power is barely a third of what it was, no wonder the exorcism was conducted with such seriousness by the police and clergy."

York stopped his silent counting, his thoughts turning to Higa Makoto, and he shook his head inwardly.

"Bishop, should we intervene?" Erin asked instinctively.

"No need, it seems under control," York casually tossed the documents onto the desk.

"Otherwise, Bishop Pedelio wouldn't continue to stay put here, just sending the troops."

He wanted to gauge the danger level of the spiritual rift that had appeared in the island nation, but to him, the country was hardly worth his concern.

Even when he lived in the island nation, it was only to secretly learn their spells, which were particularly powerful and unique.

Each spell had different effects, and every character combination had its intricacies. The arrangement had its reasons, and a single mistake in character placement meant the spell would fail to activate.

The island nation's method of exorcism primarily involved these spells, so their spiritual power was tailored for this purpose. Only in conjunction with the spells would significant effects manifest; otherwise, it was merely mundane.

Naturally, the more spiritual power one had, the stronger the effect of the spells. Thus, the island nation distinguished strength based on the magnitude of spiritual power. Details like control and precision manipulation were just the icing on the cake.

Like Makoto, her vast and intense spiritual power made her the strongest spiritual medium in the entire island nation. Thinking this, York looked up at Erin, who nodded, "We just need to be mindful of their saint and the Higa sisters."

Erin understood the implication and mentally noted that she would need to keep an eye on the island nation's saint and the Higa sisters, especially when her bishop entered the rift.

"Yes, Bishop."

York glanced outside, where the weather was pleasant, the sunlight piercing through the windows, reflecting his mood.

"Has Aretha gotten up yet?" York inquired.

Erin shook her head, "Not yet, should I go wake her?"

"No need, let her wake up on her own," York waved his hand, continuing to work on the documents on his desk.

Erin bowed and slowly withdrew.

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[11:12]

On a sunlit pathway, York, holding the freshly woken and fed Aretha, walked deeper into Saint Maria Cathedral, led by clergy.

"Uncle York, I feel it," Aretha suddenly said as they were about to turn at the next intersection.

York raised an eyebrow, "What do you feel?"

"A strange force. It's unlike anything in this world, a force that bears no marks or traces of this world."

Aretha frowned, puzzled, but York smiled, "You're right, it is indeed a power from another world, much like the exterior world in your mind, unrelated to our own."

This revelation surprised Aretha.

"Another world?"

"Yes, a real world."

York led her, guarded by the clergy, to a building enveloped in layered magical formations. If one looked closely, they would see a thin membrane circulating around the building, with numerous clergy stationed around the formation to prevent any incidents.

As they approached, Aretha's sensation grew more intense.

When York led her

 inside and she saw the crimson rift tearing through the sky, her understanding deepened, her eyes widening in awe.

York, noticing Aretha's expression, explained gently.

"Our world is not the only one, much like an eggshell surrounds an egg, connecting it to unknown worlds outside. This rift is like a crack in an eggshell, allowing bacteria to enter and possibly spoil the egg."

He continued, "Unfortunately, I, your Uncle York, am the tailor who mends these cracks to prevent the egg from spoiling."

Repeating the old man's words to Aretha, York carefully observed her reaction.

Now knowing what to expect, Aretha's eyes sparkled, and she eagerly said, "Uncle York, are you going inside?

Into the rift in this world?"

York nodded.

Aretha's eyes shone even brighter. "I want to go too! Uncle York, I can help you!"

Seeing Aretha's eager expression, York smiled and gently patted her head.

"If possible, I would certainly love to take you with me. But first, you need to see if you can withstand the destructive energies inside."

If Aretha could join him, he would be more than pleased, especially since Aretha was a genuine deity and a master of spiritual manipulation. Her assistance inside could be invaluable.

Hearing this, Aretha looked towards the rift resembling a giant red dragon suspended in the void, her face full of determination. "Uncle York, I'll try."

Eventually, Aretha succeeded. She used her created inner world to detach from the traces and limitations of the real world imposed by the rift.

On the third day, witnessed by all, York led an excited Aretha formally into the rift.

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

In a bustling city.

After saying goodbye to her classmates, a blonde little girl with a puzzled look glanced around before entering Building No. 2.

"This new world is really strange," she muttered to herself as she grabbed the zipper of her backpack and stopped in front of the elevator on the fifth floor, pressing the button for the fourth floor.

While waiting for the elevator to descend, she continued to mutter.

"It's bad enough that the principal at school is a creep, but even the seemingly gentle vice principal is shady."

Click, the elevator descended, its doors opening automatically. The little girl looked up, then stepped into the unoccupied elevator. As the doors began to close, suddenly a hand shot through the narrow gap.

Such boldness was unusual, seemingly fearless of getting caught by the elevator doors.

The little girl silently moved back, watching as the intervention of the hand caused the doors to reopen slowly, revealing a robust middle-aged man.

He had an ordinary appearance, the kind that wouldn't stand out in a crowd, dressed in clean sportswear.

Upon seeing the little girl inside, his eyebrows subtly raised.

"Eh, Aretha? You're done with school?"

The man seemed to know the little girl, speaking with a tone of surprise as he entered.

Aretha glanced at the man, her eyes cold but her demeanor politely respectful.

"Uncle Nelson."

Nelson, the man, watched as the elevator doors closed, smiling warmly at the polite Aretha.

"Where's your dad? Didn't he come to pick you up?"

Aretha maintained her polite tone. "Dad's been busy, but I can make it back on my own."

"You're so considerate, Aretha." Nelson kept his gaze on Aretha to the right, his smile not quite reaching his eyes.

"But if your father still can't pick you up, you could let your uncle know. I've been quite free lately, not as busy as your dad."

Aretha shook her head. "That's okay, Uncle Nelson. I know the way home; I can make it on my own."

Nelson continued to watch her, his expression unchanging, but he was unaware of how stiff his face appeared in the reflective surface of the elevator walls.

"Is that so? But, Aretha, may I ask you one thing?"

Aretha didn't respond but shifted her gaze from the elevator walls to the left.

"Is your dad at home?" Nelson asked with a smile.

Aretha suddenly smiled, gripping her backpack straps with an innocent expression.

"Uncle Nelson, he seems to be out today."

Nelson raised an eyebrow, looking at the naive Aretha, about to say more when the elevator reached the fourth floor. The doors began to close slowly, revealing a powerfully built man.

And with this man's arrival, Nelson's words halted in his throat, daring not to emerge.

"Daddy!"

Aretha's excited voice rang out as she leapt towards the man in front of her.

The man, none other than York dressed in casual attire, showed a steady smile as he caught Aretha in one arm and turned to face Nelson inside the elevator, nodding in greeting.

"Mr. Nelson, did you bring Aretha back?"

"No," Nelson shook his head.

"I just happened to run into Aretha."

"Oh," York nodded, looking at Aretha.

Aretha crisply said, "I came back on my own."

"Sorry, I was a bit busy today," York apologized to Aretha while nodding at Nelson, who still had his right foot in the elevator gap and had yet to step out. York then carried Aretha back, moving away under Nelson's watchful gaze.

"F*ck! What is this dangerous feeling? What is going on?" Nelson watched the father-daughter duo disappear around the corner, his expression and eyes growing cold and murderous. As they vanished, he stepped out of the elevator and sighed, heading in the opposite direction.

"That man is not ordinary. If I want to kill him

, I'll need some help."

Nelson's eyes darkened, his expression morose as he paused at door 406, his sinister thoughts unspoken.

"Such a good physique shouldn't be wasted, and he has such a beautiful daughter too."

With his unknown thoughts falling silent, Nelson entered room 406.

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

Room 404.

York, carrying Aretha, entered, closed the door, and chuckled.

"What do you think? Shall we take care of that guy now?"

Hearing this, Aretha ground her teeth but eventually shook her head.

"Uncle York, we still don't fully understand this world. Killing him might be premature."

"It's 'stirring the grass and startling the snake.'"

York set her down, unzipping Aretha's backpack and laughed.

"I actually understand quite enough already. We can act tonight."

Aretha's eyes lit up. "Really?"

York nodded with a smile, hanging the backpack on a nearby rack before walking out of the foyer into the living room.

Aretha followed closely, her footsteps light, clearly thrilled by the prospect of taking action tonight.

Noticing this through the 3D layout, York couldn't help but smile, yet he also felt a twinge of sorrow.

Sorrow for the plight of humanity.

The more one knows, the more despair this third rift world holds for humanity.

If the world of the Rot is due to corruption, and the world of Chaos is due to ancient gods and sacrifices, leading to the despair of potential human extinction, then this world represents the despair of knowing the truth.

Indeed, the despair of knowing the truth.

Because in this world, which is almost identical to past and present realities, humanity is essentially livestock penned up for consumption.

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