Holy hell!
Elias remained as steady as an old dog on the surface, but a tsunami had already erupted in the depths of his heart.
Wasn't this slap to the face coming a bit too quickly?
The light in the room was somewhat dim, outlining the lady's figure in a blur.
But those deep eyes were like two scalpels, cutting directly through all of Elias’s disguises.
However.
Elias was, after all, a veteran drama king with memories of two worlds.
After the brief shock, his high-speed brain immediately caught a key detail.
No.
This woman was definitely bluffing.
The Gluttonous Stomach had helped John evade the Seventh Agency's pursuit.
The only explanation was that she had deduced this conclusion based on his stubborn behavior just now.
It was a reasonable psychological profiling.
Thinking of this, Elias sighed silently in his heart.
This lady was clearly no ordinary person.
Before Elias could decide what expression to use to respond to this lethal interrogation...
Suddenly.
That heavy spiritual pressure dissipated without warning.
Old Crowley snorted, withdrawing the majestic spirituality of a high-level being into his body like a receding tide.
Elias felt the weight on him vanish.
He discreetly adjusted his breathing.
On his back, cold sweat had soaked through his shirt, feeling ice-cold against his skin.
“This Old Crowley is very strong.”
In the depths of his mind, Old Ed's raspy voice rang out again.
The old man's tone was no longer mocking, but held a hint of unprecedented seriousness.
“Judging by the spirituality he just displayed, he shouldn't be weaker than Guss.”
Damn it.
Elias cursed inwardly.
If he weren't holding the Pendulum, he would have found it difficult to leave this room alive today without unleashing the bone flute.
“Don't be nervous, young Keeper.”
The lady sitting across from him slowly stood up.
“We in the Resurrection Society are not unreasonable madmen.”
The lady smiled slightly, her tone gentle.
“Since you’ve come here, it means there is still room for maneuver.”
“We can sit down and talk slowly about whatever is on your mind.”
Now that sounds like a human being talking.
Elias sneered in his heart.
Sitting to the side, Old Crowley’s face remained grim.
His old face, covered in a white beard, was wrinkled into a ball.
“If you really are carrying the Pendulum on you...”
“Why can't I perceive even a hint of spiritual feedback from such a close distance?”
He was staring at Elias with cloudy eyes filled with scrutiny and deep confusion.
“Shouldn't you answer my question first?”
Elias leaned back against the chair and raised an eyebrow, retorting.
“Regarding what this Pendulum actually is, and its true purpose.”
He paused, his tone becoming somewhat playful.
“As for where the Pendulum is...”
Elias shrugged and began to talk nonsense openly.
“I never said the Pendulum was on me right now.”
“But similarly, I never said the Pendulum wasn't on me.”
The two high-level transcendents present felt their eyes twitch.
Especially Old Crowley.
The muscles on his old face were trembling slightly.
Is it in your hands or not?
Would it kill you to give a straight answer?
The captain took a deep breath, his suppressed irritability showing signs of starting to flare up again.
He had already begun to seriously calculate whether he should find an opportunity to completely dispose of this slippery brat.
Originally, he only wanted to pay a trivial price to commission this rookie, who had just returned from the island, to run an errand.
Who knew this kid would be so unyielding?
And...
The Pendulum was too important.
Crowley began to calculate in his heart.
If necessary, he would kill this kid without hesitation.
But at the very least...
Before he made a move, he had to confirm one thing.
And that was exactly where this cunning brat had hidden the Pendulum!
“I can tell you the secret of the Pendulum.”
Crowley gritted his teeth, forcibly suppressing the impatience and killing intent in his heart.
His voice was low, like an old lion suppressing its rage.
“But on the condition that you prove your value.”
“You must guarantee to me that you can truly deliver the item to me intact.”
“Captain Crowley, I'm afraid I cannot agree to that condition.”
Elias’s gaze became very firm.
On matters of principle like this, he had always been very clear-headed.
“But I can give a guarantee with my spirituality.”
Elias said flatly.
“The Pendulum is indeed in an absolutely safe place right now, and no second person knows about it.”
“However...”
Elias shifted the topic, his tone carrying a hint of deep wariness.
“Given the prowess it displayed in Hope County before, honestly, it might be a good thing for the world if it continues to remain ‘lost.’”
As his words fell.
The atmosphere in the room suddenly softened at the same time.
“The Pendulum's... ability was triggered?”
Captain Crowley's expression appeared momentarily stunned.
He stared blankly at Elias, as if he had heard some terrible news.
“Hope County...”
The old man murmured, a flash of painful memory in his eyes.
The lady sitting next to him also sighed.
She looked at Elias with a gentle gaze, almost like she was comforting a terminal patient, and said softly:
“My condolences.”
“?”
A massive question mark slowly formed in Elias's mind again.
What kind of strange plot were these two old folks imagining?
Condolences?
Who died?
He was alive and well, able to eat, sleep, and even extort money.
“Did you two misunderstand something?”
Elias looked puzzled.
“Nothing happened to Hope County!”
“What?”
As soon as Elias finished speaking.
Two questions filled with surprise and disbelief immediately rang out in the quiet room.
Old Crowley almost jumped out of his chair.
The hand of the lady holding the juice also shook, and the dark red liquid nearly spilled onto her skirt.
She stared into Elias's eyes with some uncertainty and asked again:
“Are you telling the truth?”
“Hope County... didn't turn into a dead land?”
“Truly.”
Elias nodded with absolute certainty.
“Thank God!”
Upon hearing this definite answer.
The elderly lady patted her ample chest without any regard for her image and let out a long sigh of relief.
She stood up and gave Elias a slight inclination, performing a formal and ancient introduction rite of transcendents.
“Allow me to introduce myself formally, young Keeper.”
The lady smiled.
“My name is Sophia Merskael.”
“A Resurrectionist.”
“Elias.”
Elias also retracted his cane and responded in kind.
“A mere lighthouse keeper.”
Sophia sat back in her chair.
She turned her head to look at the somewhat dazed Captain Crowley sitting beside her and gave him a sharp look.
“As expected, something went wrong.”
Sophia sighed.
“I told you your plan was riddled with holes. How could you possibly recover the item so smoothly?”
Captain Crowley also rubbed his temples somewhat dejectedly.
The old man let out a long sigh, his tone filled with helplessness.
“That John Baker was indeed unreliable.”
More than just unreliable!
Hearing that familiar name, Elias stood to the side and gave a fierce internal grumbling.
He was both wicked and unreliable!
But...
“Wait.”
Elias suddenly turned his head and stared at Old Crowley's helpless face.
His voice rose several decibels, carrying a hint of disbelief.
“You know John Baker?”
“And what you meant just now was... you knew he was sent by your nephew?”
Elias suddenly realized.
This Old Crowley might have been at the top of the food chain from the very beginning, watching the development of the whole matter coldly.
“I know.”
Crowley spread his hands, his expression natural.
His gaze became incredibly deep at this moment.
The improper facade peeled away layer by layer.
“However, little fellow.”
The old man looked at Elias, his tone becoming serious.
“There are some things we need to make clear beforehand.”
“Before you hear what comes next.”
“Are you sure you want to get involved in this?”
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