Chapter 265: The Clown in Town (Part 2)
"I made a fool of myself. This is just an ordinary painting." Donald smiled.
Aside, after entering the room, Stanley lowered his head and hid by the desk, not daring to approach the painting at all.
"Ordinary..." The corner of William's mouth twitched. The woman in this painting was extremely eerie. When staring at that face, the other party seemed to be looking back.
Moreover, because the portrait was distorted, at different angles, it even produced an illusion that the portrait was moving.
No matter how you looked at it, this painting had nothing to do with the word "ordinary," and the whole thing exuded a sense of disharmony.
Even if placed in an average household, it would affect a child's physical and mental health, not to mention a world like American Horror where supernatural incidents occurred frequently.
In William's view, this was simply sending out an invitation to evil spirits and demons.
Furthermore...
Two and a half circles of golden patterns surfaced in his pupils as he carefully observed the edge of the painting frame.
There were also some abnormal energy fluctuations remaining on it, and the traces extended all the way to the floor.
Looking at it this way, the boy Stanley hadn't lied.
"Mr. Donald, this painting might hold some clues. I wonder if you could give it to me?"
William turned his head and said.
"Of course. I will record your help this time and submit it together to the Church after the commission is completed. It will be reflected in your assessment content at the end of the year."
"Perhaps you can officially become a Holy Clergy Member this time."
There was also a rating system for Holy Clergy Members in the Church, generally used to measure the promotions and rewards of low-level priests.
Rather than saying Donald was helping William, it was more like William was his "benefactor."
Sure enough, after this town religious leader heard this, his eyes immediately shone brightly.
"May the Lord bless you!"
Donald's tone was somewhat excited.
"This is just a worthless painting. If it can help you complete the commission, it is my honor. You can take it freely."
He immediately walked to the wall and took the painting down.
William nodded: "I still have some things I want to ask Stanley. Could you give us some time alone?"
"Of course! Of course!"
Donald nodded repeatedly, and then said in a serious tone: "No matter what you know, you must not hide it from Father William."
"Yes... Father. I know."
The office door closed quickly.
Stanley lowered his head, appearing somewhat cramped, only daring to sneak peeks at Judy from time to time.
"Hey, are you very afraid of this painting?" Judy, receiving William's signal, proactively stepped forward to ask.
"Y... yes..."
Seeing this beautiful girl suddenly approach, Stanley's hand involuntarily grabbed the edge of the desk, and even his heartbeat quickened.
"Then I'll leave the destruction of this painting to you." Judy smiled and handed over a bottle of Holy Water.
"Wh... what?"
"I don't think it's weird that you're afraid of this painting! Father William and I feel the same way. Hanging this thing at home is too scary!"
"That's right." William was dealing with the residual energy aside. Upon hearing Judy's words, he gave a thumbs up to express agreement.
"Re... really? Is it okay?" Stanley's spirit was lifted. For the first time, he felt a sense of validation.
"I'll leave it to you. We still need to ask you about some situations later." Judy stuffed the Holy Water into the former's hand.
Stanley's breathing became somewhat fast.
He didn't know what was in the bottle, but under Judy's encouragement, he pulled out the stopper and poured the liquid inside onto the surface of the painting.
Sizzle... Sizzle...
A burning sound echoed in the room.
Stanley looked surprised; the water in the bottle actually melted this painting.
"Did you find anything." William looked at Judy.
"Mmh..." Judy narrowed her eyes, putting on a serious look.
A moment later.
"I see it!" Her tone was excited.
"There is a special energy connecting this painting, and the Holy Power seems to have spread outside through this energy."
"This means... this purification might have caused damage to that monster!"
William nodded approvingly: "I'm proud of you."
A smile blossomed on Judy's face, and her cheeks also flushed a bit.
Seeing this, Stanley aside was extremely envious in his heart.
He remembered that when he studied the Church's Bible, there were only his father's sighs and complaints beside him.
At the same time, he was also very curious.
Holy Water, purification...
These two guests from the Church seemed to be talking about something incredible.
William looked out the window.
When he discovered the anomaly on the painting earlier, he also saw a stream of energy floating in the air.
Unlike Judy, relying on the [Missionary] ability, he could see something on a deeper level.
And that energy was like a passage, capable of allowing certain substances to pass through.
Recalling the anomalies the town's children often saw, William guessed this was exactly how the clown Pennywise acquired fear.
And this passage extended all the way to a spot tens of meters outside the church, where there was also a sewer entrance.
Looking at it this way, the clown's lair, just like in the original work, was located entirely beneath the town.
Having confirmed this information, William didn't plan to head there immediately.
First, he wasn't familiar with the environment down there yet.
Second, since he could harm its main body through the terror projections extended by the clown, he naturally wouldn't let this opportunity go.
After dealing with the dust on the office floor, William asked Stanley for news about the "Wings of Vengeance."
And the result was as he expected.
Besides the monsters seen from time to time, the boy hadn't heard of any other strangers coming to the town.
At the same time, William also learned from Stanley that his friends had all encountered similar situations.
So the three decided to visit those children after the rain stopped.
The second day.
Early in the morning, William took the two children out.
Not long after, three boys rode their bicycles to the church to find Stanley, and the two parties just happened to miss each other.
Outside the Derry Public Library.
A relatively chubby boy ran out from inside.
He was covered in cold sweat, and his face was deathly pale.
Ben Hanscom recalled what he had just seen inside the library, his body trembling uncontrollably.
He came from a single-parent family. After his mother remarried, his stepfather was always very harsh on him.
At school, he was also a frequent target of bullying.
Therefore, researching history and culture became Ben's way of escaping the outside world. Over time, he increasingly enjoyed these moments of solitude.
He was researching the history of Derry town at the time, but when he turned his head, he found a bright red balloon floating in the library.
And the adults around seemed completely oblivious to this thing.
Out of curiosity, Ben followed the balloon all the way to the lower level of the library.
There... he saw a headless person!
That thing chased after Ben on its knees. Fortunately, the latter ran away in time.
"There must be something unusual in the town..." Ben wiped his forehead, thinking inwardly.
"Hey! Where are you going? Fat pig with a big belly?"
At this time, a voice suddenly came from behind.
Ben turned his head and saw a boy leaning against the corner of a statue outside the library.
The other party wore a sleeveless tank top, revealing somewhat muscular arms, and had a mullet-like hairstyle at the back of his head, looking out of place compared to boys his age.
Ben recognized the other party at a glance—Henry, the problem boy of Derry Middle School!
He pretended not to hear the other party's shout and tried to leave quickly.
But a few more boys rushed out from the side and grabbed Ben.
Edge of Derry Town, the Kissing Bridge.
Ben was brought here by those few problem boys.
"Hey, look at him, how can there be someone so fat." One boy lifted Ben's shirt and pulled it over the latter's head.
As soon as his voice fell, the other boys all burst out laughing.
"Let me go!" Ben's face flushed red, struggling vigorously.
Slap!
A red mark instantly appeared on his face.
Ben shook his head, but immediately after, he took two punches to the face.
Bang! Bang!
He felt his nose get somewhat heavy, something flowed down from inside, and he also tasted rust in his mouth.
"Stinky fatty, do you know why this place is called the Kissing Bridge?" the school bully Henry grabbed Ben's collar and said.
"Besides sucking lips with each other, everyone also carves their names here!"
After speaking, the school bully Henry took out a pocket knife.
Accompanied by a click sound, the sharp blade sprang out.
Aside, the other few boys also revealed surprised looks.
"Henry, just scare him, better not..."
"Shut up!" Henry roared at his lackey.
Subsequently, he pressed the dagger against Ben's stomach.
In the next moment.
Swoosh~
A sound of something cutting through the air rang out, and a stone flew rapidly towards the boys, accurately hitting Henry on the head.
"F*ck!"
Henry covered his head and roared angrily, looking in the direction the stone flew from.
He saw three people standing there.
"Father... William, I... we... we'd better run quickly. If we get caught... by Henry... we're dead." Stanley's legs trembled, hiding behind William.
"These guys are too much!" Judy had an angry look on her face.
She had also been bullied like this before and knew how unpleasant this feeling was.
Inferiority, isolation, no friends...
As if the whole world had lost its color.
And these boys in front of her were even worse, actually using a dagger against a classmate!
William didn't speak, just staring calmly opposite him.
Then he threw the other stone in his hand.
Bang!
Henry only felt a sharp pain; his hand was forced to loosen, and the dagger fell to the ground.
"You f*cking..."
Having run rampant in Derry town for so long, no one had ever dared to treat him like this!
Even those adults wouldn't make a fuss out of respect for his sheriff father.
This priest who popped out of nowhere was simply courting death!
Thinking of this, Henry's chest heaved violently.
"Catch them!"
He shouted loudly to the side.
But he found his few "companions" were timid and hesitant.
"What a bunch of cowards!"
Henry spat on the ground.
Immediately after, taking advantage of people not paying attention, he quickly picked up the dagger from the ground and rushed towards the priest opposite him.
"I'm going to kill you!"
Facing this scene, Stanley's legs gave way, and he slumped against the fence.
Judy, however, was very calm, holding a crucifix and staring straight at the other party.
But William raised his hand, signaling her to stand back a bit.
This kind of so-called school bully only relied on being a bit bolder or having a physical advantage to throw their weight around in front of their peers; they didn't know any combat skills at all.
Therefore, when Henry got close, William gently turned his body and dodged the dagger.
Subsequently, this irritable school bully felt a sharp pain coming from his wrist.
"Ah!"
William dragged Henry towards the opposite side. Those few "accomplices" instantly had panicked faces and coincidentally made way.
"Do you have any other injuries?" He looked at the chubby Ben and asked.
"N... no, sir."
"Don't look at how arrogant and domineering these guys are normally; they can only bully people who are unwilling to cause trouble. As long as you beat them up hard, you can tear off the disguise of these losers," William looked at both sides and said.
Although Ben was somewhat puzzled, he still breathed a sigh of relief in his heart.
With this gentleman here, he would be spared a beating today.
But in the next moment, Henry's face suddenly appeared in front of him.
"Come on, give him a punch. Best aim for the cheek, there's more flesh there, it can take a beating better," William said.
As soon as his voice fell, Ben was stunned.
He had never experienced such a thing. Although he did want to give Henry two punches, wasn't this gentleman an adult... how could he instigate a child to fight.
Ben couldn't help but turn his head, seeking help from this gentleman's two companions.
Judy covered her face.
"Will! You represent the Church! With so many people watching, if you want to beat someone up, you should go to the woods!" she said helplessly in her heart.
Compared to Judy, Stanley beside her was simply shocked.
Mr. Priest, when you were at the religious synagogue, weren't you a devout and polite Holy Clergy Member...
And you're even from the parish, with very profound theological knowledge!
Father even told me to learn more from you!
But... this should be violating the commandments, right...
As a boy growing up under orthodox Church culture, Stanley felt the "rules" shaped in his mind in the past were collapsing.
On the other side.
Seeing Ben hesitating to act, William smiled slightly and patted the chubby boy's shoulder.
"Your integrity is admirable. Those guys who bully you because of your size are the true clowns. Perhaps the justice you expected in the past never arrived, but today is an exception."
He said as he lifted Henry over the fence.
Hearing these words, Ben's eyes grew somewhat moist. No one had ever spoken up for him before.
"By the way, and you guys." William turned his head and pointed at Henry's few accomplices.
"You often bully your classmates; why not take this opportunity to atone. Let me think..."
He rubbed his chin.
"Just kneel on the ground and apologize to this upright little gentleman."
"Of course, you can also run away, but you'd better pray I don't catch you."
After speaking, William dragged Henry into the small woods.
The few abusers present looked at each other in dismay at first, but soon, they heard heart-rending screams coming from the woods.
That was exactly Henry's voice.
This sound even made the few of them ask themselves—Could that priest be a murderer?
Hearing a "Thud" sound, it was unknown who took the lead first, but the several bullies all trembled and kneeled on the ground, crying and apologizing to Ben according to that priest's request.
"S... sorry, please forgive me..."
"I shouldn't have laughed at your size, I'm such a jerk..."
Ben's face flushed red; he wouldn't even dare to imagine such a scene.
Stanley in the distance also opened his mouth wide. He didn't expect that even the "Henry Gang," this group of dangerous guys, would have such a day.
Neither boy noticed that their fear towards these bullies was diminishing bit by bit.
Judy aside tilted her head up and gently patted Stanley.
A moment later.
William walked out of the woods. His face was calm, as if everything just now hadn't happened.
On the contrary, Henry following behind him was conspicuous.
At this time, this school bully acted out of character, keeping his head down and trembling all over.
Subsequently, Henry walked up to Ben, and spoke with a very humble attitude: "S... sorry, I apologize to you for my previous behavior. I will bear all the costs of your treatment..."
Everyone present had surprised faces; they were all very curious about what this priest did to Henry.
Judy even ran over to ask in a whisper.
William shrugged: "I just taught him some principles of being a person."
"The exact method of dislocating human joints, the ultimate load-bearing capacity of bones... Mmh, also counts as previewing for the next stage's 'Bones' practice in advance," he thought inwardly.
After a small interlude, William learned from Ben that there happened to be a large drainage outlet near this Kissing Bridge.
Through investigating the energy nearby, he quickly found this place.
And at the entrance, there were currently three boys standing, seemingly hesitating whether to go in.
"So you guys are here!"
Seeing the three people opposite him, Stanley ran out excitedly and waved.
William, however, frowned and stared at the drainage outlet in front of him.
This place seemed to be a river channel. A huge metal circular pipe was embedded in the hillside, its cross-section close to two meters, able to fully accommodate three adult men entering simultaneously.
At this moment, it was pitch-black inside the tunnel, and a rotting stench occasionally emanated from within.
But what William cared about the most was the massive abnormal energy inside the tunnel.
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