"We should split up..." Shuichi Akai suggested, his voice cold and clipped. He would lead the tactical reinforcements to besiege Innsmouth.
Of course, he wouldn't act rashly. The scene of the evil entity physically clutching at their souls was still vividly etched in his mind, chilling him to the bone. It wasn't something an ordinary, untrained person could handle. So far, only Howard was completely confirmed to have the specific ability to "exorcise" the entities. The capabilities of the other clergy members remained unknown. Therefore, Akai wouldn't take any unnecessary risks in the short term.
However… his expression remained largely emotionless as he looked at Howard, who was already rushing off to locate Lovecraft.
Akai had prepared for the worst. Howard couldn't be sacrificed for the time being because he was the only exorcist, so Akai could only use the junior monks' lives as "bait" to test the waters. Only after obtaining reliable intelligence would Howard step in to exorcise the stronger demons.
The situation was dangerously unclear…
He squinted. The sky gradually brightened. The pale morning light began to rise, but the winter chill lingered. Akai and Howard had analyzed Lovecraft's data. This person was an internet streamer; perhaps in the eyes of his fans, he was considered somewhat successful, but in Akai's eyes, he was only slightly more observant than the average civilian.
'Therefore… how could a mere commoner be involved in such bizarre, supernatural events?'
Was someone orchestrating this? Akai immediately thought of the Black Organization.
'Yes… why was that troublemaker group obsessed with Innsmouth?'
Following this line of thought, it all made sense. The Black Organization… what exactly were they trying to build? And what hidden secrets did Innsmouth hold?
Lovecraft's Apartment
Lovecraft was eager to know the answer to this question, but he wasn't currently in a state to ask it. He appeared extremely agitated, much like someone suffering from severe drug withdrawal who couldn't find their next fix. He was irrationally churning through his possessions, tossing papers and clothes.
He didn't know why he was so anxious, so agitated. He even felt like he couldn't control a rising, violent emotion swelling in his chest.
It was only when Howard, who had split up from Akai, finally arrived at Lovecraft's house that the madness was interrupted.
When he saw the crazed Lovecraft, even Howard couldn't help but gasp in horror.
This man was becoming… insane. His face was grotesquely contorted, his eyes bloodshot, his eye sockets deeply sunken, and his skull appeared to be bulging on both sides, as if something was pushing out from within. His breathing didn't seem to come from his nose or mouth; rather, it moved as if his very skull were expanding and contracting.
That ugly, almost inhuman transformation sent chills down Howard's spine.
'Perhaps… if I hadn't discovered the truth and started praying, my fate would have been the same as his…'
"Our Father in the heavens…" Howard whispered.
Something was wrong! Lovecraft clearly sensed Howard's presence, his attitude becoming even more extreme and violent.
"Listen to me! Lovecraft! If you don't want to become a complete monster, then stay where you are!"
Monster, monster?
Lovecraft froze. He stared blankly at his own hands, seemingly bony and skeletal, yet sharpened into jagged claws; they didn't look like ordinary human hands at all. Between his fingers, one could even vaguely see thin, translucent webbing, resembling the tools amphibians use to navigate water.
This instantly felt like a bucket of ice water had been poured over Lovecraft, plunging him into a state of extreme fear and existential unease.
'What is wrong with me? What has happened to me? Am I going to become a monster?'
Suddenly, he looked at Howard, his expression full of desperate pleading. "Please..."
"...I know, but you can't be afraid, Lovecraft. Repeat after me."
At that moment, Howard realized the true anomaly. This man… he could actually perform self-exorcism. In other words, Lovecraft, like him, could use biblical prayer to perform exorcisms.
'How is that possible?! He's clearly not a clergyman!'
While Lovecraft was both shocked and ecstatic, Howard fell silent, his mind reeling. Now they were truly at a loss…
"Lovecraft, I know you have many questions, but we also have many questions for you. If possible, please tell us everything you know."
...
"Hopefully nothing bad will happen."
Shuichi Akai prayed for Howard and the others. He wouldn't have done something so pointless before. But now, he felt it was just his own secular prejudice. God should protect His followers, right? This strange, uncharacteristic thought inexplicably crossed Shuichi Akai's mind.
Through his high-tech location tracking, he saw many vehicles rushing toward the Innsmouth region.
Driving his own car, Akai had no intention of waiting any longer. A ruthless glint appeared in his eyes. He wasn't a hesitant person. Perhaps he and Howard were insignificant, and few superiors would believe what they said. But if they made a big enough fuss, the higher-ups would have no choice but to believe!
Yes. He was prepared to use the junior agents' lives as bait. He was certain that if the higher-ups ignored the evidence, Innsmouth would be in serious, irreparable trouble. Rather than waiting to die, it was better to sacrifice the few to save the many.
However…
Out of the corner of his eye, while stuck in traffic, he caught a chilling glimpse of a figure that shouldn't be there.
It was Mayor Philip. The Mayor of Innsmouth.
The figure seemed to flash by on the sidewalk through the car window. But Shuichi Akai, in full mission mode, was extremely sharp. It was him! He couldn't possibly be mistaken about that specific figure!
'Damn it… that guy wouldn't… he shouldn't be in the city!'
His calm expression shattered, and Akai revealed an extremely ugly, grimace-filled face.
Get out of the car!
He put the safety catch on the gun he had hidden under his seat.
'Hopefully… this gun will be useful against a monster.'
His palms were sweating as he clenched his fists, forcing a jagged, fake smile onto his face as he stepped onto the pavement. He walked toward a coffee shop not far behind the parking space where the figure had vanished.
The figure seemed to have been waiting for a long time.
After noticing Shuichi Akai's gaze, the figure even smiled and nodded at him.
His face suddenly darkened. Shuichi Akai didn't like the other party's calm, predatory demeanor. Because it meant that the other party had enough confidence, and perhaps had already completed some conspiracy behind the scenes.
He wanted to confront the other party directly. But a certain instinctive, primal fear made him unable to move his legs for a second. This was inevitable. He knew that if he confronted the other party directly, his life or death would probably be entirely out of his control.
Anyone would be afraid. He remembered Howard's warning before he set off. Ordinary people would be helpless against them…
He took a deep breath. Shuichi Akai was, after all, an investigator who had lived on the edge of a knife his entire career. He quickly suppressed his wild anxieties and prepared himself for potential sacrifice. He couldn't retreat, because there was no other way. And because Mayor Philip was the Mayor of Innsmouth—if he was truly as terrifying as Akai feared—then if the other side went on a killing spree in a crowded city, hundreds of deaths would be the least of his worries…
He entered the coffee shop, the bell chiming softly.
Akai went straight to Mayor Philip's table and pulled out the chair.
"Mayor Philip, I think we can talk."
"Talk about what, Mr. Akai?"
"What that organization can give you, we can give you too," Akai leaned in, his voice low, "and we can give you even more people!"
.....
.....
.....
Give me powerstones.
Support me and read advance chapters on patreon.com/ImmortalDaoWriter