"So, this is the truth behind Silent Hill's prosperity—an illusionary facade."
Through S.H.I.E.L.D.'s investigation, the grim reality beneath Silent Hill's surface was swiftly uncovered. On the surface, Silent Hill appeared to be a tourist-centric town, but behind closed doors, it was a hub for drug production and trade. Many of the so-called "tourists" were, in fact, buyers using vacation as a cover to acquire drugs.
The cornerstone of Silent Hill's illicit industry was a unique plant that grew only in the surrounding area. This plant was used to manufacture a high-grade narcotic called White Claudia. Silent Hill's "prosperity" was built on the foundation of this drug trade, which even had covert support from local authorities.
Among the local police force, there were officers with a genuine sense of justice, but they either ended up joining the corruption or mysteriously "disappearing." Many lives were lost beneath the surface of Silent Hill's idyllic appearance.
It was surprising to discover that the initial discovery of White Claudia was made by a seemingly ordinary high school chemistry teacher in Silent Hill. While collecting plant specimens, the teacher uncovered the plant's narcotic properties, eventually leading to the production of White Claudia. After all, compared to a teacher's meager salary, the massive profits from drug production were far more enticing. This revelation reminded Daniel Davis of another chemistry teacher from a different world—a man with a terminal illness and a troubled family who also "applied" his chemistry knowledge to extraordinary lengths.
Drugs were a widespread issue in Western nations. In some places, even substances that could be classified as drugs had been legalized under the guise of being "harmless," akin to certain "experts" claiming that radioactive wastewater is drinkable.
When Daniel was still a student, he had encountered someone trying to sell him drugs. He had ignored them completely. To Daniel, gambling, drugs, and exploitation were three things he would never tolerate. While he had no strong stance on gambling—being the man who introduced mahjong to ancient China and occasionally playing cards with Flame Lingji and others—he drew a firm line at drugs and human exploitation.
Prostitution, for example, didn't conflict with historical practices like those seen in the brothels of ancient China. Since Guan Zhong pioneered the brothel industry, establishments like the Purple Orchid Pavilion and Drunken Dream Tower flourished. These places weren't just centers of entertainment but also hubs for information and revenue. In Daniel's time, while strict regulation and a ban on human trafficking were enforced, eradicating the industry entirely was not feasible.
As for drugs, Daniel refused to go near them. Otherwise, with his current knowledge, he could have easily become the world's greatest drug lord. After all, in the Hunter x Hunter universe, there was even a nation whose surrounding forests served as raw material sources for drugs.
In Silent Hill, the drug trade was controlled by the local church. Churches in Western nations often enjoy certain privileges, which some exploit as a facade for darker deeds. Outwardly, the church preached kindness and morality, but in reality, it engaged in all sorts of heinous activities.
Silent Hill's church not only controlled the drug trade but also operated an orphanage called Hope House under the guise of a charity. In truth, the orphanage was a front for abusing, brainwashing, and even sacrificing children.
In Western nations, children were highly protected. Even child offenders often faced lenient sentences, with mechanisms like the Amber Alert system in place to safeguard them. However, these safeguards couldn't hide the frequent occurrences of child abuse—not only toward other children but even within families.
Daisy, for example, had frequently run away from orphanages as a child because she couldn't endure the harsh conditions. Her hardships led her to develop exceptional hacking skills, which allowed her to support herself. Other children weren't so fortunate.
When Melinda May discovered what was happening, she personally took charge of addressing the situation. For her, this was a deeply personal matter—one she could not tolerate.
For Daniel, however, these matters fell under the jurisdiction of S.H.I.E.L.D. and the government. His main concern lay with the demon that had previously appeared. While S.H.I.E.L.D. investigated the church, Daniel obtained a wealth of information related to sacrifices and demons.
The documents revealed that despite appearing to operate only in the Silent Hill area, the church was internally divided into three factions: the Holy Mother Faction, the Holy Maiden Faction, and the neutral Middle Faction. These factions vied for control and influence.
The split between the Holy Mother and Holy Maiden factions arose from differing interpretations of how to summon their "god." The Holy Mother faction sought to bring their god into the world by cultivating a "vessel" for possession. The Holy Maiden faction, on the other hand, aimed to summon their god in the form of a fetus through a special ritual, with the mother serving as the "Holy Maiden."
Heather Mason was considered the current Holy Maiden—or more accurately, the reincarnation of the original Holy Maiden. The first Holy Maiden, Alessa Gillespie, had been sacrificed by her own mother, the leader of the Holy Maiden faction, in a bid to summon their god. However, unforeseen events led to the emergence of Cheryl and eventually Heather Mason. These three individuals were essentially one soul reborn across multiple lives.
Alessa Gillespie's life had been incredibly tragic. She was bullied from a young age despite possessing powers that could determine life and death with a mere word. Fortunately, her story had now come to an end. With the church and the Flame Demon eradicated, Heather Mason would no longer have to endure the same fate.
"Who would've thought this involved Zhang Qian? It seems the Zhang Qian of this world isn't an ordinary figure—a sorcerer, perhaps?"
Among the church's documents, Daniel found the origins of the Flame Demon. It seemed the demon was originally sealed by Zhang Qian, an ancient historical figure. The red triangular artifact Daniel had obtained was a sealing tool created by Zhang Qian. However, over time, the artifact had passed into the hands of a Western monk.
The sealing tool, originally meant to suppress demons, was eventually misinterpreted as a divine relic—an object imbued with angelic power. It became an object of worship, revered by some as a sacred artifact. This irony amused Daniel greatly.
The Flame Demon, weakened after centuries of imprisonment, had been further diminished by its prior encounters with Alessa Gillespie and subsequent resealing. As a result, it had become so feeble that even Daisy could defeat it with ease.
"Like the Prison Realm, this triangular artifact is quite a handy tool for dealing with demons."
By studying the church's materials, Daniel figured out how to use the Flauros sealing tool effectively.
"Now, what to do about Silent Hill?"
With the demon and church dealt with, the next issue was addressing the unique "three-layered world" phenomenon in Silent Hill. The existence of the Real World, the Fog World, and the Otherworld was not the result of demonic activity but a natural occurrence that had existed for centuries.
Silent Hill had originally been a sacred site for Native Americans, who referred to it as the "Home of the Silent Spirits." The term "spirits" encompassed a wide range of entities, including ancestral souls and elemental forces dwelling in nature.
Over time, as Native Americans were forced to abandon the area, the original name of the site was lost, but its supernatural power remained. This power, once neutral, became twisted by centuries of human suffering and historical trauma, giving rise to the three-layered world.
"In some ways, this place is like a natural court of judgment for the guilty. Too bad such places are so rare."
Daniel mused on the existence of Silent Hill. For serial killers and criminals, Silent Hill's Fog World and Otherworld were a place of natural judgment. There had even been reports of a serial killer vanishing without a trace in Silent Hill.
However, for the safety of ordinary people, Daniel decided that the town's unique environment had to be destroyed. While its supernatural aspects were fascinating, their presence in the modern world posed too many risks. Moreover, the environment's influence had already caused enough tragedy, as seen with Alessa Gillespie.
Using Earth Release techniques, Daniel altered Silent Hill's underground geology, destabilizing the supernatural nexus. He then suggested to Melinda and Daisy that the western part of Silent Hill be burned. While this would disrupt the town's layout, it would also erase its peculiar geomancy and eliminate the White Claudia plant.
After some deliberation, Melinda and Daisy agreed. As for opposition from local authorities, S.H.I.E.L.D.'s investigation had already revealed that at least 70% of them needed to be replaced due to their involvement in the drug trade. While the presence of drugs might be an open secret, it was something that couldn't be officially condoned.
Silent Hill, unlike the forested nation in the Hunter x Hunter world, was a manageable size. Its destruction could be carried out without major geopolitical consequences.
As Daniel prepared to leave, Daisy couldn't help but grumble, "This vacation was a disaster. Next time, we're picking somewhere more civilized."
"Agreed," Daniel replied with a faint smile.
Back in the Marvel Universe
Upon returning to his villa, Daniel received a notification from the Red Queen.
"Vibranium has appeared on the black market. Should I proceed to purchase it?"
"Yes. Secure it," Daniel replied immediately. Vibranium was an invaluable resource. While he could theoretically take it from Wakanda, he preferred to avoid such actions out of respect for potential alliances against Thanos. Instead, he opted to buy whatever appeared on the black market.
Soon, the source of the vibranium was identified—it had been recently stolen from a London museum. Along with the vibranium were two ancient artifacts: the Book of the Dead and the Book of the Living. Both had reportedly been unearthed during an archaeological dig.
"These artifacts might actually be real. Red Queen, pull up surveillance footage from the museum."
If authentic, these items could rival holy relics. The Book of the Dead and the Book of the Living were said to possess the power of resurrection—a formidable ability, even if limited to the Marvel Universe.
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Fairy Tail: Igneel's Eldest Son (Chapter 256)
I Am Thalos, Odin's Older Brother (Chapter 336)
Reborn in America's Anti-Terror Unit (Chapter 542)
Solomon in Marvel (Chapter 924)
Becoming the Wealthiest Tycoon on the Planet (Chapter 1284)
Surgical Fruit in the American Comics Universe (Chapter 1289)
American Detective: From TV Rookie to Seasoned Cop (Chapter 1316)
American TV Writer (Chapter 1402)
I Am Hades, The Supreme GOD of the Underworld! (Chapter 570)
Reborn as Humanity's Emperor Across the Multiverse (Chapter 660)
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