At the end of the path on the right was a small room, which served as his lounge and also resembled a normal office.
It had everything: a desk, chairs, a sofa, and bookshelves. This small room also contained his daily necessities, such as clothes and accessories.
Looking at the wardrobe on the left, York walked over, casually placed his backpack inside, then took out his clerical shoes and put them on.
Compared to ordinary people, a priest's attire is quite particular, consisting of daily cassocks or ceremonial vestments, stoles, chausubles, albs, and clerical shoes, all very precise.
Unfortunately, just as before, York decided to simplify, putting on only his clerical shoes before closing the wardrobe, then picking up a Bible from the desk to enhance his gravitas.
Clothes make the man, just as a saddle makes a horse. With his attire changed, his entire demeanor instantly transformed; a compassionate, benevolent Father York was born anew.
York averted his gaze from the mirror, patted the hem of his robe, and walked to the other side to pick up a plate.
On the plate, there was already a silver cup, a packet of salt, and a bottle of pure mineral water.
It was early morning, so it was unlikely anyone would come. He planned to make Holy water first.
This was also part of his routine; if he had nothing else to do, he liked to make enough Holy water, enough salt bullets, silver bullets, lead bullets... The effect of Holy water goes without saying, it's standard for exorcisms. As for the clearly categorized ammunition, if he cut a cross into the bullet tip, blessed and prayed over it, and then enchanted it, the effect would be phenomenal.
Salt bullets for spirits, silver bullets for demons, lead bullets for monsters. He loved making these small items the most. In his underground warehouse at home, if there was one thing he had in abundance, it was bullets, for fear of a shortage of firepower.
Thinking this, York slowly left the small room, a plate in one hand and the Bible in the other.
As expected, there was still no one around so early in the morning. After scanning the empty main altar, York began the process of making Holy water, placing all the items on the table.
The materials and production of Holy water are actually very simple: the main body is a combination of salt and purified water. The most important step in the entire process is the consecration.
Because only by completing this step will the Holy water be effective.
Following the measurements, York calmly poured the purified water into a clean silver cup, then combined it with one small spoonful of salt per hundred milliliters until the silver cup was full.
"Now all that's left is the consecration..."
York glanced at the Jesus Statue, then picked up the Bible, preparing to begin the consecration.
However, just as he was about to proceed with this step, a voice echoed from outside the church.
"Father York! Are you there?"
York's eyebrows twitched slightly. He knew the owner of this voice—a delivery boy, and more importantly, he had helped the young man find this job.
"I'm here!"
Saying this, York turned around and indeed saw a young man wearing a hat and uniform, holding a cardboard box, cautiously peeking his head in.
Seeing the young man's cautious demeanor, York put away his Bible and smiled gently.
"Evan, you don't need to be afraid. Come in."
Who knew that upon seeing him, Evan would instead shrink back.
"No, no need, Father. You have a package. I'll just leave it here."
As he spoke, he quickly placed the cardboard box he was holding on a bench near the door, then hurried away without stopping.
Seeing Evan's avoidance, as if York were a venomous snake, York's mouth twitched, his heart filled with mixed emotions.
"Alas, wasn't it just a bit of physical education, urging you to return to the right path...?"
York shook his head, walked forward to retrieve his package, sat on the bench, and placed the cardboard box on his lap, preparing to open it. But the sender's name made York raise an eyebrow again.
"Sent by Ed? Is something wrong?"
If it were sent by someone else, it would be fine, but if it came from Ed Warren, it likely indicated a different situation. Either he had encountered a malevolent spirit incident that he couldn't resolve on his own and sought his help, or he had encountered a malevolent spirit incident that he could resolve but needed the church's exorcism permission.
The reason for this was simple: although Ed was an ordinary person, he was a demonologist recognized by the church. Most importantly, Ed's wife, Lorraine Warren, possessed an ability that ordinary people did not; she was a clairvoyant, capable of seeing ghosts, specters, spirits, evil spirits, demons, and other supernatural entities that others could not perceive.
Speaking of which, he seemed to have heard the name The Warrens in his previous life, but he no longer had any impression, only a sense of familiarity.
Just then, his phone rang from inside his cassock.
York felt a premonition, took out his phone from his bosom, and looked at the incoming call.
"It's Ed, as expected..." York smiled and answered the call.
As soon as he answered, Ed stated directly, "Father York, did you receive the package I sent? I just got a notification."
York glanced at the unopened cardboard box, recalling his previous interactions with Ed, and calmly said,
"Hmm, have you run into trouble again?"
"Cough, coincidence." An awkward cough first came from the phone. "Father, I have indeed encountered a clear case of a malevolent spirit. Please look at the evidence inside first. If possible, I would like to apply for the church's exorcism permission through your channel."
"Understood, I'll take a look first." York calmly replied, hanging up the phone with a hint of regret in his heart. Even so, the mission still hadn't appeared.
Placing his phone aside, York put away his regret and began to open the cardboard box. As the box was opened, a radio, a tablet, and an envelope appeared before him. There was also a note on the radio.
"Father, please fast-forward to the end."
Clearly, Ed's recording process was not smooth.
York narrowed his eyes and pressed the play button. The radio began to emit sounds, but they were all normal. York then pressed the fast-forward button, letting the radio quickly spin the tape. When it reached a certain point, an abnormal sound appeared, and York abruptly stopped his action.
"Ah ah ah ah ah ah!!"
Terrifying, piercing, eerie, and chilling howls echoed throughout the entire church. These were sounds that humans would find very difficult to make.
York silently turned off the radio. If it were him, he would admit that this was a real malevolent spirit incident, but the church required more specific proof.
York looked at the second piece of evidence, the tablet, then calmly turned it on and opened the specifically noted video file.
As the screen darkened, a chaotic scene appeared: a group of adults chasing a sliding girl.
If it were a normal video, it would be fine. However, the girl's body was lying on the floor, her hair pulled back, making it look as if someone was grabbing her hair and running, but behind the girl was nothing... "Very effective proof." York silently turned off the tablet and picked up Ed's third piece of evidence, the envelope.
Opening the envelope, inside were some photographs.
Compared to the radio recording and the tablet video, these photos were more intuitive.
The first photo showed a little girl walking with her eyes closed in the dark, but a pair of hands appeared out of thin air on her shoulders.
The second photo showed the little girl walking with her eyes closed in the dark, seemingly on stairs, but behind her appeared a vague, ethereal figure: a small boy with black hair, black eyes, wearing an ancient-era suit... York pursed his lips, threw all the photos into the cardboard box, and then picked up the phone placed nearby, dialing Ed Warren's number.
"This family's situation is very dangerous. Give me the exact address..."