[Chapter 58: Another Achievement]
All the figures were young women. They had been killed over the years by the landlord brothers. Each had become a sacrifice to the monster, their spirits trapped here as ghosts, unable to move on.
Because the landlord brothers had slain so many and carried so much evil energy, these souls lacked the strength even to seek revenge. They could only appear occasionally to warn new tenants to leave quickly.
Sadly, most tenants didn't take the warnings seriously. In the end, just like these ghosts, their bodies became sacrifices, and their restless spirits lingered here forever.
Originally, they believed they were trapped for eternity. But now, because of Daniel, everything had changed.
They sensed the power residing within his incantation. As that power settled over them, each immediately understood what it meant.
Joy lit their faces, and their eyes shimmered with gratitude as they looked at Daniel. Some even knelt down, bowing deeply.
May the guardians of every direction bear witness and restore what is true.
By sacred decree and sanctified seal, let this command be known above and below.
Let what is bound be released, what is lost be guided.
Let every troubled soul find its rightful passage.
By judgment and mercy together, be cleansed and be at peace.
As the last line of the incantation fell from his lips, they began to vanish, one by one dissolving into the air. Each departed with continuous waves and grateful gestures toward Daniel.
[Ding! Successfully transcended a G-rank lingering soul, gaining 100 Merit Points.]
[Ding! Successfully transcended a G-rank lingering soul, gaining 100 Merit Points.]
...The chimes sounded repeatedly, but all were identical.
These lingering souls were too weak, granting only 100 Merit Points each. No wonder they had never managed to take revenge. All they could do was helplessly watch the landlord brothers continue their killing spree.
...
Just after clearing these spirits, Daniel noticed Carlos struggling upstairs, carrying his niece out of the basement, drenched in sweat.
"Mr. Cross, please, you have to check my niece -- why won't she wake up?" Carlos pleaded.
"Don't worry. Lay her down here," Daniel said calmly as he approached.
Carlos eased Ambar onto the floor. Daniel examined her briefly and said, "She's fine. She just needs a bit more time and she'll wake up on her own."
Ambar's consciousness had been forcibly trapped somewhere inside by the monster within the sealed stone box. Now that Daniel had sealed the box, her awakening was just a matter of time.
Of course, Daniel could use a prayer seal to rouse her immediately. But it would waste a valuable seal, and he preferred to save it if possible.
Relieved to hear his niece was alright, Carlos visibly relaxed.
Daniel turned to him: "Carlos, you need to call the police immediately. So many people have died here. If you don't report this, you won't be able to explain yourselves when the investigation eventually happens."
Carlos now grasped the gravity of the situation and did not object further.
...
Daniel took out his phone and dialed Sheriff Ford. "Sheriff Ford, would you like me to offer you another achievement?"
"Another achievement?" Ford sounded stunned, still processing the last two favors Daniel had helped with. Then curiosity edged his voice: "What kind of achievement?"
Daniel said gravely, "Someone under the pretense of renting rooms has killed no fewer than thirty young women."
Ford's breath hitched. "Mr. Cross, please tell me the address."
...
After hanging up, Daniel said quietly, "You understand what's happened here, right?"
Carlos nodded fearfully. "Yes. These two landlords hunted their tenants for years. If it weren't for you, Mr. Cross, Ambar wouldn't be alive."
Daniel said in a low voice, "The police will handle this soon. You just need to tell the truth. However..." His tone darkened. "Don't say anything about the stone box. When Ambar wakes up, tell her the same. It concerns her life."
Carlos blinked, defensive. "What stone box? I haven't seen anything like that."
Daniel smiled slightly to himself. No wonder Carlos led a construction team -- he knew how to conduct himself perfectly. Even if he had revealed something, it wouldn't matter. Once this case reached Sheriff Ford, the stone box would quietly disappear anyway.
On one hand lay an unknown stone box; on the other hand flowed a constant stream of achievements. The choice was simple.
And offending a powerful Exorcist like Daniel was irrational at best.
...
Sure enough, twenty minutes later, Ambar's eyelids fluttered, and she slowly woke up.
She propped herself up, blinking. Seeing Carlos, she looked confused. "Uncle, why are you here?"
Carlos exhaled with relief that Ambar was unharmed and quick to explain, "I came right away when you called me. Let me introduce you to Mr. Cross. It's thanks to him that you survived."
He introduced Daniel and recounted what had happened. Ambar expressed sincere gratitude.
Following Daniel's advice, Carlos warned Ambar not to mention the stone box. Concern for her safety made her agree immediately.
...
Half an hour later, Sheriff Ford arrived, accompanied by Lara and Kane, who Daniel had met previously.
The trio greeted Daniel politely. Ford looked at the landlord brothers lying unconscious on the floor.
"Are these the men who killed so many people?" Ford asked.
Daniel confirmed, "That's right."
Ford nodded and gestured; Lara and Kane immediately cuffed the brothers.
"Where are the bodies?" Ford inquired, scanning the scene.
Daniel replied, "They're inside the apartment. You should search thoroughly."
Ford trusted Daniel implicitly but still asked carefully, "Is it safe here now?"
His caution was justified -- the presence of Mr. Cross meant something significant.
"Yes," Daniel assured him.
Ford visibly relaxed and dispatched Lara and Kane to search, reminding, "Pay special attention to the basement area."
They split up, and Ford began taking Daniel's statements.
After Daniel recounted the events, Ford interviewed Carlos and Ambar.
...
Before their statements were complete, a sudden cry rang out from the basement.
Lara burst back up, breathless. "Sheriff, we found where the bodies are buried."
Daniel followed them down for a grim inspection.
Next to the sacrificial room, there was another door leading to a utility room. The tool racks had been moved aside, revealing yet another door. That door was now open, and a wave of putrid stench poured out.
Daniel covered his mouth and nose, peered inside, and saw a chamber filled with human remains.
Most were already bleached white bones, while others had flesh still clinging. Fresh corpses festering with writhing maggots made the sight all the more horrific.
Every victim shared one chilling trait -- they were all headless.
Carlos and Ambar gasped in horror and rushed out, vomiting violently. Only when nothing remained inside did they feel slightly better.
Their eyes filled with deeper gratitude for Daniel. Without him, Ambar would have joined those bodies long ago.
...
Exiting the basement, the fresh air felt like a blessing.
"So many bodies..." Sheriff Ford's face was heavy with emotion. "We found over a dozen bodies at that ranch too."
Daniel was eager to return and check on the stone box.
He casually tore off the prayer seal from the skinny landlord's forehead. "I'll leave this place for you to handle. I'm heading out."
"Let me see you off," Ford said, escorting Daniel to his car.
"Is there anything that needs to be kept confidential?" Ford asked.
Daniel smiled at Ford's prudence. "Just show me the confessions of those two murderers afterward."
"Consider it done," Ford promised readily.
...
Back home, Daniel moved the mysterious stone box to the basement.
He tore off the sealing prayer seal and commanded, "Come out."
The box didn't move.
Daniel's expression darkened, his voice cold. "If you don't come out now, you'll never need to come out again. You know I can make it happen."
As soon as he finished speaking, the lid of the stone box began to slowly turn.
*****
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