A priest in North America, what the hell is the Demon Gate system?

Li Ang stared at the image of the Purple Heart Medal on the screen, then looked at its description: it was specifically issued to wounded or killed soldiers.

"It's mold..."

He opened his browser, typed "Oudum, enlist, news" into the search box, and pressed enter.

The computer froze for three or four seconds before the page finally loaded.

As you scroll the mouse wheel, the news page on the screen slowly scrolls down.

Li Ang stared at the local news article from ten years ago:

"Mayor Joel calls on Uldum youth to enlist! Outstanding young people are interviewed."

The accompanying photo in the report was of the town square, the same place as today, only it looked a bit newer.

Mayor Joel stood on a makeshift platform, surrounded by several young men.

Li Ang scrolls the mouse to zoom in on the image.

The young white man on the left has short blond hair, blue eyes, and a somewhat reserved smile. Next to him is a label: [John Weir, 21 years old.]

He was wearing a brand-new Army physical training uniform, his arm linked with that of a young woman with chestnut hair—it must have been Dani Weil, who didn't look so haggard back then. The two were embracing and kissing, mimicking the pose in that classic Victory Day photograph, but John's movements were noticeably stiff, and Dani's face was flushed red to the roots of her ears.

"This must be Jack's father," Li Ang thought to himself.

Shift your gaze to the right.

The young Black man had a buzz cut, a lean build, and a wide grin that revealed a set of white teeth that looked like those of a black toothpaste tube.

The label reads: [James Dick, 20 years old.]

Li Ang recalled the face of the man he saw in the square today: grayish skin, sunken eye sockets, bloodshot eyes, which overlapped with the smiling face in the photo.

Although he was emaciated and looked unrecognizable, and although he had been ravaged beyond recognition by something.

But it is indeed the same person.

"James Dick..." Li Ang murmured the name, recalling what Jack Welch had said in the spiritual world.

"His Uncle James, who went to join the army with him, came back, but he disappeared later as well."

Li Ang leaned back in his chair, tapping his fingers on the table.

The old computer case hummed with its fan, and sunlight streamed in through the gaps in the blinds, casting streaks of light and shadow on the desktop.

The office was quiet, with only the occasional bird call coming from outside the window.

After thinking for a while, Li Ang reopened the search bar and entered "James Dick, Odum".

The results were few: a few old news items about community events, and a report on a high school basketball game—James was a substitute player.

There was another obituary, but it wasn't for him.

The obituary was simple: Daisy Dick, aged 52, died of heart failure and was buried in Oldham Cemetery.

The time was the second year after James joined the army.

Li Ang stared at the screen, piecing together the information in his mind.

A young Black man from a single-parent family who grew up in a textile factory neighborhood. Ten years ago, he was moved by Mayor Joel's patriotic speech and enlisted in the army with the neighbor's child.

Then what happened to turn him into the way he is today?

"Damn it..." Li Ang rubbed his temples.

It feels like watching "Celebrity Detective," except I don't seem to have any special detective gadgets.

Just as Li Ang was about to continue searching for information, he suddenly felt a warm sensation in his chest.

Li Ang paused, reached into his suit's inner pocket with his right hand, and took out the notebook.

The handwriting reappeared, but this time it appeared much smoother.

"My child, you are more perceptive and resourceful than I imagined."

"Father Andrew?"

Li Ang whispered, wondering if it was just his imagination, but he felt that Father Andrew was nearby, yet he couldn't detect any trace of him.

The writing continued: "James Dick...I know him, a bright and studious good boy, whose father ran away after he was born."

"A respectable family man..." Li Ang pondered to himself.

"His mother, Daisy, was very strong. She worked as a cleaner in town and raised James all by herself."

"Later, when James joined the army, she was overjoyed, saying that her son finally had a future. But less than a year later, she fell ill; long-term overwork had damaged her heart. I helped her a few times in the name of the church, and then she died, but..."

The handwriting paused abruptly here, then became rapid again.

"It's time for me to go."

"Feed? Hey! But what!?" Li Ang was speechless. Did Father Andrew study at some online forum to make such a abrupt turn in the story?

"What on earth did the pangolin say?!"

The page was left blank, leaving only Li Ang's discontented complaints.

Although speechless, Li Ang closed the laptop and let out a long breath. Just then, the system's voice sounded again.

[Ding! Sect quest triggered: Seeking the Roots]

[Mission Description: Investigate the cause of the mutation of the zombie James Dick and the truth behind it]

[Mission Rewards: Contribution Points +50, Tracking Compass]

[Note: The tracking compass can indicate the current location of the target based on items closely related to it.]

Li Ang looked at the introduction to the tracking compass and a slight smile appeared on his lips.

"Finally, a decent prop has arrived. With this, we might be able to find Father Andrew."

Li Ang then closed the system interface and quickly reviewed the information he currently possessed in his mind:

1. James Dick, a resident of Uldum, joined the army ten years ago.

Second, his mother, Daisy, died after he joined the army. James briefly returned after the funeral and then disappeared.

Third, now that he has been resurrected, his target is Mayor Joel.

"Revenge? I feel it's not that simple."

As Li Ang was thinking, there was a light knock on the office door twice, followed by a crack in the door.

Sister Nia peeked in and whispered, "Father, it's almost three o'clock. People are starting to arrive and are waiting outside the church."

Li Ang glanced at the time in the lower right corner of the computer screen—14:47.

time flies.

He closed the browser window, stood up, and straightened the collar of his priest's uniform: "Have the choir children arrived yet?"

"We're here. They're practicing in the backyard." Nia walked in, her gaze a little unfocused.

"To be honest, this is my first time..."

Li Ang walked over to her and patted her on the shoulder: "Relax, Sister Nia. It's like this the first time. Just follow my rhythm, and you'll get used to it soon~"

Li Ang gave a smile that would reassure even a little boy.

"We need to be professional during the mass and fundraising later, after all, we have important guests!"

Nia looked at the expression on his face, blinked, and suddenly asked, "Father, whenever you smile like that, are you plotting something?"

Li Ang's smile froze.

"How could this be?!"

Li Ang blushed slightly, then waved his hand, saying, "I was just thinking about how to better spread the gospel of the Lord."

"But I feel like you might have lied to the mayor..."

"Ahem! Sister Nia, some things those who know, know; and some things I can't explain to you. You're still too naive!" Li Ang didn't say anything more to Nia, opened the door, and left.

The two walked out of the office one after the other. In the church hall, sunlight streamed in through the stained glass windows, casting colorful shadows on the floor, and the air was filled with the scent of incense.

There were already seven or eight believers sitting on the benches, mostly middle-aged and elderly people, bowing their heads and praying silently. When they saw Li Ang come out, they all nodded in greeting.

Li Ang smiled in response and walked behind the altar to prepare, while also opening his divine sense to sense the approximate location of the Soul-Suppressing Nail.

Li Ang could sense that the guy was lurking nearby, but he couldn't pinpoint his exact location.

Meanwhile, outside the church, Mayor Joel's black luxury car slowly drove into the parking lot.