Mystery: My Encounters with the Celestial God

Chapter 213 The Church of Radiance

Joewood District.

15 Minsk Street.

"Sigh, is finding lost cats the only business they can get?"

Sherlock Moriarty put down his newspaper and expressed the anxieties of the poor.

This guy hasn't been going out much lately, staying home and trying to find a highly profitable investment opportunity in the newspapers, relying on his own judgment.

However, Backlund's brilliant minds have yet to gain the approval of this "great detective" whose vision is ahead of his time.

Klein put down the newspaper, looked up at the simply decorated and somewhat outdated living room, and sighed.

"Sigh~ I've almost finished digesting the clown's potion, and I still haven't seen a trace of the fortune teller's potion recipe. What kind of place is this that's suitable for getting stronger...?"

"Why don't we write to that kid and ask him? I happen to have his contact information."

"No, in his memory I'm a dead person, and dead people don't write letters..."

Just as the great detective was pondering whether to surprise Ron, the ringing of the doorbell interrupted his thoughts.

Klein's eyes lit up; this meant he had a new commission coming his way!

The former night watchman quickly got up and hurried to the door. Before he could even turn the doorknob, the image of the visitor appeared in his mind.

Outside stood a young man in an old military overcoat, his red eyes glancing nervously at his house number.

"It's him?"

The image in his mind instantly reminded Klein who he was.

He had met the other person when he first arrived in Backlund while riding the steam subway.

"Hello, young sir, do you have a request?"

The detective, who had come to greet the guest as soon as he opened the door, stepped aside slightly to make way, indicating that they could come in for a more in-depth conversation.

"Is it you?"

The big boy in the military overcoat clearly recognized Klein, who had looked him up and down several times earlier.

"Of course, fate is always so unpredictable!"

Klein smiled in response, indicating that he also recognized him in an attempt to build rapport with this potential client who might offer services.

As a newcomer to Backlund, renting a house, clothing, and transportation all challenged the limits of his wallet, leaving this poor man watching his gold pounds flow away like water, with no income coming in.

As a transmigrator from a country known for its food culture, this act of living off his past achievements made him quite uneasy, as he felt as if he had become "scum" of society.

"Would you like something to drink? Do you have something to request?"

"No, sir, I do have a request."

Upon arriving at the living room sofa, Klein, who had made a great success of his first time receiving guests, nodded slightly and immediately got down to business.

"What kind of request is it?"

He pretended to be very experienced and spoke in a deep voice.

"Uh, sir, I want you to find someone."

"He's also a private investigator named Zeryl Victor Lee. He's practically my employer, and he's been missing for several days!"

"I went to his house to look for him, but all the signs and hidden mechanisms we had agreed on had been triggered, and I couldn't contact him through other channels either."

The young man, dressed in an old military overcoat, clearly and logically explained what had happened to him, seemingly wanting to provide the detective with necessary clues.

"Honestly, you should go to the police in this situation."

"Because based on your description, your employer is likely in some kind of danger."

Klein lowered his head and pondered for a moment before offering his opinion.

"Sir, I tried, but the police said Mr. Zerell's disappearance was too short to warrant an investigation."

"Furthermore, I also asked Mr. Zerell's detective friends for help, but they all said they had seen Mr. Zerell at a private detectives' exchange meeting!"

"So I could only find you in the newspaper, Mr. Sherlock Moriarty. You are a great detective who has just arrived in Backlund, and you are not the same as Detective Zeryl's friends."

"Perhaps it's true, as you say, that Detective Zeryl is in danger; he seems to be being coerced!"

Only then did the big boy with red eyes show a panicked expression befitting his age.

"What do you need me to do? If it's about rescuing hostages, reporting it to the police might be a safer course of action."

Klein nodded, using his spiritual vision to confirm that the other party was not lying.

He pondered for a moment and decided to see what the employer's requirements were before deciding whether to accept the commission.

If the other party asks him to rescue the hostages, then he will have no choice but to reveal his hidden "Joker" identity!

I hope Backlund doesn't have Batman...

Klein silently mocked himself in his heart.

"Sir, all I need is for you to find Mr. Zeryl's current location; I'll explain the rest to the police!"

The young man clearly understood what the detective meant. He didn't ask for anything more difficult, but instead hoped that the man opposite him could find the employer's location so that he could decide on his next move.

Klein frowned slightly, pondering for a long time, while his fingers deftly manipulated a copper penny.

Suddenly he raised his hand and tossed a copper penny that had only been issued when King George III of Loon ascended to the throne into the air.

The collision of airflow and metal produced a buzzing sound, which grew louder and then quieter, finally stopping in Klein's palm.

Opening his palm and taking out a copper penny, Mr. "The Clown" saw the result of his divination.

Heads facing upwards indicate affirmation!

"I can accept your commission, but how should the price be calculated?"

Klein nodded slightly and raised the question that concerned him most.

"Sir, I have two payment options. One is that I will give you a deposit first, and then I will give you additional money based on the difficulty and progress of the tasks to come."

"The second option is to give you £5 in cash right now, and I will not pay any additional compensation, regardless of whether the task ahead is simple or complex."

The young man spoke clearly and logically, clearly showing his experience in this area.

"Hmm... I choose the first payment method."

Without much thought, Mr. "The Joker" chose the way that would obviously earn more money.

"By the way, besides what you just mentioned, are there any other clues?"

"For example, who do you think would have a motive for kidnapping Mr. Zerrell?"

After signing the confidentiality agreement and paying the initial £1 deposit, Ian Wright suddenly heard the detective across from him ask this question.

He frowned and pondered for a few seconds, then suddenly remembered that one day before Detective Zeryl disappeared, he seemed to have had his leg broken and was told to report her to the police through secret channels.

Report a small church that has only recently appeared in Backlund.

Its name is...

"The Radiant Church!"

The young man blurted out, seemingly implying that Detective Zeryl's disappearance was inextricably linked to them.

Why don't you call it the Church of Holy Light?

Upon hearing this name, Klein silently muttered a curse in his heart.

"Mr. Sherlock, Detective Zeryl's disappearance seems to be related to them. They tried to intercept him before, and even broke one of his legs, but he still managed to escape!"

A church with a broken leg?!

Mr. "The Clown" twitched slightly at the corner of his mouth and once again muttered a complaint in his mind.

No, the name Radiant Church sounds like something only the Church of the Eternal Sun would use, but how could the Church of Storms allow heretics to proselytize on their territory?

There's a problem, a very serious problem!

"Hmm, this clue is very valuable. I'll find that poor detective as soon as possible!"

Klein nodded, thinking it necessary to go there and take a look.

Backlund.

South of the bridge.

It's about 100 meters away from the Harvest Church.

A small church, not very large, stands here, its roof bathed in the afternoon sun.

"Father Utravsky, thank you so much."

Hilde, dressed in a slightly worn clerical robe, nodded to the giant bishop in front of her, who was at least three meters tall.

"You're welcome. The Mother Goddess is merciful, and helping those in need is an act that She approves of."

"However, is this really a belief recognized by the seven major churches? I'm sorry, it's not that I'm being presumptuous, but I don't seem to have heard of the existence of a 'Time and Space Ruler'."

In response to the priest's gratitude, Father Utravsky replied with a polite remark.

He looked at the "Radiant Church," which had just appeared opposite the "Harvest Church" last week, with some doubt.

Even the other seven gods, the "Eternal Sun," the "God of Knowledge and Wisdom," and the "God of War," were unable to extend their faith to the territory of Rune.

But what's this "Time and Space Dominator" all about? He seemed to have never even heard of this being's name before.

If it weren't for the fact that Ms. Hilde wasn't hiding anything and was doing what clergy should do, and that there wasn't any evil atmosphere inside the church, he might have already reported it to the three major churches.

"Father Utravsky, the faith in God is recognized by the three major churches, and this church was even donated by the 'Church of the Night'!"

The timid Hilde was no longer timid. She seriously took out the church's land deed from her pocket, which was stamped with the unique Night emblem of the "Church of the Night".

"Then there's no problem, but it's not that simple to spread the faith in Backlund."

Seeing that the woman had provided evidence, Utravsky was relieved and smiled as he shared a piece of his own missionary experience.

"Lady Hilde, the floor is now clean!"

Just then, a man with greasy slicked-back hair, clearly of Southern Continent descent, walked over. It was none other than "The Vengeful Spirit" Steve.

He dared not show the slightest disrespect to this divine messenger, hoping that the messenger would speak well of him and his two younger brothers before the gods, perfectly demonstrating his devout faith.

"Mr. Steve, thanks to your help, this church might still be unusable if it were just me."

Upon meeting her fellow believers, Hilde smiled, finding courage and conviction in facing this unfamiliar city.

"Lady Hilde, this is just a minor issue. I have some other matters to attend to, so I won't stay any longer!"

Glancing at the imposing priest beside him, the wronged spirit decided to give way first. Although they had now been "cleaned up and brought ashore," they were still somewhat intimidated by the members of the Church of the Righteous God.

With a flash, Steve disappeared, seemingly warning Utravsky not to have any other ulterior motives, Extraordinary One.

They also have the 'Radiant Church' here.

"Lord Steve, what should we do next? Should we return directly to the Southern Continent, or stay here?"

After meeting up with his two underlings in a corner, Steve had barely appeared when he heard a good question.

"Jason, are you an idiot? Our mission may have failed, but we have to bring back something. We absolutely must get our hands on that manuscript of the 'Third Generation Difference Engine,' or there'll definitely be a reward!"

"We have a significant technological gap with these countries. If we don't prioritize industrial development, how can we possibly defeat the nations of the Northern Continent?!"

(End of this chapter)