On my second playthrough, they were full of malice towards me.

"I"

"I do not believe in that so-called goddess."

As she spoke, Maria pursed her lips and lowered her gaze, but the stubbornness and determination on her face did not waver.

Like a lone hero going against the current, even in such dire straits, he insists on not associating with the corrupt church and not worshipping that "hypocritical" goddess.

She believes that the young man, who has already uncovered so much "insider information," must feel the same way.

In this regard.

Liao Ji nodded, indicating that he fully understood, and then said:

"I'm sorry, I can't take you in."

"I can do so many things! Washing dishes, cooking, ironing, cleaning—and even if there's something I don't know, I'll learn! Whatever you ask for, I...I can do it! Also, I have a small appetite! Just a little bit of food is enough for me. I don't need a bed, just give me a little bit of floor space, that's fine."

As if she had expected it, Maria began to plead desperately that Liao Ji wouldn't take her in so easily.

Unfortunately, the young man's next words were completely unexpected, leaving the nun stunned and speechless. She couldn't even utter the many prepared remarks she had in mind, and became mute.

All I heard

"No, no, no, it has nothing to do with these things; it's a more fundamental issue."

"Simply put..."

“You don’t believe in the goddess, but I do, and I am Sthiuthea’s most loyal and devout follower.”

As he spoke, Liao Ji, fearing that Maria might not believe him, took out a silver cross from his pocket and waved it in front of Maria as proof.

As you can see, the silvery glow emanating from the cross is even more pronounced under the rainy night sky. This is something that counterfeit products cannot achieve; only genuine crosses issued by the church and imbued with the holy power of the goddess can do this.

after all

If the crosses were genuine, the people of Kaleva wouldn't have given them to their factory members to use as "protective suits."

Yes, this was the product that he and Irene received as a bonus when they entered the Turbid Factory just a few hours earlier, posing as gang members.

But it doesn't matter how it came about.

Just tell me if it's a genuine cross or not!

"You and I have different beliefs. Out of respect for freedom of religion, I can refrain from being hostile towards you, but you insist that I take you in."

Liao Ji shook his head firmly.

Then, in an unwavering tone, he said, "I will not be friends with someone who doesn't believe in the goddess."

After saying this, Liao Ji ruthlessly pulled the hem of his robe from Maria's hand, turned around and left, leaving the nun standing there in a daze.

Maria seemed a little dizzy, as if she hadn't quite recovered from "something".

Fortunately, just as the young man was about to disappear from sight, Maria quickly patted her face and then rubbed it vigorously several times until the corners of her mouth finally stopped turning up in a crazy smile.

Da da da

He heard the sound of someone running quickly through the rain behind him, and Liao Ji knew who it was without even turning around.

Just as he began to frown and show signs of impatience

"Sir! Actually, there's another reason why I'm asking you to take me in. Whether you accept me or not, I implore you to listen to what I have to say next!"

"I am actually a cursed one, and the superpower I awakened is divination. To a certain extent, I can glimpse the future of others, and it is precisely because of this that I want to keep you here."

Maria took a deep breath and, seeing that the young man had indeed stopped and turned to look at her after her words, she said earnestly, word by word:

I see a bad future for you!

A bad future?

"Yes, I'm sorry for presuming to pry into your life, but if my abilities are correct, you should be on your way to rescue someone right now, right?"

"."

interesting.

Liao Ji nodded to Maria without any attempt to hide his intention, and gestured, "Go on."

"Because it was rather rushed, I didn't see the details clearly, but I can assure you that the person you're going to rescue is currently safe. However, if you act rashly, it will only backfire and harm her!"

Maria emphasized the last sentence and used "she" instead of "he".

"So you asked me to take you in so that I wouldn't go and save people, and change this terrible future?"

Maria nodded repeatedly, like a chick pecking at rice.

Then she lowered her head a little shyly, like a child who had lied to steal candy, and whispered with her fingers twisted together:

"Also, the real reason I can't go to church is because I'm a cursed being, not because of the Goddess. I... I actually like the Goddess too, I admire the Goddess very much."

The rain was still falling around them, and Liao Ji, in the dead of night, hadn't expected this turn of events.

After hesitating for a long time, he finally asked:

How can I trust you?

"I used my abilities in a hurry just now. If you don't mind, could you take me to your place? Give me some things related to the person you want to save, like everyday items, clothes, pants, shoes, etc. It doesn't have to be the person; a blood relative is fine too! But the closer the relationship, the better I can activate my abilities and divination more effectively with these things!"

"When the time comes, once you hear it, I believe you'll know that I'm absolutely not lying to you!"

Divination requires a medium; this is indeed a common practice.

And if we're talking about the place with the most media coverage, it's undoubtedly Irene's house. Plus, coincidentally, the girl was sent to Brian's place, so Irene's house is currently empty.

Liao Ji made up his mind.

Give me the umbrella.

After taking the umbrella from the nun, Liao Ji opened it again.

He changed direction, no longer heading towards the church, but towards the slums. Fortunately, he had asked Irene to take him home before, so with the map on, Liao Ji didn't have to worry about finding his way.

"Let's go, stay close."

The young man moved his umbrella half a body length to the side, and Maria naturally slipped under Liao Ji's umbrella, as if she had rehearsed this action countless times in her mind.

After several attempts, the nun finally managed to suppress her desires and, instead of taking Liao Ji's hand, turned to clutch the young man's clothes.

Strange to say.

The two people walked away under their umbrellas in the night rain. Not long after they left, the rain in the area suddenly subsided and stopped completely in less than a few breaths.

--------

(P.S.: Let me see who's getting up early on a weekend to work. Oh, it's me!)

Chapter 45 Compensation

Liao Ji knew the way to Yilin's house, but he couldn't do anything about the locked door. After all, his relationship with the girl wasn't good enough for Yilin to give him the house key.

After silently apologizing to Irene, Liao Ji asked the nun next to him to move away.

Maria remained silent throughout, simply watching the young man's actions from the back corridor. Only when Liao Ji kicked the door open forcefully without using a key did a sweet smile appear on the nun's face.

Of course, it only flashed by.

"Come in." Liao Ji didn't turn around to look at Maria, but waved to the back before entering the house first.

"Sorry to bother you."

After Maria came in, she greeted everyone in a soft, gentle voice, even though no one was in the room. This perfectly embodied the image of a very polite and somewhat shy young nun.

But in reality, she quickly scanned Irene's house. Although she could guess a little from the location, Maria couldn't help but frown.

The small space of thirty or forty square meters was crammed with all kinds of old furniture, making it extremely cramped. In her opinion, there wasn't even a place to put her feet down.

The heavy rain outside pounded against the old windows, and the strong wind mixed the rainwater with the rusty window frames, making them creak and groan as if they were about to collapse. In fact, cracks had already appeared, and you could see that the floor under the eaves was leaking a lot of water.

The only thing that might keep Maria from exploding is that the house is relatively clean. At least there are no grease stains in the kitchen, the furniture is old but there is very little dust, and the daily garbage is bagged and disposed of properly, so there is no odor in the room.

Possible

Why! ?

People living in such a dilapidated place are obviously of questionable character. Why is it that even someone like that can obtain Lord Ash's "contract" mark? Why?! How dare she! How dare she use her filthy, lowly body to defile such a noble and exalted contract? She!!

The nun's hands, hidden in her sleeves, clenched tightly. Her eyes began to turn uncontrollably red until the young man's voice beside her pulled her back to reality.

"The conditions are a bit basic, so please find a place to sit."

"No, it's alright, this place is already very good!" Maria waved her hands repeatedly, indicating that she was very satisfied.

"I'll go into the inner room to find some medium for divination. You're just idling around anyway, so see if there's any towel or anything like that around here, and dry yourself off first."

"okay"

A short while later, Liao Ji came out of the inner room carrying a large box of things and came to Maria.

After careful selection, the nun finally chose three or four items as mediums for the next divination.

Liao Ji glanced at the items Maria had picked out. Without exception, they were all things that Irene had used, and the time periods were very close. There were scavenger clothes that she had changed out of that afternoon, a dog-headed statue that had already expired, and the dagger that had once "held him hostage."

Irene, as the middleman, is the reason why I went to rescue Nolan. From the perspective of divination medium, she is indeed better than her mother herself. Moreover, Liao Ji deliberately carried a large box, which was actually intended to test Maria. Judging from the nun's current performance, she was able to accurately pick out these items, which means she has passed the first test in Liao Ji's mind.

"Um, there's one last item left, but this one's a bit special."

"What is it?"

"Sir, your blood."

Maria spoke apologetically, and seeing Liao Jiyi frown, she quickly explained:

"If you mind, you can use something else instead, but the result will be somewhat incomplete."

"It's alright, just wait a moment."

Liao Ji interrupted Maria, and without saying a word, he put his finger to his mouth, bit down hard, and bright red blood flowed from his fingertip.

"And then what? Should I put it in a bowl or something?"

"Maria Maria?"

Liao Ji, who had bitten his finger, asked the nun opposite him, but Maria seemed not to have expected the young man's actions to be so sudden and swift, and was immediately stunned.