Have you had enough, Miss Vampire? It's time to get down to business.

Indeed, Ms. Helen is not good at frontal combat and is always a little clumsy when facing emergencies.

For example, just now, when Joyce and Della were fighting, Ms. Helen was so panicked that she almost didn't react the whole time, let alone provide support.

She is also very self-aware of this.

But then again, everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses.

Ms. Helen's advantage lies in her knowledge.

Although she was only a second-level transcendent, she had received special permission from the sages of the Holy City, allowing her to access secrets and knowledge that were not meant for someone of her level. Therefore, in terms of history and mysticism, she was actually more knowledgeable than Joyce and even Captain Rhonina.

"Alright."

Joyce didn't object, and immediately looked at Richard who had come to report the news: "Lor and the others have already gone to the sluice, right? Then we should hurry over there."

……

Every summer, the water levels in Gordon's rivers rise so high that they overflow the streets.

Therefore, it is necessary to set up sluice gates upstream of the river to control the amount of water flowing into the city.

There is a small house near the sluice gate for the administrator to temporarily stay, but it is not summer now, so the house is of course idle.

"It looks like this is Miles's destination." Vivian held a locating charm in her hand, confirming that he was inside the house. "Could it be that the 'Cleanup Man John' he's looking for is hiding in here?"

"It's very likely," Lor agreed. "After Miles thought he'd escaped our pursuit, he immediately headed this way. He seemed very anxious... Perhaps he felt it was too late to stay in Gordon City for long and wanted to quickly eliminate John, the Cleaner, and leave."

"They've picked a convenient location for us." Rachel surveyed the surroundings and concluded, "This place is quite far away. Even if there's a little commotion, it won't affect civilians."

Having said that, the three people present are only at the second level of strength after all.

To be on the safe side, it is best not to act on your own before reinforcements arrive.

"Why is Richard so slow? He should be here soon."

Rachel complained softly, and then suddenly felt something in her heart. She turned her head and saw her twin brother and acting captain Joyce approaching quietly.

"Is this the telepathy between twins?" Lor raised his eyebrows and asked curiously.

"It's not that mysterious."

Rachel lifted her long dark green hair, which was the same as Richard's:

"It's mainly because we've been inseparable since we were born. We eat together, sleep together, and know everything about each other, from our hearts to our bodies... Sometimes, I even feel like we're the same person, just with our souls split in two and housed in different bodies."

Wow, they are each other's significant other, right?

Luo Er felt a strong orthopedic atmosphere and couldn't help asking:

"Well, excuse me for a little gossip... What are your plans for love and marriage? If either you or Richard find someone you like, you'll have to keep your distance from each other, right?"

At the same time, Vivian next to her also pricked up her ears, and it was obvious that she was also very concerned about this issue.

Even though she was extremely serious about her work, after being in the Gordon City Exorcist Team for a long time, she couldn't help but develop a hobby of "gossip" under the influence of her predecessors.

"Richard doesn't need a lover," Rachel replied firmly. "I'm all he needs."

...Exciting!

Lor and Vivian looked at each other with the same shock in their eyes.

At the same time, seniors Richard and Joyce were approaching.

"As far as I know, although Richard and Rachel are indeed very close, they haven't crossed the red line in the secular ethical sense." Joyce looked at Lor and Vivian with a smile, obviously having heard some of the discussion just now. "...Am I right?"

Richard and Rachel stood side by side, smiling but saying nothing.

"Hey, you guys...are you serious?" Joyce was stunned for a moment and opened his mouth slightly.

This time it was his turn to be shocked.

"Hehe, it was just a joke, Acting Captain." Rachel rested her elbow on her twin brother's shoulder and said with a smile, "But then again, the relationship between Richard and me really can't be defined by simple worldly concepts... Well, next time I have the chance, I'll tell you in detail. I'll bring Ms. Helen along."

Jokes aside, the group did not let their guard down.

Joyce looked towards the small house beside the sluice and asked:

"Myles is in that house?"

"Yes." Vivian confirmed the response of the positioning spell again and replied, "However, we can't confirm whether the 'John the Cleaner' he's looking for is also in there..."

At this moment, Vivian's expression suddenly changed.

The talisman in his hand is turning into ashes and gradually disappearing!

this means……

"The located target no longer exists..." Vivian said solemnly, "Miles is dead!"

26. Plan Pass

Miles is dead?

So suddenly?

Joyce's pupils shrank and she thought, could it be that Miles and the cleanup man John had already fought in that house, and Miles had been defeated?

At the same time, everyone present felt that a strange and powerful supernatural force erupted from the small house next to the sluice!

The next second, the doors and windows of the hut suddenly shattered, and thick darkness spread out from the gap, like a pouring flood, quickly spreading to the surroundings!

"Everyone, get out of the way!" Joyce shouted.

The nature of this power undoubtedly belongs to the root of "Shadow"... But the concentration of spiritual energy is too high. Neither Miles nor John, the aftermath, can possess this level of power...

It is estimated that some extremely powerful supernatural items were used!

Moreover, it is most likely a high-level item!

If that were the case, we, the few colleagues present here, wouldn't be able to handle it...

The "darkness" was spreading far too quickly. Although everyone was trying their best to retreat, it seemed too late. Being swallowed up was inevitable... To make matters worse, there seemed to be many strange ghostly figures wandering in the "darkness", which seemed difficult to deal with...

"Hey, hey, are you kidding? I've only been the 'acting captain' for one day, and already I've been involved in something this serious?"

Joyce groaned in his heart, and the corners of his eyes twitched slightly.

But after a moment, his eyes suddenly became sharp, as if he had made up his mind.

Joyce took a deep breath, clenched his fist, and then slowly opened it... On the skin of his palm, some tattoo-like lines gradually appeared. The pattern looked like a bunch of black thorns with a little red at the tip, like blood.

"If I use this trick, my identity will be exposed... From now on, I'll have to say goodbye to the 'Gorton City Exorcist Squad' and the Church of Holy Light." Joyce gritted his teeth and thought secretly, "Besides, even if I use this trick, there's no guarantee that everyone will escape unscathed..."

However, there is nothing to hesitate about.

He didn't want to regret it later.

However, at this moment...

There was a flash of white light before his eyes, and Lor's figure suddenly appeared in front of him, holding "Liu Guang" in his hand!

"I'll cover the rear, you lead everyone to retreat first!" Lor shouted, and the sword in his hand drew a bright arc of light, slashing towards the spreading darkness!

Swish!

A gap was torn in the darkness, and the ghost wandering in it also obviously retreated!

Joyce was startled, then quickly realized that the "Flowing Light" in Lor's hand was a high-level extraordinary relic. Theoretically, it could compete with the high-level power of the "Shadow" root...

"This kid actually tried to be a hero before me." Joyce thought with a wry smile.

In short, since this lovely junior has already taken action before me, I must not let him down.

So he turned around and completely trusted Lor with his back.

Then, taking advantage of the precious opportunity that Lor had won for him, Joyce quickly launched a third-level divine spell, greatly enhancing the physical abilities of all his companions around him.

"Why are you still standing there? Run!"

He grabbed Vivian, who was obviously still hesitant and looking at Lor worriedly, and ran away with her!

At the same time, Lor continued to swing his sword, trying his best to stop the spread of darkness.

But the attack range of "Liuguang" is limited after all.

Soon, his figure was completely hidden in the darkness.

……

"call."

In the darkness, Lor turned his head and made sure that he could no longer see his colleagues and that they could not see him either. So he relaxed and lowered his arm that was holding the flowing light.

As for the ghosts wandering around, they did not attack him at all.

...Of course.

After all, these ghosts, or strictly speaking, they should be called shadow spirits, have received the order of "not to hurt anyone".

They were summoned by Miles using extraordinary items and completely obeyed his orders...and Miles was under Isabella's control.

She had already used some "gentle means" to find out the specific characteristics and usage of this extraordinary item... and by the way, she also obtained some additional information.

It is said that this item is called "Shadow Gap Moment".

The shape is ordinary and at first glance it looks like just an ordinary pocket watch.

But its power is not ordinary, and to some extent it can even represent the essence of the root of "Shadow".

Those who seek the root of the shadow believe that so-called "reality" is not a continuous existence. Every minute, every second, and even every moment is separated from each other. Just like there are gaps between each word in a book.

These gaps are called "shadow gaps".

It is a completely lightless world and the home of countless shadow spirits... It is said that high-level "Shadow" root transcendents can not only escape into the shadows of reality, but can even directly sneak into the "Shadow Gap" and jump beyond the dimension of the real world!

As for this pocket watch named "Shadow Gap Moment", it has the power to expand the shadow gap and make it temporarily cover reality.

The shadow spirits summoned along with it will also obey the user's orders completely.

...Of course, it comes at a considerable cost.

This thing can only be used by a transcendent person with the root of "Shadow", otherwise it will cause serious backlash.

Moreover, each use will consume the holder's spiritual power to a great extent.

For Miles, who only has the strength of the third level, using it once a day is already the limit. Using it a second time in a row before his spiritual power has fully recovered will undoubtedly cause him to die from overdraft.

At this point, Miles is dead.

Therefore, this "shadow gap" will not exist for long and will soon disappear.

"Hmm... Miles finally found his enemy, John the Cleaner, and went to challenge him with his trump card." Lor silently confirmed the scenario in his mind. "Although Miles did eliminate his enemy, unfortunately, he also died from overdrawing his spiritual power..."

Maybe it was because he overestimated his condition, or maybe it was because he was not familiar enough with the extraordinary item in his hand. In short, he messed up.

From then on, there were two fewer dangerous criminals in the world.

congratulations.

This is undoubtedly a contest and vendetta between illegal superhumans.

The causes of death of both men are certain, and there is no need for the church to conduct further investigations, so the case can be closed.

As for the high-level item called "Shadow Gap Moment", I can't use it anyway, and I may not be able to sell it even if I want to. It would be better for my colleagues to collect it and send it to the "arsenal" of the parish headquarters. It can also be considered a merit.

Also, this would explain the dark gray "mark" on my ankle... I was hurt by the shadow spirit in the darkness because I risked my life to cover everyone's rear.

Lor reviewed the entire "script" again and nodded with satisfaction.

Well, the plan works!

27. What a peaceful place!

The "darkness" that was pouring out from the hut seemed to have stopped spreading.

After bringing Vivian, Richard and Rachel to a safe area, Joyce turned around and felt a chill in his heart... There was no sign of Lor, and the boy had been completely swallowed up!

"I caused a loss of team members on my first day of substitute duty. I won't be able to explain this to the captain when I get back."

Joyce narrowed his eyes slightly, slowly opened his right hand, and then clenched it suddenly.

Take a step forward!

"Wait, Joyce, what are you doing?"