Chapter 45: A Man Must Be Hard on Himself

Anthony still wanted to speak but was pulled back by his companions and fell silent.

Silas listened quietly from the side. He currently had no right to speak and could only obey the orders of his superiors.

After finishing, Jeros turned to Silas and said, "I now require you to quickly ascertain the truth of this matter through the souls here, and then purify them."

Silas was startled upon hearing this and turned to look at the ship full of souls. "Master, there are too many. With my current abilities, I'll be exhausted after delivering three or four."

"Three or four? You're too confident in yourself, child," Father Anthony thought to himself.

Jeros paid no heed and casually took out a potion vial. "Low-grade Shark Potion. It can greatly stimulate your spirit, temporarily tripling your spirit and Spiritual Energy. It has more toxins than the Priest Potion, but at most, it will make you gravely ill; it won't be fatal."

Silas was dumbfounded as he took the potion, somewhat unable to process it.

Suddenly asking him to consume a potion that only Demon Hunters could take? This was practically asking him to risk his life.

The five priests beside him widened their eyes upon hearing this, looking at Jeros in disbelief.

A few days ago, they had heard Jeros say that Silas was a very promising Priest who should be specially cultivated.

But today, he was actually making his promising subordinate drink a potion to court death? This was too cold and ruthless!

The kind and upright Father Anthony instantly couldn't bear it any longer. He wanted to speak again but was silenced by a glare from Jeros's cold, slitted pupils.

Instantly, his already open mouth and the words at his throat couldn't come out. After a few seconds, his face pale, he fell silent.

Jeros looked at the struggling Silas and continued, "Handle this matter properly, and after the two-month probationary period, I will make you an official clergyman directly. You'll receive a monthly salary of 40 Crowns, be incorporated into the Church's establishment, receive systematic training, and, while having access to the Church of Holy Blood's library, you will also have access to many training courses such as combat and marksmanship."

The five priests beside him were dumbfounded. They had never seen such a blatant enticement for a clergyman to risk his life, and it was done so openly in front of them.

How was this a Demon Hunter Master of the Church? He was a completely cunning and ruthless profiteer.

Gulp!

Hearing this, Silas's eyes widened, and his heart suddenly accelerated.

"Rest assured, go ahead and do it. Although you will experience some pain, I can guarantee you won't die, nor will there be any serious long-term effects. At most, you'll be weak for a period," Jeros finally said soothingly.

Silas clenched the potion vial and asked, "Haven't the other Priests returned yet?"

Father Anthony, beside him, said with an apologetic and bitter expression, "I'm truly sorry. They won't be back until the end of the month."

Father Anthony felt somewhat guilty that this child had to bear these burdens because of the Priests' absence.

Jeros said, "If they were here, you wouldn't get this great benefit, nor would you have such an opportunity to push your own limits."

Hearing this, Silas clenched the potion, gritted his teeth, and said, "I'll do it!"

Silas, who had just resolved that morning to become stronger, decided to go all out in the face of such a huge benefit.

A man should be hard on himself.

Upon hearing Silas agree, the five priests beside him instantly widened their eyes, their faces filled with astonishment.

This was drinking a potion! A Demon Hunter's highly toxic potion!

Father Anthony asked in a low voice, "Master Jeros, you need to calm down. This violates Church regulations. Priest Sotos is, after all, a member of the Church. If something goes wrong…"

Jeros said calmly, "Child, I am already 101 years old this year and have dealt with potions for ninety years. You don't need to worry about me in this regard."

Father Anthony fell completely silent upon hearing this. Only now did he remember that in the current Church of Holy Blood, Master Jeros was among the oldest and most experienced Demon Hunters.

Thinking of this, Father Anthony turned to look at Silas and said seriously, "Mr. Sotos, the Church will remember your dedication and the suffering you endure."

Silas bowed. "Thank you for your recognition, Father."

Then, Silas took a deep breath, looked at Jeros, and asked, "Master, how should I drink it?"

"The Shark Potion will greatly stimulate your spirit and Spiritual Energy. You can first empty your Spiritual Energy. This way, after drinking the Shark Potion, it will not only enhance you but also replenish your previously depleted Spiritual Energy," Jeros said.

Silas nodded. "Alright."

"Also, before drinking the potion, drink this first." Jeros handed over another transparent vial containing a verdant green liquid.

"This is a Reversion Potion. It has a small amount of toxicity. Its main effect is to dispel the enhancement effects of all potions and detoxify. You only need to drink one drop. It can help you offset a portion of the Shark Potion's toxicity and won't significantly affect its efficacy."

Silas took the potion vial and nodded firmly. "Understood."

"I will watch you the entire time. No matter what problem arises, I can guarantee your safety. Go ahead and do it," Jeros said, then took out his pipe and sat down.

Anthony turned to the four priests beside him. "Go inform the Exorcist Nuns and police officers outside to disperse the crowd. At the same time, set up spiritual sensors to ensure nothing else appears in the vicinity."

"Yes!" The four priests, upon hearing this, rushed out with agile movements.

Silas blinked, noticing that these four priests were much more agile than special forces soldiers.

Then, picking up The Lunar Codex, Silas took a deep breath. "Then, I shall begin."

"Yes, as quickly as possible. By my current estimation, the next resentful spirit will appear here very soon, and three souls will permanently lose their hope of redemption. Prioritize the ones with the heaviest resentment."

Silas nodded silently, clutched the scripture, and walked to the left side of the deck, squatting down beside a bearded crewman whose throat had been slit.

Placing his hand on him, activating his Spiritual Energy, and opening his Spirit Vision, Silas instantly felt as if he had arrived in a bloody hell.

Terrifying resentment, filled with an eerie blood-red hue, enveloped the entire ship. Dozens of souls wandered and wailed within it.

"Who on earth did this!?" Silas was filled with anger. Through the physical connection, he found a soul that was entirely crimson.

Crimson indicated that it was about to transcend the boundary of a wandering soul and enter the state of a resentful spirit.

Immediately, Silas released his gentle spirituality and, at the same time, murmured in a soft, warm tone, "Night nurtures light, the moonlight's radiance grants life and knowledge. You and I are both born of the night, looking up at the bright moon. The great Moon Goddess will beckon to you. Bathed in moonlight, you shall embark…"

As the contents of The Lunar Codex were recited, combined with Silas's gentle Spiritual Energy, the agitated soul gradually calmed down, turned grey, and, drawn by the Spiritual Energy, came into Silas's embrace.

"O lost soul, filled with pain and fear, the great Moon Goddess is beckoning to you. Enter Her embrace and pour out your suffering!" Silas said in a kind voice.