Chapter 19: The Inner World, The Bishop and The Governor

Chapter 19: The Inner World, The Bishop and The Governor

Outside the window, a thick fog blanketed the city. Tang Song sat in his office on the twenty-third floor, yawning boredly at the gray weather outside.

Even bustling Manhattan was reduced to a vast expanse of white in the heavy fog.

In his hand, Tang Song fiddled with an Eight-Sided Han Longsword. The sword was three feet six inches long, cast from the five metals: gold, silver, copper, iron, and tin.

The sword had double edges, its body covered in flowing cloud patterns, and the blade shimmered with flame patterns left by quenching, making it quite beautiful.

Tang Song casually swung it, the blade cutting through the air with a series of whistling sounds.

Touching the blade with his finger, Tang Song sighed inwardly.

In ancient times, this sword could definitely be called a sharp weapon.

However, it was somewhat unqualified to carry Primeval White Astral Qi.

In the Jambudvīpa World, a Swordsmith wanting to refine a Magic Tool-level Sword Implement required exceptionally complex materials, including no shortage of heavenly treasures.

Essence of Five Metals was merely the most ordinary material among these. Even then, it required high-grade Underground Lair Fire for forging and the blood of a mature Monster Spirit for quenching, with Spirit Mark Restrictions carved within, to obtain a high-grade Sword Implement.

The longsword in his hand was merely the work of a craftsman, custom-ordered from an Eastern Swordsmith for fifty thousand US dollars.

It could cut iron without dulling and pierce two layers of leather armor.

Unfortunately, it was still some distance from the quality Tang Song needed.

Tang Song opened his mouth, and two white lights whistled out, merging into the Eight-Sided Han Sword.

The Eight-Sided Han Sword's body instantly emitted streaks of white light, and waves of cold air rose within the office.

The Buddha Belly Bamboo and some decorative potted plants in the office had countless cut marks on their leaves, as if sliced by knives.

This phenomenon lasted for a very short time, only a few breaths, before the white light rising from the sword body dimmed.

At this point, the sword body looked as if it had been left exposed to wind and rain for over a decade, covered in rust spots and countless honeycomb-like holes.

Tang Song gently snapped it with his hand, and the Eight-Sided Han Sword immediately broke into two sections with a cracking sound.

Two white lights rose from the dilapidated sword body. In the space of a breath, the two Primeval White Astral Qi directly entered his body, settling between his two lungs.

Tang Song used his Divine Sense to perceive internally and could feel that the two Primeval White Astral Qi had grown slightly after absorbing the Metal Qi from the Eight-Sided Han Longsword.

Although the growth was almost imperceptible, there was indeed a change.

"Oh!"

Tang Song became interested. He turned and took a Tang Dao with its scabbard from a decorative shelf.

It had an oak scabbard inlaid with gems and a hilt decorated with gold and silver wire wrapping.

Tang Song drew the blade from the scabbard, revealing a stunning Damascus pattern like water ripples, which looked exceptionally beautiful.

Tang Song didn't test the blade again. He opened his mouth and gently exhaled, spitting out a Primeval White Astral Qi.

The Primeval White Astral Qi touched the blade, like a glutton, directly devouring all the Metal Qi from this Tang Dao.

Tai Bai governs killing and is the Geng Metal of the West.

Fifty thousand US dollars gone, Tang Song felt his Lung Qi swell slightly, and the Primeval White Astral Qi between his two lungs became more active.

Unfortunately, it was too expensive. Tang Song looked at the two broken swords in his hand when the office doorbell rang.

"Please come in!"

Tang Song casually tossed the two broken swords into the nearby trash can and took out a tissue to wipe his hands.

The office door was pushed open, and Lane walked in.

"Boss! Someone is here to visit!"

"Visit me!?" Tang Song was a little curious. His company front was purely to prove he was a legitimate businessman, so there was practically no daily business.

The import and export of minerals were handled by professional managers. People who knew his true identity wouldn't visit the company.

"It's Father Declerck from The Church!"

Declerck? Tang Song was a bit surprised. He didn't know why this first-class Priest from The Church would suddenly visit him.

But he was a major client after all.

"Show him in!"

Lane went out and, shortly after, led a Priest in black robes into the office.

The Priest looked about forty years old, completely bald on top, with a bright red, bulbous nose that constantly made 'snoring' sounds. His plump face was full of a gentle, lazy smile, as if he would be in a good mood no matter what he saw.

Tang Song had already stood up from his office chair and greeted Father Declerck with a smile.

"Long time no see, Father!"

Tang Song extended his hand and shook hands with Declerck, sending a True Qi probe through Declerck's palm to examine his body.

An ordinary person? Tang Song's eyebrow subtly twitched. His Divine Sense didn't detect any power fluctuations in Declerck.

This first-class Priest from The Church not only lacked supernatural power but even his body was no different from an ordinary person's, perhaps even slightly unhealthy.

Instead, on the Cross he wore on his chest, Tang Song felt a pure energy.

It was vast, yet very pure. In terms of volume, it even surpassed his own.

Tang Song was slightly astonished. This Cross was a treasure. Could it really have been blessed by "God"? "Please sit, please sit, Father. It's been over a year since we last met, hasn't it?"

Tang Song warmly invited Father Declerck to sit down. Lane brought two cups of coffee.

"Disturbance?"

After exchanging pleasantries with Declerck, Tang Song finally understood the purpose of Father Declerck's visit.

The two Vampire Clans in the New York Underworld, which had been peaceful, were both showing signs of disturbance.

This was making the New York Underworld somewhat unstable.

If the world were divided into three layers, the Outer World would be the world perceived by normal people, a mundane world constructed for ordinary people by governments and media.

The second layer is the Inner World, containing things that violate normal human ethics and common sense. Gangs, Agents, intelligence trade, assassin organizations, human trafficking, firearms trade - these are things that can only exist under the sunlight, which is the Underworld.

The third layer is the true Inner World, also known as the Underworld. This layer includes, but is not limited to, werewolves, vampires, wizards, ghouls, orcs, demons, devils, and even gods.

This layer has its own set of rules.

In this realm, everyone is prey, and some creatures often feed on humans.

But conversely, an adult werewolf fang can sell for five hundred US dollars at the Bounty Guild in the Underworld.

Vampire fangs are said to have aphrodisiac effects, and one fang can sell for eight hundred US dollars.

These items flow through special channels to the Outer World, where wealthy people wave their money, scrambling to buy them.

And the major shareholder of this Bounty Guild is The Church. Of course, it is said that secret departments of various governments also hold shares in it.

After all, the purpose of this Bounty Guild is to curb the proliferation of dark creatures.

The head of the New York Bounty Guild is The Church's Archbishop in New York.

And Declerck is a first-class Priest under the Archbishop. Lane usually deals with him.

His purpose for visiting Tang Song this time was to place a commission.

A year ago, Tang Song and his group became part-time monster hunters by chance.

After all, having worked as Cleaners in New York for a long time, they would always encounter some urban legends in the streets and alleys.

A glamorous woman drags a drunk man from a bar into an Alley. You might think it's a mugging, but she turns her face, revealing a blood-stained fang covering half her face.

Dried corpses occasionally appearing in street trash cans, the bodies of homeless people turned into mummies with two blood holes in their necks.

At midnight, cultist corpses appear at a three-way intersection, bound, disemboweled, and covered in inverted swastika tattoos.

At the most sinister times, Tang Song's Cleaners encountered three supernatural disturbances in one week.

Even two black men moving corpses were skinned alive.

At that time, some of Tang Song's techniques and magic arts had not yet been refined. However, he didn't tolerate these guys either.

For three months straight, Tang Song personally took action. At night, he took Kane and Ryan, plus Frank and over thirty fully armed Special Operatives, searching the streets for these bastards.

Using the largest caliber firearms, handguns weren't enough, so they used rifles, machine guns, rocket launchers. Bullets were coated in silver, inscribed with Evil-Slaying Patterns, soaked in black dog blood, and Holy Water from The Church was poured on them.

No matter if you were a vampire, werewolf, or shapeshifter, they killed you on sight.

In three months, the New York Underworld was truly peaceful.

Countless dark creatures hid in corners, trembling.

They thought humans were planning to deploy the army to clear the Underworld.

How did Tang Song know that vampire heart blood mixed with cinnabar was excellent for drawing talismans?

Did you think the corpses in his cultivation cave were just picked up?

Through more contact, Tang Song gradually learned about the Bounty Guild in the Underworld.

This led to Kane and Frank leading a team of former special forces to hunt vampires.

After all, making money is not shameful.

"Long-term cooperation?"

Tang Song stirred his coffee with a spoon, showing no emotion.

"Bishop Grant will be transferred to the Vatican soon. If all goes as expected, I will be in charge of The Church's affairs in New York!"

Father Declerck spoke briefly, then picked up his coffee and sipped it.

"So, the Bishop wants stability!"

Tang Song rubbed the Black Jade Thumb Ring on his thumb, looked at the black-robed Priest before him, and smelled the scent of a big fat sheep.

"Stability, that's a good word," Father Declerck affirmed with a smile, holding up two fingers.

"Twenty million US dollars a year. I hope the New York diocese remains stable during my term!"

"Twenty million US dollars," Tang Song held his coffee cup, noncommittal. He suddenly changed the subject.

"Mr. Bishop, I heard you have a good relationship with Mr. Moon from the Republican Party! Mr. Moon is running for Governor of New York State recently?"

(End of Chapter)