CHAPTER 23: CHAPTER 23 CULT

As Chu Feng incessantly clicked his mouse, playing a "little game" of opening and deleting emails, his cell phone suddenly rang.

Hmm? An unfamiliar number!

He glanced at the caller ID on his phone screen. It showed an unsaved number. After a moment’s hesitation, he answered.

"Mr. Chu, do you remember me? I’m Boris."

The voice on the other end instantly reminded Chu Feng of the client who had been killed by an Evil Spirit.

"Oh, of course, I remember! Does the New York Police Department have some matter that requires the help of an Exorcist?"

"Uh... Chu, would you mind coming down to the police station? It’s not something I can discuss over the phone." Boris’s tone was hesitant.

"Of course. As long as the police department can pay in US Dollars, I can set off right away."

"Don’t worry, Chu! As long as you can complete the task, the compensation will certainly not disappoint you!"

"OK, I’ll be there soon."

After hanging up, Chu Feng immediately changed into a clean set of clothes. Just as he was about to leave, his phone rang again.

Tatyana? Why is she calling me?

Glancing doubtfully at the phone number on the screen, Chu Feng slid his finger and answered the call.

"Tatyana, what’s the matter?"

"Chu, are you on your way to the New York Police Department now?"

Hearing Tatyana’s somewhat serious tone, Chu Feng was puzzled.

"Yes, someone from the police department just called about a well-paid mission. Is there a problem?"

"Chu, you really need to think carefully before deciding on this mission. It involves a Cult! If you provoke them, your current peaceful life could end!"

Hearing the word ’Cult,’ Chu Feng’s expression grew grave as he nodded.

"Tatyana, I understand. Thank you for this information."

"It’s nothing, as long as you’re safe."

After hanging up, Chu Feng stroked his chin thoughtfully.

A Cult? Interesting! I wonder which Evil God they worship. I should head over to the New York Police Department and see.

「Half an hour later,」

Inside the New York Police Department in southwest Manhattan.

"Hey, Chu, long time no see!"

At the entrance of the New York Police Department, Chief Boris greeted Chu Feng as he stepped out of his car.

"Let’s go, Boris. Find a place and tell me about this task."

"OK, follow me."

Boris led the way, and the two quickly arrived at an empty conference room on the third floor of the police station.

"Tell me, Boris, what’s this secretive mission about?"

Accepting the coffee Boris handed him, Chu Feng took a sip and waited silently for an explanation.

"Chu, do you remember what I told you about New York’s richest man?"

"Of course, I remember. Was the child found?"

"Found, yes! But not rescued yet!" Boris’s countenance darkened as he spoke.

"Hmm? With the capabilities of the New York Police Department and the wealth of New York’s richest man, a child hasn’t been rescued?" Chu Feng looked at Boris in surprise, his mind racing. Could it be because of the Cult Tatyana mentioned?

"Chu, our people encountered cultists. They’ve placed the child on an altar. And with Evil Spirits guarding nearby, we’ve lost many men." Boris’s voice was heavy as he recounted this.

"So, you’ve called me here to rescue that child?"

"Yes, Chu!"

"This mission sounds dangerous!" Chu Feng’s face showed concern.

"Chu, rest assured, compensation is not an issue! As long as you can rescue Mr. Mancini’s child." Hearing the hesitation in Chu Feng’s voice, Boris hurriedly made a guarantee.

"How much can I expect?"

No sooner had Chu Feng asked the question than the conference room door was flung open with great force.

"Twenty million US dollars! As long as you can bring Los back, I’ll give you twenty million US dollars!"

A white man, exuding an aura of authority, strode in and said to Chu Feng in a serious tone.

"Who are you?" Chu Feng, eyeing the man who had just offered twenty million US dollars, looked questioningly at Boris.

"Chu, this is the child’s father, Mr. George Mancini."

After Boris’s introduction, Chu Feng nodded in understanding. The twenty million US dollar reward must be real!

"Mr. Mancini, thank you for your trust. I accept the mission!"

"Chu Feng, America’s First Exorcist. Of course, I believe in you."

"OK, Boris, it’s time you took me to the scene!" Chu Feng turned to Boris, who seemed pleased about something.

"Alright, Chu, come with me."

Just as the two were about to leave the conference room, Mr. Mancini called out, "Chu, I’ll be waiting here for your good news!"

"Of course, Mr. Mancini, I won’t let you down!"

Parting from New York’s richest man, who looked haggard in the police station’s conference room, Boris led Chu Feng to a police car.

"Boris, where is this place?"

"It’s in the basement parking lot of a building in Brooklyn. The cultists cleared it out and turned it into an altar for their Evil God."

"I see."

「More than an hour later,」

Their police car finally stopped outside a building.

The building was entirely cordoned off by the New York Police Department. There wasn’t a single pedestrian in sight.

Observing the heavily armed officers standing ready, Chu Feng suddenly thought of a question.

"Boris, have the cultists and ordinary people inside the building been cleared out?"

"The building above has been completely cleared. All remaining cultists are concentrated near the altar of the Evil God."

"About how many are there?"

"It’s unclear. Our equipment has been disrupted by an unknown power, and we can’t get any readings."

Looking at the serious-faced Boris beside him, Chu Feng was somewhat speechless. He had hoped for some assistance from the New York Police Department, but it seemed he couldn’t count on them!

"What about the cultists? They’re living people, right?" This question needed to be asked in advance. Otherwise, if the New York Police Department tried to settle accounts later, it would spell trouble.

"Chu, you don’t need to worry about that. This case has actually been closed and reported. In the official records, all the cultists in this building have been killed. None survived."

After hearing Boris’s words, Chu Feng finally felt at ease.

"That’s good!"

As for the possibility that Boris was lying, Chu Feng wasn’t afraid at all. With his abilities (and the System) and his identity, leaving America would be quite easy.

"Get me a bulletproof vest and some grenades!"

Upon hearing this, Boris hurried to prepare the items.

Although these items could also be bought in the System store, and were even quite cheap, it was his own money, after all. He had to save when he could.

「A few minutes later,」

Boris returned with a bulletproof vest and a crate of grenades.

"Boris, you’re certainly well-stocked here!" Chu Feng teased. He then put on the bulletproof vest and, with a wave of his hand, stowed the entire crate of grenades into his Storage Space.

"Every time I see the methods you Exorcists use, I’m amazed," Boris commented, marveling beside him.

Chu Feng smiled.

"Alright, time for me to make my entrance!"