67: Chapter 67 King Meets King

Elizabeth leaned against the wall, hands tucked into her trench coat pockets, her posture very relaxed.

Moonlight filtered through the stained glass window, illuminating her face, where a faint, almost imperceptible smile played across her exquisite features.

She looked at Fiona, then at Shaun, before finally letting her gaze rest back on Fiona.

"Supreme Witch," she said, her voice soft, echoing in the empty church. "Long time no see."

Fiona looked at her.

The two women stared at each other across the aisle, one standing before the altar, the other leaning by the side door.

The moonlight shone upon them—one in deep red, the other in black.

"Elizabeth," Fiona's voice was flat. "What are you doing here?"

Elizabeth smiled, a thin and faint expression.

"Just passing by."

Fiona looked at Elizabeth, her eyes appearing exceptionally cold in the moonlight. "Passing by? At midnight? In a church?"

Elizabeth straightened up from the wall and took a step forward.

Her high heels clicked sharply against the floor tiles. "If you can be here, why can't I?"

In a way, these two were quite similar.

Especially in terms of dress and style, they were almost identical.

Fiona didn't respond.

As the two women locked eyes, something in the air seemed to solidify.

Standing in the middle, Shaun could feel two forces competing in secret... it wasn't a violent collision, but something more subtle, like two blades testing each other within their sheaths.

...

Elizabeth was the first to look away.

She looked at Shaun, the corners of her mouth curling slightly. "Officer Sean, we meet again."

Shaun nodded somewhat awkwardly.

Elizabeth looked back at Fiona. "What were you discussing? Low-level Demons? For a Supreme Witch to be so clear on demon hierarchy, it seems you've had no shortage of dealings with them."

Fiona's expression remained unchanged. "Having lived a few years longer than you, I naturally know a bit more."

Elizabeth's smile deepened slightly. "It hasn't been that much longer, has it?"

The two locked eyes again.

Shaun felt the temperature in the church drop a few more degrees.

Just as Shaun was feeling quite awkward, Elizabeth suddenly spoke. "That thing ran away, but it won't go far. It has to go back and report."

Elizabeth said this while looking at Fiona with a scrutinizing gaze. "Do you know who it's going to find?"

Fiona didn't say anything.

Elizabeth took another step forward. "You know. You just don't want to say it."

Fiona looked at her. "What are you trying to say?"

Elizabeth stopped and tilted her head. "I'm saying... you can't handle the one behind it on your own."

Fiona's eyebrow twitched.

Elizabeth looked at her, piercing straight into Fiona's inner thoughts. "Supreme Witch, your power is fading. I can feel it."

Fiona's expression finally changed.

The change was subtle, but Shaun saw it—her pupils constricted slightly.

"Mind your own business," Fiona's voice turned cold.

Elizabeth laughed.

The laughter wasn't cold or mocking; instead, it carried a hint of sympathy.

"I'm just reminding you." Elizabeth turned and walked toward the side door. "The one behind that thing isn't something you can face alone. You need help."

She reached the door, stopped, and said without turning back, "Officer Sean, be careful. You have something it wants. As for you..."

She paused before continuing, "Supreme Witch, find your treasure soon. Otherwise, you won't even be able to handle a low-level creature like that."

Good grief!

It seemed Fiona's situation was already extremely urgent.

Shaun realized that the time left for him to find the witch's treasure was also running out.

...

After Elizabeth finished speaking, she pushed open the door and walked out.

The night wind rushed in, carrying the damp scent of the swamp.

The door closed, and the church fell silent once more.

Shaun stood where he was, looking at the closed door.

Fiona stood before the altar, her back to him, motionless.

Shaun felt a wave of low pressure...

At this moment, he was afraid Fiona would ask him how the investigation into the treasure was going.

Fortunately, after a long time, Fiona simply said, "Let's go."

Shaun breathed a sigh of relief. "Where to?"

Fiona turned and walked toward the church entrance.

She said, "Back. That's enough for tonight. That thing isn't here."

Fiona walked past Shaun, her steps fast and steady.

But Shaun noticed her hands were clenched tight; clearly, her state of mind had been significantly affected.

The two walked out of the church and got into the car.

Fiona sat in the passenger seat, staring out the window in silence.

Shaun started the engine, and the car drove into the night.

In the rearview mirror, the church spire grew more distant until it finally vanished into the darkness.

Shaun gripped the steering wheel, recalling what Elizabeth had said...

"Your power is fading."

He glanced at Fiona. She was still looking out the window, the moonlight illuminating her face. It was still exquisite, but something was different.

...

Failing to catch the demon, Shaun could only drop the Supreme Witch off first before heading home himself.

However, when Shaun parked the car at the entrance of Hill Manor and turned off the ignition, he didn't get out immediately.

Moonlight shone through the windshield onto his face.

Scenes from the church were still spinning in his mind, the moments that had just occurred.

He leaned back against the seat and closed his eyes.

In his mind, the golden book flipped open automatically.

The pages rustled, and new handwriting began to emerge.

[Character Profile Update]

Name: Fiona Goode

Favorability: 50

[Favorability Change Details]

You did not back down in the church +5

You took the initiative to ask her about the church +5

You told her the truth about that thing's situation +5

When Elizabeth appeared, you did not side with Elizabeth +5

Current Favorability: 50/100

Note: She has begun to see you as a partner. She rarely views people this way, but that is all it is.

Shaun stared at those lines and gave a bitter smile.

Fiona Goode had lived for too many years; she didn't need friends, she needed tools.

50 points... just enough for her to feel you're somewhat useful, but not enough to be reluctant to discard you...

The book flipped another page.

[Character Profile Update]

Name: Elizabeth Jensen

Favorability: 50

Favorability Change Details

You did not beg her for help in the church +3

You did not distance yourself from her in front of Fiona +8

She discovered Fiona is also watching you, which makes you more valuable +5

Current Favorability: 50/100

Note: She wasn't just passing by tonight; she came specifically.

To see you, to see the Supreme Witch, and to see how you two would deal with that thing.

50 points means... she's taking you more seriously.

It's not affection, just attention.

And her attention is even more dangerous than Fiona's.

"These two big shots... they're really in sync!"

Shaun looked at this rapidly rising favorability, but felt no joy in his heart.

He knew that one was for the treasure, and the other was to turn him into a Vampire.

Don't be fooled by the rising favorability; it's the kind of thing that could end in a crash... at any moment...