Chapter 17: Loss (Edited)

Only he could see the virtual window that automatically popped up. Looking at this task window, York felt genuinely surprised.

He had never thought that such things could trigger a random task.

But whether to accept this random task, he hesitated.

Considering all the information at hand, the group of murderers was probably not just the four mentioned by Jesse. There might be a murderers' den somewhere.

Thinking this, York instinctively glanced at the car window above the driver's seat. If he was to clear out the ogres, he might have to venture through this dense forest. It wasn't too troublesome, just somewhat disdainful and lazy.

But after some thought, York decided to accept this random task.

The main reason was that the car couldn't move, and they were in a no-signal area. Carly's injuries couldn't be delayed for too long, so he could only try to go to the murderers' den to see if there was any means of transportation.

Everything else was incidental. Killing a few murderers was not too difficult for him, and even if he couldn't handle it in the end, there was no significant loss.

"Accept the task."

[Task accepted successfully] [...] The task window in front of him automatically disappeared, and Jesse's voice followed.

"Father, what should we do next?"

York didn't answer, just took a pistol from the storage cabinet in front of him and handed it back to her.

"Can you stay here well? I will come back later."

Jesse was visibly panicked and didn't reach for the pistol in front of her.

"Father, where are you going?"

Looking at Jesse's helpless face, hoping he wouldn't leave, York felt a headache.

He didn't know how to deal with this still lucid Jesse. If he let her follow, he would have to be prepared to bring along a burden. If he didn't let her follow, her pitiful look was too hard to bear.

"I want to clear those murderers, save your friends. Are you willing to sacrifice for your friends…?"

However, before York could finish talking about the philosophy of sacrifice for others, Jesse suddenly took his pistol seriously.

"Father, I will go with you!!! I know where those murderers appear, their den…"

Looking at Jesse suddenly serious, York raised his eyebrows.

What could he say? Having someone to lead the way in the dark forest at night was not comparable to the time it would take to explore on his own. York could only consider it the cost of bringing along a burden.

Of course, to save some trouble and to prevent himself from becoming like some protagonists in movies, York set three rules with Jesse.

Be obedient, go where he says, stay where he says, and don't make a sound…

Jesse obediently nodded.

Seeing this, York looked at Carly, who was half unconscious but seemed still somewhat lucid, and stretched out his hand to pull her eyelid, unexpectedly, she opened her eyes weakly.

"Father, I will wait for you here."

She was still quite lucid…

Jesse, moved, grabbed Carly's hand.

"Carly…"

Carly's pale face managed a weak smile. "I'm fine, but you guys need to go and come back quickly. I'm afraid I'll be scared…"

"I have a way." Watching this deep sisterly bond, York said indifferently.

"I can give you an injection…"

......…

......…

As promised, after Carly nodded, York used a syringe he found from nowhere, inserted it into Carly's shoulder, and began to press slowly to inject the liquid. As the drug took effect, Carly instantly fell into a deep sleep, slumping in the seat.

York, satisfied, put away the syringe. He always carried sedatives for exorcism, and now they came in handy.

"Let's move her to another place, somewhere safer."

"Okay!" Jesse nodded.

The two began to work together to move Carly to a tree hole not too far away, then returned to the car to organize their equipment.

Jesse had never fired a shotgun, so York could only give her a pistol, while he took two Winchester M1897s.

Both Winchester M1897s were loaded with specially made single slug bullets.

Although he could reload while firing, alternating between these two shotguns ensured his firepower output, saving a lot of time. With two boxes totaling forty single slug bullets, not to say he could kill gods or Buddhas, but as long as it was a carbon-based life form, York would show you how it's done…

After organizing, York looked at Jesse, who was staring blankly at the unrecognizable corpses and the blood and flesh-stained car body, in a daze.

York called out calmly.

"Let's go!"

Saying so, he headed in the direction the murderers had come from.

"Ah, okay…"

Jesse, as if waking from a dream, hurriedly followed. Having witnessed the terrifying end of those murderers, her sense of security was completely overflowing.

Enveloped by darkness, the two ventured into the dense forest beside the highway, as if entering the gaping maw of a giant beast.

Holding the Winchester M1897, York looked up.

The dense forest rose high into the clouds, with the canopy interlocking as if forming a thick barrier, meaning the advantage of night was infinitely magnified here.

In the visible range of the highway, it was a few meters. Here, probably not even one meter was visible. A breeze blew, the leaves and branches lightly trembled and rubbed against each other, the noises from the darkness enough to deter anyone from venturing deeper.

"Really troublesome, should we give up the task?"

York wiped his eyes again. He had magic, so the environment here had no effect on him, but for Jesse, who was still human, it was different.

Looking back, Jesse was looking around, seemingly starting to panic, unable to recognize the direction.

Just as he had guessed, Jesse eventually couldn't make out the direction.

"Father, I… I can't see clearly."

Seeing Jesse still trying to recognize the direction, York slightly frowned and hung the cross from his neck onto hers.

"Don't move, I will let the Lord give you eyes that can see through the darkness."

His cheat was indeed for his use only, equivalent to his own mana bar, which could be replenished over time or by taking potions, but could also forcibly allow others to use some of its abilities, like night vision, at the cost of permanent deduction. After all, he hadn't yet learned how to use this magic, only able to convert it through the system…

Jesse was stunned, staring straight at the broad chest in front of her. In the darkness, it looked like a solid wall to her, knowing who it was. The guilt, unease, and anxiety caused by the darkness disappeared in an instant.

"Father?"

In that moment, Jesse felt a hand pass over her eyes. She quietly calmed down, although she didn't know what the father was doing, but staying quiet was the best thing she could do now.

[Would you like to deduct two magic points for the overlay?] Hearing the prompt in his ear, York looked at the very obedient Jesse, feeling a bit pained, but to allow Jesse to see and lead the way, he chose to spend two magic points.

Once they entered the dense forest, he realized the difficulty of exploration. Relying on himself alone, it might take more time than expected, and by then, the woman outside might be in danger.

"Yes!" York silently recited.

[Two magic points successfully deducted]

This was a bit of a loss, but not really, if the mission was successful, deducting the two points spent now, he would still gain one…