Chapter 123

In places like monasteries, Randy wasn't in a hurry. He had already secretly planted seeds inside. As for churches, there was even less to worry about. As long as more believers gathered, praying in the church would naturally allow his influence to spread throughout the place.

Randy wasn't concerned about the faith of the believers being divided. He only cared about harvesting their faith energy and didn't bother with what these egg-laying chickens fed on.

That evening, after the heavy rain stopped, Randy used his stealth abilities to survey his domain over the town of Derry. He took the opportunity to fill in any gaps by planting arrays at several key locations.

The post-rain changes in Derry were obvious. Previously dry waterways began to flow again, and large puddles formed along the roads, with lotus leaves flourishing on the surface, radiating vibrant life.

Lotus leaves appeared in nearly every community, a phenomenon that piqued the curiosity of passersby. Some speculated if it was an invasive species, but upon closer inspection, the water remained crystal clear, so most people didn't pay much attention and let it develop naturally.

After all, hiring someone to clean it up would cost money, and the town's residents weren't eager to pay for a new tax to deal with invasive species. They figured it was just some extra greenery, and even if someone removed the plants, Randy had allies in Derry who would ensure these areas were revisited. Once the lotus flowers bloomed, people would be begging to transplant them into their own homes.

Randy's next move was clear. He headed toward a community located at the intersection of the eastern suburbs and the central city. Guided by his senses, he found himself standing in front of an old, quaint house.

While controlling the rain, Randy had sensed something unusual here. The house harbored an eerie presence, blocking his ability to perceive the interior.

But Randy had seen plenty of haunted houses before. There was a reason he chose this particular one to investigate first.

"Alice's Spiritual Home: We connect you to your loved ones one-on-one."

That's what the small blackboard by the entrance read.

Randy had done some homework before coming. Alice was somewhat of a local celebrity in the town, well-known in both the eastern suburbs and parts of the central city. She claimed to communicate with the spirit world, helping clients reconnect with deceased loved ones.

Recently, her reputation had skyrocketed, even attracting out-of-town visitors. As Derry's new ruler, Randy felt it was necessary to meet this famous medium.

Knock, knock, knock.

Randy rapped on the door. Before long, the door opened, and a woman, Alice herself, appeared.

She looked at Randy, somewhat puzzled, possibly mistaking him for someone younger than he was. "Are you Pauline's classmate? She's not home right now."

Randy had learned a bit about Alice's family. She had two daughters: her eldest, Pauline, was in her final year of high school, and her youngest, Doris, was still in elementary school. Alice's husband, Roger, had passed away the previous year, leaving her to bear the burden of supporting the family. She had reluctantly resumed her work as a medium, though business initially wasn't good. There were even rumors on the town's forums that she was a fraud.

However, within the span of a month, her reputation had drastically changed, and she gained widespread recognition from the townsfolk. Even someone named Chris had mentioned that after Billy's death, his parents sought Alice out to inquire about how Billy was faring in the afterlife.

Alice had replied that Billy was doing well in the other world and that he passed away peacefully without pain.

What a joke. Billy Carl's soul had been utterly destroyed.

"Alice, I'm afraid there's been a misunderstanding," Randy said. "My name is Randy Shaw, and I don't know your daughter. I'm here for a séance. I want to contact my family and see how they're doing in the other world."

Randy pulled out a hundred-dollar bill, his face filled with grief.

"A séance?"

Alice looked a bit surprised but quickly resumed her professional demeanor. "I see. Well, come in."

Randy nodded and followed her inside. As he entered, he quickly scanned Alice, confirming she was just an ordinary person. Another fraud, just as he suspected.

However, once inside, Randy's attention shifted to the house itself. The decor was classic, clearly well-maintained since the last century. Randy used his senses to scan the surroundings, discovering that the house was steeped in various resentments. The air felt thick, and these negative emotions seemed to be emanating from the basement.

He'd have to find a way to explore that later. But for now, he'd play along with the séance and see what he could learn.

Randy was seated at a table as Alice brought out a spirit board. Her expression seemed conflicted. Looking at Randy's youthful appearance, she appeared reluctant to deceive him, but in the end, she spoke.

"Randy, I'd like to ask a little about your current family situation."

Randy put on a sorrowful expression and talked about how his parents had passed away, leaving him completely alone in the world.

Alice's expression grew more troubled. She was used to tricking people, but this time, deceiving such a pitiful individual seemed to weigh heavily on her conscience.

"Why haven't we started yet?" Randy asked, curious. He was eager to get the séance going so he could stir up some commotion and sneak down to the basement.

"Let's wait a bit longer," Alice replied slowly, unwilling to lose a potential customer. She offered a further explanation: "Actually, my daughter has even stronger spiritual abilities than I do. Perhaps we could wait for her to return, and she can assist you with the séance."

"Oh? No problem, I can wait," Randy nodded. He had two objectives for the night and plenty of time to accomplish them.

They didn't have to wait long. After some brief small talk, the door opened again. It was Alice's daughters, Pauline and Doris, returning with groceries.

However, there seemed to be tension between them. They eyed each other warily, especially Pauline, who glanced at her sister with fear in her eyes.

"These are my daughters, Pauline and Doris," Alice said, oblivious to the tension. She introduced Doris proudly: "My youngest daughter, Doris, has inherited my spiritual gift. She's even more talented than I am and can answer many questions despite her young age."

Alice turned to her daughters. "Come, meet Mr. Randy."

Randy stood up and smiled. "Hello."

Pauline blushed and nodded, while Doris nonchalantly dropped the groceries on the floor and hurried over to the table, clearly interested in the séance.

Randy focused his attention on Doris. Sure enough, there was something off about the girl. Multiple spirits seemed to have attached themselves to her, though she appeared completely unaware—and even seemed to enjoy it.

Alice said, "My daughter Doris should be able to help you reconnect with your family."

Randy looked at Doris, intrigued. "Is there anything I need to prepare?"

"All you need to do is sit properly and recall memories when I ask you questions," Doris said, trying to act like a grown-up, though she lacked the manners and emotional intelligence of one.

Alice apologized for her behavior, while Pauline frowned once again, clearly uncomfortable with her sister's demeanor.