By evening, Gideon packed away the last remaining ten-year holy water and closed his stall.
After the three of them had left earlier, quite a few custors had stopped by. The lower-grade holy water sold out quickly.
Of course, to most of those buyers, even those "lower-grade" bottles were considered premium goods.
Only the ten-year holy water remained unsold. Many people had asked about it, inspected it carefully—but no one was willing to actually pay the price.
Gideon had originally considered preparing more high-grade stock.
Now it seed even one bottle was difficult to move.
---
Heading to the Rental Office
After leaving the Materials District, he didn't head straight out of the Guild. Instead, he walked toward the Rental Office.
This was another Guild rule.
For one-day rental contracts, once the contract expired, the stall owner had to personally visit the Rental Office to settle accounts.
On one hand, it was to pay the processing fees.
On the other, to return the rental key.
Gideon, of course, was there for the latter.
---
Inside the Rental Office
A crowd had already gathered outside.
Though Gideon could have used his gold coin to receive priority service, he chose to queue like everyone else.
Over half an hour later, it was finally his turn.
"Sir, please place the key here. Once we verify the fees, the resentnt points will be credited to your account," a young staff mber said with a polite smile.
Gideon nodded and took the key from his pocket.
"Please have a seat."
The employee carried the key into the accounting section, where specialized equipnt processed transaction data.
After inserting the key, the screen displayed:
Materials District
Revenue: 52,000 resentnt points
Processing fee: 7,800 resentnt points…
Just as the young employee prepared to proceed, another line popped up at the bottom of the screen:
Processing fee waived.
He gasped.
"Seven thousand eight hundred points completely waived?!"
Nearby, an older employee wearing black-rimd glasses turned his head.
"What was waived?"
"This custor's settlent—7,800 resentnt points in fees completely exempted," the young employee replied.
"Must be one of those big nas from the leaderboard," the older man said casually.
"That's one of the Guild's privileges for top-ranked exorcists. You just started today—this is part of tomorrow's training material."
The young employee's eyes filled with admiration.
"Those top-ranked exorcists are incredible. Just a single day's stall rental, and they earn this many resentnt points."
"A single day?" The older employee frowned slightly in thought.
"Probably selling evil relics. That kind of material has always been in high demand."
But the young employee shook his head.
"No—it was holy artifacts."
"Holy artifacts?"
The older man's expression imdiately changed.
"Let see."
He stepped closer to the screen, his brows knitting together as he examined the details more carefully.
The Guild's Materials District selling high-grade holy artifacts in that volu—
That wasn't sothing ordinary.
And certainly not sothing random.
The matter, it seed, was more interesting than it first appeared.
He stepped forward and took over the young employee's station, then began reviewing the rental contract details.
The next second, the black-rimd staff mber clenched his fist.
"Who approved this contract?!"
"I… I did." The young employee raised his hand timidly. "Is… is there sothing wrong?"
"You!" The older man lowered his voice sharply. "Didn't I tell you? Any materials can pass—but high-grade holy artifacts are the one exception!"
Just then, the staff corridor door swung open and a woman walked in.
"What's going on? I could hear the arguing from the hallway. This will leave a bad impression on our clients."
She pulled a small suitcase behind her, as if she had just returned from a trip.
"Manager ryl, there's sothing you need to see." The black-rimd staff mber approached and handed her the contract.
Monts later, ryl frowned.
"Explain to the custor that they may not sell such items again. If they're dissatisfied, we can offer compensation in resentnt points—deduct it from my temporary allowance."
She set the contract down.
"And have you investigated the buyer's identity?"
The black-rimd employee hesitated, his expression uneasy.
Seeing this, ryl imdiately walked to the accounting terminal.
After pressing a few buttons, a na appeared on the screen:
Buyer: Miss Catherine
Resentnt Ranking: #89
ryl's heart sank.
"Is the custor still outside?" she asked coldly.
"Yes… waiting."
She was about to speak again, then glanced at the new young hire.
"You step outside first."
"Yes, ma'am."
Once he left, she lowered her voice.
"Invite the custor in later. He must retrieve all the holy artifacts sold today. As for the reason… tell him there were issues with the batch."
"But…" The black-rimd employee hesitated.
"Can you say what you an in one sentence?" ryl snapped.
"Sorry…" He lowered his head.
"If we do this, the custor's reputation will be ruined. No one may ever visit his stall again."
ryl replied, "If we don't, you know what Mr. Beron will do."
"We could compensate the custor more generously."
The employee swallowed. "But the custor outside… he's Anonymous 947—the one who refreshed the live leaderboard a few days ago."
"His information has already been classified as restricted. Managers and below can only see his ID number. Even his real identity is inaccessible."
ryl's eyes widened.
She had heard about that incident.
She'd assud the Guild would respond—but she hadn't expected they would raise the confidentiality level this high.
"This just beca complicated…"
---
Outside the Rental Office
"Hey! What's taking so long? Is there only one person working in there?"
"Yeah! There are so many of us waiting!"
The line had grown longer. People were getting impatient.
So even began targeting Gideon.
"Hey, kid! You didn't sell fake goods, did you? Why's the settlent taking so long?"
"Move aside if you're done—we've all been waiting!"
Gideon ignored them.
It wasn't his fault. He certainly wasn't going to take the bla for the Exorcist Guild.
Still, he was curious. He was only settling a few transactions—why was it taking this long?
Could it be… that guy from earlier? he wondered.
Monts later, a woman walked out.
"I am ryl, head of the Guild's Rental Office."
She gave a slight bow.
"My apologies for the delay. We've increased staffing. Custors who need settlent may proceed to counters Three and Four."
Two employees imdiately moved into position.
She then turned to Gideon.
"Sir, please co with . There are a few details regarding your settlent that need clarification."
Gideon narrowed his eyes, studying her.
ryl had long pale-gold hair, a black fitted blazer, a matching skirt, and subtle gold embroidery—every inch the professional manager.
There was a ring of scars around her wrist, faint traces of evil energy lingering there, suppressed by the charm bracelet she wore.
Gideon frowned slightly but nodded.
---
Inside a Private Consultation Room
ryl avoided eye contact.
"I'm sorry, sir. We may be unable to process your settlent."
"Oh?" Gideon sounded unsurprised. "And why is that?"
"We… would like to discuss sothing with you." She brushed back her hair and stepped closer.
"Would you be willing to contact the buyers and repurchase the holy artifacts you sold today? We're willing to pay double the price."
"As you know… evil incidents have beco increasingly frequent. The Guild is actively collecting high-quality exorcism items."
"Of course, we'll also compensate the buyer."
She finished speaking and waited.
On the surface, it sounded reasonable.
From an exorcist's perspective, he would earn more money and gain goodwill from the Guild.
Few would refuse.
But Gideon frowned.
After what happened earlier, he didn't believe this was coincidence.
Still, he replied calmly:
"That's a small matter."
Relief flashed in ryl's eyes.
"There's no need to trouble the buyer. I happen to have additional stock. You can take it all."
Her smile froze.
"If possible, we'd still prefer you retrieve the sold artifacts," she pressed. "The more we have, the better. We can help you contact the buyer."
Gideon's expression cooled.
"Once sothing is sold, it's sold. Why would I take it back? The buyer wouldn't agree."
"The Guild has a recall policy," she explained. "If the seller believes the goods are defective, they may apply to retrieve them."
After hearing her out, Gideon asked flatly:
"So you want to ruin my own reputation?"
"We'll compensate you—"
"Does the Guild know you're doing this?" he interrupted.
She fell silent.
"In that case, I decline. May I receive my rightful resentnt points now?"
ryl clenched her fists, then forced herself to speak.
"I was presumptuous. However, your settlent isn't complete. Please return tomorrow afternoon."
"Is that so?" Gideon's tone carried faint amusent. "Then I'll return tomorrow. Please have my points ready."
He left without another word.
ryl watched him go, her gaze conflicted.
---
Late Night – Staff Quarters
In a high-end suite, ryl opened a safe and removed a wooden box.
Inside were three silver amulets.
She took one, locked the rest away, and entered the bedroom.
On the bed lay a little girl with the sa pale-gold hair, her features resembling ryl's.
Her eyes were closed, and faint evil energy seeped from her body.
As ryl approached, a black shadow rose from the girl's head, forming a face—half the girl's, half that of a malicious spirit.
ryl frowned and placed the silver amulet on the girl's forehead.
White light radiated from it.
The black shadow twisted around ryl's wrist instead. Pain contorted her face—but she did not withdraw her hand.
The amulet darkened rapidly.
The shadow above the girl faded… until it disappeared completely.
ryl exhaled in relief.
She leaned down, gently touching her daughter's forehead.
A knock sounded.
Her hand trembled before steadying.
She closed the bedroom door and opened the front door.
"Why did it take so long?" Beron stepped inside without waiting.
"Sorry. I was reviewing docunts," ryl said quietly.
"You know why I'm here."
"For the high-grade holy artifacts."
Beron suddenly smashed a cup onto the carpet.
"So I should assu this happened with your approval?"
"No! Absolutely not!" she panicked. "I was out today. A new employee handled the contract."
He said nothing.
"It was my negligence. The employee has been dismissed. Please… give another chance."
Beron approached her, idly playing with her hair.
Her body trembled, but she didn't resist.
"My demand is simple. Remove that seller. Retrieve every artifact he sold."
"I tried. He refused."
"Then use authority to make him agree!" Beron snapped.
"He's the one who refreshed the leaderboard. The Guild has raised his confidentiality level."
Beron's eyes flickered.
"So?"
"Don't forget who saved your daughter," he said coldly. "Those silver amulets work well, don't they?"
ryl fell silent.
"If you want her to live, rember your position."
"…Sorry."
"But forcing him may alert the Guild. And the Vatican—"
"Shut up." He grabbed her hair suddenly.
"Whether it's the Exorcist Guild or those exorcists, before the na of the Zadok family, they are nothing but slaves. Especially so naless brat with 'potential.'"
Her head struck the cabinet.
He spat, then left.
From the bedroom doorway, the little girl whispered:
"Mum?"
ryl wiped her eyes and forced a smile.
"Go back to bed, sweetie."
After Beron left, she stood alone for a long ti.
---
The Next Afternoon
Gideon arrived on ti.
ryl greeted him again, dressed in the sa outfit.
"I apologize for yesterday. Your resentnt points have been fully calculated."
"To compensate for the inconvenience, we've prepared sothing additional for you."
"Please… co with ."
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