"You seem quite revered by this Evil Spirit."
Seeing Jello leave, Vika poured Will another drink and then said.
"I wouldn’t say revered... more like hopeful," Will replied blearily, uncertain, "When we’re young, we all probably have such fantasies, a force of absolute power executing justice across the world, but as we grow older, we come to realize it’s impossible."
"Do you think the Evil Spirit has become this force?" Vika asked.
"Who knows? But just thinking about a monster chasing evil people, it’s inevitable to feel this world isn’t so bad. If you’ve done evil, then there’s a monster chasing you until you pay the price," Will pondered, "like the Sharp Sword dangling above everyone’s head."
Will’s words suddenly stopped as he suspiciously eyed Vika, the mysterious and esteemed bartender.
"You wouldn’t happen to know what the Evil Spirit is, would you?"
Vika smiled, but before he could say anything, Will hastily waved his hand to silence him.
"Don’t say, don’t say anything, even if you know something, it’s best to remain silent."
"Why? You think the Evil Spirit will come to kill me?" Vika said.
"No, it’s just... do you know why such legends scare Jello like that?" Will suddenly changed the subject.
"Because a legend is just a legend, not any person, not any monster, not a supernatural phenomenon, nor any chaos... In short, it’s vague, without any definite entity."
Will probably drank too much, his speech rambling, yet Vika attentively listened to this drunkard’s words.
"Without a definite entity, people will keep speculating, and speculations become odd and strange. With people’s constant psychological suggestion, the legend also becomes increasingly crazed and bizarre."
"Instilling fear in people’s hearts?" Vika understood what Will meant.
"Yes, implanting fear in the heart, maybe someday, people will be so terrified just hearing the Evil Spirit’s breath," Will laughed loudly.
"Having people live in fear? Sounds a bit troublesome." Vika voiced his disagreement.
Will glanced at Vika and then asked, "Vika, why do you think you can control all of this?"
"Yes, but such respect is only confined within the bar, based on the precondition that you bring benefits. When everyone is killing in a frenzy, no one cares about respect, except for one thing."
Will held up a finger.
Even those in a killing frenzy will retrieve some sanity under absolute fear."
Downing the drink in one gulp, Will hiccupped and continued to speak.
"For evil people, what they need is not their reverence, just their fear of you.
Whether it’s the Great Rift or the whole Opus, human society is like a jungle, rule-abiders are those poor little lambs preyed upon by rule-breaking wolves.
But the appearance of the Evil Spirit broke this distorted food chain.
Now the wolves are no longer just predators, in the Evil Spirit’s eyes, the wolves are also preyed upon, hunted by the savage Evil Spirit."
"That doesn’t sound like something you would say," Vika commented.
"Right, these words are from White; ever since that night, his mindset has entirely changed. Now he’s a fervent fan of the Evil Spirit, believing the Evil Spirit is an Angel sent by God for retribution."
Will said while shaking his head, bemoaning, "Young people today, their minds are really messed up."
"And Jello? You must know something to say that to him, right?" Vika tentatively asked, knowing extracting information from clients was a source of many insights.
"Can you waive my drink charge?" Will winked.
Vika said, pushing another drink his way, unusually curious about something, leaning on his arms and listening quietly.
"You care much about the Evil Spirit?" Will said, "I often hear some rumors, Vika, like your mysterious boss..."
Midway through, Will laughed again, interrupting himself.
"I know what should and shouldn’t be said. Speaking of Jello, he seems to have recently linked up with those merchants, probably using some unsavory means to obtain goods he shouldn’t have from those merchants."
Will shrugged, whispering.
"We all understand, besides the Evil Spirit, there’s another absolute predator in this city, it’s above everyone else... Jello will eventually be targeted."
"Not bad news, though I knew it already." Vika replied.
"I knew nothing could escape you, you just wanted to confirm again from the perspective of us ordinary folks, right?"
"More or less, but you... no, your nephew’s predator theory I quite like." Vika acknowledged.
"I hope he wouldn’t ponder so many chaotic things, really not easy for peace of mind." Will sighed and shook his head.
"At least your nephew has some reverence now," Vika said, "Sometimes you need to burn the child to make him realize the dread of fireworks."
Will nodded, then laughed again.
"Compared to these, I’m more curious whether I’ll see Jello tomorrow.
What do you think, Vika?"
The wandering crossroads isn’t a specific place, it’s more like a large cluster of buildings in a region, connected by corridors built on cliff sides or aerial walkways, with a few connected by cable cars across the Great Rift.
At this moment, Jello was sprinting through an aerial walkway, with mist shrouded above him, below was the brightly lit, rolling Sea of Mist.
He strode through the swaying aerial walkway, the fierce breath beneath his gas mask incessant.
Since a certain moment, Jello felt an inexplicable fear, unsure where it stemmed from but dragged him effortlessly into the ice sea.
The eerie footsteps remained incessantly around his ears, carrying a steady rhythm, continually striking his heart until it utterly crushed.
Jello was certain something was pursuing him, yet he couldn’t see it, couldn’t find its silhouette isolated on this aerial walkway, but Jello was sure it was right nearby, watching him closely.
"Beware, you’ve been targeted by the Evil Spirit."
Will’s words lingered like a curse in his mind, he didn’t believe in such things, yet now the reality he knew was slowly twisting and collapsing.
Running off the aerial walkway, Jello entered another building, slowing his pace, trying not to display a panicked expression, hand reaching into his pocket, gripping the revolver tightly.
On the street, people blended into the gray tones, heavy breath beneath the gas mask ceaseless, resembling dry corpses lying in coffins.
Under the invasion of fear, Jello felt everyone secretly observing him until he could bear no more of these gazes and slipped into an alley.
Jello moved within the narrow, grim alley, familiar with its maze-like paths where few could capture him.
Today was an exception, at the alley’s end, a shadow blocked the path, lifting its head slowly, revealing blue eyes.
Jello didn’t recognize this person, uncertain if it was human, but upon meeting those eyes, it was as if an evil voice whispered in his heart, declaring the identity.
Jello exclaimed its name in terror as the Evil Spirit strode towards him.
Taking out the revolver, in panic, Jello pulled the trigger, emptying the bullets. Some hit the wall, some missed, some struck the Evil Spirit, but it seemed unfazed, continuing to stride forward, descending the Iron Hammer upon Jello.
"First, restrict mobility."
The Evil Spirit spoke, hammering Jello’s calf bone, causing him to cry out in pain, drawing the short knife from his waist, attempting resistance, yet another Sheep Horn Hammer fell, crushing Jello’s arm.
Specks of blood sprayed onto the Evil Spirit’s face, yet he remained indifferent, maintaining the demeanor of an expert.
Jello now was completely petrified by the Evil Spirit’s ruthlessness, his words resembling a culinary routine, first boiling water, adding vegetables, then seasoning... The words paired with his violent actions, he was like a brutal butcher.
"Finally, ensure the target remains silent."
The Evil Spirit said grabbing Jello’s collar, in Jello’s desperate gaze, the tidal wave of terror pervaded his mind.