Days as a Spiritual Mentor in American Comics

When he saw the name, Shiller narrowed his eyes slightly. It couldn't be such a coincidence that there was a second person named John Constantine in the world, could it?

"What do you want to do?" Shiller asked in his mind.

"In your memories, I exist as a character in certain literary works."

"Yes." Shiller admitted, saying, "The first time I heard your name, it was in a novel."

"But I don't appear often."

"Yes, not often."

"Don't you have any thoughts about that?"

"If I'm to be honest, although your appearances are few, you have quite a reputation because you and your kin are completely different—very special."

"Don't you think this 'special' should earn me more appearances?"

Rubbing his brow, Shiller said, "So what, you want someone to write a novel about you? You want to be the protagonist?"

"You are the protagonists," Nya said. "Your kind has too many stereotypes about me."

"That just shows my kind have a keen eye."

"I hope someone can help me clarify."

"Constantine? Don't you think that his name beside the word 'clarify' sounds like a huge joke?"

"This isn't his story," Nya said. "It's yours. He just recorded everything; he's quite a good writer."

"You're really birds of a feather," Shiller scoffed. "You've wanted to do this for a long time, haven't you? How much did you offer Constantine to get that cunning guy to work for you?"

"It's just his interest; I didn't force him."

"Suit yourself." Shiller put away the book into his coat, showing no interest in reading it, and said, "I've already got the item. Our last transaction is over."

"What about the screw?"

"You didn't set any conditions for that," Shiller didn't fall for it, saying, "Face-to-face trade, cash and goods change hands. You didn't set conditions, so I took it as a gift from you."

"I am more than happy to, but don't you want to hear the terms of a new deal? To use a human phrase, 'a new item in the marketplace.'"

"You haven't learned anything good from Greed." Shiller said rudely, "If like him, you slapped discount labels on everyone who contacts you, you'd be kicked out of all their works by my kind."

"No, this is a special offer tailored for you."

"It seems you've mastered the essence of Greed."

"Really won't take a look?" Nya's tone was full of temptation, saying, "The Church's people have arrived. They brought modern weapons and some other means. Without my help, you won't be able to leave this village alive."

"Make it clear where you stand, the Transcendent said that there are no demons in this Game World," Shiller still spoke with clarity, "I can listen to your conditions first, then consider what I'm willing to pay for them."

"You're good at making a fair trade sound like you've been shortchanged. Did you learn that from Greed?" Nya asked.

"If you're not going to talk, then this is goodbye." Shiller walked towards the cave's exit.

"I think you should take a look at that novel first," Nya finally spoke up. "I assure you, there's nothing that would cause spiritual pollution in it; it simply records your story, and I hope you'll see how he wrote it."

"You should go to Arrogant for literary appreciation."

"He read it, and he said he never expected Constantine to be at that level, said he finally did something worthwhile."

"Then I'll assume he wrote it well. What do you want to do next?"

"Publish," Nya uttered a very modern term, saying, "Find a publishing house to print it, let the novel be distributed around the whole world."

"This Game World?"

"Yes, it actually helps your purpose, doesn't it? It can expose the Church's conspiracy, letting people understand the truth behind the strange events over the years."

"That's why it can't be published. Do you think the Church will sit by and watch?"

"So you need to deal with the Church first."

"The Church has many modern weapons, and special methods."

"Then publish the novel, and I will give you strength."

"But the Church won't let the novel be published."

"Then deal with the Church first."

"I'm hanging up."

Having said that, Shiller ignored Nya and unilaterally blocked his voice, returning to the side of the Dark River.

Now he had three choices: either go back to the Lighthouse to meet Batman, wait for Batman in the laboratory, or return to the cabin where they started.

The third option didn't seem necessary, but it was actually for waiting for Batman.

Shiller wasn't sure which route the Church's people had taken, whether by water or helicopter, but in any case, they would probably head to the dock first and would likely send people to scout the Lighthouse during the process.

Batman would probably get out of the Lighthouse unscathed, but he wouldn't choose to confront the Church's men head-on at the door; he would definitely retreat into the caves.

He had a pass to the laboratory, so he could make a trip there on his own and take what he needed, but he wouldn't linger there since it was Old Sirteck's turf. In case the other party remotely locked down the lab, that would truly be a case of being trapped like a turtle in a jar.

So the best course of action was to retreat into the caves and quickly leave after grabbing what was needed from the laboratory.

But they still needed a base. Although the previous cabin was burned down, there was a cellar underground. By blocking the route from the cellar to the cave, it would become a safe base.

The cabin was outside the village, in a very remote location; the Church wouldn't likely search there. Even if they did find it, they would see nothing but ruins, rendering any detailed inspection unnecessary.

Shiller was sure Batman would choose this route, so he didn't need to meet him halfway; he could head straight to the end point.

With that in mind, he set out at top speed. After all, the cabin was far away and it would take some time to get there.

"I think we can talk about this issue again," Nya was still persistent.

"You could help me deal with the Church first," Shiller said. "Without the Church in the way, the novel could naturally be published."

"You said it, a fair trade, cash and goods change hands."

"But if you don't pay in advance, I can't fulfill your demands."

"I think you know why I don't pay you in advance."

"Then we have nothing to talk about."

Nya was silent for a few minutes until Shiller was almost at the cabin when he finally spoke up, "I don't know if the novel is worth taking such a risk."

"You still want me to take a look?" Shiller caught his meaning, then said, "I know you haven't set traps in it, but reading Constantine's work is a gamble in itself."

"I need you to judge from the human perspective if it's a good novel, whether your kind would be interested in it."

"So you don't understand it yourself?"

"I have a different perspective from you; those subtleties are too elusive for me, hard to notice, and without experience."

"Did you learn this move from Bruce?" Shiller was still merciless, "Why do you think I would sympathize with an Outer God?"

Nya had not even spoken when Shiller suddenly blurted out, "You didn't just use this tactic to make Arrogant compromise, did you? It makes sense, he dared to read Bruce's papers, so a novel by Constantine would be a piece of cake for him."

"I would not hope to receive such an evaluation."

"What evaluation?"

"Better than Bruce's papers."

"Huh." Shiller snorted coldly and said, "I really don't know what kind of unrealistic expectations you have for Constantine."

"But Arrogant said..."

"He could stomach Bruce's papers; what unrealistic expectations can you possibly have for him?"

Nya fell silent again.

"You and the Shiller I know are too different," Nya finally spoke.

"It's my honor."

"Then let's make a new deal," Nya finally compromised. He said, "You read this novel and give an honest evaluation, and I'll give you something."

"What's that?"

"Something to counter the Church."

"Magic? Or something else?"

"I do not practice magic; I can offer you knowledge."

"I dare not accept your knowledge."

"It will not harm your spirit."

"So it will harm someone else's spirit?"

Nya fell silent again.

"You went to Arrogant and spoke ill of me, right? Brand, this is not your office; aren't you afraid he'll tell Batman? He's always been quite interested in your kind."

"He's not as interested in us as he is in you," Nya said slowly. "It's clear that he's trying to multitask."

Shiller felt vindicated; Nya must have been gossiping with Arrogant about him, and they even roped in Batman, the two of them muttering together.

"You might as well rename yourself the God of Gossip." Shiller chose personal attack. He said, "Is the knowledge you impart to your followers how to talk behind others' backs? It's good that my kin haven't given you much of a role, or their novels would have to be classified as marital and emotional counseling channels."

"I was merely asking Arrogant how to communicate with you."

"What did he say?"

"He told me to give up; he said you were impenetrable, just like Greed."

"Then you overestimate me; I'm just an ordinary agent."

"Hmm..." Nya emitted an indistinct syllable, and then he asked suddenly, "Were you on vacation initially?"

"Yes, what about it?"

"So you are working overtime now?"

"That's right, with no overtime pay."

"That's why you're so angry?"

"I didn't know you were into psychoanalysis now, or are you just Arrogant's mouthpiece?"

Nya fell silent again.

"What did you expect me to say? Demand overtime pay from you? I'm not Greed; what do I need so much money for? To an agent, vacation time is the most precious thing, no amount of money can make up for it."

"What do you want?"

"You sound like the lowest kind of devil."

"You've come all this way; your vacation should be wasted on something meaningful, right? If the vacation gets ruined and the game fails too, wouldn't that be even more upsetting?"

"Can you help me win the game? How do you intend to help?"

"Let's make a deal..."

"A fair trade is not help."

"Then let's not talk about help. You rate this novel, and I'll give you some knowledge you can use."

"Are you sure it's usable?" Shiller pressed further. "Guaranteed guidance throughout, with no loopholes?"

"You can't make such demands to an Outer God; we're not Batman; we never deal with 'certainty' or 'precision.'"

"So your plan is to trade knowledge that might blow up or harm oneself at any moment? Do you think I'm easy to fool?"

After a long silence, Nya said, "Arrogant was right; I shouldn't try to reason with you."

"Then you..."

Just as Shiller was about to speak, he felt a chill beneath his robe. Reaching towards it, he touched something damp.

In an instant, Shiller grabbed the object and threw it away, but it was too late. The cover of "Water God Ketayat" began to bleed, and the pages turned on their own.

Shiller couldn't dodge in time, the blasphemous symbols flashed before his eyes, and he felt as if he'd been hit hard, stumbling back several steps to lean against the cellar wall, his vision blurring.

It wasn't just the cover; the pages inside began to seep with blood as well. The entire book convulsed and twisted like a person struggling on the ground. Blood quickly pooled beneath it, forming a bloody lake.

Threads of blood, coagulating from the liquid, spread in all directions like a vast net or the network of veins beneath human skin.

A voice echoed in Shiller's ear.

"Rise!

Unnamed being,

Your time has come,

We are chosen by you personally,

Through your spells and magic,

Through your dreams and allure,

We learned of your coming,

Hurrying to serve you,

For the master we adore,

The Knight of Cthulhu,

Slumbering in the green watery depths,

Othuum..."

"The battle begins."