Chapter 89: Chapter 65: Entering the Dream (Middle)
All the seats in the Confession Room were empty, as a penitent’s secrets were meant only for God and the Priest who represents Him. Sean had no idea when someone else had entered the room. He heard a voice, froze for a moment, then lifted the curtain to look. To his surprise, he found Elvire sitting in the back row.
Sean felt a surge of joy, but he quickly suppressed it, saying with a calm expression, "What are you doing here?"
Seeing his attitude, Elvire refused to be outdone. She said provocatively, "What? Am I not allowed here?"
"This is your turf; of course you can come," Sean said, his tone detached. "But confessing to the Master is a very sacred matter. I hope you’ll stay quiet and not make a sound, lest you disturb my work with God."
Elvire: "?"
’Getting all high and mighty with me, is he?’
"Well then, tell me, why did you help that woman?" Elvire asked. "Is that part of your ’work’ too?"
"Yes," Sean replied, his reasoning sound. "A Priest may represent the Master, but he also represents himself. The Master can forgive her, but the Priest doesn’t necessarily have to."
Elvire scoffed. "Not forgive her? Then why’d you get her a lawyer?"
She wasn’t targeting the woman out of jealousy that Sean was helping another woman; she was judging the matter on its own merits.
She had always despised people with such abysmal moral standards, who polluted the entire industry. Yisha was a journalist too, and she’d often been dragged down by association.
"Who told you getting her a lawyer means I’m helping her?" Sean asked, a strange look on his face. "Haven’t you ever heard of a ’guilty’ defense?"
That lawyer’s name was Snake Zhang. He once shot to fame by "helping" a defendant get his five-year sentence extended to life in prison.
On top of that, he also boasted the grand accomplishment of getting his own client, the plaintiff, convicted as the defendant.
"Turning an innocent person into a guilty one—now *that’s* what I call a guilty defense."
Elvire: "...?"
’That’s what that term means??’
But Sean didn’t pay it any mind.
Any word that came out of his mouth was his to define.
Elvire was momentarily speechless, but she did feel a bit better. ’At least this guy has some sense,’ she thought. ’He’s not helping a villain do evil.’
Of course, Sean had no idea what she was thinking. Seeing her silent, he deliberately asked, "Is there anything else, miss? If not, I have to get back to work."
Elvire: "?"
’What does he mean? When he wanted to befriend me, it was "Miss Flame Crow." Now that he’s bored, it’s just "miss"?’
Sean continued, "Or perhaps, miss, are you here to confess as well?"
’Confess my ass!’
Elvire retorted angrily, "I came to warn you! Sopea’s already in town and is about to come after you."
’That ungrateful jerk! Does he really think I’d come looking for him while I’m still mad at him if nothing was wrong?’
"Just don’t blame me for not warning you when it happens!"
Elvire huffed, then turned and stormed out of the Confession Room without a backward glance. She swore she would never meddle in this guy’s business again. If she did, she was a dog!
"WOOF WOOF!"
Just then, the next penitent entered. He was an elderly man in a long robe, his back slightly stooped. He had a young girl and a dog with him.
The trio brushed past Elvire, and the small dog let out a cute bark.
Elvire: "..."
’Why do I suddenly have a craving for dog meat?’
’Sopea’s already here?’ Sean wondered, still inside the small wooden confessional.
He wasn’t afraid of Sopea coming after him, but how "soon" was "soon"?
Sean had wanted to ask her when Sopea would arrive, but she had left too quickly. He hadn’t even managed to get the word "Wait" out before Elvire was gone.
"Father, is something troubling you?"
The old man came to the window of the confessional and addressed Sean.
Through the dividing curtain, and with the old man’s head bowed, Sean couldn’t see his face clearly. But he did notice that more than one person had arrived. He smiled and said, "A Priest has no troubles. The Master helps us resolve all our worries—it is His reward to His most faithful followers. As for you, sir, are there any troubles you wish to confide in the Master?"
"Yes," the old man said in a low voice. "My daughter was bullied recently. I want to teach that bastard a lesson on her behalf."
"Have you already taught him a lesson?" Sean asked.
The old man replied, "Not yet."
Sean: "Is something holding you back?"
The old man shook his head. "Not at all. I’ve come to the church to confess in advance."
Sean’s brow furrowed. "You’re going to kill someone?"
He could sense it. The man before him was no ordinary person. The aura he exuded was distinctly different from the man and the female reporter from before.
"Nothing that drastic," the old man said. "I just want to teach him a lesson."
Sean breathed a small sigh of relief. "Then there’s no problem."
’This was the downside of being a Priest. You got to hear plenty of secrets, which largely satisfied your curiosity, but hearing things you "shouldn’t" also placed a heavy psychological burden on you.’
’According to the rules, a Priest couldn’t report it to the police. No matter what he heard, even the world’s biggest secret, he had to take it to his grave. Only he and the Master would ever know.’
"So, Father, you agree with my plan?" the old man asked.
"Of course," Sean said earnestly. "When his daughter is bullied, it’s only right for a father to stand up for her. I believe that even the Master, in the same situation, would make the same choice you’re making."
"So don’t overthink it. As long as you remember that you are a father, you will always be on the side of justice," Sean said. "The Master will watch over you."
"Go on. See that justice is done for your daughter."
"I have already gone, Father," the old man said.
Sean was stunned.
"But didn’t you just say you hadn’t?"
