Reincarnation Paradise Park

Chapter 727: Chapter 37: Contract

From the old priest’s attitude, it’s clear that getting a bargain here is difficult.

Su Xiao isn’t sure if he’ll have another chance to visit this place. Even if he does, earning merits with the Holy Church is no easy task.

”Priest, do you desire the Holy Grail?”

”The Holy Grail?!”

The smile on the old priest’s face gradually faded, his gaze instinctively went to the back of Su Xiao’s hand.

”Sure enough, you’re involved with the Holy Grail War. I didn’t notice any command seals the first time I saw you. Could it be you’re...”

Thinking of a certain possibility, the old priest felt a bit uneasy.

”You don’t think I’m a Heroic Spirit, do you?”

Su Xiao leaned back in the chair, crossing his legs, appearing relaxed.

”Heh.”

The old priest chuckled silently; he had seen many Heroic Spirits. Their mannerisms and speech were distinctly different from modern people, and the Heroic Spirit’s body is made of energy—he had ways to identify them.

”You’re neither a Master nor a Heroic Spirit. Could it be that you intend to participate in the Holy Grail War?”

The old priest’s gaze showed a hint of excitement. Su Xiao’s ability to destroy Liu Dong Temple showed he was extraordinary. If he joined the old priest’s camp, he would undoubtedly be a formidable asset.

”Who knows? But maybe you’ll need my help in the future.”

Su Xiao smiled at the old priest. When interacting with non-hostile story characters, he usually smiled to mask other emotions.

”Let me think about it...”

The old priest was torn inside. After a long pause, he nodded.

”I’ll give you a 5% discount. Wait a moment.”

The old priest left the church, likely heading to the secret room beneath it. After a short while, he returned holding three items.

”This is a Soul Condensation Mineral, Holy Water, and finally, the Ghost Hunter.”

The three items were placed before Su Xiao. He immediately stored the Soul Crystals (Large) and Holy Water. As for the Ghost Hunter, it was a precise crossbow, entirely metallic and black, with a somewhat vintage look.

Just as Su Xiao was about to pull the bowstring, the old priest handed him a small winch.

”Use this; human strength alone is impossible to pull... Are you kidding me!”

The old priest’s eyes widened.

Crack—

Su Xiao pulled the bowstring, the attack power of this crossbow was akin to the Spider Queen, hinting at its weight.

After hand-loading the Ghost Hunter, Su Xiao’s mana value slowly depleted as an energy crossbow arrow gradually formed on it.

”What did you just say?”

Su Xiao had been focused on examining the Ghost Hunter earlier and hadn’t caught the old priest’s words.

The old priest glanced at the small winch in his hand and shook his head.

”Nothing, where were we?”

”The Holy Grail.”

Su Xiao held the Ghost Hunter level; its precise range was within 150 meters. Beyond that, it couldn’t hit a target, but don’t underestimate that 150 meters—it’s supernatural for a crossbow.

”Right, the Holy Grail, are you interested in helping me claim it? I can offer you...”

The old priest seemed hopeful.

”No.”

Su Xiao stored the Ghost Hunter; it was quite something—powerful, silent, suitable for mid-range assassinations.

”You refuse so readily. Have you considered my feelings, old man? I just gave you a 5% discount.”

The old priest seemed somewhat displeased.

”It’s precisely because I considered your feelings that I refused.”

Su Xiao’s words clearly left the old priest at a loss for words, and his expression began to darken.

”Priest, with your current health, reaching 80 or 90 years old shouldn’t be a problem. Why rush to your death?”

”What do you mean?”

”I mean... everyone who claims the Holy Grail dies!”

”You...”

The old priest’s anger surged. After glancing at Su Xiao once more, he turned his head.

”Priest, don’t misunderstand. You helped me once before. Without that gun, I couldn’t have left Liu Dong Temple.”

Su Xiao took out an apple, taking a large bite as the juice ran down his mouth.

”Then why won’t you help me?”

The old priest’s anger subsided slightly, sensing a deeper meaning in Su Xiao’s words.

”Some things can’t be spelled out. As far as I know, you’ve participated in a Holy Grail War before, priest?”

”Yes, I supervised the third Holy Grail War.”

”Did you see the Holy Grail?”

”I saw it.”

The old priest rubbed his hand on his pant leg, his gaze somewhat vacant.

”Having seen it, you still pursue it. You should understand its principle. The first two Great Holy Grails were indeed priceless treasures. As for the third, without me telling you, you could guess. We’re already at the fourth Great Holy Grail. Can you guess how much evil intention has congregated in it? Do you... yearn for death so badly?”

Su Xiao stared at the old priest, leaving only the apple core in his hand.

”Who would be content without pursuit? It’s not just me; the Matou House, the Tosaka family, and the Einzbern Family all know. It’s a universal wishing machine. So what if it’s corrupted? Just give up like that?”

The old priest exhaled, reaching out to Su Xiao.

”Give me a cigarette.”

Su Xiao handed over a cigarette.

”Though I still don’t know your name, compared to some collaborators, I trust you more. At least you bear no ill will towards me.”

The old priest puffed out smoke. Under Su Xiao’s influence, his smoking addiction resurfaced, possibly due to recent troubles.

Under Reincarnation Paradise’s interference, the relationship between Su Xiao and the old priest wouldn’t be antagonistic. Thus, the old priest trusted Su Xiao more after he successfully bombed Liu Dong Temple.

”Wouldn’t you be unsatisfied without seeing it with your own eyes? Indeed, the Great Holy Grail’s allure is irresistible.”

Su Xiao stopped speaking; he remained at the church because he had other goals.

”From what you say, you’re completely uninterested in the Holy Grail?”

”No, I am curious about its texture.”

”Cough, cough, cough...”

The old priest coughed dryly; with each cough, blue smoke poured out of his mouth.

”Curious about texture? Your peculiar thinking...”

The old priest seemed dismissive; he didn’t believe Su Xiao was entirely uninterested in the Holy Grail.

”By the way, priest.”

”What is it?”

After a round of conversation, the two had clearly become more familiar.

”Can you contact the Einzbern Family?”

”That is... confidential.”

The old priest bought some time; he vaguely sensed something was off.

”If you can contact them, I’m planning to reach out to the Einzbern Family. Rest assured, I won’t team up with them against you. If I manage to establish contact, I’ll appropriately stop them from giving you trouble.”

”I’ll consider...”

”There’s no time to consider this matter. I’m in a rush lately.”

Su Xiao needed to speed up; the Umbrella Brother could kick the bucket at any moment.

”Can I take that as you helping to restrain the Einzbern Family for me?”

”Yes, but some matters need to be used as leverage in negotiations with them.”

The old priest began to be torn. His ideal outcome was for Su Xiao to join his camp and help him seize the Great Holy Grail.

”Alright, but there’s a prerequisite. You can’t team up with them to go against my camp. Though I’m unsure how you know about my situation, my plot for the Holy Grail must remain secret.”

The old priest pulled out a piece of white parchment, scribbled on it, and handed it to Su Xiao. This was a ’Self-compulsion Certificate,’ akin to an oath.

The old priest was shrewd, having prepared this in advance.

After glancing over the ’Self-compulsion Certificate’ content, Su Xiao signed the contract. One thing the old priest didn’t know was that the ’Self-compulsion Certificate’ had limitations. It only worked on beings with mana or on indigenous residents of the Holy Grail World.

Su Xiao wasn’t a native of the Holy Grail World and didn’t possess any mana, so signing this was no different than signing a piece of toilet paper.