"The Church of Glory is the super-powered organization under the Church of Creation. It can be considered a secret organization. However, the Hunter Association was able to establish itself smoothly hundreds of years ago with the strong support of the Church of Glory."
"Before the rise of the Hunter Association, the Church of Glory had been fighting against all sorts of creatures of the hidden world. Even now, the Church of Glory and the Hunter Association maintain a cooperative relationship, with many super-powered individuals from the Church of Glory also being demon hunters."
"I see... I thought the Church of Creation was just a simple religion."
Wen Wen scratched his chin. After thinking about it, he felt relieved. Since the holy water stolen from the Church of Creation could harm and weaken the female vampire Tao Qingqing, it was not illogical to assume that the Church of Creation had a connection to supernatural powers.
"However, even though the Church of Glory is close to the Association, don't get too close to them. As a secret organization, no one can be sure if the Church of Glory has any shady dealings in private."
As Lin Zheyuan's secretary, Miao Xinyi had access to a lot of classified information, but she couldn't reveal these secrets to anyone due to the Hunter Association's discipline.
"This world is truly different from what I imagined," Wen Wen sighed. The more he learned, the more he realized how much he didn't know.
"No one can grasp the entirety of this world. As long as the hidden world exists, there will always be things beyond our understanding."
Miao Xinyi also sighed. Although she was not a super-powered individual, she deeply felt this. The more she understood about this world, the more things she found unclear.
As they walked, Wen Wen saw many wards. These wards had iron bars at their entrances, just like in a real mental hospital.
Some patients inside were listless, muttering to themselves, while others had grown strange organs. Some looked like normal people on the outside, but their eyes held a hysterical madness.
Wen Wen stopped at the entrance of a ward and watched a woman with four arms and four legs crawling around the room like a spider. She could climb on walls and ceilings, wherever she pleased.
"Hiss... does your Hunter Association have the spider silk from the movies? Equip her with it, and she can go out and cosplay as Spider-Woman, or you can use her to film movies and get more funding," Wen Wen exclaimed in amazement.
"You might have seen some of these people before. They are the ordinary people affected by that Cataclysm-level monster from the amusement park incident. They've been turned into this state because of the influence," Miao Xinyi said, standing beside Wen Wen and pointing to the spider-like woman.
"Some of them who were less affected have been treated, had their memories wiped, and sent home. These..."
"What about these?" Wen Wen asked, raising an eyebrow.
"If they're lucky enough to be cured, they'll be sent home. If they're unlucky and their condition continues to worsen... they might be disposed of."
Wen Wen was stunned. "Disposed of... you mean killed?"
"That's right, killed. Their bodies will be cremated, and all traces of their existence will be erased from society," Miao Xinyi said heavily. "Because if they continue to deteriorate, they will turn into the lowest-grade monsters. Although they won't even be considered Calamity-level, they still must be disposed of."
Wen Wen sighed, feeling even more fear towards Cataclysm-level monsters. Just one finger and one eye descending upon the world had caused so many ordinary people to mutate. What would it be like if they descended completely?
"Oh, by the way, the man from the Eiffel District with the back injury that you sent over recovered two days ago. He's had his memory modified and was sent home this morning," Miao Xinyi suddenly said.
"The man with the back injury, is that Mr. Wilson? ...Thanks for the reminder, I'm going to go ask him for money later!"
Yes, Wen Wen's first reaction was to go and collect his money. Since Mr. Wilson had been held at the Hunter Association, Wen Wen hadn't received the final payment from Mrs. Wilson. Now, he could go and get his money.
Miao Xinyi shook her head. She wasn't telling Wen Wen this so he could go collect money!
After walking for a while, she pointed to a room ahead. "We're here. This is Uncle Gong's ward. I'll wait for you outside."
Wen Wen pushed the door open and saw Uncle Gong lying on the hospital bed, hooked up to various tubes. He had lost a lot of weight. Perhaps this was the cleanest he had ever been, this scruffy man.
He was still unconscious. The poison left by Mr. L was extremely vicious. Even with the medical facilities of the Hunter Association, they couldn't wake him up, and his condition was still deteriorating.
Mr. L had injected the poison directly into his heart. Even ordinary toxins would be fatal, let alone a potent venom that could kill an ordinary person on contact.
In fact, if Uncle Gong wasn't a super-powered individual, and his internal super-powered energy wasn't desperately trying to save his life, the stab wound that had cut open his chest would have been enough to kill him.
Wen Wen looked at Uncle Gong for a few moments, his eyes devoid of much sadness.
"Sigh... I hope you wake up soon. I still owe you a favor. If you don't wake up, then this debt is settled."
After saying that, Wen Wen turned and left. He wouldn't stay here chatting with Uncle Gong like having a casual conversation. Confirming Uncle Gong's current condition was enough for him to leave.
"So soon?" Miao Xinyi asked Wen Wen in surprise.
Wen Wen walked straight out and said indifferently, "There's nothing to say. I'm not actually very familiar with him."
Miao Xinyi was stunned. Looking at Wen Wen's retreating back, she found it a bit amusing. If there was really no relationship at all, why would you come to see him?
...
After leaving the mental hospital, Wen Wen didn't go home. Instead, he drove to Mr. Wilson's house.
Yes, Wen Wen went to collect his money immediately.
He knocked on the door. After a while, Melissa opened the door wearing a bathrobe.
Wen Wen sniffed the air twice and smelled a peculiar scent. His expression turned strange.
They say that absence makes the heart grow fonder. Mr. Wilson had been away for so long, and Melissa had been lonely. It was understandable that Mr. Wilson would indulge himself a bit upon his return.
"Mr. Wilson has returned home. I've come to collect the final payment and check on his condition."
"Okay, come in."
Mr. Wilson, wearing swim trunks and a towel around his waist, came out. Seeing Wen Wen, he jumped in surprise and immediately retreated into the bedroom. A moment later, he reappeared wearing a proper suit.
Melissa looked at Wilson with a hint of reproach.
"Why are you dressed so formally?"
"Mr. Wen is my savior, of course I should be formal."
Even though Wen Wen had messed up his back, and even though he had almost been killed by Wen Wen, in Mr. Wilson's memory, Wen Wen was still his savior.
However, for some reason, he found Wen Wen somewhat intimidating.
This was because the scene of him being beaten savagely by Wen Wen had been imprinted into the depths of his soul.
"Heh heh, no need to be so polite. Just pay up," Wen Wen said with a smile, his eyes narrowed.