The Archbishop did not try to hide anything and spoke plainly.
"If it weren't a serious matter, the Vatican would not take out five coins at once."
"Five?" Lucas raised an eyebrow. "So besides me, there are four others?"
Lucas didn't really care how many people were involved. As long as Mephisto himself wasn't descending in person, nothing about this posed a real threat to him.
"That's correct. In addition to you, there are four others. Their files are all kept at the branch. That's why you'll need to come with me—details of the incident are stored there."
The Archbishop took another sip of tea. It had been over an hour since Skye poured it, yet it was still warm, as if it had just been brewed.
The Archbishop found nothing strange about this. In the face of the supernatural, the impossible was often perfectly normal.
"Alright," Lucas said casually. "I'll take the commission. I'll make some preparations and come find you tomorrow."
He had Skye print out the contract and handed it to the Archbishop.
The Archbishop signed without hesitation. Two copies were made, but he did not take his own.
"I'll be waiting for you at St. Patrick's Cathedral," he said. "You know the address—it's not far from here."
With that, he nodded politely to Skye and left the office, taking the black-suited bodyguards with him.
"Lucas, are you really taking this job?" Skye asked worriedly.
"I just looked it up—those coins are incredibly rare. Each generation only has nine. If they're willing to offer one as payment, this situation must be enormous."
She was genuinely concerned. Lucas was powerful, and he could even transform into his so-called summoned beasts—but demons were different. They were profoundly evil and dangerous.
Modern attitudes were strange that way. Many people weren't afraid of aliens at all—some even advocated actively seeking them out, welcoming them with open arms, human traitors included.
But mention demons or monsters—mysterious supernatural entities—and the reaction flipped completely. Fear and rejection were the norm. Only a handful of fanatics and cultists would ever welcome such things.
"It's fine," Lucas replied indifferently. "It's just a demon. It's not like I haven't killed one before."
He really didn't mind. He'd been idle for far too long, and finally having something to do would at least let him stretch his limbs.
People were like that—when busy, they longed for leisure; when idle for too long, they craved action. Lucas had never understood why the wealthy constantly sought excitement, even resorting to crime for thrills. Now, he was beginning to get it.
They lacked nothing—money was endless, everything within reach. There was no joy in hard-won rewards, no material pursuit left. Spiritual desires swelled unchecked, but even those could be easily satisfied. So they chased new stimuli, hunting for that original rush of "gain."
And thus, they became warped—more and more extreme by the day.
Human nature was like that: greedy to obtain everything, yet once it was obtained, it became dull, discarded in favor of something new. Over and over again. One conclusion was clear—people could not remain idle for too long. They had to do something. Even counting ants under a tree every day was better than doing nothing at all.
After instructing Skye to mind the office, Lucas headed to Fifth Avenue in Manhattan—where St. Patrick's Cathedral stood.
St. Patrick's Cathedral was the most renowned church in New York, one of the oldest, and also the largest. It was where the Vatican's Cardinals had first come to America to spread the faith.
The cathedral was built in a classic Gothic style, an architectural movement that emerged in the Middle Ages. Sharp angles, soaring spires, and vast stained-glass windows defined its structure.
Gothic architecture profoundly influenced later Western designs. It represented mystery, solemnity, and sublimity—an emotionally powerful style that held an irreplaceable place in architectural history.
Because of its distinctive form, St. Patrick's Cathedral stood out dramatically among the surrounding modern skyscrapers.
The entire structure was gray-white, sharply contoured, with twin spires piercing the sky. Its exterior was adorned with intricate hollow carvings—luxurious yet enigmatic.
The cathedral was also a frequent backdrop in films and television. In Lucas's previous life, it had appeared in movies like Daredevil, Spawn, and Spider-Man, as well as countless TV series and games. In Marvel's Spider-Man, it was even the place where Miles Morales reminisced about his girlfriend.
Naturally, it was also one of New York's most famous tourist landmarks.
Ignoring the crowds outside snapping photos with phones and cameras, Lucas pushed open the cathedral doors under countless astonished gazes.
Because the Purple Cardinal was present, the cathedral had been closed to visitors. Everyone had been stopped at the entrance—yet Lucas walked straight in. Not a single priest or nun tried to stop him.
How could the onlookers not be shocked? They were all tourists—so why could he enter?
Out of reverence for their faith, no one caused a scene. Instead, they politely asked a cleaning priest why Lucas was allowed inside.
The answer stunned them even more.
"He is a guest invited by the Purple Cardinal."
That single sentence sent waves of speculation rippling through the crowd as people began guessing Lucas's identity.
Lucas, however, knew nothing of this.
At that moment, he was seated on a front-row pew in the prayer hall, gazing up at the towering cross behind the pulpit.
Beneath the cross, an elderly man in purple robes was lighting candles one by one, his movements gentle and practiced.
Lucas did not interrupt him. He waited quietly, observing the cathedral's interior.
He had to admit—while Western architecture lacked the sheer grandeur of Eastern structures, it surpassed them in sheer opulence.
Geography played a role. Eastern architecture emphasized harmony—round heaven, square earth. Aside from ceremonial structures for worshipping the heavens, most buildings favored simple, square forms, restrained elegance, and understated dignity.
Western architecture, influenced by Roman design, favored curves and arches, creating a very different aesthetic. Combined with lavish ornamentation, the contrast between East and West was stark.
Lucas gave the surroundings a casual glance.
Every pillar bore a unique carved pattern. Hollow engravings were everywhere. Massive stained-glass windows, predominantly blue, dazzled the eyes. Even the chandeliers were made of natural crystal.
Luxury, taken to the extreme.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
For 20 advanced chapters, visit my Patreon:
Patreon - Twilight_scribe1
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If you enjoyed Marvel Manifestor, please give it a Power Stone and leave a review! Your support means everything.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~