“Beep…
beep…
beep…”
By the time Lucifer reached Room 203, the call still hadn’t connected.
He shrugged and knocked on the door while listening to the endless ringing.
Looks like I’m not the only person trying to get involved.
Lucifer wasn’t rushing to help because he had suddenly developed a heroic need to save every haunted family in Los Angeles.
What interested him more was the television exposure.
If he solved a case that had already appeared on a paranormal show, potential clients would know exactly who to call afterward.
A moment later, Edward opened the door with dark circles under his eyes.
“Lucifer, are you trying to work me to death?”
Lucifer immediately pushed him back into the room.
“Keep your voice down.
People are sleeping.”
Edward stared at him.
“What’s wrong with you?”
“You have no idea what kind of night I’ve had.”
Lucifer sighed and handed him the Nokia.
“There’s a number in the recent calls for the Hell Morning Show.
Keep calling until somebody answers.
I’m going to sleep.”
Edward looked at the phone and then at Lucifer.
“You’re serious?”
Lucifer had already dropped onto the bed.
“Very.”
Edward sighed.
“Fine.”
Although Lucifer’s body relaxed, his mind remained wide awake.
System.
Ten-draw.
A huge golden roulette wheel appeared in his consciousness.
Ten Holiness Points flowed into it, reducing his total from fourteen to four.
The wheel spun rapidly before eleven streaks of golden light emerged, representing ten normal rewards and the guaranteed bonus.
[Obtained: Holy Silver Bullets ×10, three packs.]
[Obtained: Junior High-Concentration Holy Water ×3.]
[Obtained: Junior Stamina Potion ×1.]
[Obtained Skill: Devotion Aura — Level 1.
Passive.
Increases skin durability and provides resistance against shallow cuts from ordinary blades.]
[Obtained Skill: Judgment.
A ranged ability that consumes the active effect of Holy Seal of Justice and delivers Holy Seal damage to a target from a distance.]
[Obtained: Deerskin Gloves — Common Quality.
A well-made pair of ordinary gloves.]
[Ten-Draw Bonus: Skill Upgrade Scroll ×1.
May upgrade eligible skills that possess levels.]
Lucifer silently reviewed the rewards.
“Not bad.”
The bullets were immediately useful.
With the ten he already owned, he now had forty Holy Silver Bullets.
His supply of Junior High-Concentration Holy Water had also increased from one bottle to four.
The two new skills interested him even more.
Devotion Aura was passive, which meant it didn’t require activation.
Judgment gave him a way to deliver the power of Holy Seal of Justice at range, although using it would consume the Seal’s active effect.
Then there was the Skill Upgrade Scroll.
So that’s how skills level up.
Lucifer considered using it immediately but decided against it.
If upgrade scrolls were rare enough that only one appeared as the bonus from a ten-draw, wasting it without understanding his future options would be foolish.
I’ll save it.
With four Holiness Points remaining, Lucifer resisted the temptation to draw again.
He relaxed and finally fell asleep.
He had no idea how long he had been out when Edward began shaking his shoulder.
“Lucifer.
Wake up!
Someone answered!”
Lucifer opened his eyes and grabbed the phone.
“Hello?”
An impatient voice came from the other end.
“Hell Morning Show viewer hotline.
Are you actually an exorcist?”
Lucifer immediately became alert.
“Of course.”
“Someone has already offered to help the family, although there are conditions attached.
We’ve arranged to visit the house later today.”
Lucifer frowned.
“So you already have somebody?”
“Yes.”
“Do you still need another exorcist?”
There was a short pause.
“If you’re willing to come, sure.
We don’t know whether the other person can actually handle the situation.”
Lucifer smiled.
“Good.
I’m in.”
The caller’s tone softened slightly.
“What’s your name?”
“Lucifer.”
The employee recorded the information.
Lucifer asked, “What time are we leaving tomorrow?”
“Technically, today.
One in the afternoon.”
Lucifer glanced toward the window.
The sky was already beginning to brighten.
“You can meet us at the Hell Morning Show studio,” the employee continued.
“The homeowner will be there, and we’ll travel to the property together.”
“Alright.
See you at one.”
Lucifer ended the call and checked the time.
It was around four in the morning.
He looked outside and smiled.
“Nothing like a four-in-the-morning Los Angeles sunrise.”
Edward stared at him.
“Are you still asleep?”
Lucifer ignored him and sat up.
He handed Edward most of the cash he had collected along with the gold Rolex.
“We need a storefront.
We’ll look around this morning.
If I have to leave for the studio before we’re finished, you handle the rest.”
Edward stared at the Rolex.
“Wait.
Didn’t those guys at the pawn shop take this?”
“They changed their minds.”
Edward looked skeptical.
“And where did all this cash come from?”
Lucifer smiled pleasantly.
“Business.”
Edward knew his friend well enough to realize that asking more questions probably wouldn’t improve his morning.
He simply pocketed the money and the watch.
Lucifer stretched.
Despite sleeping only a short time, he already felt surprisingly energetic.
He took the Junior Stamina Potion from System Space and drank it.
A warm tingling sensation spread through his body.
[Junior Stamina Potion consumed.]
[Stamina +1.]
[Current Stamina: 9.]
Lucifer flexed his shoulders.
Nine already.
I wonder how different it’ll feel once I pass ten.
Edward stared at the empty potion bottle.
“Lucifer…
what exactly did you just drink?”
Lucifer glanced at it.
“Energy tonic.”
Edward narrowed his eyes.
“Nothing illegal?”
“No.”
“Good.
We agreed neither of us was getting involved with that stuff.”
Lucifer tossed the bottle aside.
“Relax.
Let’s check out and find a ride.”
The two headed downstairs and stopped at the front desk.
Lucifer looked toward the motel owner.
“Do you know where we can catch a cab?
We need to get farther into the city.”
Instead of answering, the owner looked at him carefully.
“You’re going?”
Lucifer immediately understood that he meant the haunted house from the television program.
“Yeah.
One o’clock.”
The owner’s tired expression brightened.
He stood and offered Lucifer his hand.
“I knew you looked like a decent guy.”
Lucifer shook it.
“Don’t praise me too much.
I still charge for exorcisms.”
The man laughed.
“That’s fair.
If I ever need one, I’ll pay.”
He stepped out from behind the counter.
“Where are you trying to go?
I’ll drive you.”
Lucifer and Edward exchanged a look.
Lucifer smiled.
“If you don’t mind, take us to a reliable buyer first.
We’ve got some things to sell.”
He still had the ambergris from the storage unit, along with the jewelry and other valuables he had collected.
The motel owner grabbed his keys.
“No problem.
I know someone who gives fair prices.”
Lucifer smiled.
“Perfect.
Let’s go.”
[Reader Event Active]